NOTE:
This vast information was gathered & accumulated over years,
thru reading various material & setting under godly men. I do not take credit for this tool that has
helped me develop my own testimony, I can only take credit for gathering it
together in a way that is beneficial to me.
I do not wish to plagiarize anyone’s individual work, but I am unable to
express proper citation due to gathering various notes & scraps of paper
from my own study That I accumulated. I
am grateful for all those who have allowed God to use them to help use become
better witnesses to the Gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ.
Developing
a Personal Testimony
The world may question the
reliability of the Bible,
But the world cannot
discount
What has happened to you
Since Jesus entered your
life
1
John 5:10-13 10 The one who believes in the Son
of God has the testimony in himself; the one who does not believe God has made
Him a liar, because he has not believed in the testimony that God has given
concerning His Son. 11 And
the testimony is this, that God has given us eternal life, and this life is in
His Son. 12 He who has the
Son has the life; he who does not have the Son of God does not have the
life. 13 These things I have
written to you who believe in the name of the Son of God, so that you may know
that you have eternal life.
The Use
of the Personal Testimony in Witnessing
- Your testimony
should spotlight Jesus not you.
- Detail what Jesus
has done for all people. (1Corinthians 15, The Gospel)
1 Corinthians 15:1-4
Now I make known to you, brethren, the gospel which I preached to
you, which also you received, in which also you stand, 2 by which also you are saved,
if you hold fast the word which I preached to you, unless you believed in
vain. 3 For I delivered to
you as of first importance what I also received, that Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures, 4 and that He was buried,
and that He was raised on the third day according to the Scriptures,
- Tell what God has
done for you and continues to do in you, and through you
It creates interest.
It will plant the seed
of the Gospel.
v It takes 7 or more
meaningful contacts with Christians sharing their faith before a person accepts
Jesus.
You
can share the Gospel without sharing your Testimony,
But
you cannot share your Testimony without sharing the Gospel
The
Characteristics of the Personal Testimony
- Keep it Free of “Churchy”
Language
Ø The world does not
understand many of the words used in church
§ Sin – Repent – Saved –
Salvation – Righteousness - Holy
§ If you use them define
them!
- Keep it Brief
Ø No more than 3 to 4
minutes
Ø This is not a biography
of your life
- Be Clear &
Concise
- Be Excited
Ø This is the Story of
Jesus and How He Saved you à Stress your personal
relationship with Christ
- Exalt Christ [Jesus]
must increase, but I must decrease (John 3:30)
Ø Present Christ as the
center of your testimony, not yourself.
- Be Courteous &
Kind
Ø Share what happened to
you à don’t be oppressive
Ø Don’t try to force them
to make a decision
Ø The Holy Spirit
Convicts them (John 16:8) and Jesus
Saves them (Romans 10:9-10)
- Must be Outlined
well
Ø Before you received Christ
Ø How you received Christ
Ø After you received Christ
Testimonial Examples --- Read the Testimony of the Apostle Paul –
Acts 22 & Acts 26
- Paul’s primary focus in the
Scriptures of Acts was the sharing of the Gospel
Ø Twice Paul shared his
personal testimony when he was on trial for his life.
Acts 26 - A Biblical Model
Before Verses
4-11
How Verses
12-20
After Verses
21-23
Your story has power…
- It's personal. You don't have to memorize Bible verses,
or worry about telling it correctly.
- It is conversational. It's not a sermon. It can be
shared over a cup of coffee or dinner.
- No one can dispute it. If you have joy, peace, and love
in your life because of Christ, it will be evident.
- It is interesting. It's natural for friends to want to
know more about each other. Even if your friend is antagonistic to the
Gospel, he/she may still be interested in why you value your relationship
with a man named Jesus.
An
Outline for the Personal Testimony
Tips on how to Start
1.
Jot down thoughts, ideas, and events
(at this point write down everything).
2.
Arrange your thoughts, ideas, and
events in a logical (even chronological) order of presentation.
3.
Develop your thoughts, ideas, and
events into sentences.
4.
Decide what is most important to
sharing your testimony.
5.
Tie the sentences together in a
concise, meaningful way.
Before you received Christ
- What things were
most important to you? What did your life revolve around?
- Why were they so
important? What basic need were you attempting to fulfill?
Examples: lack of peace, fear of
death, something missing, no meaning to life, desire to be in control,
loneliness, lack of security, lack of purpose, lack of significance, no real
friends, no motivation
3.
How
did you try to satisfy that need?
