“We saw it, we heard it, and now we’re telling you so you can experience it along with us, this experience of communion with the Father and his Son, Jesus Christ. Our motive for writing is simply this: We want you to enjoy this, too. Your joy will double our joy!” (1 John 1:3-4 – The Message)

Several years ago, my husband was accused and brought to court over a workplace incident. It was in a small town, and the plaintiff and the judge were related. We figured he was doomed to be found guilty, and just hoped for a light sentence; however, my husband had a witness, a fellow employee who had overheard the entire event. The problem was that she lived some ways away and it was snowing on the day of court. She was not sure she could make it in. However, we will be eternally grateful that she did. It was just like the dramatic courtroom scene on television: It was not looking good, and then she walked into the courtroom. She was called to testify. Her testimony was quite simple. She just told what she had heard, what she had witnessed. It was the turning point. My husband was not only found not guilty; the charges were totally dismissed. I cannot tell you how wonderful it was to hear the words from the judge, “Mr. Cline, you are free to go.”

This is a fitting example on many levels, but I want us to consider it from the standpoint of evangelism. Now, when I hear the word “evangelism,” I get a little nervous. The implication leads us to think of complicated and sophisticated strategies for winning people to Jesus. That may be alright for some, but when Jesus told his disciples that they would be his witnesses in Acts 1:8, he was not telling them to use some prepared speech, some elaborate formula or combination of Bible verses, he just told them to tell they world what they had experienced for themselves. And that is all that we are required to do. All we are required to do is to testify to what we know Jesus has done in our own lives, and what he means to me and you. After all, that all any witness is supposed to do—testify to what they have experienced.

Of course, some are called to preach the word or teach, and for this they have unique gifts and training to be effective. And some are called to defend the gospel against false teachers, and for this they have unique gifts and training. But everyone is called to “always be ready to give a defense to everyone who asks you for a reason for the hope that is in you” (1 Peter 3:15). Being ready does assume a certain amount of preparation and resolve, but preparation and resolve is something all of us can do.

1. We can prepare by rehearsing our story, our testimony. You may think you do not have a compelling story. In a purely human sense, when we compare ourselves to all the other humans who ever lived, most of us do not. But in every sense, from God’s perspective, we all do. We were all sinners with no hope until Jesus came into our lives. None of us can be good enough on our own. We must receive the righteousness of our Lord Jesus Christ. And then we have the confidence of knowing that we will spend eternity with God. And nothing compares to the love of Christ in me and you. I do not know about you, but I want everyone to have that blessing.

• We must realize that it is not our eloquence that will save someone’s soul. ^“My message and my preaching were not with wise and persuasive words, but with a demonstration of the Spirit’s power, so that your faith might not rest on human wisdom, but on God’s power” (1 Corinthians 2:4-5). As believers, we have the power of the Holy Spirit who will use whatever we have to offer for God’s glory and His purposes.

• We may not think we are credible witnesses, given the failures and sins we have committed in the past. “On hearing this, Jesus said, “It is not the healthy who need a doctor, but the sick” (Matthew 9:12). We are living proof that the promises of God are not contingent upon the character of His people. This is good news worth sharing!

• We must remember that all God is asking of us is obedience in testifying, sharing our experience. We should not be keeping score or comparing ourselves to others. Our only failure would be remaining silent; failure to take advantage of opportunities to witness. We are not responsible for the results, only for our efforts. Even the great evangelist Paul said, “I planted the seed, Apollos watered it, but God has been making it grow. So neither the one who plants nor the one who waters is anything, but only God, who makes things grow. The one who plants and the one who waters have one purpose, and they will each be rewarded according to their own labor. (1 Corinthians 3:6-8).

“But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you; and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth.” (Acts 1:8).