How to Prepare Your Personal Testimony

Example of Personal Testimony in Scripture

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.

It is important for you to be able to write out your personal testimony—not for the purpose of memorizing and sharing it verbatim, but because it helps to put into words some of the important and interesting details of your relationship with Christ. Our individual stories are some of the most powerful discipleship and evangelism tools because they are so deeply unique to us. The choice of the right words, the flow of your story, and knowing how to begin and end are all important.

Preparing Your Personal Testimony

Sharing how you came to know God personally is one of the most powerful ways you can help friends grasp how much God loves us.

If someone asked you to share today, would you find it challenging to explain how you came to believe in God, or what he means to you?

If so, that’s okay! Try setting aside just 15 minutes to capture some key milestones in your journey with Christ below, and use this as a guide for sharing your story with others, whether in snippets over time or all at once over coffee. Remember, it’s your story, so the more authentic and personal it is, the better.

BEFORE

1. Before you met Christ, what were some of your needs, what was lacking, or what was missing in your life?
2. What methods for improving your life did you try that didn’t work?

HOW

1. What were the circumstances that caused you to consider following Jesus?
2. What has become your favorite Bible verse and why?
3. Share about how you trusted Christ and give a brief explanation of the gospel. John 3:16 is a great verse to use.

AFTER

1. Give an example of how God has met your needs—either physical or emotional—since you accepted Jesus.
2. Share about what part of your relationship with God you’re most grateful for today.

“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, NIV)

_{Adapted from Deepening Your Roots In God’s Family, 2011. Used by permission of NavPress.}