SHARING

STEP 2 - SHARING YOUR TESTIMONY - CHAPTER 14

YOUR STORY IS GOD'S STORY

"The Soul Winner's heart ... 
Cares more than some think is wise,
 Risks more than some think is safe, 
Dreams more than some think is practical,
 Expects more than some think is possible."

OBSERVE, DISCOVER AND REVEAL YOUR STORY

 

Your Story is His Story
Each time we share our story (our testimony), we give recognition and glory to God, and He is delighted with that. Your story — regardless of how "dramatic" or "normal" you think it is — is a story about God's nature, character, and attributes. It is your witness account (story) of how God ransomed you from sin and death through Christ and changed and transformed your life as a result. When Christians share our personal story of how we met Christ with others, we help and encourage them to get to know what God is like and what He can do. Jesus died to give you and me a new mind and heart receive it by faith.

Your testimony (Your Story) is the most important way that individuals will see how Jesus relates to your life. The world is filled with spiritually hungry people who do not connect their emptiness and void in their life with their need for God. Unless they can see the difference Jesus makes in your Christian's life. Your story is critical to share.

Inspirational Quotes:
"Live in such a way that others will want to know Jesus."  (Author Francis Chan.)
"Your life may be the only Bible some people read." (Author Unknown.)
"People must not only hear but feel, see, and experience the Grace of God we speak about." (Author Jim Cymbala.)

When you became a Christian, it might have been a remarkable conversion or a progressive awakening to our Savior. No matter how your conversion took place, you need to discover and understand your testimony and know it thoroughly so that you can share it at any time and any situation at a moment's notice. The purpose of this study guide on Sharing Your Story is to give you some instructions to think, understand, and recall. And see the steps of your transformation experience from BEFORE, NOW, and AFTER your conversion.

Your Christian experience did not happen in a vacuum, but rather as a process that God did in your life. Likewise, those that do not know Christ that you meet will be in some part of their own process in finding Christ. Finding, developing an understanding and awareness of your own story will help you in presenting the Gospel to others in their journey for answers. This process will make sharing your story (account of what Jesus has done for you) much more straightforward.

IMPORTANT: Finish creating your rough or finished draft testimony today using:
THREE SEPARATE SHEETS OF PAPER labeled
A. BEFORE - You met Christ.
B. HOW - You met Christ.
C. AFTER - You met Christ.
This will be the last and the most detailed chapter on Sharing Your Story training, and starting tomorrow will be on how to share the Gospel message.

If you cannot share "the reason for the hope that is in you," you are as a disabled person without a cane or a painter without a brush. Let this be your lifetime slogan; "Men and women who know Christ show men and women Christ." Put the unchurched on your "Ten Most Wanted" list. Ask the Holy Spirit to change their hearts and minds.

Our Purpose
To motivate and prepare and equip you to be a faithful witness and a true friend in sharing your faith with others.  Let me urge you to finish your testimony presentation today on how to share your faith.

Our Goal
To proclaim the name of Jesus: His teachings, promises, and the mystery of Jesus as you have encountered it in your life.

Our Objectives
1. Be ready to give a practical and biblical foundation for your testimony.
2. To compose and articulate your personal story using the three-point outline,
A. BEFORE B. HOW C. AFTER.

3. Be willing and prepared to share your story.

Identify A Theme
Identifying a theme in your story is helpful because it ties each detail together. Find a topic that stands out in which unbelievers can relate to. Let it be a specific, relatable issue in your testimony, which is better than telling your life history. Develop your content around a theme like a career, failure, peace, particular circumstances, etc. Your three-minute prepared story will have a common theme, including
Before (Life Without Christ)
the How (Conversion)
and the After (Commitment to Christ)

We are also mindful of non-Christians' understanding of our theme by showing our need of hopelessness, guilt, purposelessness, and our more significant need for a Savior. That these were symptoms of a deeper problem that without Jesus Christ in our life, we would spend eternity separated from Him. The Holy Spirit uses our theme to bring their attention to the Gospel and that they can know God personally. With the goal of un-believers making a similar commitment to Jesus Christ.

