Story Matters
Copyright: South Bay Community Church
Sermon Reflections: Story Matters
Date: 23 July 2023
Speaker: Lead Pastor Tammy Long
Scripture Text: Acts 15: 1-15, 19
Sermon Reflections: Story Matters
Date: 23 July 2023
Speaker: Lead Pastor Tammy Long
Scripture Text: Acts 15: 1-15, 19
Sermon Preamble
You are invited to think about a compelling story you have heard recently that is still on your mind. Perhaps it is a movie, a book, a testimony you have heard, a sermon illustration that stuck with you, or a commercial. Even commercials have become compelling little stories. Sometimes you have to wait until the end to even know what is being sold. Stories touch our hearts and our heads. Stories can inspire us, challenge us, encourage us, and let us know we are not the only ones. These stories speak to us in a language that we can relate to. In this message, we will embark on a journey through the biblical text of Acts 15. Let's follow the storyline, characters, dialogue, conflict, plot, and setting. As we absorb Acts 15, let's notice the power of the story. The leaders of that day were witnesses and participants as God's story was unfolding around them and through them. God's stories are also around us, and God's stories are snapshots of what God is doing in our lives and in the world. As we contemplate seeing God in our life, it is our human condition to think we are lacking something essential. However, even at our worse, God still loves us.
Some men from Judea (Jerusalem) taught believers that one who is not circumcised cannot be saved
Let’s read Acts 15:1: “While Paul and Barnabas were at Antioch of Syria, some men from Judea arrived and began to teach the believers: ‘Unless you are circumcised as required by the Law of Moses, you cannot be saved.’” In 1st Century Antioch, this Christian community was thriving with a diverse congregation of both Jewish and Gentile believers. As they grew in community, the critical question became whether Gentile believers must adhere to the Jewish laws of circumcision to be saved. This question was beginning to divide the church.
Theologian N.T. Wright declares that the issue was actually much deeper than to circumcise or not to circumcise. He notes that the question really was, “Do you have to become ethnically Jewish in order to belong to the family of Abraham, who are the people of the promise?” Issues about ethnocentrism and cultural pride, within the fellowship of believers, were threatening to pull the church apart. At that time in history, many Jews felt that their ethnicity and culture made them righteous before God as the chosen people of God. A cultural and religious conflict had come to the surface and erupted in the church.
In response, the church sent delegates, including Paul and Barnabas, to consult with the Jerusalem elders and apostles
Acts 15:2-3 declares, “Paul and Barnabas disagreed with them, arguing vehemently. Finally, the church decided to send Paul and Barnabas to Jerusalem, accompanied by some local believers, to talk to the apostles and elders about this question. The church sent the delegates to Jerusalem, and they stopped along the way in Phoenicia and Samaria to visit the believers. They told them – much to everyone’s joy – that the Gentiles, too, were being converted.” Paul and Barnabas are telling stories of what they had experienced about uncircumcised Gentiles being converted.
Acts 15:4 continues, “When they arrived in Jerusalem, Barnabas and Paul were welcomed by the whole church, including the apostles and elders. They reported everything God had done through them.” Paul and Barnabas are telling their stories of what God has done in Gentiles also being converted and saved.
Acts 15:5-6 continues, “But then some of the believers who belonged to the sect of Pharisees stood up and insisted, ‘The Gentile converts must be circumcised and required to follow the Law of Moses.’ The apostles and elders met together to resolve this issue.” Opposition arose at the church meeting, so the apostles and elders met together to resolve this circumcision issue.
The meeting of the leaders turned into a huge debate followed by Peter’s testimony
Acts 15:7-11 states, “At the meeting, after a long discussion, Peter stood and addressed them as follows: “Brothers, you all know that God chose me from among you some time ago to preach to the Gentiles so that they could hear the Good News and believe. God knows people’s hearts, and he confirmed that he accepts Gentiles by giving them the Holy Spirit, just as he did to us. He made no distinction between us and them for he cleansed their hearts through faith. So why are you now challenging God by burdening the Gentile believers with a yoke that neither we nor our ancestors were able to bear? We believe that we are saved the same way, by the undeserved grace of the Lord Jesus.’”
