Who To Share Our Testimony With
How to Use This Lesson
This lesson is designed to be completed alongside the teaching video, but you may choose how you engage with it. It is self-paced—you can pause to reflect or take notes at anytime. Here are the three ways to participate in this lesson:
You can:
- Watch and read. Follow along with the video walkthrough as the instructor highlights and explains the curriculum, then scroll back through the written lesson to review or take notes.
- Read first, then watch. Read the lesson at your own pace, then watch the video for clarification, emphasis, and practical application.
- Pause and reflect as prompted. At certain points, you will be invited to pause the video for up to five minutes to reflect or write brief responses. These pauses are intentional and especially useful in group settings.
Let’s Begin!
Who Are We To Share Our Story With?
In Lesson One, we introduced the concept of “Concentric Circles of Concern,” which illustrates how God has placed every Christian within their own unique Great Commission context. You will notice that just before Jesus ascended, He described the Great Commission using what amounts to a set of concentric circles of concern.
But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you, and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the end of the earth.
Acts 1:8
Notice that He mentions Judea first. This was the earliest disciples’ immediate context—the place where they lived, worked, played, raised their families, and bought goods and services. While we may think that we have chosen where we live and who we associate with, in the broader context of God’s sovereignty and His pre-ordained plan to reach people, He has providentially placed you and me right where we are—even if only temporarily for some of us. And while it may seem obvious that we do not choose our family and that God has given them to us, in much the same way He has orchestrated events and your personal history to strategically place you in the lives of people He has uniquely fitted you to witness to.
If you or I have a lost family member—an uncle, a brother or sister, neighbors, close friends, or co-workers —these are not coincidental acquaintances in God’s grand scheme of things. Much like God calls missionaries to a particular region, a town within that region, and even to a specific street and house, He has done the same with you. And just as He calls missionaries to go and invest in personal relationships in order to faithfully bear witness to Him, the process is very much the same for us. This is how the Great Commission originally advanced, and it remains God’s primary means of reaching people in the modern era. Jesus summed this up in no uncertain terms in John 20:21:
Just as the Father has sent Me, I also send you.
John 20:21
We need to have a missionary mindset
- Recognize our God-given “territory.”
God has already placed each of us within a specific circle of influence—family, neighbors, coworkers, classmates, and everyday contacts—where He intends our witness to begin. - See ordinary places as mission fields.
Our workplace, neighborhood, gym, and daily routines are not spiritually neutral spaces but the very arenas where God calls us to represent Christ. - Shift from “waiting for opportunities” to “looking for them.”
A missionary mindset assumes that every day contains potential gospel moments rather than viewing witnessing as occasional or event-based. - Cultivate relationships intentionally.
We invest time in real people, listen well, build trust, and care genuinely—knowing that faithful witness is often relational before it is conversational. - Move with patience, not pressure.
We aim to be faithful over time, trusting God with the results rather than forcing spiritual conversations prematurely. - Pray strategically for those around us.
We regularly intercede for the people in our circle of concern, asking God to open hearts and create opportunities. - Live visibly consistent Christian lives.
Our character, kindness, integrity, and love should make our message credible and compelling. - Be ready to speak when the door opens.
While we build relationships patiently, we remain prepared to clearly and lovingly explain the hope we have in Christ. - Depend on the Holy Spirit, not just technique.
A missionary mindset recognizes that genuine fruit comes from God’s work in hearts, not merely from our strategies.
Reflection Exercise—Pause Video
Who are a few of the people you think God placed in your life to potentially witness to?
If you felt equipped to share your testimony —Who would you be willing to share it with?
Who are the people in your circle of influence you would find it difficult to share your story with? Why?
Resume the video when finished.
Tips For Sharing Your Testimony
Your testimony is a gracious instrument God delights to use in the lives of others. As you share it with prayer, wisdom, and intentionality, you bear living witness to the transforming power of the gospel. Approach every conversation with humility, keep Christ at the center of your words, and trust the Lord to do His work in the hearts of those who listen. Here are 5 important tips to help you share:
#1 Recognize when God is leading you to share your story.
Cultivate a habit of relying on and paying attention to the Holy Spirit. Regular prayer for open doors to speak about your faith will heighten your sensitivity to His leading. Consider the people you encounter in your everyday life — family members, coworkers, neighbors, and friends — and ask yourself whom the Spirit may be prompting you to speak to.
God has given every believer a testimony as a means of pointing others to Jesus. Your story is a first-hand witness of how God transforms lives. As Scripture reminds us, “Let the redeemed of the Lord tell their story — those he redeemed from the hand of the foe” (Psalm 107:2).
#2 Identify your hesitations.
If fear is preventing you from sharing your testimony, the most effective way to confront that fear is to replace it with biblical truth. Below are common concerns many believers experience, along with reminders that can help you move forward in confidence. As you read, reflect on which of these resonates most with you, and consider how God might be inviting you to trust Him more deeply.
What if I don’t know the answer to a question?
