Every time you tell your story of how you became a follower of Jesus (your testimony), you give honor and glory to God, and He is pleased with that.
Your story — regardless of how “spectacular” or “ordinary” you think it is — is a story about God’s character. It is your eyewitness account of how God rescued you from sin and death through Christ and how He changed your life.
When you share your story with others, you help them get to know what God is like and give them a glimpse of how He might change their own life.
Whether you are in line at the grocery store, sitting with a family member or posting on social media, the Bible calls you to “always be ready” to explain your hope in Christ with gentleness and respect (1 Peter 3:15-16, NLT).
You may think that because it’s your story, you don’t have to do anything to be ready to tell it. After all, you were there when it happened, and you’re living it now.
But it’s easy to become side-tracked or forget things when you’re sharing your testimony, which can be confusing or distracting for those listening. This is why a little preparation and practice can be so valuable.
Let’s take a look at how to put your story together, piece by piece. Here are four basic parts to telling your story: the opening and your life before Christ, how you place your faith in Christ, your life after coming to Christ and the closing.
HELPFUL HINTS FOR COMMUNICATING
Condense your testimony. Telling a 15-30 second version of your story is a powerful way to whet someone’s spiritual appetite, and will be beneficial in a variety of settings. Start with your closing statement from your original testimony and add a sentence or two, focusing on one way your life looked before you met Jesus, and then how your life has looked different after.
For example: “Before I met Jesus, I was so dependent on what others thought about me. But now that I know Him, I have so much more confidence. I’d love to tell you more about that sometime.”
To learn more about what a Christian testimony is check out this article about how the apostle Paul communicated his changed-life story
Or if you’re ready to tell your story to someone, here are a few tips to make sharing your testimony easier.
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