Verse 7 uses the phrase, “after a long discussion.” This indicates that there was actually an intense conversation, like a debate. As one Jewish Rabbi declared, “If there is one thing we do well, it is debate! We love to argue!" This council in Jerusalem likely was quite a lively discourse, possibly even a heated debate.
After much discussion, Peter got up and explained that from the very beginning, God’s plan and story was for Jews and non-Jews to be saved through God’s grace.
Then, all became silent as they listened to Paul and Barnabas tell the story of what God had done
Acts 15:12 affirms, “Everyone listened quietly as Barnabas and Paul told about the miraculous signs and wonders God had done through them among the Gentiles.” They all became silent as they listened to Barnabas and Paul telling the story about what God had done among the Gentiles through them. Peter shared a theological truth based on his understanding of what God was doing. However, Barnabas and Paul brought that truth to life through the power of the story of what they had experienced.
Barnabas and Paul essentially stopped the argument through their actual experiences of God in the story. The apparent truth of God in the story resonated with the assembly, when Barnabas and Paul shared their story of God in their lives. They could not deny that God was indeed doing a great work among the Gentiles in the same way God had been among the Jews. Salvation came to Jew and non-Jew through grace alone. Therefore, the cultural practice of circumcision was not essential or required for non-Jews. It was affirmed and reaffirmed that salvation came through Christ alone. Salvation through Christ alone became clear from the stories that were shared when placed alongside God’s Word.
The leaders were part of the grand story of God. They were witnesses and participants as God’s story was unfolding among them and through them. The decision that day set in motion a trajectory and principle for followers of Jesus up through today. It was the stories of God at work that led to the decision on circumcision.
There is power in sharing God’s stories that are snapshots of what God is doing in our lives
God’s stories are around us now. They are important because they are snapshots of what God is doing in our lives and in the world. There is power when we share these stories. Psalm 74:1-4 affirms “O my people listen to my instructions. Open your ears to what I am saying, for I will speak to you in a parable. I will teach you hidden lessons from our past – stories we have heard and known, stories our ancestors handed down to us. We will not hide these truths from our children; we will tell the next generation about the glorious deeds of the Lord, about his power and his mighty wonders.”
Sharing our God stories is one of the most impactful ways we tell others about God’s love. Stories about God sightings are at the very heart of evangelism that is our calling to tell others about Jesus.
God has uniquely wired us to connect with stories. Scientists have found that our brains respond differently when we hear a story. Stories have been around since the earliest times. Primitive sequential cave drawings clearly tell a story. God has chosen to connect with us through story, especially God’s grand story as reflected in God’s Word. When Jesus was on earth, He was the best storyteller of all.
Someone’s story about experiences of God in their life is not arguable or a matter for debate
You can debate theological and historical perspectives, but you cannot argue with one’s story. You may not agree, and you may not even be able to relate. But you cannot refute one’s experience with God. Sometimes, we recognize God in the story, and we may call it a testimony or a praise report. Whether we acknowledge God or not, God is always pursuing us, seeking us, and present with us. God is always somewhere in your story, although we may not see God in the story until afterwards, or we may not see God in the story on this side of heaven. But God is there. God is deeply involved in your story.
Examen is a spiritual practice to help us lean into and share the God stories in our lives.
In the “Examen” spiritual practice at South Bay Community Church, you learn to pay attention to where God was moving in your life during that day, week, year, or morning. During an examen, you consider questions like: What were the highs of my day? What were the lows of my day? How did I see God in those moments? What do I want to say to God about what I am noticing? This spiritual practice helps us to slow down and pay attention. We notice where God is at work in the story of our lives. Often, that noticing can become a story to share.
As we become more aware of the God stories in our lives, the more stories we will have to share with others. Our world is hungry for these stories: (1) stories of hope because God is faithful, (2) stories of encouragement because God helped us find a way, (3) stories of how God showed up in the11th hour, just in time for our need, (4) stories of healing, (5) stories of financial provision, (6) stories of peace in the midst of storms, (7) stories of new things God is doing that we never saw coming, (8) stories of God’s grace we know we did not deserve, (9) stories of the bountiful blessings and gifts. God gives every day. Many we don’t even notice to say thank you to God. As our souls look back and wonder, we can see how we got over through God.
These stories people need to hear about the goodness of God. All our lives, God has been faithful. All our lives, God has been so good. With every breath that we are able, let us speak of the goodness of God through our stories.
