Celebrate Recovery
®
How to Write Your
Testimony Worksheet
It is a proof of your faith. Many people will praise God because you obey the Good News
of Christ — the gospel you say you believe — and because you freely share
with them and with all others.
2 Corinthians 9:13 nCV
Why should I write my tesmony?
How should I write my tesmony?
Why should I encourage others to write their tesmony?
PRINCIPLE 8
Yield myself to God to be used to bring this Good News to others, both by my example and
my words.
STEP 12
Having had a spiritual experience as the result of these steps, we tried to carry this message to
others and to pracce these principles in all our aairs.
There should be no excuses for not doing my tesmony.
“Fear not, for I have redeemed you; I have summoned you by name; you are mine. When
you pass through the waters, I will be with you; and when you pass through the rivers,
they will not sweep over you. When you walk through the re, you will not be burned; the
ames will not set you ablaze. For I am the Lord, your God,
the Holy One of Israel, your Savior.
isaiah 43:1b-3a niV
Celebrate Recovery
®
The Bible says:
Those who believe in the Son of God have the tesmony of God in them.
1 John 5:10a GWt
Your lives are echoing the Master’s Word. …. The news of your faith in God is out. We
don’t even have to say anything anymore — you’re the message!
1 thessalonians 1:8b MsG
FIRST SECTION: “THE OLD ME”
1. Start out with, “I’m a believer who’s in recovery and struggles with
.”
2. What was the insanity of my life before recovery?
3. What are some of the circumstances that others can relate to?
Celebrate Recovery
®
4. What was my relaonship to God like?
5. What was my atude to others like?
6. What was my lowest point?
SECOND SECTION: MY EXPERIENCES AND CHANGES IN WORKING
THROUGH CELEBRATE RECOVERY
7. How I got into recovery:
Celebrate Recovery
®
8. How has my growing relaonship with Jesus Christ inuenced my recovery?
9. How did working the program help me?
10. Did one parcular Step touch my heart in a special way?
THIRD SECTION: “THE NEW ME”
11. What changes has God made in my relaonships with others?
Celebrate Recovery
®
12. What areas of my old life are gone, and how have they changed?
13. How has my walk with God changed?
14. What are some of the great benets that I have received from working
the program?
FOURTH SECTION: OUTREACH
15. What encouragement can I give a Newcomer?
Celebrate Recovery
®
16. Am I sharing the Good News with the world? Where? With whom?
Basic Testimony Guidelines for Celebrate Recovery Large
Group Meeting
1. Always begin your wring me with prayer, asking God for guidance and help
with the words.
2. Your tesmony needs to be about 12-17 minutes long; 9-12 pages, double-
spaced; 12-point font; and typed. Another way to look at it that it needs to be
around 3,200-3,400 words — and 1,000 words takes about ve minutes to read,
on average.
3. Be sure to include one or two of your favorite Scriptures.
4. Be honest.
5. Remember that you are not cured.
6. Don’t use religious clichés.
7. Keep it short and to the point.
8. And most of all, have fun!
Biblical Support: Verses can be found by looking for topics in the back of The Life Recovery Bible.
Do I have a “life verse”? Do I have a favorite verse? What topic/theme would I like to nd a
verse about?
Celebrate Recovery
®
Would you like to dig deeper? Go back to your CR Parcipant’s Guides.
Your tesmony wring has been started with your 4th Step.
FIRST SECTION: “THE OLD ME”
As a child, what coping skill did you use to get aenon or to protect yourself?
What was the family secret that everyone was trying to protect?
How did you handle pain and disappointment?
In what ways have you tried to escape your past pain? Be specic.
How has holding on to your anger and your resentments aected you?
How have your past expectaons of others been unrealisc?
SECOND SECTION: MY EXPERIENCES AND CHANGES IN WORKING
THROUGH CELEBRATE RECOVERY
Describe your experience of turning your life over to Christ.
It is very important that you allow God to replace your character defects with
posive changes. What are some of the posive changes that you have made in
your recovery? In your family? In your job?
Somemes it is dicult for us in recovery to see the posive changes that God
is making in our lives. Have you been able to accept and enjoy your growth?
How?
Have you forgiven yourself?
How has Jesus Christ used your weaknesses and turned them into strengths?
In what ways have you experienced God’s grace in your recovery?
THIRD SECTION: “THE NEW ME”
What specic relaonships have been restored or improved?
How has your relaonship with Jesus grown since you began your journey of
recovery?
Specically, what do you do when you are: Hurng? Exhausted? Angry?
Resenul? Tense?
Celebrate Recovery
®
I think we all agree that recovery is a joy, but it also requires hard work. What do
you do to celebrate your recovery — even the small victories?
In what three areas of your recovery are you especially thankful for
God’s power?
Name three people God has placed in your recovery that you are grateful for,
and why.
What three areas of your recovery ministry, small groups, or other events are
you thankful for?
What are some of your recent victories that you could share with a Newcomer?
What are some ways you can pick up the “Lord’s towel” today and start
serving others?
Describe what the phrase “You can’t keep it unless you give it away” means in
your recovery.
FOURTH SECTION: OUTREACH (NO WORKBOOK QUESTIONS
CORRELATE HERE, BUT YOU SEE WHERE WE’RE GOING)
What encouragement can I give a Newcomer?
Am I sharing the Good News with the world? Where? With whom?
Where Might God Call Me to Give My Testimony?
Newcomers 101 as tesng/proving ground for the blessings received when
sharing your story
Other churches
New Celebrate Recovery programs
Special events at other Celebrate Recovery programs
Jails and prisons
Recovery houses and treatment facilies
Community events
Celebrate Recovery
®
Trainings and workshops
Weekend church services
Mission trips (local and internaonal)
Your lives are echoing the Master’s Word. … The news of your faith in God is out. We
don’t even have to say anything anymore — you’re the message!
1 thessalonians 1:8b (MsG)
Goals and Challenges to Complete
I will have my tesmony completed by:
This is the person who will keep me accountable: