“…they overcame him by the blood of the Lamb, and by the word of their testimony; and they loved not their lives unto the death….” Revelation 12:11
I am not sure the above verse gives us liberty to use our own personal testimonies independently or instead of preaching the Gospel to those who are not trusting in Christ. The Bible is very clear about the Gospel itself being the power of God unto salvation - to everyone that believes.
See Romans 1:16.
However, the fact is that God does do a unique miraculous work in every Christian. Our testimony is a real-life outworking of God’s grace and mercy.
See 1 Corinthians 6:11.
See Ephesians 2:10.
Our testimony is something that can help ourselves overcome great challenges in life as well as others. We read again and again where God tells His people to remember this and remember that – often with physical things like writing things down. Why? Because we are prone to forget the works of God.
It is a great thing to write down the works that God has done in our own personal lives. Where would we be without the Bible for example? Maybe create a diary of the way in which the Lord has worked in your life too. This is a great tool to help you in difficult time.
As well as the Bible itself. God’s people of old used to create physical monuments to the great works that God has done. For example:
See 1 Samuel 7:12
We see a great many festivals that the Jews were to carry out each year to remember what the Lord has done. The Passover is a great example of this.
The New Testament also lays forth something we should do from the time of the last supper – take communion. A great physical ceremony to remember the physical death of the Lord Jesus.
We see modern monuments across the UK to martyrs of old. For example, the Martyr’s memorial in Oxford speaks of the great convictions held by Christians who would be given great strength of the Lord to lay down their lives for the importance of core Biblical principles.
Even with all of these events in history, sin gets in the way and clouds them. This is why we should daily come to God’s Word and seek Him in prayer for help in remembering and studying His Word.
When we speak with other Christian’s about what the Lord has done in our lives, we are used of the Lord to encourage one another. Many times I have found that sharing the testimony of what the Lord has done in my life has renewed my strength and at the same time has been a great help to the person I have shared it with.
If we make time to diligently seek the Lord in His Word and by listening and sharing what He does in our lives we can find His Word true that He will reward us.
See Hebrews 11:6.
I believe our testimonies of what God is doing in our lives in general are a means of great grace to fellow believers in the faith (and for ourselves). And when we meet together often, we should often speak of the Lord and the great things that He does in and through our lives. The closer we are to the Lord, the greater we should view His kindness and working in and around our lives. We can then ever love to seek to share those truths with others, as it will become so exciting to us that we can’t but help to speak of how great He is to us.
I am however aware that when people come to us to ask for us to print a Christian testimony, that is not often a generalised story about what the Lord is doing in our lives day to day. But rather the way in which the Lord has saved them as an individual.
We must be careful to remember that much of our language to the people who are not saved is foreign to them. So it is best to explain things in the most simplest as possible ways, so they might hear the truth as a child. Because we can be sure that unless a person becomes like a child / humbles themselves, they will not enter the Kingdom of heaven:
See 1 Corinthians 2:14
See Matthew 18:3
See James 4:6
As well as the spiritual things not being clear to the one who is not saved - that they need to humble themselves, it’s also important to remember that most people in the UK now, sadly, have no idea what Christianity is all about. Even if they have attended a church of such most of their lives.
I meet people who I do business with and when I find out they have some sort of Christian background, I ask them to explain to me, in their own experience, what Christianity is. Most people would give an answer along the lines of “It’s about doing lots of good to people and living by a standard.”
Once I do share with them the Good News of Salvation in Christ alone, the majority say they have never heard that message, or have never heard it quite that way. But wonderfully many say that it makes sense.
I think that it’s a great ice breaker to the Gospel (so testimonies as evangelism tools in this sense are fairly minimal), or introduction to the Gospel when we are in a place to share what the Lord has done in saving us. But ultimately, I think a great thing to have in the back of our minds is that which John the Baptist said “He must increase, but I must decrease.” John 3:30.
