WPC  k*1mzx F&,.NSn)1̰Ͱ _riv9LI+=׷ '*2k?KF3QTޔ~;*O^O˛W~ojRhNg9(-tac%[TG}qqԩԚp5/JhGOxN݆1s-5/w4-19puw]m 5ƪfYקbl<9)&Kt [x8Ɨⶮ7hW.9,O䖣|Q竺*3Z bBW ,lO UP+g#_\ U0SΠGngbUu1*8}sD;Ims-|= G.gD0ez5}nP)JrdVՓOEQ0Zȵ|ɸ{=;A{ZlQ186D>fU: 0<Rr 1kuU2uU* 0ULNo % 1mw@04p mU>#!b 'A $"MS Sans Serif<:Default Para'    0 .   $35=EMU]em1 I. A. 1. a.(1)(a) i) a)\  `Times New%2A`Arial#|xa(f$   WX X Wx9 Z6Times New Roman Regular X# e37=CIQYag1.a.i.(1)(a)(i)1)a) XVYDZV[E\]V^E_`UaUE&X8Ux9 Z&Times New RomanHP DeskJet 690C Series v11.0,,,,,,,,0Page of & !   X X   ݛ      C  $# CpɎp  10!ɎL8TXdd8LHOWTODEVELOPAMOREPOWERFUL  C  $$CTESTIMONYPRESENTATION#Ɏ! 10*#}Ɏ  < C  $$C byDerekGentle  (x O } } O  UC  $$CU &E % }C  $$C   XTX % &EC  $$CHowwouldyoudefineasuccessfultestimonypresentation?Yourconceptofa"goodtestimony"willdeterminemuchabouthowyougoaboutpreparingtotellyourstory.Success,ofcourse,relatestohowwellafunctionfulfillsitspurpose.Thepurposeofabasketballcoachistorecruitandprepareplayerstowingames.Thus,wemeasurecoach'ssuccessbytheirwon/lossrecords.Therearetwopurposesofatestimony:first,togiveGodthecreditforcomingtoourrescuewhenwewerehelpless.Atestimony'ssecondpurposeistogiveothersaconcreteexampleofthepowerofGodandHisabilitytochangelives.Tosuccessfullyfulfillthesetwopurposesbecertainthatyou:# &E %X XT# `    C  $$C  C  $$C  C  $$C  } % &EHaveJesusComeOutTheStar T # &E % }0#  C  $$C C  $$C   XTX % &ESinceatestimonyistellingthestoryofhowGodcametorescueuswhenwewereunable 0 tohelpourselves,itwouldseemobviousthatJesusshouldcomeoutthehero.Yet,wehaveallheard"testimonies"whicharereallyatributetoaperson'sowngritanddetermination.Ican'tconvinceyouwhatacleverandcharmingandgoodpersonIam  andglorifyJesusatthesametime.Neitherisatestimonyatributetothechurchnortosomepersonwhohasbeenhelpfulinourlives.WhileitisgoodtodescribehowGodusedotherstobringHiswordtous,theyshouldnotbetheleadingcharacters.Onesuchtestimonyboileddowntothis:"Iwaslost,butthenIjoinedtheyouthgroup."Atestimonyisabouthowwewereattheendofourhumanresourcefulness,attheendofourrope,andhowJesusdidforuswhatwecouldnotdoforourselves.EitherJesusistheheroorourtestimonygradesazero.# &E %X XTE # h 9 C  $$C   C  $$CC  $$C XTX % &E }X XTTellOneTestimonyataTime# XTX }^# &E %X XT !    C  $$C C  $$C   XTX % &EMostanyonewhohasbeenaChristianforanytimehasmorethanonetestimony.Hehas #! hissalvationtestimony,ofcourse,orheisn'taChristian.However,aChristianshouldalsohavegrowthtestimonies.ApersonmaybeabletosharehertestimonyabouthowtheLordtaughthertheimportanceofaconsistentpersonaldevotionaltimeandoneabouthowGodishelpingherovercomeanunforgivingspirit.Sometimesapersontriestotellallofhistestimoniesatonceandgoesontoolongfortheoccasion.Atestimonyshouldbemorelikeatelevisioncommercialonetheme,tightlydevelopedandpackedintoashorttimethanaminiseries.