You are a new creation in Christ with a new identity! You have a story to tell of how that change happened and the difference it has made in your life.
In the book of Mark, we read about one man whose life changed dramatically when he came to know Jesus. Jesus saved him and freed him from the things that held him in bondage. Read Mark 5:1-20.
Mark 5:1-20
They came to the other side of the sea, to the country of the Gerasenes. And when Jesus had stepped out of the boat, immediately there met him out of the tombs a man with an unclean spirit. He lived among the tombs. And no one could bind him anymore, not even with a chain, for he had often been bound with shackles and chains, but he wrenched the chains apart, and he broke the shackles in pieces. No one had the strength to subdue him. Night and day among the tombs and on the mountains he was always crying out and cutting himself with stones. And when he saw Jesus from afar, he ran and fell down before him. And crying out with a loud voice, he said, “What have you to do with me, Jesus, Son of the Most High God? I adjure you by God, do not torment me.” For he was saying to him, “Come out of the man, you unclean spirit!” And Jesus asked him, “What is your name?” He replied, “My name is Legion, for we are many.” And he begged him earnestly not to send them out of the country. Now a great herd of pigs was feeding there on the hillside, and they begged him, saying, “Send us to the pigs; let us enter them.” So he gave them permission. And the unclean spirits came out and entered the pigs; and the herd, numbering about two thousand, rushed down the steep bank into the sea and drowned in the sea.
The herdsmen fled and told it in the city and in the country. And people came to see what it was that had happened. And they came to Jesus and saw the demon-possessed man, the one who had had the legion, sitting there, clothed and in his right mind, and they were afraid. And those who had seen it described to them what had happened to the demon-possessed man and to the pigs. And they began to beg Jesus to depart from their region. As he was getting into the boat, the man who had been possessed with demons begged him that he might be with him. And he did not permit him but said to him, “Go home to your friends and tell them how much the Lord has done for you, and how he has had mercy on you.” And he went away and began to proclaim in the Decapolis how much Jesus had done for him, and everyone marveled.
Reflect: Even though your story may not be this dramatic, how has the Lord saved you and changed you?
Mark 5:19-20 gives Jesus’ response when the man asked to follow Jesus.
Mark 5:19-20
And he did not permit him but said to him, “Go home to your friends and tell them how much the Lord has done for you, and how he has had mercy on you.” And he went away and began to proclaim in the Decapolis how much Jesus had done for him, and everyone marveled.
Discover: What did Jesus want the man to do?
Just like this man, you can tell others what has happened in your life. You can share your story with believers and unbelievers, giving testimony to God’s work in your life. Sharing how you came to Jesus is a simple way to help make the gospel clear to someone. When someone hears your story, it can cause them to think about how the gospel could also impact them. Your testimony can open the door to further conversations about God.
Share: What are some things you might share with others about how God has made a difference in your life?
YOUR TESTIMONY
Each time you share your testimony, the Holy Spirit may lead you to highlight something that will speak particularly to the person with whom you are talking. But if you have thought through how to tell your story clearly, it will help you make sure you do not leave out any essential elements that could encourage them to come to Christ. Keeping your story short (three minutes or less) will help you hold their attention and focus on what God has done.
The following guide will help you prepare your testimony.
Divide your story into 3 parts:
1. Your life BEFORE you knew Jesus personally.
2. HOW you accepted Jesus as your Savior. This will involve sharing the gospel simply and clearly.
3. Your life AFTER your decision to follow Jesus.
[Note: If you received Jesus as your Savior early in life and cannot talk about changes that took place at that time, you could focus on a point later in life when you chose to follow Jesus more fully or saw God change your life.]
Practice: Read Acts 16:16-34. Imagine you are the Philippian jailer sharing your testimony in three parts: Before, How, After. What would you say?
HOW TO PREPARE YOUR TESTIMONY
Now read through the guide and make notes to prepare your own testimony.
Part 1 – BEFORE
1. Decide on a theme. Choose one word that describes your experience before your decision to trust Jesus as your Savior; or identify a struggle you faced in your life; or choose an area of your life that has been greatly touched or changed by God. Examples: self-image, money or materialism, life direction, purpose, judging others, significance, anger, forgiveness, marriage, fear, comparison, performance, loneliness, self-doubt, shame or guilt, rejection, jealousy.
