Sharing Your Testimony

DOS AND DON'TS
TO SHARING YOUR TESTIMONY

1. Don’t glamorize sin. Be very careful about giving details of your sinful past. Instead, give details about your new life in Christ.

2. Tell what God has done, not what you have done.

3. Every individual who has been saved by the grace of Jesus has a testimony of how He (Christ) has worked in their life. Don’t be ashamed to share it. “I was at church every week, but far from Jesus,” may reach some of your hearers as nothing else can.

4. Use terms people can understand. For example “I finally have peace in my heart,” “I have Jesus in my heart and I’m not carrying all that guilt,” “Life is so much happier because I know God has a plan for me.”

5. Be real and sincere, not overemotional.

6. Don’t criticize other people or denominations. Guard the reputation of family and friends, even if they are part of a painful past. Your former church persuasion may not have been doctrinally correct, but it may once have been instrumental in leading you in the right direction.

7. Instead of dwelling on the trials and sacrifices of coming to Christ, dwell on the blessings and rewards. Tell the truth about the darkness, fear and misery of being in Satan’s service. Help people see that you believe “heaven is cheap enough.”

8. Don’t be preachy!

9. Identify with your audience. Tailor your testimony to meet them.

10. Tell about the supportive new friendships with church members.

11. Point to the steps you took to become a Christian, so they can envision how they could undertake a similar journey.

12. If possible, offer to talk or pray with anyone who wishes afterward.

WORDS OF INSPIRATION

Our Own Experience“That which will be most effectual is the testimony of our own experience.” The Desire of Ages, p. 347

“A testimony from the heart, coming from lips in which is no guile, full of faith and humble trust, though given by a stammering tongue, is accounted of God as precious as gold.” Bible Commentary, Vol. 6, p. 1091.

Part of Our Experience“And I heard a loud voice saying in heaven, now is come salvation, and strength, and the kingdom of our God, and the power of his Christ: for the accuser of our brethren is cast down, which accused them before our God day and night. And they overcame him by the blood of the Lamb, and by the word of their testimony; and they loved not their lives unto the death.” Revelation 12:11,12

Everyone Can Share Who's been Touched!“They could tell what they knew; what they themselves had seen, and heard, and felt of the power of Christ. This is what everyone can do whose heart has been touched by the grace of God.” The Desire of Ages, p. 340.

Share the Blessings!“No sooner does one come to Christ than there is born in his heart a desire to make known to others what a precious friend he has found in Jesus; the saving and sanctifying truth cannot be shut up in his heart. If we are clothed with the righteousness of Christ and are filled with the joy of His indwelling Spirit, we shall not be able to hold our peace. If we have tasted and seen that the Lord is good we shall have something to tell. Like Philip when he found the Saviour, we shall invite others into His presence. We shall seek to present to them the attractions of Christ and the unseen realities of the world to come. There will be an intensity of desire to follow in the path that Jesus trod. There will be an earnest longing that those around us may ‘behold the Lamb of God, which taketh away the sin of the world.’ John 1:29.” Steps to Christ, p. 78.

Your Testimont Could Reach Harden Hearts!“Our confession of His faithfulness is Heaven’s chosen agency for revealing Christ to the world. We are to acknowledge His grace as made known through the holy men of old; but that which will be most effectual is the testimony of our own experience. We are witnesses for God as we reveal in ourselves the working of a power that is divine. Every individual has a life distinct from all others, and an experience differing essentially from theirs. God desires that our praise shall ascend to Him, marked by our own individuality. These precious acknowledgements to the praise of the glory of His grace, when supported by a Christ-like life, have an irresistible power that works for the salvation of souls.” The Desire of Ages, p. 347.

What Should We Share?
“So everyone may be able, through his own experience, to "set his seal to this, that God is true." John 3:33, A. R. V. He can bear witness to that which he himself has seen and heard and felt of the power of Christ. He can testify: ‘I needed help, and I found it in Jesus. Every want was supplied, the hunger of my soul was satisfied; the Bible is to me the revelation of Christ. I believe in Jesus because He is to me a divine Savior. I believe the Bible because I have found it to be the voice of God to my soul.’” Testimonies for the Church, Vol. 8, p. 321.

“Tell them how you found Jesus, and how blessed you have been since you gained an experience in His service. Tell them what blessing comes to you as you sit at the feet of Jesus, and learn precious lessons from His word. Tell them of the gladness and joy that there is in the Christian life. Your warm, fervent words will convince them that you have found the pearl of Great price. Let your cheerful, encouraging words show that you have certainly found the higher way. This is genuine missionary work, and as it is done, many will awake as from a dream.” Testimonies for the Church, Vol. 9, p. 38.

Who Should We Share Our Testimony With?“The first works of the church were seen when the believers sought out friends, relatives, and acquaintances, and with hearts overflowing with love told the story of what Jesus was to them and what they were to Jesus.” Testimonies to Ministers, p. 168.

Your Testimony Should Be Heart Felt!“As witnesses for Christ, we are to tell what we know, what we ourselves have seen and heard and felt. If we have been following Jesus step by step, we shall have something right to the point to tell concerning the way in which He has led us. We can tell how we have tested His promise, and found the promise true. We can bear witness to what we have known of the grace of Christ. This is the witness for which our Lord calls, and for want of which the world is perishing.” The Desire of Ages, p. 340.

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