# &E %X XT#  *\%( C  $$CSST  *H&) TC  $$CS +$'* S  C  $$C  } % &E# &E % }#C  $$C     } % &EURRUHammerOutaTheme  # &E % }R##&% % &E #F &E %%&C  $$C    XTX % &EYourtestimonyhasaplot.Perhaps,youweresearchingforsomething.Maybe,you  lookedforitinthewrongplaces.Godspoke,youresisted.Finally,youwerebroughttoapointofcrisis.Eitherdramaticallyorinaquietandlowkeyway,yousubmittedtoJesusChrist.Hebegantoworkchangesinyourlifeandyoufoundthatthedeepestneedsofyourheartwerebeingmet.Whatwereyouseeking?WhywereyousostubbornlyresistingGod?Thesearethethemesofasalvationtestimony.Onedeacontoldhowhehadbeenraisedinanunchurchedhome,butwhichwashonestandhadtheworkethic.Hewastoldgrowingupthatonealwayshadtoworkandearneverythinghehad,thatoneshouldneverexpecttobegivenanything.Hetracedthethemeofhowhewasbroughtto  <  realizethatsalvationwasafreegiftfromGod.GrowthtestimonieshavesimilarthemesconcerninghowtheLordshowedusourneedforgrowthinaspecificareaandhow,aswesubmittedtoHiswill,wewereempoweredbyHisgrace.Aneffectivetestimonytracessuchathemethroughyourexperiencesinlife.# &E %X XTu#   i  C  $$C C  $$CC  $$C XTX % &E }X XTTelltheKeyStories# XTX }E# &E %X XT @ C  $$CC  $$C      XTX % &ECertaineventsepitomizewholeperiodsinourlivesorentirestruggles.Asyouprepare, l thinkaboutthekeyeventwhichprettymuchsumsupthewholepoint.Howdidyoucometostopfeelingselfsufficient?Whatwasthekeyturningpointforyou?Specifically,howdidyoucometorealizeyourneedofChrist?Whatcausedyoutotakespiritualmattersseriously?NamethethingswhichattractedyoutoJesusChrist.Howwereyoubroughttothepointofcrisis?Whatfinallyclincheditforyou?# &E %X XTq#eC  $$C C  $$C  C  $$C XTX % &E }X XTUseThoughtprovokingSentences# XTX }# &E %X XT \ C  $$CC  $$C      XTX % &EInthinkingthroughyourlifeandpreparingyourtestimony,developsuccinctsentences 8 whichsumupthemainpointsofyourstory.Finetunethesesentences.Wordtheminsuchawaytheywillhelpotherstogetthepictureandwillcausethemtothink.Thesesentenceswillprovehelpful,notonlywhenyouusetheminpresentingyourtestimonytoagroup,buttheywillalsoenableyoutoquicklymakeyourpointinpersonalconversations.Inconversationsyouwon'thavethetimetotellyourentirelifestory.Norcanyousay,"Holdonaminuteandletmethinkofagoodresponsetothat."Sohaveafewsentencesfiguredouttogointoyour"tacklebox",readytousewhenneeded.Thepointisn'ttohaveeverythingwrittenoutandmemorized,butrathertogiveyourlistenersafew"handles"withwhichtogetabettergriponwhatyouaresaying.Someexamplesmightinclude:"IusedtofeellikeIwasmyownGoduntiltheheartattack,"or"Growingup,Iwasalwaysthekidwhohad'cooties';myselfesteemsufferedalotuntilIcametoknowYX  \)$( XYJesusChrist."]  H*%) ]Sometimespeoplehavetroubleknowinghowtoconcludetheirtestimony.[[WV  H*%) VW[Z  H*%) Z[\\Usually,becausehowtostopistheoneparttheyhaven'tthoughtabout.Whenyouridethewildhorses,it'shardtoknowhowtogetoff.So,hereisoneplacewhereagoodthoughtprovokingsentencecanbeabighelptoyouasthespeaker,aswellasawaytohelpyourlistenerscontinuethinkingaboutwhatyouhavesaid.# &E %X XT!# ` C  $$C  C  $$C  C  $$C XTX % &E }X XTRelateHumanEmotion# XTX }(# &E %X XT  T   C  $$C C  $$C   XTX % &ENoonehashadyourexactexperience,butwehavealltastedofthesamebasicemotions:  0  love,hate,fear,hurt,confusion,confidence,embarrassment...Onemarkofaneffectivetestimonypresentationisthatittellsyouruniquestoryinsuchawaythatotherscanrelatetoyourfeelings.Theyimaginehowitmusthavebeenforyouandidentifywithyou. For   example,amanwhosewifecametotheLordbeforehedid,mighttellhowatfirsthefeltthreatenedbyhiswife'sfaithandhefeareditwouldcauseherandthechildrentoloserespectforhim.  