Tell What Happened to you
“That which was from the beginning, which we have heard, which we have seen with our eyes, which we have looked at and our hands have touched—this we proclaim concerning the Word of life. The life appeared; we have seen it and testify to it, and we proclaim to you the eternal life, which was with the Father and has appeared to us.We proclaim to you what we have seen and heard, so that you also may have fellowship with us. And our fellowship is with the Father and with his Son, Jesus Christ.We write this to make our joy complete.” (1 John 1:1-4)
A blind man’s story
“One thing I do know. I was blind but now I see!” (John 9:25)
A way to share Christ is to simply tell what happened to you, like the blind man did in the passage above. He did not argue theology or answer any religious questions that they asked him. He just told them clearly what had happened to him: “I once was blind, but now I see.” It was simple, direct, and could not be argued with.
Use the KISS method
The KISS method is an acrostic that stands for Keep It Simple Silly. Someone put it this way, telling your testimony is as simple as one beggar telling another beggar where to find bread.
I share my personal testimony often
When I have an opportunity to share, I briefly tell about the drinking problem I had years ago as an alcoholic, about being arrested and going to jail for being drunk and disorderly, and how my life back then was all about partying and booze. It was a mess.
Then one night, while out drinking with some friends, I found a little booklet in their car’s glovebox while looking for matches to light a cigarette. It was a gospel tract in the form of a little comic book that told about our sin nature and why Jesus died on the cross and shed His blood to pay for it. It told how we must admit our sin, turn away from it (repent), and pray a simple little prayer to receive Christ personally (John 1:12). The following day, while driving along with a severe hangover, I remembered what the booklet had said, and I prayed a heartfelt prayer and asked Jesus to forgive my sins and to be my Savior. At that moment, my life was instantly and dramatically changed! I was born again! I stopped drinking and smoking, and I started reading the Bible and going to church. Since then, God has led me into ministry and has blessed me in too many ways to keep count. I love the Bible verse that says, “And my God shall supply your every need according to His glorious riches in Christ Jesus” (Phil. 4:19). And He does, always!
You can do the same
Here is a little 3 part plan I use to help people prepare their personal testimony.
1) Tell briefly what your life was like prior to receiving Christ. Tell about problem you we’re dealing with, or about an addiction, or about loneliness, or something else (just choose one of them).
2) Tell how you were introduced to Christ. What happened. How and what you prayed to receive Him. Make it crystal clear.
3) Tell briefly what your life has been like since receiving Christ. Perhaps share a Scripture verse you’ve found helpful and meaningful.
Therefore
“And this gospel of the kingdom will be proclaimed throughout the whole world as a testimony to all nations, and then the end will come.” (Matt. 24:14 ESV)