Sometimes we feel we need a dramatic testimony with crazy and wild accounts to keep peoples attention. Do not minimize the ordinary and everyday circumstances in your life. Unbelievers relate to the stories of being successful, religious, or empty with no purpose because it may represent their own lives. If you do have a loose or unfavorable past, be cautious not to glamorize it to get attention from it.

Let's Get Started
It is not too late to start your three drafts sheets or your finished copy of your testimony. Take time to write out your story and reflect on what the Lord has done for you, even if your conversion was some time ago. The questions and thoughts below are meant to make you think, provoke, and find your story.

You might be able to point out in your story:

• To a  specific day and time like going forward to an altar call in a particular church.
• Or an individual sharing the Gospel to you.  
• Or you are kneeling at home alone.
• Or at a specific place and situation.
• Or might be able to say ―It occurred, but I'm not exactly sure when.

There is no wrong answer!

Some Things To Observe
Your spiritual growth is a process that has a beginning.
1. Focus on meaningful occasions and moments in your life before Christ.
2. Looking back, you might have seen the hand of God at work even before you came to faith in God. For example, a praying family member was always saying, "I am praying for you." Or God protected you in specific situations.
3. Circumstances that made you unsatisfied and uneasy that started you on a spiritual journey.
4. Anything is unique to your situation and conversion.

WRITE OUT YOUR FINISHED TESTIMONY
This task helps us to retain the details about the circumstances that God has done for us. Begin with writing down everything that you can remember about how you came to know Jesus as your personal Savior. Here are some practical suggestions for developing the BEFORE, HOW, and the AFTER sections in your own 3-minute testimony.

A. BEFORE - Your Life Before You Surrendered To Christ (approx. one minute)
(Worksheet #1 - "Before" Coming To Christ)

What was your life like before you met Christ?
Honest examples will establish you as a credible witness in the minds of non-Christians. Avoid religious terminology, e.g., saved, redeemed, etc. Find a central theme in your life, and weave your story around it. General statements are better than a detailed explanation. A bird's eye view is what is best here. Avoid being explicit and sensational in speaking of drugs, immorality, crime, or drunkenness. Do not make references to a particular church or denomination. You will point to areas of lack that you believed Jesus would answer in your life. It presents a sense of familiar ground between you and the person you want to share the Gospel with.

• Why did you need Jesus? Try to separate the apparent issue that led to your repentance.
• As a child, did you or not go to church? Explain if it relates?
• Did you know there was a God? Or had no interest at all? Explain.
• As a child or teen years had good or bad experiences or was not open to the Gospel message?
• Early years had any God moments, searching, experimenting, or rebelling?
• If you accepted Christ in childhood or teen years, explain the circumstances at that time?
• If you came to know the Lord in later years, explain the lifestyle and the situations at that time?
• Essential to explain your life before Christ in approximately one minute?
• Anything leading up to your accepting Jesus Christ

If you began your relationship with Christ early in life, focus more on your story on what He has done in recent years. Many people can point to the day when they became a Christian. If you can't point to a particular time, you can still identify that there was a time at which you were aware that you had a genuine relationship with Jesus.

 

1. People's actions and efforts spring out of their unsatisfied deep emotional and inner needs. List one or two of your unmet deep inner needs before you came to know Christ?

Some Examples of Inner Needs are guilt, loneliness, turmoil, controlling, no values, depression, boredom, worry, anger, emptiness, no friends. No peace, no purpose, no happiness, no motivation, fear of death, no self-worth, no moral standards, sinful habits, lost, and no meaning to life.

Some Examples of Circumstantial Problems are: problematic relationships, financial challenges, health issues, work or school problems, security and safety concerns, addictions (drugs, sex, alcohol), trouble with the law, people (family, friends, marriage.)

2. Non-Believers are usually trying to satisfy their deep inner needs through unsatisfactory solutions. In the past, what inadequate solutions did you use to attempt to meet those deep emotional needs? As you develop your testimony, list positive as well as negative solutions you may have tried.