l  # &E %X XT*#C  $$C *C  $$C  C  $$C XTX % &E }X XTDon'tAssume# XTX }-# &E %X XT `  XTX % &E  C  $$C C  $$C  WeknowthatapersonoughttobeaChristian.Weknowthatapersonoughttobeamemberofagoodchurch.WeknowthatapersonoughttowanttoprofessfaithinChristbeforeothers . However,peoplewhowerenotraisedinchurchdonotevenknowwhat $ wearetalkingabout,muchlessfeelthattheyoughttodoit.Workingontheassumptionthatyourlistenerssharethat"senseofoughtness"iskindoflikestartinginthemiddle.Soexplainhowyoucametorealizewhatyououghttodo.Youmightevensharesomeinitialmisconceptionsyoumighthavehad.Whensharingasalvationtestimony,weaveintoyourpresentationtruthsofthegospelastheynaturallyfitintoyourexperience("Ithought,'Goodgrief;itisagift!'").Losethelingoanddescribewhatyou'retalkingabout.Saying ` somethinglike,"SofinallyonFridaynightoftherevivalIwalkedtheaisleandwassaved"doesn'tcommunicateenoughinformation.Explainhow,"WhatIheardthepreachersaythatnightbroughtmypreviousthoughtsaboutGodintofocus.IputmytrustinJesusChristtoforgivemeandtochangemylife.TheeffectwassopowerfulthatIdidn'tcarewhoknew.Asmyfirststepofobedience,Ijoinedthechurchthatverynight!"Keypartslikethisoughttobeadequatelyexplainedandnotputinto"Christianshorthand"withtermslike"walkedtheaisle."(Isthatanythinglikewalkingtheplank?Dowereallywanttogivepeopletheideathatwalkingtheaislewillsavethem?)Makeclear,also,thedistinctionbetweenyoursalvationexperienceandsubsequentgrowthexperiences.I'veheardtestimoniesandfoundmyselfwondering,"Washesavedthefirsttimeorthesecondtime?"Tellyourstoryinsuchawaythatlistenerswithoutachurchbackgroundwillbegintoconsider,"Maybethat'stheanswer,"insteadof,"Whatisshetalkingabout?"  p)$( /C  $$CC  $$C^ H+&* ^  C  $$C# &E %X XT].# } % &E  H+&* CuttotheChase# &E % }7# XTX % &E    C  $$CC  $$C   Unlessadateorplaceisaninterestingandimportantpartofthestory,don'ttellit.Getto  thepoint.Don'tboreyourlistenerswithextradetailsthatdonothelptomovetheplotforward.9C  $$C  C  $$C # &E %X XTI8# } % &E#O  }#} ODon'tPreach#O };# } O# &E % }:# L    C  $$C C  $$C   XTX % &ESermonsanddevotionalsarebothgoodthings.However,theyaredifferentfroma ( x testimony.YourtestimonyisthestoryofhowGodworkedinyourlife.SotellwhatGod  d  hasdoneforyou,notwhatweshouldletHimdoinus.Yourstory,rightlytold,willbechallenginginandofitself.Sometimes,peoplerecommendthatwealwaysincludeatleastonescripturepassageinourtestimony.Iwouldamendthattospecifypassagesthat (  arepartofyourstory.Don'tjustthrowaverseintherebecauseyouare"supposed"to   useone.Iheardagreatexamplewhereamantoldaboutthetimehefellasleepatthewheelonlytowakeupunderabillboardsaying,"Thewagesofsinisdeath."HewentontotellhowitmadehimthinkabouthisspiritualconditionandthenhowGodlaterusedhisfamiliaritywiththefirsthalfofthatversetoshowhimthemeaningofthesecondhalf,"ButthegiftofGodiseternallifethroughJesusChristourLord."