{"id":4963,"date":"2017-08-15T12:01:49","date_gmt":"2017-08-15T18:01:49","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.navigators.org\/?post_type=resource&#038;p=4963"},"modified":"2025-01-14T12:49:41","modified_gmt":"2025-01-14T19:49:41","slug":"how-to-prepare-your-personal-testimony","status":"publish","type":"resource","link":"https:\/\/www.navigators.org\/resource\/how-to-prepare-your-personal-testimony\/","title":{"rendered":"How to Prepare Your Personal Testimony"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-example-of-personal-testimony-in-scripture\">Example of Personal Testimony in Scripture<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>When the apostle Paul stood before King Agrippa (<a href=\"https:\/\/www.bible.com\/bible\/111\/act.26\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">Acts 26<\/a>), he spoke simply, logically, and clearly about his life <b><i>before<\/i><\/b> salvation, <b><i>how<\/i><\/b> he met Christ, and what his life was like <b><i>after<\/i><\/b> conversion. Paul\u2019s testimony takes three or four minutes to read aloud in a conversational manner.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><span class=\"s1\">It is important for you to be able to write out your personal testimony\u2014not 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.<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-preparing-your-personal-testimony\">Preparing Your Personal Testimony<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>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.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>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?<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>If so, that\u2019s 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\u2019s your story, so the more authentic and personal it is, the better.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h4 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-before\"><span class=\"s1\"><b>BEFORE<\/b><\/span><\/h4>\n\n\n\n<ol class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Before you met Christ, what were some of your needs, what was lacking, or what was missing in your life?<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>What methods for improving your life did you try that didn\u2019t work?<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n\n\n\n<h4 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-how\"><span class=\"s1\"><b>HOW<\/b><\/span><\/h4>\n\n\n\n<ol class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>What were the circumstances that caused you to consider following Jesus?<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>What has become your favorite Bible verse and why?<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Share about how you trusted Christ and give a brief explanation of the gospel. <a href=\"https:\/\/www.bible.com\/bible\/111\/jhn.3.16\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">John 3:16<\/a> is a great verse to use.<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n\n\n\n<h4 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-after\"><span class=\"s1\"><b>AFTER<\/b><\/span><\/h4>\n\n\n\n<ol class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Give an example of how God has met your needs\u2014either physical or emotional\u2014since you accepted Jesus.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Share about what part of your relationship with God you\u2019re most grateful for today.<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n\n\n\n<blockquote class=\"wp-block-quote is-layout-flow wp-block-quote-is-layout-flow\">\n<p><strong><em>\u201cAlways be prepared to give an answer to everyone who asks you to give the reason for the hope that you have.\u201d (<a href=\"https:\/\/www.bible.com\/bible\/111\/1pe.3.15\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">1 Peter 3:15<\/a>, NIV)<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n<br>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-group cta ticss-63dda377 has-cool-gray-background-color has-background\"><div class=\"wp-block-group__inner-container is-layout-flow wp-block-group-is-layout-flow\">\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading has-text-align-center\" id=\"h-share-this-navigator-discipleship-tool\"><strong><strong>Share this Navigator Discipleship Tool<\/strong><\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-text-align-left\">Download a print friendly PDF of the Personal Testimony resource to pass along. <a href=\"https:\/\/www.navigators.org\/resources\/\">Navigator Discipleship Tools<\/a> are designed for sharing with your Bible study, church group, and those you are discipling.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-columns is-layout-flex wp-container-core-columns-is-layout-9d6595d7 wp-block-columns-is-layout-flex\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-column is-layout-flow wp-block-column-is-layout-flow\" style=\"flex-basis:100%\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-buttons alignwide is-horizontal is-content-justification-center is-layout-flex wp-container-core-buttons-is-layout-499968f5 wp-block-buttons-is-layout-flex\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-button\"><a class=\"wp-block-button__link has-white-color has-orange-background-color has-text-color has-background wp-element-button\" href=\"https:\/\/www.navigators.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/06\/navigators-stories-of-redemption.pdf\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">DOWNLOAD NOW<\/a><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n<br>\n\n\n\n<hr class=\"wp-block-separator has-alpha-channel-opacity\"\/>\n\n\n\n<p><em>Adapted from Deepening Your Roots In God\u2019s Family, 2011. Used by permission of NavPress.