Tell Your Story
Living & Telling Taster Session
Have a go at thinking through your own faith journey and learn how to tell your story through this Living & Telling taster session.
Watch at agape.org.uk/your-story
Your Story
People are fascinated by other people’s stories, especially when they are well told. One of the things that draws us in is the incredible changes people go through because of the journey they’ve had. Believe it or not, people are interested in how you’ve been impacted and changed too.
Every follower of Jesus has a powerful story to tell. Many people will identify with some of the attitudes we’ve had or the things we’ve been through. A brief thoughtful comment about our own experience of Jesus can often take people by surprise. They can challenge some of the assumptions they’ve made about Christianity and make them curious to know more.
If we’re going to be able to say something short and snappy about our story in the context of everyday conversation, then we need to be clear in our own mind, why and how we became Christians, and the difference Christ makes. We may have had a clear and decisive turning point we can talk about but for others it might have been a steady or gradual process of learning to trust and follow Jesus. Either way, Jesus has taken us from death to life and is continuing to change the way we live each day, and our personal experiences are very difficult to argue with. If others can see how we’ve changed, then it helps them wonder if they can change too.
Here’s a taster of what questions we think about during the ‘Your Story’ part of the Living & Telling course. Take 10 minutes with a cup of tea and jot down your own ideas…
Get comfortable, put down any distractions, close your eyes and take a deep breath.
1. What was your attitude before you took Jesus seriously?
Maybe you wore yourself out trying to please everyone?
Maybe you tried praying but it never seemed to work for you?
Maybe relationships were unhealthy or broken?
2. Why did you say yes to Jesus?
Was there a crisis or struggle that led you to Jesus?
Maybe you were raised in a Christian family, but you realised you needed to make your own personal decision about Him?
What were your reasons?
3. How did you say yes to Jesus?
Maybe you made your decision to trust and follow Jesus in a church event or festival and asked for prayer?
Maybe you were by yourself in your room and simply asked Jesus to come into your life?
Maybe there were a series or combination of events like these for you?
4. What difference does Jesus make to your day-to-day life?
Maybe the Bible started to make sense to you and get really exciting?
Maybe you found yourself starting to worry less about the problems of each day?
Maybe you felt a sense of peace about making decisions – big and small as you trusted God to guide your steps?
5. What is a Christian?
What would you say a Christian is if someone asked you?
To have a go at this bit, you’ll need to ask a family member or a friend to have a go with you!
Pretend you are two friends having a chat. One person starts with asking the questions and the other person tries to answer in only 30 seconds! Then swap over. (Often there is only a short space in a conversation to add anything and we often miss it).
Help each other by giving some feedback about the answers you’ve both given. What was helpful? What was interesting? What parts were confusing? What could be said differently?
Then have another go!
Now let’s refine how we tell our stories even further…
Here are a few more questions to help you refine the answers to the first questions.
For Question No. 1
Does my answer help others to identify with me?
For Question No. 2
Does my answer accidentally reinforce the view that following Jesus is a matter of blind faith or unplugging your brain?
For Question No.3
Would someone else know how to say ‘yes’ to Jesus from what I said?
For Question No.4
Is the difference clearly a result of my relationship with God and not just another activity?
Have I made sure I’m not portraying the Christian life as problem-free?
For Question No.5
Do I give a concise explanation of the gospel, even if more explanation would be valuable later?
After you’ve refined your answer, have another go with a friend to practice what you would say to tell your story!
Talk to a Mentor
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Our mentors aren’t counsellors, but they are ordinary people willing to join others on their spiritual journey in a compassionate and respectful manner.
