Being Missional in IsolationSample

SHARE YOUR STORY

Jesus told his followers, “You are witnesses of these things.” As followers of Jesus, we are called witnesses. As if in a court of law, we “testify” before others about the impact Jesus has had on our lives. Your story of your relationship with God is called your testimony. Everybody has a story. This is a chance to practice yours.

There are endless ways to share your story, but here are some simple ways that we’ve seen work well with others. When sharing, try to keep your story to three minutes or less. 

1. Share a simple statement about why you chose to follow Jesus. This works well if you are a brand new believer. 
2. Share your “before” and “after” story — what your life was like before you knew Jesus and what your life is like now. Simple and powerful. 
3. Share your “with” and “without” story of what your life is like “with Jesus” and what it would be like “without him.” This version of your story works well if you came to faith at a young age.  

Earlier, we learned about creating a prayer calendar from a list of people in your social circles. Choose one or two followers of Jesus from your list who you can call to practice with and then pick five names of people who do not yet follow Jesus. Practice sharing your testimony with your believing friend as if you were talking to your not-yet believing friend. As you do this, practice shaping your story to make it specific for each of the five names you chose. Remember, try to keep your story to three minutes or less!

When engaging in spiritual conversation, it is helpful to think of it as a three-part process:

1. Their Story — Ask the person you are talking with to share about their spiritual journey. 
2. Your Story — Then share your testimony shaped around their experience. 
3. God’s Story — Finally share God’s story in a way that connects with their worldview, values, and priorities. And if you’re worried about how to get started — keep it simple. Just share a statement of why you decided to follow Jesus. God can use your story to change lives, but remember — you’re the one who gets to tell it.

Today, spend some time praying about and writing down your testimony. What was your life like before you knew Jesus? How did you come to follow him? How is your life different today? After you are done writing your testimony, start sharing it. Call someone from your prayer calendar today!

DAILY DISCOVERY QUESTIONS FOR JOURNALING OR DISCUSSION: 

• What does this teach me about God the Father, God the Son, or God the Holy Spirit?
• What does this teach me about myself and other people?
• What does this teach me about making disciples?
• How will I obey this lesson personally?
• Who can I share these truths with today?