Each of us has stories, whether big or small stories. These stories are not just for you, but these stories are to be shared as often as you can. Don’t worry if others think you talk about God too much. You have a God story to tell. Stories can have a powerful impact when you share with others and let the Holy Spirit take it from there. Stories are to be shared like Paul and Barnabas did the day in Jerusalem, but also stories need to be heard.
Listening to someone else’s story is a true gift to them and to you
Hearing stories and listening to another shows care and support. It is also an opportunity to pray and notice the work and movement of God. This is particularly true in evangelism when we want to share the love of God with others. Often in evangelism we are first focused on telling the story of Jesus with the hope and vision that someone will want to become a follower of Christ.
However, first telling the story of Jesus to another may be backwards or even premature. Before we tell the story of Jesus to another, we need to hear their story first. When we watch Jesus in the biblical text, we do not always get the full story of those that Jesus encounters. But we see enough. We see how Jesus used questions to engage people and enter into their stories. Jesus asked questions like: What would you like me to do for you? Do you want to be healed? Jesus drew out the story of the woman at the well when he asked for water and about her husband (John 4:4-42). All of these encounters led people to share a bit more of their story, even before Jesus responded to their need. Listening to the stories of others allows us to learn about the other person’s journey and where God may be stirring in their lives.
Listening leads us to how God may want us to respond. We cannot presume what God is doing. Instead, we need to listen, notice, and let the Holy Spirit guide us. We cannot even know what aspect of the Good News to share until we have listened and created a safe place for people to share their story. As others share their story, they share their hunger, their need, their questions, and their desires. Are they facing loneliness, or seeking meaning and purpose in life? God meets people in so many ways and at so many different points of need. Hearing their story allows us to see them, hear them, and listen for how God may be moving in their lives. Hearing their story helps in our invitation to them to draw nearer to God. When others share their stories, we can ask the Holy Spirit to help us listen deeply so we can hear how God would have us respond.
Holy listening is deep listening, both to God and to the other person, which takes time
Holy listening means listening attentively and putting your own story, thoughts, and any other distractions aside for the moment. Then we can be fully present while our friend, neighbor, or colleague shares their story with us. At the same time, we have a prayerful heart to hear what God may be directing us to say or do.
Proverbs 20:5 says, “The purposes in the human mind are like deep water, but the intelligent will draw them out.” This means that Holy Listening to another person’s story can take a while. It can take time to draw them out to share. It requires our patience. It usually means a relationship unfolding over time where trust can be developed. God’s timetable is not ours. Sometimes, we want to respond quickly to give cliché Bible answers, help people feel better, and fix what is broken. These are normal feelings, but God often works less like a microwave and more like a crock pot. God’s work in our lives and in the lives of others is a process that takes time. As we create safe spaces for people to share their stories with us, God often uses us and our stories in the process along with their stories. The key is listening well to stories.
Let’s view again Acts 15:12: “Everyone listened quietly as Barnabas and Paul told about the miraculous signs and wonders God had done through them among the Gentiles.” Paul and Barnabas had a story to tell. Their story had an impact because as everyone listened quietly, they began to recognize that God indeed was at work. Listening to the story of others is special and a spiritual gift to us.
God’s stories can help dismantle cultural barriers and respect diversity
At the time of Paul and Barnabas, there was a culture clash happening between the Jews and the Gentiles. The work of God as captured in the stories began to break down those barriers. As the leaders listened to the stories of Paul and Barnabas, it became clear that God was in the mix and in the midst of the Gentile believers.
The leaders were able to recognize and appreciate the Jewish cultural practice. That cultural practice was unique and specific to God’s Jewish sons and daughters for a unique purpose and place in their tradition that they maintain through today. From God’s perspective, the cultural practice was not meant to be universal for all people everywhere. This is an example of the beautiful diversity and creativity of God. God is so much bigger than the little cultural boxes in which we tend to place God. We need to be mindful of this truth because we all see through a cultural lens. We all have biases and ways of seeing the world that seem normal.
Someone said culture is like the sea we swim in. It is like asking a fish how is the water, only for the fish to say what water. As we share and hear stories, we become more aware of the limited water we are swimming in and how much more vast is God’s ocean. We become aware of our cultural biases and the lens by which we see the world.
