In Acts 1:8, Jesus lays the groundwork for how the Church will grow—how more people will come to know him, believe in him, and inspire others to do the same:
“...you will be my witnesses, telling people about me everywhere—in Jerusalem, throughout Judea, in Samaria, and to the ends of the earth.”
In a courtroom, a witness’s job is to tell the truth about what they’ve seen or experienced. And when Jesus calls us to be witnesses of him, he’s telling us to talk about our personal experience with him: how we came to know him, how he changed our lives, and how we've seen him work.
But the act of sharing your testimony—your story—can be awkward or intimidating. You trusted Jesus. You know what Jesus has done in your life, and you want others to experience it for themselves, but when the opportunity comes, you freeze. Your story doesn’t feel dramatic enough. You don’t know where it truly begins. You’re not convinced it counts as a “story” at all.
To be faithful to Jesus and introduce more people to him, the most powerful tool in your arsenal is your own story. Everyone has one—and it’s not as hard to share yours as you think!
What It Means to Be a Witness
Think again about a witness in a courtroom. Their job isn’t to try and convince the jury or argue with the lawyers. All they need to do is tell their side of the story—the things they experienced for themselves.
That’s the invitation Jesus gives you. Sharing your story simply means speaking honestly about how he’s been at work in your life.
“Why Do I Need to Share My Story?”
You know what it’s like to feel lost in life—literally and figuratively. You’ve asked the wrong person for directions. You’ve trusted someone who let you down. You assumed you could handle life on your own. You chased things that promised fulfillment and came up short.
In your search for direction, you found Jesus. And to your friends, coworkers, and neighbors who are still searching, you can point them to the way forward.
That’s why sharing your story matters. It builds a case for Jesus to the people in your life who don’t know him yet, and it shows them how their lives could look different once they put their trust in him.
And it’s not complicated!
A Simple Way to Share Your Story
The Apostle Paul had a crazy story. Before following Jesus, he actively opposed the church. He was responsible for the deaths of many Christians. But after encountering Jesus, everything changed.
We know this because he told his story in the Bible. And the way he went about it gives a simple framework to help you organize your thoughts and share yours:
1. What Was Your Life Like Before You Trusted Jesus?
When Paul Shares his story in Acts 26:9-11, he starts with who he used to be before he came to trust Jesus:
“I used to believe that I ought to do everything I could to oppose the very name of Jesus the Nazarene...I caused many believers there to be sent to prison. And I cast my vote against them when they were condemned to death. Many times I had them punished in the synagogues to get them to curse Jesus. I was so violently opposed to them that I even chased them down in foreign cities.”
Your “before” might not be as extreme as Paul’s, but you still have one. There was a time when your understanding of God was limited or off base. A time when you relied on yourself—or something else—for guidance. The way you were living wasn’t actually giving you what you hoped for.
As you’re considering your story, think about:
- What used to shape your decisions?
- Where did you look for direction or meaning?
- What just felt “off” in your life?
You don’t need to have an impressive “before” to have a compelling story. Just share honestly about what your life used to be like, and you’ll lay the foundation for what’s to come.
2. How Did You Come to Trust Jesus?
After setting up who he used to be, Paul talks about the moment his life began to change. In Acts 26:12-18, he describes the moment Jesus called to him and gave him a new direction in life. It’s pretty dramatic. Paul describes seeing a light "brighter than the sun” and hearing the literal voice of Jesus.
However it happened, there was a point where everything began to shift for you. You placed your confidence in Jesus—trusting who he is, believing what he accomplished through the cross, and what it all means for you.
For some people, trusting Jesus happens quickly. For others, it unfolds slowly through conversations, questions, resistance, and clarity that comes over time. Some grew up around church but didn’t actually trust Jesus until later in life. Others avoided faith altogether for years.
But that moment matters, because it’s the moment your faith took root and your new life with Jesus began.
3. How Has Your Life Changed Since Then?
Paul doesn’t stop there. He talks about what happened since he started following Jesus in Acts 26:19-22:
“I obeyed that vision from heaven. I preached...that all must repent of their sins and turn to God—and prove they have changed by the good things they do. Some Jews arrested me in the Temple for preaching this, and they tried to kill me. But God has protected me right up to this present time so I can testify to everyone, from the least of these to the greatest.”
Following Jesus doesn’t mean an instant resolution or a smooth path forward. Paul’s life certainly wasn’t sunshine and rainbows—but the difference was God. Paul says he was arrested and his life was threatened, “but God” protected him.
What are the “but God” moments in your life since you started following him?
“I carried guilt for years, but God helped me let go and move forward.”
“I still get overwhelmed with parenting, but God gives me grace to keep going.”
“I felt trapped in my addiction, but God helped me take small steps toward freedom.”
“I still struggle with depression, but God gives me a hope I didn’t have before.”
Following Jesus changes us. Some changes happen quickly. Others take time—we struggle, grow, and re-learn how to trust. No matter how long it takes, or how unresolved your story might feel, this is the part people connect with the most. Nobody’s perfect, and not everyone sees themself in a perfectly polished, buttoned-up story. But someone can relate to your struggles, the things you’ve had to overcome—and hearing what God has done in your life can give them a glimpse of what he could do in theirs.
You Have a Story Worth Sharing
When you put these pieces together—who you were before Jesus, the moment you trusted him, and what happened since then—you have a story of how Jesus met you and how he’s continuing to shape your life.
If Jesus has changed you in any way, your story is worth sharing. God often uses ordinary, honest stories to help people take their next step toward him. Yours may be exactly what someone else needs to hear.
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💧 Share your story through baptism! Baptism is a powerful way to publicly share your decision to follow Jesus. It’s a symbol of starting a new life in Christ, and it’s a way to share how that decision is already impacting you personally. If you’ve trusted Jesus as your Savior and you’re ready to share your faith publicly, we’d love to talk to you!
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LCBC stands for Lives Changed By Christ. We are one church in multiple locations across Pennsylvania. Find the location closest to you or join us for Church Online. We can’t wait to connect with you!