This verse I know was directly about John the Baptist being a prophet making way for the Lord Jesus to come – so in a sense John would just be an arrow pointing to Jesus coming in the flesh and starting His main ministry from Baptism. But, I think we are to all, as believers upon the Lord Jesus, to be arrows mainly pointing towards Christ "For we preach not ourselves, but Christ Jesus the Lord" 2 Corinthians 4:5. For there is nothing about us that is good without Christ and what He did in dying on the cross and rising again. We are finite and not able to save anyone. Stories about us, while all good to tell at appropriate times, won’t save anyone. But, they can be used prayerfully to explain that glorious Gospel in a way that the Lord can use to save a soul. For example, when I meet with business owners and employees, we meet to find out more about each other so we can know, like and trust each other. When someone asks me why or how I got into printing (regarding my general print services found at Afford A Print), that is a very natural way in which I can share the work God has done in my life (because I left secular work to go self employed so I can make Christ known through printing). If they don’t ask me that question, they might ask me what my ideal work is / referral. I can then share about how I do lots of free printed Christian posters, Gospel literature and Bibles. Such conversation can lead to a natural question that I can put to the individual like “Do you have a Christian background?”
Always listen out for things in the life of a person that can bring the topic of Christianity into conversation. Don’t hide the fact you are a Christian. This will make things harder for you to be a witness for the Gospel. More people want to talk about such things than you think. Especially if you want them to tell you their experience of Christianity. You will probably find they want to hear your point of view also.
When to use testimonies as evangelism tools
If you have never written down your testimony of how you came to trust upon the Lord Jesus Christ, do it sooner than later. This is because it is one more way in which you can make Christ known through your life.
How or where to give away copies of your Christian printed testimony of salvation.
You need to pray for the best opportunity to use testominies as evangelism tools. Should it be your own story or someone elses? When will be the best time to add this to the conversation?
a) Imagine you suddenly come across an old school friend on the internet. You start a conversation and want to tell them about your Christian faith. Ask them for their address and make a point of sending them a printed greetings card – be it New Years, Christmas, birthday, Easter. With the card, include a copy of your testimony. I am sure they would be interested to hear what has been going on in your life since you last met.
b) Make a point of sending a copy to every member of your family. Greeting cards would be a great way of doing this. You might have tried to share the Good News with your family before, but find you get interrupted by them. They can’t interrupt a printed flyer!
c) If the flyer is written in a suitable manor, it might be something you could just hand out on the streets.
d) It can compliment a conversation you have already had. Perhaps you have already shared your testimony with someone and they have now heard the Gospel. Give them a printed copy of what you have shared so they can read later should they have the desire to. Or perhaps someone else in their household will read it. I know tracts handed out on the streets get read to other people – friends and family at home!
e) Share it with individuals in your fellowship – many may have not heard it and it will bless them.
Remember, you are unique and God deals with each of us in unique ways. Never think that your conversion story is plain and boring. If you include the Gospel in there, you never know what the Lord might do with it. Your “boring” testimony might be the simple way in which the Lord saves a soul.
I pray that this would be so if you go on from reading this article and print copies of your salvation testimony for others to read.
If you would like us to quote you on the design / formatting and printing of your testimony, please get in touch with us.
We have done many print projects for people in the past. Here is an example of a five star Google review left by a Christian recently: “Excellent quality small cards, with Scripture on one side, and a QR code with details of online Gospel material on clicking, on the other. These cards are proving very attractive and popular, and they are helping to move the work forward, significantly increasing our visibility in the local community.”
Dr David Mackereth
Did you know that you can add our offer of a free Holy Bible (uk) to any of your outreach print projects?
At Printing Evangelism, we go beyond offering free Gospel flyers and Evangelism resources. We extend a warm invitation to individuals exploring life's meaning, yet to embrace Christianity, to receive a Bible. This initiative resonates with the great commission, highlighting our steadfast dedication to ensuring easy access to God's Word for all who desire to invoke the Name of the Lord.
Want to add our offer of a free Christian Bible to your outreach print project? Simply add the website address www.free-Bible.co.uk and then request a quote from us for printing.