And He said to them, ‘Go into all the world and preach the gospel to every creature.' -Mark 16:15 NKJV
That verse looks nice hanging on many church walls, but to live it out is a totally different story. Jesus wasn’t just being charming when He commanded us to share the Gospel and the hope that we have in Him!
Sharing your journey with God helps open the door for spiritual discussions. Sharing your story is a simple, practical and effective testimony to God’s existence and Christ’s power to change lives.
Related Post: 7 Questions to Help You Share Your Faith
One of the best things to remember is that God loves them (whoever ‘they’ are) more than you love them! God wants a relationship with them and He uses us to be the bridge! Therefore, we always want to be ready to share our faith when the opportunity comes around.
What is a Faith Journey?
Your faith journey is unique to you. It is your story about faith. Who were you before Jesus, what happened that caused you to follow Jesus, and how is your life different now?
This is your Christian testimony. Maybe it’s a dramatic story, or maybe it’s not. Perhaps you grew up in a Christian home with a happy childhood. That’s okay, because you still need a Savior. No matter what your past includes, it is your beautiful journey from death to life!
Prepare a 30 second, a 2-minute and 15-minute story of how God touched your life. Write out your faith story, following the promptings below, and use that to get comfortable talking about the way God has changed your life.
The Purpose of Sharing Your Story
- In a 3-5 minute story, express how you came to know God personally and how this changed your life. Don't focus solely on you –it’s really a story about God.
- Communicate the basis of the Christian faith in the context of your personal experience.
- Open the door for a more extensive conversation on spiritual matters.
- Explain to others the reason why you believe certain things or act in certain ways.
Five Simple Steps to Prepare your Faith Story
1. Pray.
Begin with prayer, asking God to help you in this process. He is the only one who can truly change the heart of another person, so invite Him to be a part of this entire process.
2. Be authentic – be you!
Tell your story the way it happened – be real! Resist the temptation to compare your story with others. There is no need to embellish your story or dwell excessively on past sins. Your story is unique to your life, and an authentic testimony of what God has done in your life is powerful!
3. Be intentional.
Think in chapters or blocks and bridge them together. The blocks can be:
- What my life was like before I became a Christian
- How I became a Christian
- How Jesus has changed my life.
The three sections do not all have to be equal in length. Just identify one main idea or theme you want to communicate, and go from there.
4. Be concise.
Avoid language that sound overly religious. Many people in today's world have never been to church, so some words may be unfamiliar. You don't have to do a bunch of teaching - just share what God has done in your life.
Try to keep it short and interesting. Rambling can lose the real impact of your story. Remember: this is your faith story, not your entire life story!
5. Write it Out
Once you have your thoughts pulled together, it's time to write out your faith story. After it's on paper, review it to make sure there are no churchy words that may be confusing, or details that don't need to be included.
Double check to make sure the focus and glory is on God. He is the main character in your faith story.
How to Refine Your Faith Story
Having a scripted Christian testimony can feel inauthentic and forced, so keep praying and practicing until telling your story of faith becomes natural. Just share with joy how Jesus has changed your life!
When sharing your faith story, remember to try and relate to the person or people you are speaking with. Ask questions, truly listen, and love them without reservation. Then, if they are ready, pray with them for God to reveal Himself to them. And He promises that He will!
"Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you.” -Matthew 7:7
Remember, no matter what, God loves them and wants a relationship with us all.
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