Small Group 1: Preparing your Testimony (Israelites denying Lordship)

The focus of our testimony is not about us but about Jesus being glorified IN us. Throughout our small groups, we are

going to shift our focus to how to prepare your testimony in three versions:

1. The 25-minute version

2. The 2-minute version

3. The 30-second version

Today, we are going to focus on the 25-minute version. Use the following as a guide as you practice preparing your

testimony. *If you have not come to faith, be honest about where you are in your walk. You are seen, and Jesus desires a

personal relationship with you.

Before sharing your testimony, let’s talk about a person of peace. This is someone you feel the Holy Spirit saying in your

heart, "Talk to them.” We can share our story and the Gospel with anyone, but it is these moments that you should really

take to heart and be obedient to the voice of God.

Preparing Your Testimony

The first 5 minutes: Before I knew Christ: When communicating your testimony, it can be used in powerful ways. The

testimony is not “what I did,” but “what Jesus has done.” Focus on verses to utilize: Romans 3:23 says we have all fallen

short of the glory of God, and that’s where my life was and where it continued to head on a dark path.

The next 10 minutes: When I came to know Christ

For this section, bring the realization: Eph. 2:4-5 says, “But God, being rich in mercy, because of the great love with which

he loved us, even when we were dead in our trespasses, made us alive together with Christ—by grace you have been

saved.”

I was dead, but the Holy Spirit opened my eyes to the sin in my life and rescued me.

Some key notes: Know your audience (some details can be spared and alluded to, but not directly). Not everyone has to

know the nitty-gritty details, but certain situations can have details if you feel led by the Holy Spirit to share.

The next 5 minutes: Since I have known Christ.

In this section, you should focus on how you have grown in your faith. For example, since I have known Christ, I have

noticed a change in my heart toward people, my mental health has improved, and I’ve gained a loving community, but

most importantly, my relationship with Christ has strengthened me and empowered me to share my story with others. Let

me tell you about the Gospel.”

The last 5 minutes: The most important part, and that is to present a gospel presentation. We have all fallen short, but

Jesus died for our sins. He created a perfect world, but we had rebelled against Him and thought our way was better,

which is how sin entered the world. This is why we see brokenness, death, and hurt, and everything good we see is from

God. He desires a personal relationship with Him even if we have turned from Him, and He gives us the choice to live in

eternity with Him or completely separated from Him.

Prompt them: If they were to die tonight, where would they spend eternity?

Practice it with a partner, and take it seriously. Write it down below:

Before I knew Christ:

When I met Christ:

Since I’ve known Christ:

Small Group 2: Acts Focus

Yesterday we spent time focusing on the 25-minute version of our testimonies, and today we want to focus on

summarizing the testimony to make it gospel-focused and evangelistic-ready.

The 2-minute version is an abbreviated version of the 25-minute version if you are limited on time but want to focus on the

key points of your testimony.

The first 30 seconds: a summarized version of your life before you knew Jesus. Take some time to summarize this

section and really focus on keywords or events that happened during this time of your life.

The next 30 seconds: a summarized version of how you came to know Christ. In this section, focus on the

transformational power of the Holy Spirit when He not only becomes your savior but also your Lord in your life.

The next 30 seconds: a summarized version of how your life has looked since knowing Christ.

Last 30 seconds: Gospel presentation and prompt. In yesterday’s question, we provided the question, "If you were to die

tonight, would you spend eternity in heaven or hell?” We ask this question because it truly gets them thinking about their

life outside of their current life. However, maybe for you, you change the wording to "What do you think will happen when

we die?” Maybe you add on, "How do you know?" "I don’t know" is an answer. This is the gospel opportunity.

This is where we take that opportunity and share the reality of Christ, the reality of a Savior, and they can choose to

accept it or not.

If they choose to accept it, pray with them and get them connected to a church. If they choose to not accept it, shake the

dust from your feet and keep pursuing that person of peace.

Practice it with a partner, and take it seriously. Write it down below:

Before I knew Christ:

When I met Christ:

Since I’ve known Christ:

Small Group 3: Ready to Testify

In the last two small groups, you have prepared and summarized your testimony. Today, we want to focus on being

gospel-ready at any moment. This is where you know your testimony confidently, and you can communicate it clearly and

effectively.

In this portion of your testimony, this is where we want to get down to the core of sharing the testimony: The Gospel

presentation and shaping our testimony into a Gospel presentation. In previous preparations for your testimony, we have

seen the testimony as what it is: a testament to God’s work in your life and what He can do in others.

The first ten seconds: Before I knew Christ, I was a sinner in need of saving. I was prideful and didn’t think I needed a

Savior, but that is where the Lord met me and changed my heart.

The next ten seconds: When I came to know Christ, He broke my heart for my sin and made me realize my need for Him

in my life. To truly find satisfaction and peace, it can only come through Jesus and His saving power through His death

and resurrection.

The last ten seconds: If you were to die tonight, would you spend eternity in heaven or hell? It’s a deep question, but one

we all have to answer. We can confidently know through God’s divine nature and His word that we have two paths: One

with Him for eternity in peace and prosperity or one eternally separated from Him in weeping and gnashing of teeth. He

desires a relationship with you, and He is patiently waiting.

Be encouraged; you do not have to know everything to share the gospel, but share the essentials: Jesus’ life, death, and

resurrection. Use the Romans' road as a tool:

The Bible says all have sinned and fall short of God’s glory (Romans 3:23). The consequence of sin is death, but God

offers a free gift—eternal life in Christ Jesus (Romans 6:23). God showed His love for us in this: while we were still

sinners, Christ died for us (Romans 5:8). If we confess with our mouth that Jesus is Lord and believe in our heart that God

raised Him from the dead, we will be saved (Romans 10:9). Everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved

(Romans 10:13).

This keeps things simple, and it points to the truth of the Gospel. Go, and preach the Gospel to those in your schools,

homes, churches, sports teams...wherever the Lord would lead you.

Practice the Romans Road with a partner, and take it seriously. Write it down below for you to remember and practice in

your own words: