What Makes an Effective Testimony?

One thing all believers have in common is a personal testimony, and your own testimony can be the most effective tool for sharing the good news of Jesus Christ. Why? Because it is personal, identifiable, factual, unarguable, and engaging.

Your testimony can be the thing that turns the conversation to spiritual things and makes them receptive to the message you have to share. It may be the thing that the Holy Spirit uses either to convict them or soften them up to hear about the death and resurrection of Christ.

Whether you share your testimony in front of an audience or a single person, you will want to make sure that your testimony is encouraging and clear on the specific issue of trusting Christ. Some testimonies are dramatic and inspiring – touching heart strings and connecting with others, but if your testimony does not tell someone exactly how that can have what you have, then it has not really changed anything for anyone. How do you tell your story in such a way that a non-Christian might say, “God used your testimony to bring me to Christ?”

In Acts 1:8, Jesus says, “You will be my witnesses…” Give the eyewitness account of what Christ has done for you so that they can see what Christ can do for them.

What is a Personal Testimony?

It is personal.
It is a brief story of how you came to Christ… unique to you and your experience with Him.

It is identifiable.
It includes an appropriate part of your past that your non-Christian friend can identify.

It is factual.
It centers on the fact of the substitutionary death and resurrection of Christ.

It is unarguable.
They cannot argue with your experience, or the death and resurrection of Christ on their behalf.

It is engaging.
It draws them in and enables them to engage with you about Christ and their need for a Savior.

When Do You Use Your Testimony?

In a personal setting.
Your testimony can move them to consider Christ.

In a public setting.
When speaking before an audience that includes non-Christians, your testimony can present the gospel so that others identify with it and with you.

In a difficult setting.
In situations that are stopped by arguments, misunderstandings, or rejections, your testimony can relieve the tension and clear the roadblock.

In a casual setting.
In conversation, your testimony can share Christ without being “preachy.”

In a short-term setting.
When you limited by time your testimony can be what the non-Christian remembers to take with them.

Four Principles for an Effective Testimony

Pray
John 6:44 says, “No one can come to Me unless the Father who sent Me draws him.”
Pray that the Holy Spirit moves in the hearts of our listeners.

Prepare
A story God could use to bring someone to Christ deserves to be well-prepared. Prayerfully think it through, listen to the Holy Spirit, write it out and refine it.

Practice
Give it to a friend, invite feedback, give it again, and practice it until it becomes natural.

Plant
Once it is prepared, use it. Plant the seeds and watch the Holy Spirit use it to bring someone to a better understanding of the gospel and Christ’s death and resurrection on their behalf.

Prepare as if it all depends on you.
Pray as if it all depends on God.

Why Must We Be Careful in Encouraging People to “Accept Christ”?

Terminology matters. Use of the wrong terms can cause misunderstanding, especially if terms are not explained. Reader’s Digest once told of a German exchange student staying with a family in Illinois. The student was invited to an alcohol free prom party. So his host family faxed his parents in Germany asking permission for their son to attend. A quick response came, “No. We do not want our son attending any party where free alcohol is served.”

Terminology is important in spiritual matters as well. Nowhere is it more important than inviting people to come to Christ.

That’s why we must be careful when we tell the lost to, “accept Christ.” The problem is they might do it! The problem is they may accept Christ the way you accept me or I accept you – as no more than a person. A non-Christian who came to Christ in one of our outreaches said to me, “Years ago I accepted Christ. I felt he was the person He said He was and if I lived as good as He lived, I would go to heaven. I never knew eternal life is free and I had to trust Christ alone to save me.” To that testimony, I could add countless more.

“Wait a minute,” you might say, “doesn’t the Bible tell us to “accept Christ?” Yes – in one verse. Let’s look at that verse carefully.

John 1:12 tells us, “But as many as received Him, to them He gave the right to become children of God, to those who believe in His name.” “Received” would have the idea “accept”. How though do you “accept Him”? The last part of the verse explains, “To those who believe in His name.” You accept Christ by believing, i.e. trusting Christ alone as your only way to heaven.

When John talked about “accepting or receiving Christ,” be made it clear to accept Christ means to trust in Christ alone as your only way to heaven.

