“I no longer call you servants, because a servant does not know his master’s business. Instead, I have called you friends, for everything that I learned from my Father I have made known to you. You did not choose me, but I chose you and appointed you so that you might go and bear fruit—fruit that will last—and so that whatever you ask in my name the Father will give you.” John 15:15-16
INTRODUCTION
The distinguishing mark of our Christian life is that there was a time when we first repented from our sins and placed our faith in Jesus Christ as our personal Lord and Saviour. Every believer has one of these moments. Sharing these moments with others is called a TESTIMONY.
We should each be able to clearly communicate our testimonies to others.
Being in a discipleship group or in a cell group or a fellowship is a wonderful space to practice sharing the story of how Jesus saved us. In, fact, it is one of the greatest joys of the beginning stages of our times together. Each group may do it differently – they may decide to share one testimony a week, or they might dedicate a whole meeting to just sharing one another’s stories.
A common issue that comes up when sharing testimonies is that many of us don’t know how to do it. That’s okay. It doesn’t have to be complicated. The easiest way to share is by breaking it down into three stages:
- Describe who you were before Christ.
- Explain the moment in your life you came to know Christ.
- Tell how your life is different now.
Let’s take a look at each of the steps and what is helpful to include when sharing the story of how Jesus changed you.
- WHO WERE YOU BEFORE CHRIST?
Ephesians 2:1-2 tells us, “you were dead in your trespasses and sins in which you previously lived according to the ways of this world.” The first step in sharing a testimony is to describe yourself Paul did in his letter to the Ephesians, before you decided to follow Jesus. What was your attitude like? What did you struggle with? How were your emotions? Where did you place your hope?
Some feel as though they don’t have a dramatic story to tell, and others may feel like they’ve done things that will change how people think about them. Remember, we all were, as Paul wrote, “dead” in our trespasses. There are no degrees of deadness, for Jesus is capable of raising everyone to life in him.
- HOW DID YOU COME TO KNOW CHRIST?
When the Philippian jailer asked Paul and Silas what he had to do to be saved, they responded with a simple answer in Acts 16:31: “Believe in the Lord Jesus, and you will saved.” It doesn’t matter where you’ve come from or what you’ve done; all that matters is that you simply turn from your former ways and accept the free gift that Jesus offers by believing in him as the Son of God, who died for our sins and rose again.
When sharing this portion of your story, you may find it easy to answer some of these questions.
- When did you understand the gospel?
- How did you realize that your sin separated you from a holy God?
- When did you confess that you were a sinner a needed Jesus to save you?
- How did you accept Christ’s forgiveness?
- HOW ARE YOU DIFFERENT NOW?
In 2 Corinthians 5:17, Paul explains what happens when we come to saving faith in Christ Jesus: “Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; the old passed away, and see, the new has come!” Once we are made new by Jesus after professing our faith in Him, something changes in our minds. We aren’t perfect, but the focus of our lives switches from ourselves to Jesus. When describing this stage of your life, you could explain how you are different now that you’re a Christian.
- How did your attitude, emotions, and struggles change?
- How did your worldview change?
- How do you now make decisions?
CONCLUSION
Sharing with other believers is a very fruitful time of encouragement and edification. If possible, leave time for questions and discussion in the group regarding what God has done in your life so that together we can build each person up and praise God for what He has done.
But this doesn’t work just in the confines of a discipleship or cell group. When sharing this story with those who are lost, ask the listener if there has ever been a time when something like this has happened in their life. Share the gospel with them, and let know that they can experience Christ’s forgiveness and salvation, too.
Stay Blessed!
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