How To Share Your Grace Story

"Always be prepared to give an answer to everyone who asks you to give the reason for the hope that you have." —1 Peter 3:15

One of the most effective tools you have for sharing your faith is the story of how Jesus Christ gave you eternal life and how He has enriched your life. The Apostle John wrote, "We proclaim to you what we have seen and heard" (1 Jn. 1:3), testifying about his relationship to Jesus Christ.

When the Apostle Paul stood before King Agrippa (Acts 26), he spoke simply, logically, and clearly about his life before salvation, how he met Christ, and what his life was like after conversion. Paul's testimony takes three or four minutes to read aloud in a conversational manner.

By following the steps outlined in this article, you will learn how to tell others in the
same manner about how you came to know Christ. The choice of the right words, the flow of your story, and knowing how to begin and how to end are all important.
Testimonies can be prepared on many subjects and tailored to various audiences.
The kind of testimony outlined here is designed to give to a non-Christian. It will be best suited for sharing one-on-one or in a small group.

The purpose of preparing a testimony is not to memorize it and give it verbatim, but to help you put into words some of the important and interesting details of your conversion. A testimony serves primarily as a "door opener," not a "convincing tool." Many people are not ready to be convinced that they need Christ, but can often be led to talk about the gospel after hearing a personal testimony.

"How To Share Your Testimony" is copyrighted by Church Discipleship Ministry of The Navigators. Adapted for use at Edgewater Alliance Church.

Here are practical suggestions for developing the before, how, and after sections in your personal testimony.

Paul's testimony in Acts 26 is a biblical model you can follow in writing your own personal testimony. Paul's format in Acts 26 is:

Lead-In — Verses 2–3
Before — Verses 4–11
How — Verses 12–20
After — Verses 21–23
Close — Verses 24–29

Do you recognize this pattern in your own life?

Many people's actions spring out of their unsatisfied deep inner needs. What were one or two of your unsatisfied deep inner needs before you came to know Jesus Christ? Some examples of inner needs are:

Non-Christians are usually trying to satisfy their deep inner needs through unsatisfactory solutions. In the past, what unsatisfactory solutions did you use to attempt to meet those deep inner needs? As you develop your testimony, list positive as well as negative solutions you may have tried. Some examples are:

Describe the circumstances that caused you to consider Christ as the solution to your deep inner needs. Identify the events that led to your conversion. In some cases this may have taken place over a period of time.

State specifically the steps you took to become a Christian. If there is a particular passage of Scripture that applies here, you may want to use it. Usually you will simply paraphrase it.

Include the gospel clearly and briefly.
The gospel includes:
• All have sinned
• Sin's penalty
• Christ paid the penalty
• Must receive Christ

State how Christ filled or is filling your deep inner needs. In the 'before', you expressed your needs and how you tried unsuccessfully to meet them. You now want to briefly show the difference that Christ has made in your life.

Conclude with a statement like: "But the greatest benefit is that I know for certain that I have eternal life." The person you talk to will tend to comment on the last thing you say. Often it is natural to move from the testimony into a clear presentation of the gospel.

Grace Story Format

Format 1: Adult Conversion-You trusted Christ as an adult. You have a distinct before, how and after.

Format 2: Early Conversion, Adult Full Commitment-You made a decision for Christ as a child, but your life was characterized by spiritual immaturity—a lifestyle similar to that of a non-Christian—until you reached a point of crisis and recommitted your life to Christ. Evaluate whether your early conversion
experience was genuine. If you conclude it was not genuine, then use Format 1 as your
model.

Format 3: Early Conversion, Consistent Growth-You probably grew up with Christian parents and have a strong church background. You may have very little before.

BEFORE
1. What was a deep inner need in your life before you met Christ?
2. Give some examples of how you tried to meet or fulfill that need with unsatisfactory solutions.

HOW
1. Describe the circumstances that caused you to consider Christ.
2. State how you trusted Christ. (Briefly include the gospel.)

AFTER
1. Give an example of how Christ met or is currently meeting your deep inner needs.
2. End with a statement to the effect that you know for certain that you have eternal life.

BEFORE Deeper Commitment
1. What was a deep inner need you were trying to fill?
2. Give some examples of how you tried to fill that inner need through unsatisfactory solutions.

HOW
1. Briefly describe the situation in which you made a deeper commitment to Christ.
2. Refer to your conversion experience. State how you trusted Christ. Briefly include the gospel.

AFTER
1. State how Christ is currently meeting your deep inner needs.
2. End with a statement that you know for certain you have eternal life.

BEFORE
1. State the deep inner needs you see people trying to fill.
2. Describe how you see people trying to satisfy those needs.

HOW
1. Explain why you never experienced this problem.
2. Refer to your conversion experience. State how you trusted Christ. Briefly include the gospel.

AFTER
1. Illustrate how Christ met or is meeting your deep inner needs.
2. End with a statement to the effect that you know for certain that you have eternal life.

Pull It All Together

Use this space to bring your thoughts together; Before-How-After.

Pray as you work through this step. Ask the Lord to bring to your mind the hope you have in Him as you recount the redeeming power of Jesus in your life.

Who will you tell?

Consider people who are close to you, but far from God. How might the story of God's grace in your point others to Him and bring Him GLORY?

Maybe you'd like to practice sharing your story. Feel free to reach out to other Christ followers in your life. They would be honored to hear your story and pray for you.

This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google Privacy Policy and Terms of Service apply.