If You're Lacking Joy, Share Your Hope:
How to Share Your Testimony Part 1
By Pastor Rick Warren
Our Finishing the Task “Believers” goal is that every nonbeliever would hear a personal testimony from a believer by 2033. But here’s the challenge: most Christians don’t know how to share their testimony. Many feel uncomfortable—or even fearful—about witnessing to those around them. The truth is, most Christians have never told anyone about Jesus. Why? Because we’ve been taught the wrong way to do it.
Too often, we’ve been led to believe that sharing your faith means memorizing a sales pitch or knowing deep theology before you can even start. But who wants to deliver a canned speech to their best friend? Nobody. And there’s not one example in the New Testament or the early church where believers memorized a script for sharing their faith.
The encouraging truth is that you don’t have to know a single Bible verse to be a witness for Jesus. For the first 1,500 years of Christianity, nobody had a Bible. Until the printing press was invented in the 1500s, only a small handful of people had access to Scripture. The only Bible Christians heard for 1,500 years was when it was read in a church service.
When Jesus was getting ready to go back to heaven, he didn’t say, “You will be my salesmen” or “You will be my attorneys.” He said, “You will be my witnesses.”
What’s the difference? In a courtroom, an attorney memorizes presentations, knows the law, and presses for a verdict. A witness doesn’t do any of those things. A witness just says, “Here’s what happened to me.” That’s all God asks of you—to share what he has done in your life. You are already the expert on your own story.
That’s why in this short series, we’re focusing on the importance of sharing your hope with the people in your life—your coworkers, friends, and family. I’ll give you some simple tips on how to talk about your story more confidently and naturally. Our theme verse comes from Psalm 96:2 (Living Bible): “Each day, tell someone that he saves.”
The Bible says sharing your hope is a source of joy, and I’ve certainly found that true in my own life. Whenever I’m feeling discouraged, I look for someone to talk to about the Lord—and joy comes rushing back. If your walk with God ever starts to feel flat, routine, or joyless, one of the quickest ways to reignite your passion is to share your hope in Jesus with someone who doesn’t yet know Him. It’s the way God wired the universe. We see this calling echoed in Scripture:
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- “You are God’s instrument to do his work and speak out for him.” (1 Peter 2:9 MSG)
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- “He gave us this wonderful message of reconciliation. So we are Christ’s ambassadors” (2 Corinthians 5:19–20 NLT)
This week, I encourage you to reflect on how your life can be a witness to those around you. God has called you to be his ambassador. Look for opportunities—even small ones—to share the love and hope of Jesus with someone today.
For more resources on how to share your story, visit the Believers page on the Finishing the Task site at https://finishingthetask.com/believers/
