Testimony Sample - Church kid - 2

 Testimony Sample - Church Kid - 2

My Life before Christ

When I was a child I was reserved, but still I used to do or say what I wanted. I didn't always obey my parents; because I wanted to do the things I wanted to do or say what I wanted to say. I even got in trouble at school a couple times. I didn't care if I cursed at my siblings, and even used God's name in vain a few times when I wasn't around my parents. I only did "good" things in order to get something out of it (something that would benefit me). This all sounds really bad, but when comparing myself to my siblings and classmates I felt I was a really good person.

I enjoyed going to my grandparents house every weekend, because I got to spend time with them and they loved me. I got to go to church with them every Sunday. Their lives reflected that God and Jesus Christ were in control of their lives and the center of it. This is one thing that stayed with me year after year.

Intervention of God's Truth (Gospel)

On a Sunday in 1986 I was sitting next to my grandparents in the Adult Worship service. I was 12. I decided to listen to a full sermon and hear 'what the preacher was talking about.' The pastor's sermon was on the Gospel message. He spoke about God, about Sin, God's Kindness, and about Hell and Heaven. I found out that not everyone goes to heaven, and nothing I could do would get me into Heaven. When I think back on this and consider the 10 commandments and how God sees me as a Lying, Thieving, Blasphemous, Self Righteous, Murderer at heart I knew I would stand before God on Judgment day and be seen by God as a guilty criminal, who's violated His Law! As the pastor talked I realized I was a sinner and that I would be going to Hell. I learned why I needed Jesus as my Savior!

Did you know that Jesus came to earth with the sole mission to redeem man from their sins? He took God's wrath that we deserved while he was on the cross, so that we could have the opportunity to be made right with God. Jesus paid the fine for believers so we can go free from God's court room, and not be punished for our crimes. Justice was served and we can leave as a free man. We don't have to go to Hell. Jesus offers the escape route and the forgiveness of our sins. God wants to save you from Himself because he must punish criminals on the Day of Judgment. He warns us to flee to Christ Jesus, now, while we still have the chance. God tells us that if we delay obeying the gospel and receiving the free gift he offers, and if we die still as a sinner, its too late. The only thing awaiting those who die in their sins is Judgment and eternity in Hell.

I heard how Jesus would be with me, and help me live a right and righteous life. And that I would have a relationship with him now and be with him for eternity in Heaven. All I had to do was give up my sins, repent of them (asking Jesus for forgiveness, and forsaking all sins), and placing my faith and trust in Jesus work on the cross. God offered me mercy and grace when I didnt deserve it. I walked up the isle at the end of the service when they asked if anyone wanted to get right with God, today. I told the pastor I wanted Jesus to be my Savior. I prayed to God and he forgave me of my sins because He promised He would if I came to Him, and I trust and believe that God did that. And I put my trust in Christ as the one who paid my sin debt to God in full.

I like to talk to people about Jesus ever since He came into my life. I was baptized shortly after that, simply to publicly show that I had (already) died to my old way of life and have risen to a new life in Christ. That I was a believer in Jesus Christ and would follow his example of obedience to God, and live for Christ for the rest of my life. I have a Father in Heaven who loved me enough to prove it, through Jesus, and it came at such a high cost to Him.

How my life has changed since salvation

Over the years I have had wonderful life with Jesus. It's still a normal human life filled with problems too. Yet, He has helped me through the many rough physical, emotional, and financial situations. And He still tests my faith, or allows me to go through things, in order to strengthen me, or be an example that helps others through the same things in the future.

I have Christ's righteousness but am not perfect like Christ. I am still human and still have a sinful nature inside me (which is continually at war with my new nature). Sometimes I make wrong choices (sin), and I have to confess the sins in my life, as they block a believer's fellowship with God until it is sorted out in prayer. He gives me the strength and power to do just that. Since Jesus is the Great High Priest, he intercedes for me and other believers too. And just like when we are in trouble with our earthly father if we go to him, he will forgive us and restore the relationship. This is the same with Father God. Our salvation is already dealt with, but our relationship with one another needs to be fixed whenever disobedience and sin are in our lives.

