Sharing Your Testimony: A Guide to Telling Your Story
If you grew up in the church, there are "Christianese" terms we often use without sufficient explanation. One of those phrases is "sharing your testimony." The phrase carries the idea of being a courtroom witness who is called to give personal testimony to what he has experienced. This imagery is captured by Jesus when he says, "You will be my witnesses" in Acts 1:8. The term witness is used over 30 times in Acts alone. As Christians, we are witnesses to Christ's resurrection power. Our lives bear witness to the gospel.
So, what do we mean by "sharing your testimony?" Is there a right way or a wrong way to do it? Your story is your story. I've read and heard so many testimonies from the Christians in our church. What makes them beautiful are the unique ways God brings individuals to himself. While some people are natural storytellers, many people need some guidance in telling their story. Sometimes being a good storyteller actually gets in the way of showcasing Christ and his saving work as the center of our story.
Just as Paul used his testimony as a vehicle to share the gospel, we can use our testimonies of how God saved us to share the gospel with others. Here is a simple format to help you communicate the gospel through your story:
My life before Christ
How Christ saved me
My new life in Christ
Before Christ: Understanding Your Lostness
Some people have a dramatic story of what their life was like without Christ. They were lost and knew it. They had experienced the brokenness and shame that came from a life of sin and were deeply convicted of their sin. Some, like me, were introduced to the gospel at a young age and didn't live much of a life at all before Christ. All of us, though, have this in common—without Christ, we were lost. Romans 3:23 says that "All have sinned and come short of the glory of God." When we tell about our life before Christ, we should emphasize our lostness and how we came to understand that we needed a Savior.
How Christ Saved Me: The Gospel Transaction
Christ saves all of us the same way. We are all saved by grace through faith in the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ on our behalf. Was there someone who started talking to you about your need for a Savior? Was there something you read? Was there a Bible verse that helped shape your understanding of your need? Sharing these details helps someone grasp their own need for salvation and how to trust Christ. I like to include verses like John 3:16 and Romans 10:9–10:
"If you declare with your mouth, 'Jesus is Lord,' and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. For it is with your heart that you believe and are justified, and it is with your mouth that you profess your faith and are saved."
I share how I prayed and accepted Christ as my Savior, repenting of my sins, and calling on Jesus to be the Lord and King of my life. Then I like to share this verse of assurance from Romans 10:13: "For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved."
After Christ: Your New Life in Him
Sharing about your new life in Christ is as simple as talking about what God has done for you and how your life has changed since being a Christian. You can share about the freedom in knowing you are forgiven and the joy of a life freed from the shame of sin. I like to share Ephesians 2:8–10 with an emphasis on verse 10:
"For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and this is not from yourselves, it is the gift of God—not by works, so that no one can boast. For we are God's handiwork, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do."
This is especially helpful when talking to those who think they can earn salvation or who maybe comment on what a good person you might be. Yes, good works are part of being a Christian, but they are a result of what Christ has done and not what saves us. Only Christ can do that.
Putting It Into Practice
Your testimony is powerful because it is your story. Consider spending some time writing out your testimony and practicing saying it out loud. Then pray that God would give you someone to share it with. Maybe ask someone to tell you their life story, and then ask if you can share the story of what God has done in you. You will be surprised how God uses your testimony to bring others to himself.