Telling Your Testimony
From Leaderpedia
Research Results—Gallup says that 82 percent of Americans are on a spiritual search and 51 percent say they’ve talked about it in the previous 24 hours. Maybe they’ve more interested in your testimony than you realize.
Purpose
To introduce the use of testimony in evangelism.
To develop your testimony.
To learn to share your testimony
They overcame him by the blood of the Lamb and by the word of their testimony…. (Revelation 12:11a)
Exercise
1. (Solo) Think of a time you heard a testimony that got your attention. What qualities made it effective? Make a note in your journal.
2. (Solo) Read and memorize 1 Peter 3:15
But in your hearts set apart Christ as Lord. Always be prepared to give an answer to everyone who asks you to give the reason for the hope that you have. But do this with gentleness and respect...
How prepared are you?
3. (Solo) Study how Paul shares his testimony in Acts 26.
Make a simple outline of Paul’s testimony. What are the major sections?
How does Paul take his audience into account?
4. (Pairs) Ask some other believers to share their testimony with you and think about how it is structured. Does it use an outline similar to Paul’s? What makes each testimony effective or ineffective?
5. (Solo) Now read "How To Share Your Testimony" (Discipleship Journal November/December 1990) and one of the other articles available at http://www.navpress.com/magazines/archives/search.aspx (Type the word "testimony" into the search box). Also read some of the testimonies at http://christianity.about.com/od/testimonies/a/howtotestimony.htm or at http://www.christiantestimonials.com/ or at http://2praisegod.com/testimony/
6. (Solo) Use what you learned from Paul’s testimony and other examples to write your own testimony of how you came alive in your faith.
7. (Pairs) Ask your prayer intercessor to pray for you to be filled by the Holy Spirit and empowered to give your testimony.
8. (Pairs) Share it with another Christian outside your group and get their reaction and feedback.
9. (Solo) Spend time with God and ask him to reveal people in your life you should share your testimony with. And pray for opportunities to share.
10. (Pairs) Share it with a non-Christian and get their reaction and feedback.
11. (Team) Write in your journal about how it went and how you felt then share your experience in your triad.
12. (Solo) Revise you testimony based on what you learned.
13. (Solo) Email it to your pastor or small group leader and post it on your church website or other website for sharing testimonies.
14. (Solo) Optional: Develop different versions of your testimony for different audiences (e.g. Muslim, Mormon, Atheist, etc.) and continue to share it.
