By Andrew Williams
The Living Gospel (Week 3: Crafting Your Testimony)
Opening Prayer
God, give us eyes to see people as You see them—with compassion, understanding, and a deep desire for them to know You.
Today’s Scripture (NLT)
1 Corinthians 9:22
“When I am with those who are weak, I share their weakness, for I want to bring the weak to Christ. Yes, I try to find common ground with everyone, doing everything I can to save some.”
A well-crafted story is told with the listener in mind. The Apostle Paul was a master at this. He didn’t have a single, one-size-fits-all speech. He adapted his approach to “find common ground” with everyone he spoke to. He was a brilliant Jewish scholar when speaking in the synagogue, but he quoted Greek poets when speaking to philosophers in Athens.
Knowing your audience means being sensitive to their background, their beliefs, and their needs. Are you talking to someone who is skeptical and needs to hear the logical side of your journey? Are you talking to someone who is hurting and needs to hear about God’s comfort in your pain? Are you talking to someone who feels like a failure and needs to hear about God’s grace in your mistakes?
This doesn’t mean changing the truth of the Gospel. It means changing the emphasis of your story to build a bridge to the listener’s heart. It’s about lovingly and wisely choosing which parts of your narrative will resonate most deeply with the person right in front of you.
Disciples’ Life Tip: Think of one specific person you would like to share your story with. Take two minutes to jot down what you know about their life, their struggles, and their beliefs. How might that knowledge shape the way you would share your testimony with them?
Closing Prayer: Lord, make me a wise and loving communicator. Help me to find common ground with people, so I can build bridges of understanding that can bear the weight of Your glorious truth. Amen.
