Giving Your Testimony
What is a testimony? Speaking about someone else, and for the Christian this means that we are primarily speaking about Christ.
Why do we share our testimonies? 1 Peter 3:15, Romans 1:16
In telling our testimony we are not just answering the question of “How did I get interested in Christianity and how has God been working in me since?…” But also “How did God save me?”
How long ought a testimony go for? Around 3 minutes is a good time to speak about Christ’s story through your story. This means if you write your testimony out, around 300 words is a good guide for length.
Christ’s Story through your Story
God saves us from sin and death through the gospel, the good news of who Jesus Christ is and what he has done. Jesus Christ is the gospel
The name ‘Jesus’ means rescuer (literary, ‘God saves’). The name ‘Christ’ means ruler, this is why Jesus Chris is Lord.
So that when we hear or speak of the gospel of Jesus Christ, we’re speaking about the rescuing ruler.
Have a look at how the following Bible verses highlight who Jesus is and what he did:
1 Corinthians 2:1-2, 1 Corinthians 15:1-4
2 Timothy 2:8
2 Corinthians 4:1-6
The gospel is the message of how God saves us in Jesus Christ. As we tell of our testimony to Christ, we are telling Christ’s story through our story, for other Christians to be encouraged and for those who are not yet Christian to turn to Jesus and trust in Him too. Since the only message in the world that actually saves us from our greatest problems of sin and death is the gospel, then our testimonies must contain the gospel truth.
Generally there are three ways we could tell of Christ’s story through our story, and we have heard all three ways at Reforming Church. It’s always so encouraging. Here below are the three models, and we have them here as a guide so that you could see which one is closest to helping you outline Christ’s story through your story.
1. Before and After model
Before
a) What was my life like before I received Christ?
Think of a well chosen incident that shows my values, direction of life, my lifestyle (don’t dress it up, be honest).
b) When did I first become aware of God working in my life?
What did he do? What happened to make me aware of him?
How
a) How did I come to understand the gospel?
What was it about Jesus that got me interested in finding out more about him?
Talk about when you realised your position of need.
Share what you’ve learnt about why Jesus died on the cross for you.
Share what his resurrection means to you.
b) How did I receive Christ?
How did you become a Christian? (what did you pray….?)
After
a) What changed after I received Christ?
Changed attitudes, ambition, actions, relationships.
Eg. For attitudes “I used to think of God as…..but now I think of him as…’
I used to think Jesus was….but now…
I used to think the Bible….etc
The Concluding Encouragement
Have you ever considered Jesus? What do you think about him?
Where do you think you stand with respect to Jesus?
2. Always Believed model
Now
a) How are my attitudes, values and desires, actions and relationships affected by my relationship with Jesus?
How does Jesus as Lord make an impact on my life?
Consider actions, habits, ambitions, decisions, not living for self.
Eg. For attitudes, lots of people think of God as….but I know that God is..etc
The Past
a) How did I grow into my present relationship with Jesus?
Bible reading, teaching, events (a good intro is ‘I never became a Christian….’)
b) Who were the most significant people during my spiritual growth? And why?
Another Christian, or a church
The Gospel Facts
a) Why are the cross and resurrection so important to me?
Jesus took my punishment for ignoring God – he died for my sin.
Reflect on how great it is to be forgiven.
Consider the implications of receiving eternal life.
b) What do the cross and resurrection teach me about the character of God?
God’s initiative, generosity, love, justice
A scripture which helps explain God’s actions
(John 3:16, Romans 5:8, 6:23, Ephesians 2:8-10, 1 Peter 2:24-25, Romans 10:8)
The Concluding Encouragement
Have you ever considered Jesus? What do you think about him?
Where do you think you stand with respect to Jesus?
3. The interview ‘When-How-Why What’ Model
You can get someone to interview you, or just answer the questions as you speak.
When did you become a Christian?
How did you become a Christian?
Why did you become a Christian?
What does it mean to be a Christian/What makes you stay a Christian?
The concluding encouragement