Some examples are work, sex, hobbies, money, stealing, education, wrong friends, drugs, sports, alcohol, entertainment, fitness, marriage, material things, and family.

3. On background information, use only first names and, if possible, combine information.
A. Weak: "Jack Jones, Betty Hoover, and my niece Jane came by my office at Barry's Meat Market to talk about..."
B. Better: "Jack and two friends talked to me at work one day about..."
C. Better: "After moving four times and attending different universities, I graduated and got a nursing job..."

Do Not Use	Use These Phrases	Use These Phrases	Use These Phrases
"born again"	spiritual birth	spiritual renewal	spiritual awakening
"saved"	rescued	found hope	delivered from despair
"lost"	had no hope	had no purpose	separated from God
"Gospel"	Good News	God's message	hope for the world
"sin"	rejecting God	missing the mark	disobedience to God
"repent"	turn around	admit a wrong	change one's mind or heart
"repent"	obey God	remorsefulness	decide to turn away
"believe"	trusted	accepted/relied	followed God's Word

 

THOUGHT-PROVOKING QUESTIONS TO DISCOVER YOUR STORY "BEFORE"
Use only the questions that connect and are relatable to you and your story.

1. What was my life like before I met Christ?

2. What were my attitudes, needs, and problems? What words or phrases would you use to describe your attitude?

3. What were the things most important to me? What were my views of life, my focus, and priorities in general?

4. Around what did my life revolve around the most?

5. From what did I get my security, happiness, and acceptance from.

6. To what source did I look for security, happiness, joy, purpose, meaning, and peace of mind? List a few examples and pick the best one to relate to a non-Christian.

HOW I REALIZED MY NEED FOR CHRIST
7. In what ways were my actions unsatisfying? How did I try to meet these needs?

8. How did those things begin to disappoint me?

9. Did you ever experience answers to your prayers or some encounter with God before becoming a Christian? "A God moment." If you have, explain the experience and your understanding of God at that time?

10. What did you do to satisfy the void and emptiness without knowing God's love?  What ways did you try and experience love?

11. What are some of your deep desires and needs that helped bring you on a journey to God? It is essential to express the vacuum inside of you before accepting Christ.

B. HOW - Did You Come To Christ? (approx. one minute)
(Worksheet #2 - "How" I Received Christ)

Explain Your Decision Of Coming To Christ?
This is vital. No matter what concerns and events brought you to Christ, it is essential to be clear and precise about how the unbeliever can come to know Jesus. For example, you may have gone forward in a church service, or you placed your faith in Christ; somewhere else with a friend or alone. The unbeliever may be listening and processing your story in order to learn and know what they need to do to start and establish a relationship with Christ. You want a non-Christian to hear and understand how you became a Christian and how they can make the same step to Christ. We are telling our story from accepting Christ and also what happened from God's part and side in making us sons and daughters in God's family.

• What was the turning point that directed you to Christ?
• What actually happened?
• Where were you?
• When did you trust Christ?
• What did you do?
• What Scripture did the Holy Spirit use in your life?
• Did someone help you with this process?

Make this as basic as possible; assume that the hearer is a God-seeker, and your experience will be used as a plausible scenario that they could relate to.

a. What was the circumstance(s), problem(s), people, issue(s), or event that caused you to acknowledge Christ as the answer to your deep inner needs? Describe it?

b. What issues and problems did you struggle with concerning Christ? (doubts, fears, etc.)

c. State clearly and precisely the steps you chose to become a Christian. If there is appropriate Scripture that fits here, you may want to use it. Most times, you will just paraphrase it.

d. Include the Gospel clearly and briefly.
The Gospel includes 1. All have sinned 2. Sin's penalty 3. Christ paid the penalty 4. They must receive Christ.

Tell how God has helped you in different things using one or two relatable ways that you have experienced God's help below.

EMOTIONAL ISSUES	GOD'S SOLUTION
Anger	Calm
Failure	Grace
Rejection	God's Love
Bitterness	Forgiveness
Emptiness	Purpose
Restlessness	Direction
Aimlessness	Guidance
Insignificance	Acceptance
Anxiety & Fear	God's Peace

THOUGHT-PROVOKING QUESTIONS TO DISCOVER YOUR STORY ON "HOW"
Use only the questions that connect and are relatable to you and your story.