Acts 15: 13-15, 19 declares, “13 when they had finished, James stood and said, “Brothers, listen to me. 14 Peter has told you about the time God first visited the Gentiles to take from them a people for himself. 15 And this conversion of Gentiles is exactly what the prophets had predicted.19 And so my judgment is that we should not make it difficult for the Gentiles who are turning to God.” We have the opportunity to notice how God is moving in ways that may look different from our ways. God’s ways may be broader than our assumptions and expectations. After hearing the stories, we revisit scripture and conclude, like James, that God is there.
How wonderful it is to get a broader vision, understanding, and experience of the God we serve. Through the variety of experiences and expressions of all of God’s children, we are going to go deeper into this idea over the next few messages. We will celebrate that God stories are everywhere. God can be in the midst in ways that are very different from how we see the world.
The Bible, the living Word of God, is a tapestry of stories, each leading us closer to God’s unfailing love and infinite wisdom
Through God stories, we come to know and understand God and the grace of God in a profound way. The Good News is that the Holy Spirit is alive, well, and all around us. God’s story is still unfolding. God’s story is the perfect love story; Jesus sacrificed His life for us so we could be untied with God and a part of God’s grand story. God’s story is an incredible adventure that doesn’t always make sense to us. We may even dislike parts of the story, but God is perfect and God’s story is perfect even when we do not see it that way. When it feels dark, painful, and frightening, we can remember and encourage others that the story is not yet over. When we feel we have messed up and veered from the story, God already knew the scene and has revised the scene for our good.
There is no better story than the one God is writing in our lives. God invites us to share that story and for those who know Christ, there will be a new and glorious story without end.
Let us cherish our stories. Let us share our stories. Let us listen well to stories. Let us worship the God of all stories.
DISCUSSION QUESTIONS INCLUDING FOR USE IN FAMILY GROUP
Sermon Preamble
-What compelling story have you heard recently that is still on your mind?
Some men from Judea (Jerusalem) taught believers that one who is not circumcised cannot be saved
-Ethnocentrism is a focus on the subjective cultural norms of an ethnic group, based on assuming that the way the culture sees the world is valid and universal. The cultural lens for seeing the world is so obvious to us that it is not questioned. For the Jews, circumcision in their culture made them feel superior to other groups that did not circumcise. What examples, if any, do you see in the Church today of subjective cultural practices or beliefs that potentially foster feelings of superiority and threaten unity among followers of Jesus Christ?
In response, the church sent delegates, including Paul and Barnabas, to consult with the Jerusalem elders and apostles
-Read Galatians 6:12 for Paul’s warnings about what a legalistic notion of requiring circumcision to be saved were attempting to do and why. The legalizers were attempting to impress others based on circumcision of the flesh. They desired to avoid the humility of persecution attached to the cross. The legalizers also desired to boast in the number of converts that were easily counted, even though those circumcised were unable to follow the major elements of God’s Law given through Moses. For a potential parallel today, why is the number of members or visitors not necessarily the best measure of success for a church?
The meeting of the leaders turned into a huge debate followed by Peter’s
testimony
-Salvation requiring circumcision is in contrast to followers of Christ who, as a result of God’s grace, become new creatures desiring to please God. When Peter stood up in the meeting, what was the testimony of Peter especially related God’s grace in cleaning their hearts through faith?
Then, all became silent as they listened to Paul and Barnabas tell the story of what God had done
-What did Paul and Barnabas do that stopped the argument and debate? Why was the meeting then able to proceed to make a decision on circumcision of Gentiles?
There is power in sharing God’s stories that are snapshots of what God is doing in our lives
-Why is listening to God stories of others and sharing our God stories especially impactful in our lives?
Someone’s story about experiences of God in their life is not arguable or a matter for debate
-When have you deeply experienced God in a compelling story in your life?
Examen is a spiritual practice to help us lean into and share the God stories in our lives.
-As you use the spiritual practice of examen, what do you notice about where God is at work in the story of your life?
-In developing God stories for people to hear to meet needs that the world is hungry for, what resonates with you for stories to share with others? Examples listed include stories of hope, encouragement, just in time, healing, financial provision, peace, new things God is doing, God’s grace, and God’s blessings.