# &E %X XTK<# ` C  $$CC  $$C  C  $$C  } % &EComeAcrossas"InProgress"# &E % }A# XTX % &E T C  $$CC  $$C   Folksrelatebettertoourweaknessesandstrugglesthantooursuccesses.Celebritiesmay @ drawbiggercrowds,butpeopleoftengetmoreoutofhearinganhonestpersonwithwhomtheyhavemoreincommon.Humilityandhonestygraceatestimony.Whenyouareabletosay,"Itishard,butGodismakingadifference,"theyheartherealityoftheirownworld.Theyperceivethatwhereyouarenowiswithinstrikingdistanceforthem,too.Theymaynotfeelthatwayabouttheprofootballplayerwhomakesacoupleofamilliondollarsayear.C  $$CC  $$C  C  $$C # &E %X XTA# } % &EPutinEnoughPrayerTimeand"Think"Time <"  # &E % }E# XTX % &E   C  $$CC  $$C  Godcananddoesputwordsinourmouthsspontaneously.Asapastor,sometimesfindmyselflisteningtosomereallyneatsentencesflowingfrommyownlips,knowingthattheycamefromtheHolySpirit.IrefertothosetimeswhenHeaddstoorsubtractsfromwhatI'vepreparedas"Divineeditorship".However,itseemsthatGodhasdonethismostandusedmemostwhenIhavespentthemosttimeprayingandmeditatingonwhatHewouldhavemetosayandwhatwouldbemosthelpfulformylistenerstohear.C  $$CC  $$C  C  $$C # &E %X XTvF# } % &E  +&* ImproveonYourPresentation# &E % }4J# XTX % &E  C  $$CC  $$C   Lookforwaystobettertellyourstory.Dotheyseemtobehearingwhatyouaretrying  tosay?Youmaybesurprisedtodiscoverthepartsofyourstorytowhichpeoplerelate.Ifitseemstoenlightenandencourage,makeapointtoalwaysincludeit.Eliminatethosethings,whichuponreflection,werenotnecessary.Smoothoutthewordingofthepartsyouhadtroubleexplaining.AskGodtoguideyou.C  $$CC  $$C  C  $$C # &E %X XTJ# } % &EQuickSummary# &E % }N# XTX % &E   `  C  $$C  Effectivecommunicationinsharingyourpersonaltestimonytakesplacewhenapersonwhoneedstohearitunderstandsit,relatestoit,andthencontinuestothinkaboutit.Atestimonyisforthosewhoneedit.Itisn'tforthepurposeofentertainingachurch $  "audience."IthasthepurposeofhelpingthatpersonwhoneedsChrist(orthatfellowbelieverwhoneedstogrowinaspecificarea)tounderstandwhyandhowthatcomesabout.Atestimonyisastorythatillustratesapoint.ItisaboutwhatGodhasdonefor  youandwhatGodhasdoneinyou.Itisapersonalstory,soithasthepowertohelp  peopleseethemselvesandtheirownfeelingsinyourexperience.Atestimonyhashititsmarkwhenalistener"getsit"andthenfindshimselfconsideringhisownrelationshipwithGod.  H   C  $$C# &E %X XTnN#C  $$C   p _  10! % &E_APPENDIX_# &E %! 10cS#_  C  $$C``C  $$CC  $$C XTX % &EOUTLINEFORSALVATIONTESTIMONY  8  C  $$C(Thisisacommonlysuggestedoutline)  C  $$CC  $$C0 4 1.MyLifeBeforeComingToChrist D  L 4!4! C  $$C0 4  (Becertainnottomakethispartsoundlike"thegoodolddays")   8 4!4! C  $$CC  $$CC  $$C0 4 2.HowIRealizedINeededChrist 4!4! C  $$CC  $$CC  $$C0 4 3.HowIReceivedChrist 4!4!   C  $$CC  $$C  C  $$C0 4 4.TheDifferenceChristisMakinginMyLifeNow 44!4!   C  $$CC  $$CC  $$CaaC  $$CC  $$COUTLINEFORACHRISTIANGROWTHUPDATETESTIMONY     C  $$CC  $$CC  $$C0 4 1.TheCircumstancesIHaveBeenFacingandGodHasBeenUsing 4!4! C  $$CC  $$CC  $$C0 4 2.WhatINeededToLearnandHowGodSpokeToMeAboutIt 4!4! C  $$CC  $$CC  $$C0 4 3.HowICameToThePointofSubmissiontoGod 4!4! C  $$CC  $$CC  $$C0 4 4.TheDifferenceGodHasBeenMakingInMyLifeSince 4!4! C  $$C#X0XX XTR;#C  $$CC  $$C̜