<\/em><\/p>\n\r\n\t\t\t<div id=\"daexthefup-container\"\r\n\t\t\t\tclass=\"daexthefup-container daexthefup-layout-stacked daexthefup-alignment-center\"\r\n\t\t\t\tdata-post-id=\"4963\">\r\n\r\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"daexthefup-feedback\">\r\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"daexthefup-text\">\r\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<h3 class=\"daexthefup-title\">Was this helpful?<\/h3>\r\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\r\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"daexthefup-buttons-container\">\r\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"daexthefup-buttons\">\r\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\r\n\t\t\t<div class=\"daexthefup-yes daexthefup-button daexthefup-button-type-icon-and-text\" data-value=\"1\">\r\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"daexthefup-button-icon\">\r\n\t\t\t\t\r\n                <svg>\r\n                    <defs>\r\n                        <style>.thumb-up-cls-1{fill:#c9c9c9;}.thumb-up-cls-2{fill:#e1e1e1;}.thumb-up-cls-3{fill:#676767;}<\/style>\r\n                    <\/defs>\r\n                    <g id=\"thumb_up\">\r\n                        <path 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<\/svg>\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\r\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"daexthefup-button-text\">Yes<\/div>\r\n\t\t\t<\/div>\r\n\r\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\r\n\t\t\t<div class=\"daexthefup-no daexthefup-button daexthefup-button-type-icon-and-text\" data-value=\"0\">\r\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"daexthefup-button-icon\">\r\n\t\t\t\t\r\n                <svg>\r\n                    <defs>\r\n                        <style>.thumb-down-cls-1{fill:#c9c9c9;}.thumb-down-cls-2{fill:#e1e1e1;}.thumb-down-cls-3{fill:#676767;}<\/style>\r\n                    <\/defs>\r\n                    <g id=\"thumb_down\">\r\n                        <path class=\"thumb-down-cls-2 daexthefup-icon-circle\" d=\"m24,3c11.58,0,21,9.42,21,21s-9.42,21-21,21S3,35.58,3,24,12.42,3,24,3m0-1C11.85,2,2,11.85,2,24s9.85,22,22,22,22-9.85,22-22S36.15,2,24,2h0Z\" \/>\r\n                        <g>\r\n                            <rect class=\"thumb-down-cls-3 daexthefup-icon-secondary-color\" x=\"10\" y=\"13\" width=\"6\" height=\"15\" rx=\"1.5\" ry=\"1.5\" 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feedback!<\/div>\r\n\r\n\t\t\t<\/div>\r\n\r\n\t\t\t","protected":false},"featured_media":254879,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","template":"","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"_helpful_pro_status":1,"_relevanssi_hide_post":"","_relevanssi_hide_content":"","_relevanssi_pin_for_all":"","_relevanssi_pin_keywords":"","_relevanssi_unpin_keywords":"","_relevanssi_related_keywords":"","_relevanssi_related_include_ids":"","_relevanssi_related_exclude_ids":"","_relevanssi_related_no_append":"","_relevanssi_related_not_related":"","_relevanssi_related_posts":"","_relevanssi_noindex_reason":"","inline_featured_image":false,"footnotes":""},"mission":[71,70,69,68,150,59,57,66,1060,65,1061,56,62,61,63,67,64,58,60],"topic":[46],"class_list":["post-4963","resource","type-resource","status-publish","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","mission-eagle-lake-camps","mission-glen-eyrie","mission-navigators-20s","mission-navigators-church-ministries","mission-navigators-collegiate","mission-navigators-discipling-for-development","mission-navigators-edge-corps","mission-navigators-encore","mission-navigators-first-responder","mission-navigators-i-58","mission-navigators-iedge","mission-navigators-international-student-ministry","mission-navigators-military","mission-navigators-nations-within","mission-navigators-neighbors","mission-navigators-via-affirmativa","mission-navigators-workplace","mission-navigators-world-missions","mission-navigators-worldwide","topic-evangelism"],"acf":[],"aioseo_notices":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.navigators.org\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/resource\/4963","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.navigators.org\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/resource"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.navigators.org\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/resource"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.navigators.org\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=4963"}],"version-history":[{"count":14,"href":"https:\/\/www.navigators.org\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/resource\/4963\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":265522,"href":"https:\/\/www.navigators.org\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/resource\/4963\/revisions\/265522"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.navigators.org\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/254879"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.navigators.org\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=4963"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"mission","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.navigators.org\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/mission?post=4963"},{"taxonomy":"topic","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.navigators.org\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/topic?post=4963"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}