1. Tell of a time when you turned to God and had faith? Or a time when it all made sense to trust and walk with Jesus? Or a specific time you knew by faith that you belong to Christ? Examples in a church, someone sharing the Gospel, reading the Bible, quietly in your bedroom, or a God moment.

2. How did you come to know or receive Christ? When and how did you put your faith in Christ as Savior?

3. What were my initial reactions?

4. When did my attitude begin to change? Why?

5. What were the final struggles that went through my mind just before I accepted Christ? Despite the conflicts, why did I decide to accept Christ?

6. How, exactly, did I receive Christ? What words did I use? It is crucial to be as exact as you can be as it gives the person a model for how they can do it when they decide to make the same decision.

7.  Write down where the event happened. Some examples are someone sharing the Gospel, church, home, Sunday school, Alpha course, home Bible studies, Pastor's visit, hospital, life groups, sermon, family members, or a God moment. Or it occurred, but I'm not exactly sure when and that is okay. Focus on what you were feeling and experiencing at that time.

8. If you heard and responded to a message or a sermon, do you remember what spoke to you? What in your life situation that helped make the sermon speak to you profoundly? How did that sermon minister to you to accept and receive Christ?

9. What did God save you from?

10. Describe the situations when you knew that you had faith and believed in Jesus?  You might have had turmoil or some major thing happening in your life, or you just realized that you needed our Lord and Savior in your life.

11. What did it feel like to make that decision? What was my first reaction to the Good News message?

12. What was the message I came to understand and believe? Summarize.
A. All have sinned B. Sin's penalty C. Christ paid the penalty D. Must receive Christ.

13. What was motivating me to overcome my initial struggles with the truth?

14. Why did I finally decide to stop living for myself and surrender to Christ?

15. What decision(s) did I make when I turned away from my sin and began to live for Christ?

IMPORTANT: When creating and sharing your story, keep in mind what relates to the non-Christians story as much as possible.  Take your time. Think through the process. You will be surprised at the things you remember.

16. Who was involved in the process? Write the names down of the influential individuals who had a part in your conversion. Examples are ones that shared the Gospel with you, a parent, relative, friend, co-worker, student, or a stranger, etc.

17. Beside each name, explain how they helped you to accept Christ. Describe what impressed and drew you to a relationship with Jesus by their life.

18. Next, write down by each name how they made you aware of spiritual things? Describe any crucial conversations that affected you and how that impacted you. It could be several things that got you thinking about life or God and helped you see your need for Christ or explained a mistaken belief, and others. How many kinds of crucial conversations can you recognize?

19. Reflect back to when your spiritual uneasiness began. Was it a long time ago or just recently? What started the process; an occasion, situations, searching, crisis, a lifestyle of alcohol or drugs, family problems, or a life-altering experience?

Be conscious of the unrest and the circumstances in the individual you are sharing with.

20. Had time passed since you started searching for answers until you met Christ? Or was it instantly like listening to a sermon, and you knew you had to give your life to Christ?

21. How would you explain the main problem or concern you had before Christ? Ways God resolved this?

22. Can you recognize a time in your life that you realized that sin separated you from God?  As best as you can, write out when, where, and how.  It will be different for each Christian, and for some, it is the moment of surrendering and submitting to God's love.

23. Detail when you started to comprehend your own sinfulness without feeling a negative response. Who was involved in helping you see your sinfulness?  (God, friends, the Holy Spirit, family member.)

24. Did a local church play a part in your conversion? Did you respond to a sermon? Did a friend invite you to church, or you just went out of curiosity? Or the church had nothing to do with your conversion?

25. If you attended church for the first time, how did you respond? What was the reason why you went? Did the church congregation affect you in any way, if there was one? How long did you attend a church before you accepted Christ? Or you might not have been connected to any church?