I came to realize the importance of reading the Bible all the time to stay close to Him, know more about Him, and grow in my life; to become more the person God wants me to be. I worship Him regularly with other believers at Church; and he deserves our worship, and praise and glory for all He has done for us. I serve the Lord with the gifts he gave me (to serve in the church, among other members, and be a blessing to those in the community). I found a readable Bible and regularly enjoy spending time in fellowship with Him in the Scriptures and talk to Him during the day through prayer. I have joined an good Bible centered church, that upholds the authority and truth of Scripture, and that is important today more than ever. Through all these things I have grown as a Christian and continually apply Scripture to my life. I enjoy telling people about Christ Jesus and explain His kindness in the Cross towards all us wretched sinners, so they can hear the good news. I tell them how I turned from my way of life and sinful lifestyle, and turned to obey God and live for Him - and I explain to them how they can too.

My assurance for eternity

Scripture says I received eternal life the moment I repented and believed God's message. God has placed the Holy Spirit inside of me as the seal and guarantee of my salvation. God continually uses me for His purposes every day. As a believer, I desire to keep doing what he wants me to do, and grow closer to God in my relationship with Him. God said he will make me more like Jesus until the day he takes me to my eternal home with him in heaven....which is something I am really looking forward to. Until then I have the Joy of the Lord in my life during good and bad times, and His Spirit to guide me to do His will and share His saving message with others every chance I get.

If you want to know more and understand this simply and clearly visit NeedGod.com

Testimony Sample - Church kid - 1

Testimony Sample - Raised in Church 

Before Salvation

I grew up with half and step siblings and in a broken home and I wasn't really cared about. My mother always dropped me off at my grandparents every weekend from toddler through high school where I went to Church with them. I lived and acted like kids did back in the 80's, but was sheltered. Even though I was really a pretty good kid compared to the ones I lived with, and my school classmates. I just lived in my sin nature and was guided by some morality because of my grandparents influence. When I got a bit older I attended the adult worship service, and sat between my grandparents. I would lean on them, snuggle with them, and stay busy with color in books they got me, (and try to sit through the sermon part of the service and not squirm too much or grandpa would put his thumb in my shoulder to get me to correct my behavior).

When I got Saved

When I was 12 years old, I started to wonder what the pastor was talking about. I began to try to listen to him, (it really was a lot for a preteen's attention span, even back then). However on one of the first Sunday's of trying to focus, I actually was able to listen well to the sermon. The church had a solid preacher. He talked about Sin, Judgment, Hell, Heaven and Jesus. I remember being in Grandma's 4 & 5 year olds Sunday class where I learned about the 10 commandments, so when I heard the sermon, I understood what Sin was, and of course saw it play out in my home life. Also, I knew personally that I had lied. And that my babysitter had talked me into stealing some 10c bazooka gum at a mini mart gas station in town once. I had tried to cheat on tests at school but was too short to see others papers, and I knew I had probably stolen something of my sisters at some point like kids do, and that meant I coveted too, because I wanted something that wasn't mine. I understood that I was a sinner. 

The pastor explained why we need Jesus as our Savior. To make us right with God, to save us from punishment we deserve, and to make us a new creation so we can live rightly. So, at the end of the service the Pastor asked if anyone wanted to come to Jesus, and I walked right up the isle at the invitation.

The pastor talked with me afterwards, (and my mom came to have a meeting with the three of us). The meeting ended with him saying he thought I was too young. The following Sunday I went right back up there at the alter call. Imagine telling a child that they can't become a Christian, have their sins forgiven, have a relationship with Jesus, and go to Heaven. No one was going to tell me that I can't follow Jesus, be loved by him, and be with him in eternity. So they had to accept it was genuine.

Since I became a Christian

After I turned to Jesus and trusted in Him to be my Savior, I attended a children's new believers class, and through a small booklet with a few lessons, I learned what the Christian life in my daily walk looked like, and to have Jesus be the one controlling my life, not myself. I was baptized shortly after that. Everything I learned about how to live as a Christian came from Sunday School and the things I learned from sermons and the Bible since then. I tried to live a life that God would be happy with. Though young, I was able to serve others & bless others, by joining my grandparents and the group of people who would go to the old folks homes in town after Church (and we would sing and have a little worship time with them). I really enjoyed it and looked forward to it. I tried to be nice and kind to other people even when they werent nice to me. Of course I wasnt perfect, and I messed up sometimes. Sanctification is a process that continues throughout a believers lifetime. Years later after I grew up I remembered trying to talk to a kid on the bus on the way home from school about Jesus. It was a vague memory, so I asked my mom about my childhood in regards to whether I told people about Jesus and she said I talked about Jesus all the time. I was glad to hear that.

