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Keys
to an Effective Personal Testimony
...and
some ideas to get you thinking.
Before I received Christ, I lived and thought this way:
What did my life revolve around?
What issues or things were important to me?
What did I think of God? Of Jesus?
On what did I rely for security and happiness?
How I received Christ: Paint a "word picture" of the situation.
Where were you? Alone in your room? Driving in your car? At
a church service?
What thoughts went through your mind?
What feelings did you struggle with just before your decision?
How did you yield your life to Christ? What did you say?
After I received Christ, these changes took place:
Did you struggle with your faith?
How did God answer prayer, or strengthen you in difficult situations?
How are you different than you were before?
How have the changes in your life influenced others around you?
Do's and Don'ts
of a strong personal testimony
| Do |
| 1. |
Ask the Lord to give you wisdom and
guidance as you write (James 1:5-6). |
| 2. |
Follow the three-part outline shown above (A.
Your life before Christ, B. How You came to know Him, and C. How
things are now).
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| 3. |
Emphasize the final point (how things
are now) if you became a Christian as a small child. |
| 4. |
Begin with an interesting, attention-getting
sentence and close with a strong conclusion. Make sure you tie everything
together. Include relevant, thought-provoking secular facts and
experiences. |
| 5. |
Write in such a way that others will
feel associated with you in past and present experiences. Talk about
things others can relate to. |
| 6. |
Give enough details to arouse interest. |
| 7. |
Use at least one, but at the most two,
Scripture verses. |
| 8. |
Edit carefully and rewrite as often
as necessary. |
| 9. |
Have someone else look it over, and
welcome their comments, even if some of those are critical. It may
be difficult to accept criticism, but seeking sincere feedback is
a sign of wisdom. If your church is already a part of this program
have your Internet Evangelism Coordinator look it over. |
| 10. |
Power to Change will supply a link
at the end of the page to the gospel
presentation. |
| Don't |
| 1. |
Don't use Christian "jargon." Avoid
the following words, which do not communicate truth to the average
non-Christian. Though these words and phrases are precious to us,
they are often misunderstood and consequently ridiculed by non-Christians:
saved, convicted, converted, born again, sin, repentance |
| 2. |
Don't be too wordy, beat around the bush, or emphasize
how bad you used to be. People feel uncomfortable if you dwell
on it.
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| 3. |
Don't speak in glittering generalities
or superlatives. Avoid words like "wonderful," "glorious," |
| 4. |
Don't mention church denominations,
especially in a negative way. Never speak critically or negatively
about any other individual or group. |
| 5. |
Don't give the impression that the
Christian life is a "bed of roses." |
| 6. |
Don't preach to people. Make it a testimony,
not a "preachimony." |
Ok, I'm ready to submit my personal story.
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