Conclusion? Ask people to do what the Gospel of John ask lost people to do – believe – that means trust in Christ alone to save them. If you use the phrase “accept Christ,” be sure to explain it the way the Gospel of John does.

Remember – terminology matters. Nowhere does it matter more than explaining to people how to receive the gift of eternal life.

Dr. Larry Moyer – Are Evangelical Church Attendees Right or Wrong?

The Associated Press on Monday, June 23, 2008, released a statement that caught the attention of millions, Christians and non-Christians alike. The statement read, “Among the most startling numbers in the survey conducted last year by the Pew Forum on Religion and Public Life: 57% of evangelical church attendees said they believe many religions can lead to eternal life, in conflict with traditional evangelical teaching.”

Once again, the issue comes back to a very simple question. Is Jesus Christ the One He said He was? If He was, the evangelical church attendees could not be more wrong. If He wasn’t, anything evangelical church attendees say has as much authority and credibility as what He said.

He declared, “I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me” (John 14:26). If He was indeed the Son of God and the only one who can extend eternal life, then there is no other way to God except through Him. If He wasn’t the Son of God, what He said about being the only way to God is of no value whatsoever.

How do we know if He was who He said He was? The issue is bigger than the Bible. It’s the resurrection and the empty tomb the third day. That is the issue on which everything Christ said stand or falls. The Bible declares itself ot be the Word of God, without error or mistake (II Timothy 3:16, II Peter 1:20, 21). But the proof behind the empty tomb is far wider than the Bible. In fact the resurrection of Jesus Christ is the most attested fact of history. Thomas Arnold, who was author of a three volume history of Rome and appointed to the Chair of Modern History of Oxford said, “I know of no one fact in the history of mankind which is proved by letter and fuller evidence of every sort to the understanding of a fair inquirer than that Christ died and rose again from the dead.”

Therefore, before anyone, anywhere can say, “There are many religions that can lead to eternal life,” they must disprove the empty tomb of Christ. So far, nobody has. In fact, I personally do know of one person who objectively studied the evidence behind the empty tomb that did not become a believer. That means they came to God as sinners, recognized Jesus Christ paid for their sins on a cross and rose again, and trusted Christ alone as their only way to heaven.

What Does it Mean to “Contextualize” the Gospel?

David Souther

What does it mean to “contextualize” the gospel to reach other cultures?

To “contextualize” does not mean to change the gospel message: “Christ died for our sins and rose from the dead!” That message has reached cultures around the world for the last 2000 years and will stay the same until Christ’s return.

Instead, “contextualize” means “to place into context.” In regard to the gospel, it means to communicate the good news in a way that is relevant. This is vital in evangelism. Each culture looks at the world in a specific way. If we ignore a person’s background and worldview, we risk communicating a gospel that is misunderstood and distorted.

One of the most effective ways to reach other cultures for Christ is to use appropriate illustrations. Because the unsaved mind is not accustomed to thinking in terms of Scripture, illustrations can clarify biblical truths. However, it is important to use illustrations that relate to your audience. An illustration about a home run would make no sense to someone who is unfamiliar with baseball.

Research the culture you are trying to reach in order to understand their point of view. This will help you select illustrations that your audience will understand. Jesus provides a great example of this. He used simple illustrations and stories about fishing and farming; two subjects with which His audience was familiar. In the same way, we need to find illustrations that speak to the culture of our audience to make the terms of the gospel as clear and simple as possible.

Join the conversation with David at the Worldwide Hope blog.

Signs of the Times- WiFi and Multi-Site Churches

On my about page I mention that my favorite item on the menu at Starbucks is WiFi, technology that gives you wireless access to the internet while you sip your coffee. In the last eight years or more churches have been adding coffee shops to their church atrium. The new thing now is to add wireless internet access and comfortable chairs and sofas. But even more valuable than WiFi is churches that are using satellite broadcasting to expand their church to multiple locations.

It is being called the “Multi-Site Revolution“. Many of the most successful churches have become too large to have any real connection among the congregation. Many of these churches are successful because they have found a niche, a ministry to a particular demographic that facilitates church growth. What many churches are doing is building new churches in different areas of their metropolitan areas to reach different communities. What is interesting is the fact that many of these churches are doing a satellite broadcast that is being shown live at the multiple locations. The pastor will preach at the main campus and there are community pastors and a worship band that handle announcements and lead worship live at the multi-sites of the church.