Listening to someone else’s story is a true gift to them and to you
-Why is it important to first listen to others before we respond and tell our story of Jesus?
Holy listening is deep listening, both to God and to the other person, which takes time
-Why does the deep listening, known as holy listening, often take time and patience?
God’s stories can help dismantle cultural barriers and respect diversity
-In what ways can God’s stories dismantle cultural barriers while respecting the worth and value of each culture?
The Bible, the living Word of God, is a tapestry of stories, each leading us closer to God’s unfailing love and infinite wisdom
-What are the various ways that we cherish our stories, leading us closer to God’s unfailing love and infinite wisdom?
You are invited to think about a compelling story you have heard recently that is still on your mind. Perhaps it is a movie, a book, a testimony you have heard, a sermon illustration that stuck with you, or a commercial. Even commercials have become compelling little stories. Sometimes you have to wait until the end to even know what is being sold. Stories touch our hearts and our heads. Stories can inspire us, challenge us, encourage us, and let us know we are not the only ones. These stories speak to us in a language that we can relate to. In this message, we will embark on a journey through the biblical text of Acts 15. Let's follow the storyline, characters, dialogue, conflict, plot, and setting. As we absorb Acts 15, let's notice the power of the story. The leaders of that day were witnesses and participants as God's story was unfolding around them and through them. God's stories are also around us, and God's stories are snapshots of what God is doing in our lives and in the world. As we contemplate seeing God in our life, it is our human condition to think we are lacking something essential. However, even at our worse, God still loves us.
Some men from Judea (Jerusalem) taught believers that one who is not circumcised cannot be saved
Let’s read Acts 15:1: “While Paul and Barnabas were at Antioch of Syria, some men from Judea arrived and began to teach the believers: ‘Unless you are circumcised as required by the Law of Moses, you cannot be saved.’” In 1st Century Antioch, this Christian community was thriving with a diverse congregation of both Jewish and Gentile believers. As they grew in community, the critical question became whether Gentile believers must adhere to the Jewish laws of circumcision to be saved. This question was beginning to divide the church.
Theologian N.T. Wright declares that the issue was actually much deeper than to circumcise or not to circumcise. He notes that the question really was, “Do you have to become ethnically Jewish in order to belong to the family of Abraham, who are the people of the promise?” Issues about ethnocentrism and cultural pride, within the fellowship of believers, were threatening to pull the church apart. At that time in history, many Jews felt that their ethnicity and culture made them righteous before God as the chosen people of God. A cultural and religious conflict had come to the surface and erupted in the church.
In response, the church sent delegates, including Paul and Barnabas, to consult with the Jerusalem elders and apostles
Acts 15:2-3 declares, “Paul and Barnabas disagreed with them, arguing vehemently. Finally, the church decided to send Paul and Barnabas to Jerusalem, accompanied by some local believers, to talk to the apostles and elders about this question. The church sent the delegates to Jerusalem, and they stopped along the way in Phoenicia and Samaria to visit the believers. They told them – much to everyone’s joy – that the Gentiles, too, were being converted.” Paul and Barnabas are telling stories of what they had experienced about uncircumcised Gentiles being converted.
Acts 15:4 continues, “When they arrived in Jerusalem, Barnabas and Paul were welcomed by the whole church, including the apostles and elders. They reported everything God had done through them.” Paul and Barnabas are telling their stories of what God has done in Gentiles also being converted and saved.
Acts 15:5-6 continues, “But then some of the believers who belonged to the sect of Pharisees stood up and insisted, ‘The Gentile converts must be circumcised and required to follow the Law of Moses.’ The apostles and elders met together to resolve this issue.” Opposition arose at the church meeting, so the apostles and elders met together to resolve this circumcision issue.
The meeting of the leaders turned into a huge debate followed by Peter’s testimony
Acts 15:7-11 states, “At the meeting, after a long discussion, Peter stood and addressed them as follows: “Brothers, you all know that God chose me from among you some time ago to preach to the Gentiles so that they could hear the Good News and believe. God knows people’s hearts, and he confirmed that he accepts Gentiles by giving them the Holy Spirit, just as he did to us. He made no distinction between us and them for he cleansed their hearts through faith. So why are you now challenging God by burdening the Gentile believers with a yoke that neither we nor our ancestors were able to bear? We believe that we are saved the same way, by the undeserved grace of the Lord Jesus.’”
