Episode 4 – Power of a Testimony

Introduction & Recap Last episode why we don’t witness, hindrances;I don’t know what to say!==>  succinct way of presenting the Gospel

I don’t know what to say! Every one has a Story!

If we’ve come to know Christ and have experienced forgiveness of sin and His transforming power in our lives, then we have a story to tell. Effective personal evangelism often incorporates a personal testimony. Your story is His story.

If you have come to know Jesus and have experienced forgiveness of sin and His transforming power in your life, then you have a story to tell. This video explains how you can put your story together.

Testimonies reproduces When you share how God rescued you from sin and death through Jesus, it gives others an opportunity to know God and what He can do. It is your eyewitness account of how God rescued you from sin and death through Christ and changed your life as a result.

Fulani & medicine🡺Theory vs practical

The example of Paul (Acts 22 NIV)

Brothers and fathers, listen now to my defense.”2 When they heard him speak to them in Aramaic, they became very quiet.Then Paul said: ³ “I am a Jew, born in Tarsus of Cilicia, but brought up in this city. I studied under Gamaliel and was thoroughly trained in the law of our ancestors. I was just as zealous for God as any of you are today. ⁴ I persecuted the followers of this Way to their death, arresting both men and women and throwing them into prison, ⁵ as the high priest and all the Council can themselves testify. I even obtained letters from them to their associates in Damascus, and went there to bring these people as prisoners to Jerusalem to be punished.⁶ “About noon as I came near Damascus, suddenly a bright light from heaven flashed around me. ⁷ I fell to the ground and heard a voice say to me, ‘Saul! Saul! Why do you persecute me?’

⁸ “‘Who are you, Lord?’ I asked.“ ‘I am Jesus of Nazareth, whom you are persecuting,’ he replied. ⁹ My companions saw the light, but they did not understand the voice of him who was speaking to me.¹⁰ “‘What shall I do, Lord?’ I asked.“ ‘Get up,’ the Lord said, ‘and go into Damascus. There you will be told all that you have been assigned to do.’ ¹¹ My companions led me by the hand into Damascus, because the brilliance of the light had blinded me.

^EFFECT 22The crowd listened to Paul until he said this. Then they raised their voices and shouted, “Rid the earth of him! He’s not fit to live!”

The Blind Man’s Example John

John 9. Jesus healed a man born blind. The transformation was so great people couldn’t recognize him,The Pharisees didn’t want to acknowledge Jesus power or divinity so they plied the healed man with questions about Jesus that he could not answer. Finally, in frustration, the man cried out, “Whether he is a sinner or not, I don’t know. One thing I do know. I was blind but now I see!” (verse 25). Once I was blind, now I see. We may not know the answers to every question we are asked, but we do know what Jesus has done for us. We know that once we were blind to spiritual truths, and now we see.

Preparing Your Personal Testimony

1 Pet 3v15 Always be prepared to give an answer to everyone who asks you to give the reason for the hope that you have. But do this with gentleness and respect,

Put It Together

An effective testimony is one that conveys both your own experience and the Gospel of Christ so that someone else has the information about the process of salvation Let’s take a look at how to put your story together, piece by piece. There are five basic parts to telling your story: the opening, your life before Christ, how you came to Christ, your life after Christ and the closing (call to action).

1. The Opening.Identify a theme you can use to frame your story. What did your life revolve around (e.g., relationships, your reputation, money) that God used to help bring you to Him? Briefly illustrate how that influenced your life.
2. Your Life Before Christ. Paint a picture of what your life was like before you came to Christ. Don’t dwell too much on or brag about past sins or struggles. Share only the details that relate to your theme — just enough to show your need for Christ.
3. How You Came to Christ. Give the details about why and how you became a Christian. Communicate in such a way that the person you are talking with, and anyone who overhears you, can understand how they can become a Christian too. Even if your listeners are not ready for that, God could use your story and explanation of the gospel to draw them to Himself in the future.
4. Your Life After Coming to Christ. Share some of the changes that Christhas made in your life as they relate to your theme. Emphasize the changes in your character, attitude or perspective, not just the changes in behavior. Be realistic. We still struggle as Christians. Life is far from perfect. But what’s different about your life now?
5. The Closing. End with a statement that summarizes your story and connects everything back to your theme. You may even want to close with a Bible verse that relates to your experience.

Spectacular or not your story is powerful if you apply these principles

My own example

Religion, new Jerusalem, Anger, lust, evil thoughts,melancholic, unempathetic,good boy out but bad inside.

Fellowship, gospel, repentance, cleansing, word growth, There was a great sense of relief in knowing that I was forgiven and that God was on my side and wanted and still wants what is best for me. Since beginning my life with Christ, He has, by the power of the Holy Spirit who lives in my heart, continued to sanctify me through His Word and His working in my life. This forgiveness and security that I have from God can be yours too if you will trust Christ alone for the forgiveness of your sins.

Conclusion

So I have given you many examples, Paul, John 9 blind man.Hopefuly I have inspired you enough to share your story today, share your testimony with me info@tenets.tv help to share this, connect youtube.

HELPFUL HINTS

• Pray before you write out and share your story.
• Write the way you speak.
• Don’t be overly negative or positive. Be honest.
• Don’t criticize or name any church, denomination, organization, etc.
• Think about your listeners. Avoid overly religious terms.
• Keep it short. Aim to tell your story in three to five minutes.
• Practice telling your story until it becomes natural.