IMPORTANT:
26. How did I receive Christ? What words did I use?
It is necessary to be as specific as you can be as it gives the non-Christian a model and a guide for how they can do it when they choose to make that same decision. Be conscious of what is going on in the individual in their life and past experiences when sharing. The Holy Spirit will help you to be relatable.

C. AFTER - Your Life After Accepting Jesus (approx. 1 minute)
(Worksheet #3 - "After" - My Life After Receiving Christ)

Show how Jesus has filled or is filling your deep inner needs and desires. In part A of the "Before," you explained your needs and wants, and no matter what you did or the things you bought, you came away unsatisfied and unsuccessful in meeting those needs. Now show the difference Jesus has made in your life after coming to Christ, using the above chart on emotional issues and God's solution.

Illustrate A Changed Life (Verbally Draw A Mental Picture)
People want to know if Jesus has made a difference and change in your life. Keep your story current by speaking about things God is doing in your life presently. How has accepting and following Christ affected your life, family, career, or personal problems and matters? How did your viewpoint of life and the world change when you became a Christian?

Stay away from using religious terms and Christian clichés. Communicate in a personal, positive, honest, and genuine way. Don't exaggerate or give nonessential and undesirable details of a painful past. Be conscious of what is suitable and relevant for your audience. Be genuine and candid about any difficulties of walking with Christ and that it is a process, and everything does not change overnight.

How Has Knowing Christ Changed Your Life? (2 Corinthians 5:17)

• How did God make a definite and specific difference in your life?
• What were the outcomes of these positive differences in your life?
• What meaning has your faith had on your life?
• In what down-to-earth ways was your life changed?
• Were there differences that surprised you?
• Did your expectations get met?

Do not only discuss in the past tense—tell what Christ is doing in your life today. Do not avoid talking about problems and struggles as non-Christians need to understand that Christians have difficulties because they, the un-believer, certainly have their own issues. They need to know that Christ is a firm and trustworthy anchor in the storms of life and that the Christian life provides power for life.

a. State how Christ-filled or is fulfilling your deep emotional and personal needs. In the"BEFORE," you showed your needs and how you attempted unsuccessfully to meet them. You now want to show the change that Christ has made in your life.

b. Close with a comment like: "But the greatest benefit is that I know for certain that I have eternal life." IMPORTANT: The person you speak with will tend to reflect and mention the last thing you say. Generally, it is natural and straight forward to move from your testimony into a clear presentation of the Gospel. (Tomorrow's study guide.)

THOUGHT-PROVOKING QUESTIONS TO DISCOVER YOUR STORY ON "AFTER"
Use only the questions that connect and are relatable to you and your story.

1. What happened after you received Christ?

2. What are some of the specific changes in my life now? (changed attitudes, different priorities, view of life, new focus, etc.)

3. What are some specific illustrations of these changes?

4. Can I tell somebody, "Why am I a Christian?" (ESSENTIAL)

5. How did God meet and satisfy your primary needs? Examples in your past: greed, addictions, selfish, hating others, etc. Instead, now you are generous, caring, forgiving, loving, etc.

6. Make a list of significant events and experiences in your life. Then recognize how God was involved.
a) What did you discover from these situations?
b) What beliefs from God's Word did you utilize to help you through these events?
You will probably uncover new things while you are working through this process!

7. How has God changed you? IMPORTANT

8. Did you get convicted of things from your past lifestyle? What and how did the Holy Spirit change in your behaviors and desires?

9. Why am I motivated differently now?

10. How has your view of Christ, and your outlook on life changed then and now?

11. What have you experienced from God? (Grace, forgiveness, peace, etc.)

12. Has Jesus met and satisfied the unmet needs you experienced prior to knowing Christ?

13 Think about how God helps you in day to day life? (Begin to keep a journal.) In more recent circumstances and problems, how has Jesus helped you?

14. Is my life problem-free now? If not, what is different? (Hope and power to change through the Holy Spirit.)

It is helpful, though not necessary, to close with a bible verse that summarizes the theme of your story.

TIPS ON SHARING WITH OTHERS

1. Take notes of the names of individuals that are non-Christians. Give thought to where they are on their spiritual journey?

