ACT 22: POWER of STORY

March 31, 2022

Some of you reading this will remember years ago in Church life a regular event called Testimony Time in a worship service. They were moments during a service in which people would stand up and share their experience of God, and the signs of God at work in their lives, the overwhelming kindness and generosity of God’s miracles. I don’t know if this is still a practice in some churches or not, but I wonder if something has been lost to the community of faith by not hearing each other’s story.

Our testimonies (Stories) are often the best advertisements for Jesus. Here is the profound part of our stories, you don't have to have a perfect life. You don't have to have everything together. But being able to articulate how God changed your life is a generous act because it offers others hope. It says to them, “If he can do it for me, he'll do it for you too.”

Come and listen, all you who fear God, and I will tell you what he did for me. (Psalm 66:16 NLT)

You have a story to tell. 

You might not think so, but you do.

Maybe it’s an adventure story, packed with excitement and suspense. Or maybe it’s a drama. The lost phone. The relationship crisis. The car that wouldn’t start when you were already late. Maybe it’s a tragedy. The dreams you lost – or never had. The addictions. The betrayals. The grief. Or maybe it’s a love story. The parents who believed in you when no one else did. The friends who stuck with you, through thick and thin. The one that got away. The one who stayed.

Probably, your story is a mixture of all of these things. But whatever it is, it matters. As we speak of God’s work in our lives, we are reminded, "God is for me and he’s for you too. We’re all in this together."

You don’t need to be strong or brave to have a good story. God has used my weaknesses to speak to others and your words will do the same. I want you to know, please take this to heart. In God’s hands, your story can pierce darkness and rekindle hope. It’s a gift and he calls you to share it!

Sharing our story is not about shining a spotlight on ourselves, but rather it becomes a sign that points to God. You are never the hero of your story; Jesus is. This is the reason, we speak. We speak of the God who made us and faced ultimate suffering to bring us life. We speak of the arms that carry us, through the fiery furnace and through the sudden squalls and storms. We speak of beauty, and we speak of brokenness. We speak of his story, and we’re awed by the fact that it’s our story too.

THE EXAMPLE OF JESUS


Day by day, Jesus taught and enlightened,

Day by day, Jesus healed and enabled,

Day by day, Jesus asked and listened,

Day by day, Jesus mentored and discipled,

Day by day, Jesus forgave and Jesus freed.

Day by day, help us, Lord, like you to be ready to serve those who are in need.

On the cross, Jesus gave his life as an offering,

On the cross, Jesus offered forgiveness to all,

On the cross, Jesus bore all our suffering,

On the cross, Jesus paid the price of all our sin,

On the cross, Jesus overcame selfishness and greed.

Help us, Lord, to take up our cross, and by the power of your resurrection, to offer life to those who are in need.