Short Testimony

We are encouraging everyone at NLEC to put together their short testimony.

Please give it a go and email it to This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it for some feedback on ways to make it better.

Here are some guidelines...

Keep it...

1.  Brief

2.  Clear

3.  Simple

4.  Humble

1. Brief

1 minute or less

Keep it between 100-180 words. It needs to short enough for you to remember it, so you can USE it in a conversation when you get the opportunity.

2. Clear

Stick to one clear plot outline

Don’t try and say too much

Don’t try and talk about EVERYTHING that led you to being a Christian.

Think of ONE THING that describes you BEFORE you were a Christian, and how that has been changed by knowing Jesus.

Examples or before and after story...

Before After

Loneliness ... Jesus ... Friendliness

Guilt ... Jesus ... Freedom

Fear of Death ... Jesus ... Courage

Weakness ... Jesus ... Strength

Emptiness ... Jesus ... Purpose

Rejection ... Jesus ... Acceptance

Fear of Failure ... Jesus ... Fulfilment

Depression ... Jesus ... Hope

Insecurity ... Jesus ... Security

If you have always been a Christian, then talk about one thing that is great about being a Christian. That is, why (from a human perspective) are you still a Christian?

3. Simple

Don’t use Christian jargon words or terms that people don’t understand

Words like ‘sin’ and ‘faith’ are words that people might know, but what they mean by them is probably different to what the Bible means by them, so don’t use them unless you explain what they mean. Other terms like ‘sanctification’ and ‘redemption’ they will have no idea, so don’t use them at all.

Some common misunderstood words and their meaning are...

Sin = Rebellion against God, or ignoring God, living your own way instead of his way.

Faith = Trusting in Jesus. Living with him as your boss and relying on his death to make you friends with God.

Repentance = U-turn! Stop living your way and start living God’s way.

Born Again = New life – the beginning of eternal life

Salvation = Being forgiven by God

4. Humble

Don’t be ‘preachy’

It is not because you are better than anyone else that you are a Christian. Be careful not to make it sound like you are wonderful – Jesus is the wonderful one, and we are unworthy, forgiven sinners!