Pastor column: Sharing your testimony effectively

Knowing Jesus, you have a responsibility to share your testimony. Our witness should flow out of the daily, life-changing relationship we have with Him. You see, knowing Jesus as our Savior we have a story to tell. This story is our “testimony.”

Peter says that “in your hearts revere Christ as Lord. 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” (1 Peter 3:15). In this verse I see three keys to sharing your testimony effectively.

First, be committed to Christ’s Lordship — “revere Christ as Lord.” I need to commit myself to living for an audience of One. Christ commands us to share our story with others! To do anything less is to dishonor His Lordship!

Paul says that “as you received Christ Jesus as Lord, continue to live your lives in Him” (Colossians 2:6). Living under the Lordship of Christ, my eyes are on Him, not my circumstances, which means I will always find reasons for joy and reasons to be thankful.

Second, be prepared to share your story — “always be prepared to give.” You need to know your testimony. Here’s some questions to ask yourself. What was your life like before trusting Christ? How did you come to commit your life to Jesus? How has your life been impacted since trusting Christ? Let me encourage you to know your story and learn to share your story.

Thirdly, be looking for every opportunity — “to give the reason for the hope that you have.” Making the most of every opportunity for you to share your testimony, be clear, give the reason and be caring. Do this with gentleness and respect.

F. B. Meyer began to share his testimony and preaching evangelistic sermons; his church began to grow. Soon he was invited to America. He did a series of meetings on college campuses. At one college meeting, a student, J. Wilber Chapman, heard the preaching and accepted Christ.

Chapman went into YMCA work. He needed a helper, so he hired a young convert named Billy Sunday. Sunday soon began to do the work of an evangelist and preaching in Charlotte, North Carolina. Some local businessmen heard Sunday preach about “prayer power” and began to meet and pray regularly.

Later, Mordecai Ham was invited to come to Charlotte to preach. During one of the meetings, a young man felt the evangelist’s sermon was pointing directly at him. The next night, during the invitation, the young man prayed to receive Christ. His name? Billy Graham. And the story goes on … but where did it all begin? With a man who cared enough to share the story of Jesus by sharing his story, so that a young man might have his life turned into a brand new story!

There was a time when I didn’t know Jesus, then I came to know Him and my life is different because of Him. Sharing Jesus should be — must be — a natural expression of walking with Him.

Rev. J. Patrick Street is the lead pastor of Redeemer Church in Marion. He can be reached at coachpatstreet@gmail.com.

This article originally appeared on Marion Star: Committing to Christ and sharing your testimony