2. How can you help non-Christians in finding a relationship with God? Examples are inviting them to church, fun events, meet for coffee, ask them to your home, meeting their needs, showing love and compassion, etc.

3. How can you help non-Christians with a spiritual void in their life to turn to God for their answers?  The spiritual void comes in many forms.

4. What caring and thoughtful steps can you take today to help those non-believers you know to find Christ? (IMPORTANT)

 

PRACTICING YOUR STORY (YOUR STORY IS GOD'S STORY)

Use this 3 X 5 Blank Outline Card Download Word Doc  or PDF  (Fill in your details.)
Instruction on How to make a Blank Outline Card Download Word or PDF.

After you have written out your finished testimony, if possible, ask another Christian to read it and make recommendations for improvement, making sure the Gospel is presented clearly. Then, when you have a final draft that you like, outline your testimony on a 3" x 5" card.

General Outline  3 X 5 Sharing the Gospel Outline Card Word or PDF.
A. Before Christ - 1. Background 2. Problems 3. No Direction
B. How I Accepted Christ - 1. Situation 2. Message 3. Receiving Christ
C. After Accepting Christ - 1. Changes 2. Direction 3. Impact on day to day life

Example 3 X 5 Sharing The Gospel Outline Card Word or PDF.
A. Before - 1. Background (Self) 2. Problem (Addiction) 3. No Direction (Lost)
B. How - 1. Situation (Desperate) 2. Message (Jesus died for me) 3. Receiving Christ (at church accepted Christ)
C. After - 1. Changes (a new life) 2. Direction (real purpose) 3. Impact on a day to day life (compassion for others)

Finished 3 X 5 Sharing The Gospel Outline Card Word or PDF
(After Practice, Practice, and Practice.)
A. Before - 1. Self 2. Addiction 3. Lost

B. How - 1. Desperate 2. Jesus died for me 3. Accepting Christ explain
Remember the Gospel includes: a. All have sinned, b. Sin's penalty, c. Christ paid the penalty, d. Must receive Christ.

C. After - 1. A New Life 2. Real Purpose 3. Compassion For Others

Practice giving your testimony to a Christian friend in three minutes or less. Sharing your STORY (GOD'S STORY) with a small Christian group would also be an invaluable opportunity to rehearse and gain feedback.

Your God story can be one of the most powerful, compelling, and convincing tools for ministry in the 21st Century. It is more effective than preaching a sermon because you have experienced and are living proof of your account. Always remember no one expects you to be perfect; just leave the results with God. By clearly telling what has occurred in your life, society can connect and relate to the experiences surrounding your life, changing choices, and decisions. God will often use your STORY to speak to and convict others of a need for Him.

Use this 3 X 5 Blank Outline Card Download Word Doc  or PDF  (Fill in your details.)
Instruction on how to make a Blank Outline Card Download Word or PDF.

PRACTICE, PRACTICE, AND PRACTICE - UNTIL IT FLOWS NATURALLY
Recognize that a strong testimony is one communicated in the power and influence of the Holy Spirit, with leaving the results to God.
1. Rehearse your story (God's story) until it becomes natural to share.
2. Trust and rest in the Holy Spirit. (Chapter 8)
3. Have a natural and pleasant countenance.
4. Always speak clearly in a relaxed, natural tone and loud enough to be heard.
5. Always make eye contact with the individual or in a group setting.
6. Avoid nervous movements as rubbing your face, playing with objects, not sitting still, or clearing your throat.
7. Avoid using emotional pressure to obtain a decision for Christ in your testimony. God, only through the Holy Spirit, changes people's hearts. (1Corinthians 2:4.)

EVALUATING YOUR TESTIMONY (YOUR STORY IS GOD'S STORY)

A. Is It Thorough
Does your account tell the whole story? Does it involve the three parts?

• Life BEFORE Christ: What can the non-believer relate to?
• HOW: Events at the time of rebirth? How is it like the non-believer's circumstances?
• Life AFTER discovering Christ: How is your life changed differently than non-Christians?