Examples: marriage/family, work,
drugs/alcohol, sports/fitness, money, education, hobbies/entertainment, sex,
wrong friends
How you received Christ
- Describe the
circumstance that caused you to consider Christ as a solution to your need
- State specifically
the steps you took to become a believer in Christ
Ø This is where you would
share Specific Scripture references à Don’t be rote make them personal
- Include the Gospel
clearly and briefly (1 Corinthians 15)
Ø Romans Road (3:10; 3:23, 5:8; 6:23; 10:9-10;
10:13)
Ø Ten Commandments (Exodus 20)
v Focus Not
to Quote Scripture but to know and incorporate in your testimony
All have sinned,
penalty of sin, Christ paid the penalty, must make Jesus Lord of your life.
After you received Christ
- Describe how Jesus
filled or is filling your need that you stated in the Before section
- What changes have
occurred in your life as a result of accepting Jesus?
- Focus on the
greatest need being met à Eternal Life in
Jesus (John 17:3)
- What is the Lord
teaching you now?
- How do you know
Christ is in your life?
v Remember you’re not perfect, but you are
forgiven and spiritually growing (I’m
a Work in Progress)
I Became a
Christian as a Young Child
And There
Seems to be Little "Dynamic" to Tell…
What should I include?
- Christian home/family background, people who influenced
you, your early Christian experience.
- How you knew as a child what following Christ meant.
- Your experience of understanding that you personally
needed to accept Jesus as Lord and Savior.
- Reasons why God's presence in your life makes a
difference now and specific areas in which He is actively working in and
through you.
Never
Forget you were saved from death, wrath, and hell,
You’re a
living miracle with a story to tell.
Have Multiple Length Personal Testimonies
Prepared
Same story; different lengths depending upon the audience
and time available.
1.
Standard version:
Ø 3 to 4 minutes
Ø For when you meet a new or old acquaintance
Ø Sunday School or Worship Service Testimonial
2.
Long Version:
Ø 5 to 15 Minutes
Ø For testimonials in services or when occasions allow for
more specific detail.
Ø This would revolve around your life story with Christ.
3.
Short version:
Ø 60 to 90 Seconds
Ø For those occasions when time is of the essence
§ The plane is
boarding and you both are heading in different directions.
v Always, Always, Always
Ø End with what they
must do to be saved (Romans 10:9-10)
Ø And with an
Invitation to respond
Religious Word Conversion Chart
Religious Word Possible Substitute
Gospel (1
Corinthians 15) Jesus died for
our sins according the Word of God,
was buried and raised 3 days later
Sin Disobedience,
Breaking God’s Law,
Turned
my back on God
Substitute/Debt/Penalty To stand in place of – Jesus was my
Substitute on the Cross
Jesus
paid the penalty for my (sin) breaking God’s Law
Jesus
took the punishment for my (sin) breaking God’s Law
Repent Turn
from (sin) breaking God’s Law
and turn to God and obeying God’s Word
(Bible)
Forgiveness To be pardoned from (sin) Breaking God’s
law
Eternal Life (John 17:3) To have a personal relationship
with God/Jesus
Justified Declared Right before Holy God
Believe in Jesus Trusted or Relied on Jesus/Christ
Went forward Decided to turn my life over to God/Jesus
Under the Blood God forgave the wrongs I had done
Saved/Born Again Became a Christian, Committed my life to Christ
v Never Ever
Sugar-Coat the Gospel à Explain It
v Never Ever Hide the
Blood of Jesus à Explain It
v Never Ever be
Ashamed of the Cross à Explain It
v If you use a
“Churchy” Word à Explain It
Scripture
Memorization for Evangelism
Roman’s
Road Gospel Presentation
- Romans 3:10 as it is written,
there is none righteous, not even one
- Romans 3:23 for all have
sinned and fall short of the glory of God
- Romans 5:8 God demonstrates
His own love toward us, in that while we were yet sinners, Christ died for
us.
- Romans 6:23 For the wages of
sin is death, but the free gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our
Lord.
- Romans 10:9-10 if you confess
with your mouth Jesus as Lord, and believe in your heart that God
raised Him from the dead, you will be saved; for with the heart a person believes, resulting
in righteousness, and with the mouth he confesses, resulting in salvation
- Romans 10:13 WHOEVER WILL CALL
ON THE NAME OF THE LORD WILL BE SAVED
Additional
Scriptures helpful for Evangelism
- Rev 3:20 Behold, I stand at
the door and knock; if anyone hears My voice and opens the door, I will
come in to him and will dine with him, and he with Me
- John 3:16 For God so loved
the world, that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in
Him shall not perish, but have eternal life.
- John 14:6 I am the way, and
the truth, and the life; no one comes to the Father but through Me.