Verse 7 uses the phrase, “after a long discussion.” This indicates that there was actually an intense conversation, like a debate. As one Jewish Rabbi declared, “If there is one thing we do well, it is debate! We love to argue!" This council in Jerusalem likely was quite a lively discourse, possibly even a heated debate.
After much discussion, Peter got up and explained that from the very beginning, God’s plan and story was for Jews and non-Jews to be saved through God’s grace.
Then, all became silent as they listened to Paul and Barnabas tell the story of what God had done
Acts 15:12 affirms, “Everyone listened quietly as Barnabas and Paul told about the miraculous signs and wonders God had done through them among the Gentiles.” They all became silent as they listened to Barnabas and Paul telling the story about what God had done among the Gentiles through them. Peter shared a theological truth based on his understanding of what God was doing. However, Barnabas and Paul brought that truth to life through the power of the story of what they had experienced.
Barnabas and Paul essentially stopped the argument through their actual experiences of God in the story. The apparent truth of God in the story resonated with the assembly, when Barnabas and Paul shared their story of God in their lives. They could not deny that God was indeed doing a great work among the Gentiles in the same way God had been among the Jews. Salvation came to Jew and non-Jew through grace alone. Therefore, the cultural practice of circumcision was not essential or required for non-Jews. It was affirmed and reaffirmed that salvation came through Christ alone. Salvation through Christ alone became clear from the stories that were shared when placed alongside God’s Word.
The leaders were part of the grand story of God. They were witnesses and participants as God’s story was unfolding among them and through them. The decision that day set in motion a trajectory and principle for followers of Jesus up through today. It was the stories of God at work that led to the decision on circumcision.
There is power in sharing God’s stories that are snapshots of what God is doing in our lives
God’s stories are around us now. They are important because they are snapshots of what God is doing in our lives and in the world. There is power when we share these stories. Psalm 74:1-4 affirms “O my people listen to my instructions. Open your ears to what I am saying, for I will speak to you in a parable. I will teach you hidden lessons from our past – stories we have heard and known, stories our ancestors handed down to us. We will not hide these truths from our children; we will tell the next generation about the glorious deeds of the Lord, about his power and his mighty wonders.”
Sharing our God stories is one of the most impactful ways we tell others about God’s love. Stories about God sightings are at the very heart of evangelism that is our calling to tell others about Jesus.
God has uniquely wired us to connect with stories. Scientists have found that our brains respond differently when we hear a story. Stories have been around since the earliest times. Primitive sequential cave drawings clearly tell a story. God has chosen to connect with us through story, especially God’s grand story as reflected in God’s Word. When Jesus was on earth, He was the best storyteller of all.
Someone’s story about experiences of God in their life is not arguable or a matter for debate
You can debate theological and historical perspectives, but you cannot argue with one’s story. You may not agree, and you may not even be able to relate. But you cannot refute one’s experience with God. Sometimes, we recognize God in the story, and we may call it a testimony or a praise report. Whether we acknowledge God or not, God is always pursuing us, seeking us, and present with us. God is always somewhere in your story, although we may not see God in the story until afterwards, or we may not see God in the story on this side of heaven. But God is there. God is deeply involved in your story.
Examen is a spiritual practice to help us lean into and share the God stories in our lives.
In the “Examen” spiritual practice at South Bay Community Church, you learn to pay attention to where God was moving in your life during that day, week, year, or morning. During an examen, you consider questions like: What were the highs of my day? What were the lows of my day? How did I see God in those moments? What do I want to say to God about what I am noticing? This spiritual practice helps us to slow down and pay attention. We notice where God is at work in the story of our lives. Often, that noticing can become a story to share.
As we become more aware of the God stories in our lives, the more stories we will have to share with others. Our world is hungry for these stories: (1) stories of hope because God is faithful, (2) stories of encouragement because God helped us find a way, (3) stories of how God showed up in the11th hour, just in time for our need, (4) stories of healing, (5) stories of financial provision, (6) stories of peace in the midst of storms, (7) stories of new things God is doing that we never saw coming, (8) stories of God’s grace we know we did not deserve, (9) stories of the bountiful blessings and gifts. God gives every day. Many we don’t even notice to say thank you to God. As our souls look back and wonder, we can see how we got over through God.