B. Is It Understandable
Will my story be simple for a non-Christian to grasp and understand, or is it full of Christian jargon that might confuse non-believers? Does it appear like a sermon, or is it helpful support to a stranger or friend?

C. Is The Gospel Message Clear
Are all the principal points of the Gospel message discussed in your story? Understanding it is impracticable to go into detail involving all of this in a brief testimony, all or some of the following points should be properly treated.

1. The Bad News

• We are all sinners, and our penalty is death.
• God is holy and perfect, and we cannot please Him.
• God's Son Jesus died in our place on the cross.

2. The Good News

• We are rescued and saved by faith—not by our works and efforts.
• We have a spiritual birth into God's family as His children.
• We have the promise of eternal life.

D. Is The Testimony Short and Sweet - Concise
Your testimonies should be no longer than three minutes. Is there any unnecessary detail in the story? We do not need to tell the whole story now, as evangelism is a process. A three-minute testimony is more difficult to write and use than a longer version as it forces you to focus on the essential aspects of your story. Condense your testimony to an outline and commit it to memory.

General Example For Your 3 x 5 Outline Cards: (Very Important)
A. Before Christ - 1. Background 2. Problems 3. No Direction
B. How I Accepted Christ - 1. Situation 2. Message 3. Receiving Christ
C. After Accepting Christ - 1. Changes 2. Direction 3. Impact on day to day life

Just like a testimony in a courtroom, a Christian authenticates evidence and declaration demonstrates and corroborates a life changed by Jesus Christ by an outreach testimony.
Purpose - Tell people that they can be saved too (rescued, find hope, delivered from despair) and to glorify God for His salvation.
Theme - Your's and life's changed by God.
Focus - The message accepted and believed.
Response (Desired) - The listener can relate to the Gospel message and say, "I need Jesus in my life, too!"

E. DO NOT'S
1. Are there any Religious words? ( born again, saved, convicted, sin, converted, etc.) Non-Christians do not understand these words and, if used, need to be clarified what they mean.
2. Is it too wordy? Don't shotgun the listener with too many themes?
3. Is it too short? (rushed.)
4. Do I beat around the bush? (not clear, avoiding the truth.)
5. Avoid a preaching tone.
6. When using vague words like "peaceful," "joyful," "changed," or "happy," explain the context.
7. Too much focus on how "bad" I used to be?
8. Did I mention church denominations and in a defamatory and unflattering way?
9. Do I give the sense that the Christian life is a life of ease? (a bed of roses.) Be realistic and do not imply that Jesus removes all of life's problems, but instead that He empowers us to live through them as you walk in obedience.

F. DO'S
1. Pray for guidance (James 1:5-6.)
2. At most, use one or two Bible verses. If your listener is not familiar with the Bible, explain the background of the verse.
3. Write it out so you can remember and refine it.
4. Choose and develop one theme from your life.
5. Begin your story with an attention-getting sentence or incident, if possible.
6. Your testimony can be condensed or expanded based upon the circumstances and the time available. Keep a three-minute time limit in mind.
7. Was the Gospel message delivered clearly?
8. Did I talk about areas of my life that have changed?
9. Write a forceful closing that comes to a logical and finished conclusion.
10. Let Jesus be the main focus of your testimony. Speak boldly about Jesus, not your past life.
11. After hearing your testimony, does the listener know how to become a Christian?
12. IMPERATIVE to end with "Have you ever considered RECEIVING Jesus as your Savior?" or "Have you ever made a DECISION to accept and follow Christ?"
13. Rewrite and edit as needed.
14. Did I follow the outline? (A. Before, B. How, C. After.)
In A. Before: Arouse interest like a thought-provoking experience. Do not spend much time here.
In B. How: Be specific about how you came to Christ.
In C. After: Give one or two changes, Jesus has made in your life that relate back to A. Before.

 

QUESTIONS FOR CONSIDERATION, REVIEW, AND APPLICATION

• Where are some places and times in your day or week during which you could share your testimony? Write them down.
• What topics of general conversation might readily provide "openers" for the casual introduction of your story? Write them down.
• Do you travel on public transportation? Do you take breaks or eat a meal at work or a restaurant? Ask the Lord to arrange "divine appointments" for you to be able to share your testimony.
• You will have various opportunities to share your story but begin here and now.
  