When you feel uncertain, pause and ask the Holy Spirit for wisdom and guidance. Jesus warned His disciples that as they went out to proclaim the gospel they would face resistance and difficult situations. Yet He also assured them they did not need to be anxious about what they would say, because the Spirit would give them the right words in the moment (Matthew 10:19–20). You can confidently depend on the Holy Spirit to lead you in conversation. If you are asked something you cannot answer, it is perfectly acceptable to say, “I don’t know.” You can invite the person to explore the question together or offer to study it further and follow up later.
What if sharing my story makes things awkward between us?
If your faith truly matters to you, it should not be surprising that you would want to talk about it. It would seem strange if the people in your life knew nothing about your family, your passions, or what shapes you most — and your relationship with Christ is no different. There is nothing unnatural about speaking of something that is so central to who you are. When the apostles were commanded to stop speaking about Jesus, they replied, “We cannot help speaking about what we have seen and heard” (Acts 4:20, ). In the same way, when God has genuinely changed your life, sharing that reality flows naturally — it is simply too significant to keep silent. If you sense tension after sharing your faith, gently address it. Ask the other person how they felt about the conversation or whether anything you said stood out to them. Often what feels like awkwardness may simply be them processing what you shared, and a simple, honest follow-up can clear the air.
What will this person think of me?
If this is someone who already knows you, trust that they will likely assume your intentions are sincere. When you are unsure, speak with clarity and kindness, and ask if they are open to hearing more. Gentleness and honesty go a long way in building trust. Remember that your identity is secure in Christ. As Paul writes, “There is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus” (Romans 8:1). The way others respond to your testimony does not determine your worth. Often, our desire for approval or acceptance is what holds us back more than any real risk. In most cases, people will not react as negatively as you fear. In fact, your openness may deepen your relationship, as vulnerability often invites greater trust and understanding.
#3 Keep it simple, open and curious.
You don’t need to wait for the perfect moment or prepare the smoothest transition to start a conversation about your testimony. A simple invitation can look something like this:
- “I don’t know your experience with religion or the church, but would you like to hear about how Jesus changed my life?”
- “Have I ever told you about what my life was like before my faith became a priority?”
- “My relationship with Jesus is important to me, which makes me wonder what your experience with faith and spirituality has been?”
Though preparation is good, no conversation is perfectly scripted. A key to sharing is listening. You don’t have to fit everything into one conversation. Allow room for the other person to ask questions and share their experience. Let them know you’re willing to share more, perhaps in a future conversation.
#4 Pray for opportunities
Ask God to prepare the hearts of the people in your life and to create natural openings for you to share your story. Prayer not only aligns your heart with His purposes, it also reminds you that the fruit of your witness ultimately depends on Him, not on your words or personality. As you pray, ask the Holy Spirit to make you more attentive to conversations, moments of need, and spiritual curiosity around you. Invite God to give you courage when opportunities arise, patience when the timing is not yet right, and wisdom to speak with gentleness and clarity. Over time, you may find that consistent prayer not only opens doors for conversation but also deepens your own love for the people God has placed in your life.
#5 Love your listener
Approach every conversation with genuine care for the person in front of you, not merely as a target for your message. Loving your listener means being patient, respectful, and attentive — really hearing their story, their questions, and their concerns. Resist the temptation to win an argument or prove a point, and instead seek to understand where they are coming from. Ask thoughtful questions, listen without interrupting, and acknowledge their perspective even when you disagree. When people sense that you truly value them, they are far more open to hearing what you have to say. Ultimately, loving your listener reflects the character of Christ and creates an atmosphere where your testimony can be received as a gift rather than a confrontation.
Reflection Exercise—Pause Video
What would be your greatest fears about sharing your personal testimony?
How important do you view prayer as far as the sharing and receiving of your testimony?
Why is it important to pray for the fruit of the Spirit before sharing your testimony? Are you confident that God answers these types of prayers?
Lesson Six Summary
In this lesson we’ve learned that humility, openness, prayer, and a sincere love for the people God has placed in your life are the cornerstones of effective testimonial witness that honors God and bears the greatest fruit. When we embrace a missionary mindset—seeing each day as an opportunity to invest in relationships with an eye toward sharing what could be called the greatest story ever told—Our Story!
And they overcame him because of the blood of the Lamb and because of the word of their testimony
Revelation 12:11
Closing Prayer
Ask God to give you boldness and joy to proclaim His good works to the coming generation. Ask Him to open your eyes to the people you are already in proximity to, and to help you cultivate genuine relationships where you can share your story and speak openly about what Christ has done in your life. Pray for faithfulness, humility, and trust in the work God is already doing in the hearts of those around you.
Thank You for Taking This Course
We hope you have enjoyed this course and found it beneficial in growing your confidence and readiness to share your faith.
All of our classes are offered freely as a ministry. If this training has been helpful to you, any donation — large or small — helps us continue developing resources and keeping them available to others at no cost.