These stories people need to hear about the goodness of God. All our lives, God has been faithful. All our lives, God has been so good. With every breath that we are able, let us speak of the goodness of God through our stories.
Each of us has stories, whether big or small stories. These stories are not just for you, but these stories are to be shared as often as you can. Don’t worry if others think you talk about God too much. You have a God story to tell. Stories can have a powerful impact when you share with others and let the Holy Spirit take it from there. Stories are to be shared like Paul and Barnabas did the day in Jerusalem, but also stories need to be heard.
Listening to someone else’s story is a true gift to them and to you
Hearing stories and listening to another shows care and support. It is also an opportunity to pray and notice the work and movement of God. This is particularly true in evangelism when we want to share the love of God with others. Often in evangelism we are first focused on telling the story of Jesus with the hope and vision that someone will want to become a follower of Christ.
However, first telling the story of Jesus to another may be backwards or even premature. Before we tell the story of Jesus to another, we need to hear their story first. When we watch Jesus in the biblical text, we do not always get the full story of those that Jesus encounters. But we see enough. We see how Jesus used questions to engage people and enter into their stories. Jesus asked questions like: What would you like me to do for you? Do you want to be healed? Jesus drew out the story of the woman at the well when he asked for water and about her husband (John 4:4-42). All of these encounters led people to share a bit more of their story, even before Jesus responded to their need. Listening to the stories of others allows us to learn about the other person’s journey and where God may be stirring in their lives.
Listening leads us to how God may want us to respond. We cannot presume what God is doing. Instead, we need to listen, notice, and let the Holy Spirit guide us. We cannot even know what aspect of the Good News to share until we have listened and created a safe place for people to share their story. As others share their story, they share their hunger, their need, their questions, and their desires. Are they facing loneliness, or seeking meaning and purpose in life? God meets people in so many ways and at so many different points of need. Hearing their story allows us to see them, hear them, and listen for how God may be moving in their lives. Hearing their story helps in our invitation to them to draw nearer to God. When others share their stories, we can ask the Holy Spirit to help us listen deeply so we can hear how God would have us respond.
Holy listening is deep listening, both to God and to the other person, which takes time
Holy listening means listening attentively and putting your own story, thoughts, and any other distractions aside for the moment. Then we can be fully present while our friend, neighbor, or colleague shares their story with us. At the same time, we have a prayerful heart to hear what God may be directing us to say or do.
Proverbs 20:5 says, “The purposes in the human mind are like deep water, but the intelligent will draw them out.” This means that Holy Listening to another person’s story can take a while. It can take time to draw them out to share. It requires our patience. It usually means a relationship unfolding over time where trust can be developed. God’s timetable is not ours. Sometimes, we want to respond quickly to give cliché Bible answers, help people feel better, and fix what is broken. These are normal feelings, but God often works less like a microwave and more like a crock pot. God’s work in our lives and in the lives of others is a process that takes time. As we create safe spaces for people to share their stories with us, God often uses us and our stories in the process along with their stories. The key is listening well to stories.
Let’s view again Acts 15:12: “Everyone listened quietly as Barnabas and Paul told about the miraculous signs and wonders God had done through them among the Gentiles.” Paul and Barnabas had a story to tell. Their story had an impact because as everyone listened quietly, they began to recognize that God indeed was at work. Listening to the story of others is special and a spiritual gift to us.
God’s stories can help dismantle cultural barriers and respect diversity
At the time of Paul and Barnabas, there was a culture clash happening between the Jews and the Gentiles. The work of God as captured in the stories began to break down those barriers. As the leaders listened to the stories of Paul and Barnabas, it became clear that God was in the mix and in the midst of the Gentile believers.
The leaders were able to recognize and appreciate the Jewish cultural practice. That cultural practice was unique and specific to God’s Jewish sons and daughters for a unique purpose and place in their tradition that they maintain through today. From God’s perspective, the cultural practice was not meant to be universal for all people everywhere. This is an example of the beautiful diversity and creativity of God. God is so much bigger than the little cultural boxes in which we tend to place God. We need to be mindful of this truth because we all see through a cultural lens. We all have biases and ways of seeing the world that seem normal.