  

Examine Your Attitudes And Posture When Telling Your Story
In recounting the story of God working in your life, you are simply representing the role of a witness. You are reporting to others what happened. There is no need to preach, teach, demand, admonish, challenge, coerce, question, or force people to respond. Keeping in mind Your testimony should be a natural conversation as describing any other important event in your life. This may lead to unlocking the door to a conversation with an unbeliever if God's Spirit is doing something in their life.

You should have by now finished your 3-minute testimony using your three drafted pages and finished written copy and memorized into a 3 x 5 share the Gospel outline card to communicate your personal story. If not, please start today.

Printable  3 X 5 Blank Outline Card Download Word Doc  or PDF  (Fill in your details.)
Instruction on How to make a Blank Outline Card Download Word or PDF.
General Outline  3 X 5 Sharing the Gospel Outline Card Word or PDF.
Example 3 X 5 Sharing The Gospel Outline Card Word or PDF.
Finished Example 3 X 5 Sharing The Gospel Outline Card Word or PDF

The Key Verse For Sharing The Gospel 1 Peter 3:15
"But in your hearts revere Christ as Lord. Always be prepared to give an answer to everyone who asks you to give the reason for the hope that you have. But do this with gentleness and respect," (Recommend Memorizing.)

 

DO YOU KNOW WHAT THE GREAT COMMISSION MEANS?

51% Of Churchgoers Do Not Know of the Great Commission.

32% Of Churchgoers are Unsure and Cannot Recall the Exact Meaning.

17% Of Churchgoers Say Yes and Know What the Great Commission Means.

ACTION PLAN FOR SHARING THE GOSPEL
Share your story with other Christians. Tell it at various times with writing it down until your presentation is clear, understandable, and comes very natural for you to share.
Ask yourself:
"Does this capture and illustrate what happened to me?"
"Could a person know how to give their life to Christ as a result of hearing my story?"

Prayerfully make a strategy that will successfully result in sharing your testimony with two non-Christians in the next few days. Ask God to prepare and provide "divine appointments" for you to share your testimony in the next week or so.

Over time you will continue to improve and hone your testimony by adding clarity and keeping it current. The more you walk with Christ, the better grasp you will have of God's work in your life. Important to always look for and expect openings to share your faith story when talking to people.

End with saying something like: "But the greatest benefit is that I know for certain that I accepted Christ and now have eternal life." In most cases, people you are talking to will remember and comment on the last thing you say. Quite often, this is a more natural move from your testimony to a clear presentation of the Gospel. Tomorrow's study guide, we will be starting on how to present the Gospel message. See you tomorrow.

SHARING: "Is giving feet to the belief, where people are called to not only be Christians but to go share Christ wherever they are and to catalyze every believer into a lifestyle of Christ-like action."

A HUGE CONGRATULATIONS ON PREPARING, POLISHING, AND FINISHING YOUR PERSONAL TESTIMONY!
WAY TO GO!
IT WILL BE LIVE CHANGING!

Recommend printing out this study guide and keeping a copy in your Bible.
“Your Story is God’s Story” Download the PDF Here.

 

Next Study Guide - Chapter 15 - WHAT IS THE GOSPEL IN A NUTSHELL

PLEASE TELL YOUR STORY  Pray for opportunities and share your story with those individuals this week.

Fun Contest: we will pick one testimony to win a free Bible once a month.
Your testimony will be judged by its sincerity and thought that went into it. Everyone's story is important to God and us.
Join the Contest here.

RECOMMEND:
PRAYER BOOKMARK IN SHARING THE GOSPEL PDF DOWNLOAD
( Recommend Printing Bookmark PDF To Use In Your Bible - Makes 4 Bible Bookmarks.)

PRAYER GUIDE IN SHARING THE GOSPEL PDF DOWNLOAD HERE
(Keep a copy in your Bible.)