Do…

Share something personal about what God has done in your life

People enjoy testimonies because it is an opportunity for them to for them to hear from a peer that they can relate to.  Often, the more personal and honest you are, the more people can relate and be touched.  Be specific.

Use one or two verses from scripture

Using scripture will help you focus on Jesus as you speak, and will ensure that the words you are saying are as much God’s as they are yours.  However, too much scripture will confuse people and the most relevant scripture you use will be lost.

Stick to the time frame (3-5 minutes)

While God does not work in a time frame, the people you are talking to do.   Knowing that worship, the speaker, and often announcements are still to come, most people get antsy after 5 minutes.  An antsy audience is not a receptive audience.  Keep in mind that time flies when you are up front, and be as brief as you can.

Find out the topic of the meeting and relate your testimony to it

Often the reason you are up front is because you have something to share that is relevant to that night’s topic.  See if you can relate what you are saying to whatever that is.  If the speaker later refers back to your testimony, you know you’ve done a good job in this area.

Leave them with a challenge

People need, and want, to be challenged.  Nothing is more effective in this area than a person with a story of personal triumph.  Use your story to ask them to make a commitment in their life to change. 

Prepare

Don’t…

Use Christian lingo that non-Christians won’t understand

Avoid words that new or non-Christians will be confused by.  Another great part of your testimony is letting non-Christians see that the Christian life is applicable, that it’s real.  Confusing them with jargon will convince them otherwise.

Put any person or group of people down

Nothing shuts an audience off faster than ripping on them or a group they are a part of.  Be careful to speak gracefully, showing people that they are loved by God and by the chapter.

Share your testimony for the wrong reasons

If the reason you want to share is one of pride, you should not be up front.  Also, do not share personal trials and tests for shock value alone.  You are up front for others, not yourself.  Make sure pride has nothing to do with it.

Be fake or put on an act

People want to hear the truth, and they want to know what you have really gone through.  The most effective thing you can be up front is yourself.  If you are fake people will see right through it.  You have an important story to tell, and people want to hear it!

Forget to use this opportunity to invite friends

This is perhaps the best time to invite friends, roommates, or co-workers that would never come to IV unless they knew you were speaking and got a personal invitation from you.  Don’t let this great opportunity go by without inviting someone!

Forget to pray

Saturate your time up front with prayer.  Pray that you say exactly what God wants you to say.  Pray that people are attentive to what you are saying.  And pray that people are changed by what they hear and the challenge they are presented with.  Pray, and expect amazing things to happen through your testimony!