I was in church every Sunday as a youth. Even though I didnt have a Bible when I became a Christian, and no one told me that I should be reading it every day, I eventually did get one at my 8th grade graduation (as a gift from my grandparents). It was hard to read and understand it outside of Church classes, because back then most churches only used the old English KJV and it was very difficult for a child and even young adults. But when I was in the military around the age of 21 I read through it for the first time in my life, and I was glad. It only took 2 weeks! I liked how I knew many things in there (because of the faithful teachers who God used to teach me, even though I was usually the only student they had for years and years). I read the Bible regularly now, I am in church on Sunday morning, Sunday evening, and Wednesday night services, as well as other opportunities. I love worshiping God, singing praises to Him, fellowshipping with my Christian family, and the many opportunities available there. I also eventually learned to explain the gospel well; it is a good and loving thing to share Jesus with others. I have been part of various street evangelism groups, online ministries, and outreach teams with my church over the years. I enjoy answering peoples questions and helping them learn about God, Christianity, and how to be saved. 

And I keep growing in my knowledge of Scripture and living out the Christian life more maturely. Though I am not perfect, I try to stay sensitive to any sin in my life, and strive to fight and conquer it to victory over it. And that is a normal part of walking in sanctification and persevering until the end.

I love Jesus. I am so grateful that he loves me, he cares about and for me, that he always has and always will. I just want to keep finding opportunities where he can to do good things through me for his Glory.  And, I want to become more and more like Jesus every day until he returns or calls me home. 

If you would like to understand the gospel and why it is important, visit NeedGod.com

Testimony - ideas for sharing

 When you are a new believer, you want to share your faith with others and you are not knowledgeable in apologetics or the Scripture yet, as more mature believers are.  So below are some ideas on how you can share your testimony which shares the gospel, and a few other ideas and tips. 

Preparation 

First you need a written testimony before you can articulate your conversion story with others, and share the gospel through it. 

Once you have a final draft of it, ask a couple mature believers (who share the law and sin when discussing the gospel with people), to review your testimony and ask for feedback. Make any changes you think are appropriate, and finalize it. 

Once that is completed, spend time memorizing it.  

Ideas and Tips for sharing your Testimony 

1. Consider telling your testimony on video. This is helpful and useful for many opportunities. 

2. If you were not baptized yet, you can use that opportunity to invite people you know to attend this important event in your life. 

*Mail rsvp cards and plan for

A: a refreshments afterwards at your home if it is in the evening, or B. a light lunch at your place or a banquet hall if you get baptized right at the end of service, if it is after church service. 

*Make sure the pastor allows for a time just prior to your baptism to give your testimony, and make sure you have it memorized. 

If a light gathering time at your home, think of ideas for the refreshments gathering. It doesn't have to be much, nor last very long. Just a fellowship kind of time. 

*You can provide a table or tv tray a set of tracts, maybe a copy of several of a book, and maybe a business card with a QR code that goes to the gospel at needGod.com. 

*Or include those as thank you gifts in a lil party bag to hand out to everyone when they are leaving [>>maybe set someone by the door to hand those out for you]. 

*You could have a couple people from church tell a few stories about you that point towards godly living and maybe a friend give testimony to/share about how they noticed your radical change. 

If it is a light lunch after church or at a banquet hall you can consider this baptism event idea. 

3. If you were already baptized consider something similar by throwing a born again birthday party for yourself and invite everyone you know over. You do not need to tell them what kind of event it is other than inviting them over for your birthday party. As part of the event consider 

*either saying or showing a well made video of your testimony, and then 

*stand up and share the gospel in 1 to 2 minutes. 