- Heb 9:27 it is appointed
for men to die once and after this comes judgment
- Mark 1:15 The time is
fulfilled, and the kingdom of God is at hand; repent and believe in the
gospel.
- 1 John 1:9 If we confess our
sins, He is faithful and righteous to forgive us our sins and to cleanse
us from all unrighteousness.
- 1 Peter 3:18 For Christ also
died for sins once for all, the just for the unjust, so that
He might bring us to God, having been put to death in the flesh, but made
alive in the spirit
- Romans 14:12 each one of us
will give an account of himself to God
- Acts 4:12 there is salvation
in no one else; for there is no other name under heaven that has been
given among men by which we must be saved
- Matt 11:28-30 28 Come
to Me, all who are weary and heavy-laden, and I will give you rest. 29 "Take
My yoke upon you and learn from Me, for I am gentle and humble in heart,
and YOU WILL FIND REST FOR YOUR SOULS. 30 "For
My yoke is easy and My burden is light.
10
Commandments (Exodus 20)
1. You shall have no
other gods before Me.
Matthew
4:10 10 Then Jesus said to him,
"Go, Satan! For it is written, 'YOU SHALL WORSHIP THE LORD YOUR GOD,
AND SERVE HIM ONLY.'"
2. You shall not make
for yourself any idols.
Acts
15:19-20 19 "Therefore it is my
judgment that we do not trouble those who are turning to God from among the
Gentiles, 20 but that we
write to them that they abstain from things contaminated by idols and
from fornication and from what is strangled and from blood.
3. You shall not take
the Name of the Lord your God in vain.
Matthew
7:21-23 1 "Not everyone who says to
Me, 'Lord, Lord,' will enter the kingdom of heaven, but he who does the will of
My Father who is in heaven will enter. 22 "Many will say to Me on
that day, 'Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in Your name, and in Your
name cast out demons, and in Your name perform many miracles?' 23 "And then I will declare
to them, 'I never knew you; DEPART FROM ME, YOU WHO PRACTICE
LAWLESSNESS.'
4. Remember the Sabbath
day and keep it holy.
5. Honor your father
and mother.
Ephesians
6:1-3 Children, obey your parents in the Lord,
for this is right. 2 HONOR
YOUR FATHER AND MOTHER (which is the first commandment with a
promise), 3 SO THAT IT MAY BE
WELL WITH YOU, AND THAT YOU MAY LIVE LONG ON THE EARTH.
6. You shall not
murder.
Matthew
5:21-22 21 "You have heard that the
ancients were told, 'YOU SHALL NOT COMMIT MURDER ' and 'Whoever commits murder
shall be liable to the court.' 22
"But I say to you that everyone who is angry with his brother shall
be guilty before the court; and whoever says to his brother, 'You
good-for-nothing,' shall be guilty before the supreme court; and whoever
says, 'You fool,' shall be guilty enough
to go into the fiery hell.
1
John 3:15 5 Everyone who hates his brother
is a murderer; and you know that no murderer has eternal life abiding in
him.
7. You shall not commit
adultery.
Matthew
5:27-28 27 "You have heard that it was
said, 'YOU SHALL NOT COMMIT ADULTERY'; 28
but I say to you that everyone who looks at a woman with lust for her has
already committed adultery with her in his heart.
8. You shall not steal.
Ephesians
4:28 28 He who steals must steal no
longer; but rather he must labor, performing with his own hands what is good,
so that he will have something to
share with one who has need.
9. You shall not lie.
Colossians
3:9 9 Do not lie to one another,
since you laid aside the old self with its evil
practices,
10. You shall not
covet.
Romans 7:7 7 What shall we say then? Is the
Law sin? May it never be! On the contrary, I would not have come to know sin
except through the Law; for I would not have known about coveting if the Law
had not said, "YOU SHALL NOT COVET."
v Have a Basic Understanding
of what each of the Commandments Mean
The Great Commandment
Jesus gave an Expository Sermon on the Ten
Commandments of Exodus 20
Matthew 22:36-40
36 "Teacher,
which is the great commandment in the Law?"37 And He said to
him, "'YOU SHALL LOVE THE LORD YOUR GOD WITH ALL YOUR HEART, AND WITH ALL
YOUR SOUL, AND WITH ALL YOUR MIND.'
38 "This is
the great and foremost commandment. 39 "The
second is like it, 'YOU SHALL LOVE YOUR NEIGHBOR AS YOURSELF.' 40 "On these
two commandments depend the whole Law and the Prophets."
Ø
Commandments 1-4 à Love your God
Ø
Commandments 5-10 à Love your Neighbor
