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.

What Will Enhance Your Testimony?

BE CLEAR. Jesus Christ died for your sins and rose again.

BE CLEAR. Eternal life is received by trusting Christ alone to save you.

BE CLEAR. Use terminology that non-Christians can understand.

BE CLEAR. Use the Bible but don’t try to teach the entire Bible.

BE CLEAR. Avoid mentioning church denominations.

BE CLEAR. Use a strong opening and closing line.

BE CLEAR. Keep it short.

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.

The Foundation of Leadership in Missions

Author Jim Collins has found 2 primary traits that are shared by CEO’s who have led their companies to grow phenomenally over a sustained period of time: personal modesty and an iron will. They are humble, yet willful; modest, yet fearless. They never let their personal egos get in the way of the larger cause.

I believe this describes many of the great mission leaders as well. Leaders like William Carey, the “Father of Modern Missions”, were willing to put their own agendas aside for the greater good of the work to which they were called. Carey faced incredible opposition as he brought the gospel to India including sickness, death of family members, hot, humid, impoverished conditions, and lack of support from many of the church leaders in his home country of England. However, he was able to overcome these tremendous odds and obstacles, all while not seeing one convert in the first seven years of his ministry there.

What gave William Carey the strength and selflessness to persevere under these conditions? Carey himself gives us the answer:

“Prayer — secret, fervent, believing prayer — lies at the root of all personal godliness.”

Basking in the Lord’s transforming presence is the key to both personal humility and unwavering endurance in ministry. For when we are truly in the Lord’s presence and seeking it not only every day, but every minute, we see ourselves for who we really are; His servants. We also see Him for Who He really is; our master and the Lord of all.

What is My Role in Evangelism?

Perspective in evangelism is crucial and the right attitude and perspective can make a big difference in how you approach evangelistic opportunities. Perhaps you have said something like, “I am afraid to share Christ because I might be rejected” or “If I say the wrong thing, my friend might be lost forever,” or “I don’t have the gift of evangelism, so God can’t use me.”

Be assured that you are not alone. For many believers evangelism is the weakest part of their Christian life – not because they don’t care about the lost or don’t want to share the gospel, but because of a misunderstanding about their role in evangelism. Attitude affects action. Perspective affects performance.

Three People Are Involved in Evangelism

In John 4: 35-38, Jesus said:

35 “Do you not say, ‘There are still four months and then comes the harvest’? Behold, I say to you, lift up your eyes and look at the fields, for they are already white for harvest! 36 And he who reaps receives wages, and gathers fruit for eternal life, that both he who sows and he who reaps may rejoice together. 37 For in this the saying is true: ‘One sows and another reaps.’ 38 I sent you to reap that for which you have not labored; others have labored, and you have entered into their labors.”

A quick look at John 4 reveals three people involved in evangelism. Notice that there are those who are a part of the harvest – the non-believer – who is your friend, neighbor, relative, or co-worker. Jesus tells us that they are ripe; ready to hear the good news. Then there are the disciples to whom Jesus is talking – the believer. Notice the words used to describe the believer in the different stages he may be in – reaper, gatherer, sower, laborer, and finally rejoicer. God is the third person involved and He is the One who sends out the laborers – it is His harvest and they are His fields.

The Role of the Non-believer in Evangelism

John 4 reveals that three people are involved in evangelism… the non-believer, the believer, and God. Let’s look at the first of these roles – the Non-believer:

The Non-believer – your friends, neighbors, relatives, coworkers – the ones with whom we seek to share the gospel.

The Scriptures describe them this way:
Dead – Ephesians 2:1, 2 – literally a walking corpse
And you he made alive, who were dead in your trespasses and sins , in which you once walked according to the course of this world, according to the prince of the power of the air, the spirit who now works in the sons of disobedience.

Blinded – 2 Corinthians 4:3, 4 – veiled
But even if our gospel is veiled, it is veiled to those who are perishing, whose minds the god of this age has blinded, who do not believe, lest the light of the gospel of glory of Christ, who is the image of God, should shine on them.

Spiritually foolish – 1 Corinthians 2:14 - unable to discern the spiritual
14 But the natural man does not receive the things of the Spirit of God, for they are foolishness to him; nor can he know them, because they are spiritually discerned.

Lost - Mark 6:34 – without a shepherd
And Jesus, when He came out, saw a great multitude and was moved with compassion for them, because they were like sheep not having a shepherd.

Deceived and serving the world – Titus 3:3
For we ourselves were also once foolish, disobedient, deceived, serving various lusts and pleasures, living in malice and envy, hateful and hating one another.

Remember two things: 1) this is how you once were before someone shared the gospel with you; 2) seeing your friends and relatives this way will help you to have compassion on them…not wanting them to stay in this condition.

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