One church that has implemented this successfully is Ed Young and Fellowship Church. The main campus is in Grapevine, Texas and they now have additional sites in Dallas, Fort Worth, Plano, and even Miami. They have over 40,000 people in attendance every week at the multiple locations. The congregation is content to watch Ed Young on a big screen live from Grapevine or sometimes one of the other locations. Other churches that are doing this are Saddleback, Northpoint, and Willow Creek.

Saddleback saw over 100 people trust Christ on the first weekend at their new sites. Each campus creates buzz and the unchurched and often unbelievers check the church out and hear the gospel presented and trust Christ. Saddleback’s vision is to have 10 sites by 2010. The thing I like about the multi-site church movement is that it focuses on people and not new buildings. Because most of these sites start small, it is not about a building campaign, it is about inviting people to something that members and regular attenders are truly excited about. It forces the congregation to be outward-focused and community-minded.

Make it all about the people and the gospel - no strings attached. How? Look for opportunities to share the clear and simple gospel message motivated by grace and love, not guilt. When we go about the great commission in context of living the great commandment then we have effectively removed any strings that are attached. Take the next exit - Go wireless!

Draw Closer to Jesus Christ

We must recognize that unconcern for unbelievers is—at least in part—a spiritual growth issue. If we take the Scriptures at face value, there is simply no way of getting close to Christ without seeing how much He cares for those for whom He died. Luke 19:10 is quite explicit: “For the Son of Man has come to seek and to save that which was lost.” In light of that clear statement, is it possible to get close to the Master’s heart without getting close to the Master’s mission? Consider Matthew 4:19 where Christ extended the invitation, “Follow Me, and I will make you fishers of men.”

How, then, can we follow closely in His footsteps without being captivated by His concern for the lost? If we would like to think of ourselves as growing Christians, a good biblical barometer of our growth would be, “How concerned am I for lost people?” Does that mean if we do not witness to one person a day, we are not close to Christ and have no concern for the lost? Not for a moment. He wants our lives to be motivated by relationships, not regulations. It is to say, however, that if we draw close to Jesus Christ, we will find His concern for the lost rubbing off on us. Known as the friend of sinners, His whole life revolved around lost people. Since they are so close to His heart, the closer we draw to Him, the closer we draw to the people for whom He died.

Therefore, we ought to ask ourselves the question, “Are we spending the time daily getting to know Christ better, talking to Him through prayer, and letting Him talk to us through the Scriptures?” Or are we like Martha in Luke 10 who was so “worried and troubled about many things” that she neglected just sitting down and talking to Him and letting Him talk to her? A genuine, growing relationship with Him should lead to a growing closeness to non-Christians.

Verhoeven Claims Jesus Was Son of Mary and Roman Baptist

We interrupt our normally scheduled programming for a brief announcement: HERE WE GO AGAIN…not just another wild sci-fi fantasy or provocative thriller from Verhoeven (Total Recall, Robocop, Starship Troopers, Basic Instinct) but another wild claim about Jesus which could very well be a sci-fi fantasy or provocative work of fiction…

In terms of the historical method of criticism, very few texts can hold up as well as the gospels of Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John. The quality of manuscripts, location identified in relation to the events, and the date of authorship relative to the date of the happenings are more closely linked in the case of the New Testament texts than even accounts of Alexander the Great (considered to be unquestionable history).

So, why do works keep popping up that question the historical authenticity of the gospel accounts? It’s all about worldview—without Christ, there is no accountability to His call. Paul sums it up best in 2 Corinthians 4:3-5.

One thing that I find perplexing, that never seems to be questioned in these stories: Why do supposedly scholarly people talk about “proving” or “disproving” some historical event “scientifically”? History is not a chemical reaction or physical property that can be repeated in a lab. The best way to be critical of history is not by using the scientific method, but rather the historical method. When done properly, the bible is without a doubt one of the most reliable and provable resources of true historical fact that anyone can turn to.

For more reading on the subject, I highly recommend these two resources:

Evidence that Demands a Verdict by Josh McDowell

The Case for the Real Jesus by Lee Strobel

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