Your Story, God’s Glory
Summary of Sermon: Your Story, God’s Glory
In Week 4 of the Talking Jesus series, Pastor Torry encourages believers to recognize the power of their personal story as a tool for evangelism. Titled “Your Story, God’s Glory,” the message aims to demystify evangelism by reminding us that you don’t need a seminary degree or dramatic backstory to share Jesus—just a willingness to be honest about what He’s done in your life.
The message opens with a humorous story about a push mower that Pastor Torry inherited when living in Florida. Unbeknownst to him, it had a self-propel feature that he never used—making the task far harder than it needed to be. That illustration becomes a spiritual metaphor: evangelism feels difficult when we’re trying to do it in our own strength. But God has already built in the power—we just need to engage it.
The Blueprint for Evangelism
Revelation 12:11 offers a simple but profound formula for kingdom advancement:
“They overcame by the blood of the Lamb and the word of their testimony.”
Jesus does the saving—that’s the “blood of the Lamb.” But we have a role too—the “word of our testimony.” God’s strategy has always involved partnership with people. We don’t save, but we point. We reflect. We witness. And every believer has a story that can do just that.
Why Your Testimony Matters
Pastor Torry outlines five reasons why our personal stories carry spiritual weight:
Testimonies Are Evidence (Ps 19:1, Rom 1:20)
Creation bears the fingerprints of God, and so do changed lives. When grace rewrites your story, it leaves a mark—proof that God is real and good.
Testimonies Are Hard to Argue With (John 9)
Debates can spark defensiveness. But a changed life? That’s hard to refute. Like the blind man in John 9, you don’t have to explain everything. “I was blind, but now I see” is enough.
Testimonies Build Bridges (1 Thes 2:8)
Stories connect in a way arguments can’t. They invite vulnerability and relationship. As Paul writes in 1 Thessalonians 2:8, we’re called to share the gospel—and our lives.
Testimonies Point to Jesus (Gal 2:20)
Your story isn’t about you—it’s about Christ in you. The messier your past, the more glory God gets for what He’s redeemed.
Testimonies Offer Hope (Titus 3:3-5)
People are always looking for meaning. Your story might be what helps them imagine a future touched by grace.
How to Share Your Story Naturally
Pastor Torry then shares four practical principles for weaving your testimony into everyday life:
Look for Open Doors
Conversations about stress, pain, or purpose are often invitations. Pay attention. Ask questions. Then gently walk through that door.
Share Moments, Not Memoirs
People don’t need your full life story—they need a relatable moment. A short story about how God helped you through something similar goes a long way.
Speak Like a Real Person
Avoid the churchy voice. Talk about God the way you naturally would. People notice sincerity—and it stirs curiosity.
Embrace the Awkward
Faith conversations can feel clunky. That’s okay. Call it out, laugh about it, and be real. People aren’t looking for polish—they’re looking for authenticity.
Closing Encouragement
Pastor Torry closes with a powerful story about his mother. Years ago, a Sunday school teacher shared a testimony about praying bold prayers for healing. Weeks later, Torry suffered a traumatic head injury. Inspired by that testimony, his mother prayed—boldly and faithfully. And God answered.
The takeaway? That Sunday school teacher had no idea her story would become the catalyst for someone else’s miracle. You never know how far your story will go or when it might echo into someone else’s future.
You don’t have to save anyone—Jesus does that. But you are a witness. You are a hope-bearer. And your story may be the spark that lights faith in someone else.
Tell it.
Because your story gives God glory.