I'll lead a bible study for our church's ministry at the Boys and Girls Club of East Mississippi today. Many of the teenagers in my group want to be able to share their faith with their friends. Today we are going to work on our testimonies. I thought you might want to as well so here is an exercise that will help. Spend some time with your story!
The Story and Your Story
God’s story intersects our story at the point of grace and conversion. Our stories of conversion are important tools in our ministry tool box. Set a discipleship goal for yourself that includes preparing and telling your conversion story. A great biblical example is Paul’s testimony in Acts 22:1-21. Spend some time with this story and then spend some time thinking through your story.
Paul’s Life Before Conversion
‘Brothers and fathers, listen to the defence that I now make before you.’
2 When they heard him addressing them in Hebrew, they became even more quiet. Then he said:
3 ‘I am a Jew, born in Tarsus in Cilicia, but brought up in this city at the feet of Gamaliel, educated strictly according to our ancestral law, being zealous for God, just as all of you are today. 4I persecuted this Way up to the point of death by binding both men and women and putting them in prison, 5as the high priest and the whole council of elders can testify about me. From them I also received letters to the brothers in Damascus, and I went there in order to bind those who were there and to bring them back to Jerusalem for punishment.
How Paul Was Converted
6 ‘While I was on my way and approaching Damascus, about noon a great light from heaven suddenly shone about me. 7I fell to the ground and heard a voice saying to me, “Saul, Saul, why are you persecuting me?” 8I answered, “Who are you, Lord?” Then he said to me, “I am Jesus of Nazareth whom you are persecuting.” 9Now those who were with me saw the light but did not hear the voice of the one who was speaking to me. 10I asked, “What am I to do, Lord?” The Lord said to me, “Get up and go to Damascus; there you will be told everything that has been assigned to you to do.” 11Since I could not see because of the brightness of that light, those who were with me took my hand and led me to Damascus.
12 ‘A certain Ananias, who was a devout man according to the law and well spoken of by all the Jews living there, 13came to me; and standing beside me, he said, “Brother Saul, regain your sight!” In that very hour I regained my sight and saw him.
Paul’s Life After Conversion
14Then he said, “The God of our ancestors has chosen you to know his will, to see the Righteous One and to hear his own voice; 15for you will be his witness to all the world of what you have seen and heard. 16And now why do you delay? Get up, be baptized, and have your sins washed away, calling on his name.”
17 ‘After I had returned to Jerusalem and while I was praying in the temple, I fell into a trance 18and saw Jesus saying to me, “Hurry and get out of Jerusalem quickly, because they will not accept your testimony about me.” 19And I said, “Lord, they themselves know that in every synagogue I imprisoned and beat those who believed in you. 20And while the blood of your witness Stephen was shed, I myself was standing by, approving and keeping the coats of those who killed him.” 21Then he said to me, “Go, for I will send you far away to the Gentiles.
Work on your story…
You may not have had a dramatic “Damascus Road” experience like Paul but your story is important. Conversion is more vital than the circumstances surrounding it. Take some time and work through the before, how, and after of your conversion story. I’m including Guidelines for Writing Your Testimony just to help. They are from Alvin Reid’s book, Introduction to Evangelism.
1. Write out your testimony, seeking the Spirit’s guidance.
2. Give adequate but precise details showing how Christ became your Lord and Savior and how Christ meets your daily needs.
3. Use language the nonbeliever can understand.
4. Relive your testimony as you tell it. This will enable you to present it with loving enthusiasm.
5. Relate your testimony to Scriptures, using pertinent verses as they are needed.
6. Speak distinctly and in a natural tone, avoiding any mannerisms that might detract from the presentation.
7. Be brief (two or three minutes). People are interested in your testimony but not your life story!
8. Ask the Holy Spirit to help you present Christ so the unbeliever will want to know him and will come to know him personally.
9. Share your Christian testimony regularly with other Christians until it becomes a natural part of your conversation. Then share it with others.
10. After sharing your testimony, ask, “Has anything like this ever happened to you?” This question is a simple way to move into the gospel presentation.
Write it out…
Before
How
After
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