Why We Share Our Story
Today’s reading: Acts 4:13, Matthew 28:19-20, Luke 12:8-12
Core Value: Rescued People Rescue People
Now that we know everyone has a story worth telling, we can dive into why we share our story. As we alluded to yesterday, it’s easier for people to connect with us when we have shared experiences or similar stories. You can probably name a few people in your life who are easier to talk to because they know the kind of situations you’ve been through. Even though we may feel broken or vulnerable in sharing some of those experiences, God can use them to connect us with each other and create meaningful relationships.
The best part about God using our story is that he gives us the power and boldness to do so, even when we feel inadequate. Jesus’ closest disciples, the men who were leaders in the faith and built the Church, are perfect examples of people who allowed God to use their weaknesses for his glory. Acts 4:13 says, “When they saw the courage of Peter and John and realized that they were unschooled, ordinary men, they were astonished and they took note that these men had been with Jesus.”
Peter and John were fishermen. They spent days at a time casting nets into the sea from a simple boat without much to their name. These men never received a formal education and were not thought of as having elite social status. They simply spent time with Jesus and allowed the Holy Spirit to be the one who gave them boldness instead of relying on their own power. Their willingness to be courageous in sharing their stories impacted billions of people through Scripture. Their inadequacy made room for God’s power to shine through them.
Because the Holy Spirit is in every person who accepts Jesus, we can be reminded that he gives us the same power that the disciples experienced in the New Testament. The same courage and boldness that was granted to Peter, John, and the rest of the Apostles is granted to us when we step out in faith to share our story.
As a result of our sharing, we fulfill what’s known as the “Great Commission,” found in our reading today in Matthew 28:19-20. As we learned last week, The Great Commission is simply the calling, or purpose, that every single Christian is given by Jesus. Everyone has a different way of living it out, but we are all asked to go and make disciples. At Cross Creek, we often say “rescued people rescue people.” It’s the idea that once you have experienced salvation for yourself, you can’t contain it. Now that we have been rescued from sin, we should feel empowered and excited to share this good news to everyone we know! The best way to do this is by connecting with others on a personal level and sharing our story.
When we make disciples of all nations and lead people closer to Christ, the world becomes a more loving place. In creating safe, honest relationships where we can allow God to transform our weaknesses into strengths, we see more of God’s heart come alive in our broken world. We are able to push past shallow interactions and truly show the love of Christ to people who are hurting and in need of a savior.
The best way to get started? Spend time with Jesus. If we can become more like John and Peter who are maybe not known for the things we think matter like status or social class but instead are known for spending time with Jesus, maybe we would start to see a kinder world.
Ask the Holy Spirit to give you courage and boldness when you share your story, especially the parts that hurt you the most. He will reveal with whom to share your story and what parts need to be shared.
Use the PRAY (Praise, Repent, Ask, Yield) acronym to spend time in prayer.
Who are some people in your life that come to mind that need to hear the ‘Good News’?