*Then ask someone (a pastor or a mature believer you know) to step over (acting as a quick MC) and ask everyone to close their eyes for a minute, Offering that anyone who would like to get saved or make sure they are right with God to pray to him right now. After the silent prayer minute say, if you prayed to God, please let (your name) know sometime today, she/he would love to know and of course celebrate with you. And if you have any questions or need some guidance or prayer just text or call her/him, right now or any time. 

*Plan it as a nice event, but it doesnt need to be a expensive one, it can even be at your home.

4. You can post your testimony in a document and email it off to everyone with a short note.  *Make sure you title the email something eye catching like "I wanted you to know" or "There's something I have been meaning to tell you" or "I thought it was time I told you..." 

5. You can post your testimony video on youtube or Godtube and email it off to everyone with a note

6. You can post the video on your social media page (such as facebook) and redirect others to it from your other social media pages via the link in bio or in linktree. 

7. You can share the link to the testimony or the video when you are talking with people online as a new believer if there is opportunity for you to talk about Christianity being true and truth, and that you experienced radical transformation all believers do at the miracle of your conversion. 

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Christians, Tips & Tracts

What Christians need to know and consider about eatery tipping.

There was never an issue in the past with tipping, but some new modern entitlement expectation of tips has arisen with the Z and Alpha generation. These folks were young when the 2020 riots and new looting culture began being encouraged among unsaved people. 

Tipping was always voluntary and only if you wanted to, and only if someone went extremely above what you expected. It was rare to tip. And even if there was a tip $1 was normal, then $3 or so. It has gotten out of hand today with this entitlement generation thinking they are absolutely entitled to your money and demanding about it, (as well as how much). Their love of money is at the root of all sorts of evil thoughts, words and behaviors both to those who get food delivered or even for to go. It is the employers job to pay their salary, and it is the employee's job to understand the income they signed up for and that they took that job at that wage. They are free to leave and find a more appropriate living wage for themselves

Tipping is still voluntary and it is not legally required to tip.
I am not advocating for not tipping. But each can determine as their conscience leads them.

I recently ran into some people online complaining, both unsaved and saved, about a image of an old old tract that was used long ago, that is not used anymore today. It was brought up because today servers have incorrect understandings of tips and tips are in the news a lot these days. And it has caused all kinds of arguing and strife and hate. 

Here are some regular questions and objections by both groups and some suggested recommendations and reminders.  I hope it helps you think through this topic, and also consider using that article link when you have gospel convos online related to gospel tracts and tipping. It includes several calls to action to the gospel, and resources for both believers, and the unsaved. More people see these comments and links(1) than just the person you interact with, so on some platforms like fb try to engage in the "top comments" area first, before going to all comments to search out additional gospel opportunities, as those in the top group are the ones most people will see first.

 Feel free to search up tip tract and similar wordings to locate more posts on social media platforms to engage in this topic and the helpful link to get people on both sides thinking, and it redirects to the gospel too.

Think of things you can say when you leave the link there. 

Here are a few ideas.

• I saw this recently and it made me think about this, link. 
• Christians need to use appropriate tracts based on where they are, this talks about that, link. 
• This is an old image & is rarely if ever used today, but the general discussion is good -  link. 
• This person had something good to say about this very topic, link. 
• 🤔 Have you see this yet?  link. 
• Have you had a chance to review this?  link. 
• There are a lot of things people haven't considered,  link. 
• 🤔 Some valid points made here, and here  link. 
• That question 😀 was actually answered here,  link. 
• That issue was actually disvussed here too, link. 
• There was a good discussion going on here about it,  link.
• other....

For those who say they dont trust offsite links, you can tell them:

• I completely understand. You can go to Norton link safety check to verify the link before visiting, your safety matters. https://safeweb.norton.com 

Typically it isn't those who are worried about safety, it is usually those who dont want to continue the convo nor go see what the link says, but still want to debate you and get you to say things in comments that might get you flagged, or just to be a time waster, or arguer with you. This above response will either get them curious to just go look at the link, or for those genuinely concerned, they'll appreciate you tried to keep them safe, and when they read the gospel, will also see you are trying to help them with their eternal safety as well.

Direct link to the article 

https://snsanswers.blogspot.com/2023/01/viral-tract.html

(1) Footnote:

32 people viewed the viral tract link today. Since it was originally posted 83 looked at it.