Sermon notes (sermon outline)
A classic three-point sermon outline on cue cards: a hook, the passage in context, three points with illustrations and application, and a closing response.
Speech8 cardsAbout 5 min to speakBeginnerCommunity
Personal testimony
A simple before, turning point and after structure for sharing your faith story at church, baptism, a youth event or small group, in about five minutes.
Free to use, edit, print and study. No account needed: your set stays on this device.
The cards
- 1
Hello
Hi, I'm [your name]. I've been coming to [church / group] for [time], and I [work as / study / look after ...].
I've been asked to share a bit of my story.
- 2
Before
Growing up, faith was [part of my family / not something we talked about / something I drifted away from].
Back then, life felt [busy / anxious / fine on the surface / lonely] because [one honest reason].
- 3
What I was looking for
I think I was looking for [peace / purpose / forgiveness / people who would accept me], though I wouldn't have called it that.
- 4
The turning point
Things began to change when [a person, event, conversation, illness, course, camp or quiet moment].
[What happened, in two or three sentences. Keep it simple and true.]
- 5
What changed
- [How you see yourself]
- [How you treat others]
- [What you do differently: prayer, church, serving, giving]
It's not that life became easy. [An honest line about what is still hard.]
- 6
A moment that showed me
One time I really noticed this was when [a specific, recent moment: a hard week, a kind stranger, an answered prayer, a decision].
[Two sentences on what happened and what you felt.]
- 7
Where I am now
Today, [what faith means to you now, and why you are taking this step: baptism, confirmation, membership, joining a team].
- 8
Close
If any of my story sounds like yours, I'd love to talk [after the service / over coffee].
Thank you for listening.
How to use this template
A testimony is your own story of faith told in your own words, often shared before a baptism, confirmation or reception into membership, at a youth event, an outreach evening or a small group. Many people feel nervous because they think their story is not dramatic enough. This template uses a simple before, turning point and after shape that works for every kind of story, including someone who has believed since childhood. The cards introduce you, describe life before, name what you were looking for, explain the turning point and what changed, say where you are now, and close with a warm invitation. Five minutes is about 600 to 700 spoken words. Speak plainly, as you would to a friend over coffee. One specific recent moment is included on its own card, because a concrete example is easier to hear and remember than general statements about change.
Tips
- Be honest without oversharing. You do not need to give details of past behaviour, addiction or abuse in public to show that life has changed.
- Ask your minister or pastor how long you have, and read the cards to them beforehand if you would like feedback.
- Avoid church jargon. If a word would confuse a visitor, say what you mean in everyday language.
- Leave room for the hard parts. Saying what is still difficult often encourages people more than a perfect ending.
- Practise out loud with a timer; testimonies almost always run longer than people expect.
- Look up from your cards at the turning point and the close; those are the moments people most want to connect with you.
Make it fit
- For a baptism or confirmation, end the where I am now card with why you are taking this step today.
- For a one-minute version, keep before, turning point and now, with one sentence on each.
- If faith has been part of your life since childhood, make the turning point a moment it became your own, such as a camp, a loss or a question you wrestled with.
- For a video testimony, sit somewhere quiet, keep the cards just below the camera and record two takes.
- For an evangelistic or outreach event, add a sentence on the close explaining in plain words what you believe, and point people to a course or person they can talk to.
Updated October 28, 2026