Telling Jesus Stories
Teachers
Lesson Summary
Richard Sutton taught the congregation about the importance and structure of sharing personal testimonies as a way to introduce others to Jesus Christ. He emphasized that personal stories are powerful tools for evangelism, but they must be Christ-centered rather than self-centered. Sutton explained the three-part structure that makes testimonies effective: the "before Christ" phase (describing life spiritually before conversion), the conversion itself (how you came to faith), and the "after" phase (how Christ has changed your life). He stressed that testimonies should be concise—lasting only three to five minutes—and should create curiosity rather than provide excessive details, allowing listeners to ask questions that lead to deeper conversations. The teacher illustrated his teaching through personal examples, including how he left his career in non-destructive testing to pursue ministry, and how he shares his faith during everyday interactions like golf outings. Sutton was careful to distinguish between a secular self-improvement story and a genuine Jesus story, noting that while humanistic narratives might lead to better earthly living, only Christ-centered stories can lead people to eternal life. He outlined the three C's of effective testimonies: Current, Concise, and Christ-centered. Throughout the lesson, Sutton demonstrated how sharing stories creates opportunities for spiritual conversations and helps others see the transformative power of Jesus in tangible, relatable ways.