Reflect: What theme would best describe your life before you followed Jesus?
2. Share how this kept you from experiencing true life. Be as vulnerable and authentic as you can. Share a brief example of this theme and how it affected your life.
Reflect: How could you present this so people would be able to relate to your experience?
Part 2 – HOW
1. Share what happened that made you desire to begin a personal relationship with Jesus. Was it a circumstance, conversation, internal thoughts, gradual or sudden change of perspective? Don’t use any religious or church terms that someone might not understand. Don’t speak negatively about any church or religion. Focus on your encounter with God.
2. Explain HOW a person puts his faith in Jesus as his Savior.
a. Remember that your hearers need to know HOW God made it possible for us to be saved. That needs to be clear, or they will think you changed on your own or started going to church and became spiritual.
b. Make it clear enough that they would be able to begin their own relationship with Jesus based on what you said. For example, “I recognized my own self-centeredness and sin, but I had no way to change my life. When I understood that Jesus died to pay for my sin and offered new life, I knew I needed to accept His forgiveness and offer of rescue. So I thanked Him for His death on my behalf and asked Him to forgive me and, as my Savior, to begin to change my life.”
Reflect: What do you think you should include?
Discuss: How could you share your story in a way that would be effective in helping someone make a similar decision in his or her life?
Part 3 – AFTER
1. Focus on the change that God brought about in your life.
a. In relation to the earlier theme, how might you communicate the change God made in your life?
b. Share a short example of change in your life. How did you notice this change? Relate your example to the theme you chose.
c. Be careful that you do not make it sound like everything is perfect and you have no more problems. God’s continued work in your life is a good testimony of His care for you.
2. Have a concise closing statement that ties your story together.
Practice: Try sharing the three parts of your story with each other and see if you can make it clear.
Action step: This week, ask God to guide you and write down your testimony. Next time you meet, share with each other what you have prepared.
USING YOUR TESTIMONY IN A CONVERSATION
Few people feel comfortable listening to a monologue. In a conversation with someone, you want to listen carefully and express care, empathy, and understanding. Be sensitive to whether the person is spiritually open and willing to talk about spiritual things.
Reflect: How could you share your testimony in a way that communicates sensitivity towards others?
Your testimony can fit well into a conversation when you discover shared experiences and relate your personal story to something they have said.
For example: “You mentioned the struggles you had growing up. I have experienced some similar challenges in my life. I grew up in a family where my father was absent, and it affected how I saw myself…”
There also may be times when you are having a conversation and you can simply ask if you could share your story with them.
For example: “My faith has had a significant impact on my perspective on life. May I share a little of my story?”
Practice: Role play how you would lead into your story. One of you plays the role of a non-believer and the other a friend who wants to share her story. Imagine that you are discussing a topic related to the theme in your testimony or are having a conversation about faith.
AFTER SHARING YOUR STORY
Ask a question or two to gauge their response. You could ask if what you shared made sense to them. Ask about their religious or spiritual experience or understanding of who Jesus is. While this may give you the opportunity to explain more about the gospel, realize that they may want some time to think about what you shared before they are ready to hear more. Try to keep an open end to the conversation with a question like, “Would you be interested in talking more about this another time?”
Following through with people after you share your testimony is important. Ask God to give you an opportunity to talk with them again and pray that they will continue to think about what you shared. Let them know you would like to hear more about their thoughts and experiences.
GOING FORWARD
Clarify: What thoughts or questions do you have?
Summarize: What have you learned about how to clearly tell your story?
Apply: Prepare a short, concise testimony and practice telling it.
Pass It On: With whom would you like to share your testimony?
Thinking back over these lessons on Your Identity in Christ, what is something that you have discovered about who you are in Christ that is especially meaningful to you?
Reinforce:
As you read these passages, think about the different ways God reaches people with
the message of salvation.
• Mark 2:1-12
• John 4:7-30
• Acts 8:26-40
• Acts 9:1-22
• Acts 10:1-48
• Acts 17:16-34
