The Power of a Testimony

It is interesting how often the apostle Paul used his personal testimony when he spoke to unbelievers. Though he was a brilliant orator and extremely knowledgeable about Scripture and theology, he would begin with his testimony. Why? Because it was a bridge to unbelievers.

It’s hard for people to imagine us as anything but what we are today. When they hear us praising God and talking about His goodness, they think, Where do these people come from? They are amazed when they hear our stories, when they hear us say, “I wasn’t always this way. Christ transformed me.” That amazes people. It is a powerful tool.

But when you share your personal testimony, don’t glorify or exaggerate the past. The blind man who was touched by Jesus simply said, “One thing I know: that though I was blind, now I see” (John 9:25). Remember the way you used to feel. When I tell my own story, instead of wrapping it in religious rhetoric, I will share how I felt. As you tell your story, the person you are speaking to might even be thinking, That is how I feel right now.

And then you go on to the main subject, the gospel. You use your testimony to build a bridge and say, “Now here is the message I heard. What do you think about that?” Your testimony is a way to share the gospel without immediately getting into someone’s face. It’s a way to build a bridge, not burn one.

But always when you share your testimony, make a beeline to the cross. As Paul said, “For I determined not to know anything among you except Jesus Christ and Him crucified” (1 Corinthians 2:2). That is where the power is: in the story of Jesus and His death on the cross. He paid for the sin of humanity. So let’s never tire of telling it.

P.S. For more of my writing, check out my weekly column at WorldNetDaily.
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