Someone said culture is like the sea we swim in. It is like asking a fish how is the water, only for the fish to say what water. As we share and hear stories, we become more aware of the limited water we are swimming in and how much more vast is God’s ocean. We become aware of our cultural biases and the lens by which we see the world.
Acts 15: 13-15, 19 declares, “13 when they had finished, James stood and said, “Brothers, listen to me. 14 Peter has told you about the time God first visited the Gentiles to take from them a people for himself. 15 And this conversion of Gentiles is exactly what the prophets had predicted.19 And so my judgment is that we should not make it difficult for the Gentiles who are turning to God.” We have the opportunity to notice how God is moving in ways that may look different from our ways. God’s ways may be broader than our assumptions and expectations. After hearing the stories, we revisit scripture and conclude, like James, that God is there.
How wonderful it is to get a broader vision, understanding, and experience of the God we serve. Through the variety of experiences and expressions of all of God’s children, we are going to go deeper into this idea over the next few messages. We will celebrate that God stories are everywhere. God can be in the midst in ways that are very different from how we see the world.
The Bible, the living Word of God, is a tapestry of stories, each leading us closer to God’s unfailing love and infinite wisdom
Through God stories, we come to know and understand God and the grace of God in a profound way. The Good News is that the Holy Spirit is alive, well, and all around us. God’s story is still unfolding. God’s story is the perfect love story; Jesus sacrificed His life for us so we could be untied with God and a part of God’s grand story. God’s story is an incredible adventure that doesn’t always make sense to us. We may even dislike parts of the story, but God is perfect and God’s story is perfect even when we do not see it that way. When it feels dark, painful, and frightening, we can remember and encourage others that the story is not yet over. When we feel we have messed up and veered from the story, God already knew the scene and has revised the scene for our good.
There is no better story than the one God is writing in our lives. God invites us to share that story and for those who know Christ, there will be a new and glorious story without end.
Let us cherish our stories. Let us share our stories. Let us listen well to stories. Let us worship the God of all stories.
DISCUSSION QUESTIONS INCLUDING FOR USE IN FAMILY GROUP
Sermon Preamble
-What compelling story have you heard recently that is still on your mind?
Some men from Judea (Jerusalem) taught believers that one who is not circumcised cannot be saved
-Ethnocentrism is a focus on the subjective cultural norms of an ethnic group, based on assuming that the way the culture sees the world is valid and universal. The cultural lens for seeing the world is so obvious to us that it is not questioned. For the Jews, circumcision in their culture made them feel superior to other groups that did not circumcise. What examples, if any, do you see in the Church today of subjective cultural practices or beliefs that potentially foster feelings of superiority and threaten unity among followers of Jesus Christ?
In response, the church sent delegates, including Paul and Barnabas, to consult with the Jerusalem elders and apostles
-Read Galatians 6:12 for Paul’s warnings about what a legalistic notion of requiring circumcision to be saved were attempting to do and why. The legalizers were attempting to impress others based on circumcision of the flesh. They desired to avoid the humility of persecution attached to the cross. The legalizers also desired to boast in the number of converts that were easily counted, even though those circumcised were unable to follow the major elements of God’s Law given through Moses. For a potential parallel today, why is the number of members or visitors not necessarily the best measure of success for a church?
The meeting of the leaders turned into a huge debate followed by Peter’s
testimony
-Salvation requiring circumcision is in contrast to followers of Christ who, as a result of God’s grace, become new creatures desiring to please God. When Peter stood up in the meeting, what was the testimony of Peter especially related God’s grace in cleaning their hearts through faith?
Then, all became silent as they listened to Paul and Barnabas tell the story of what God had done
-What did Paul and Barnabas do that stopped the argument and debate? Why was the meeting then able to proceed to make a decision on circumcision of Gentiles?
There is power in sharing God’s stories that are snapshots of what God is doing in our lives
-Why is listening to God stories of others and sharing our God stories especially impactful in our lives?
Someone’s story about experiences of God in their life is not arguable or a matter for debate
-When have you deeply experienced God in a compelling story in your life?
Examen is a spiritual practice to help us lean into and share the God stories in our lives.
-As you use the spiritual practice of examen, what do you notice about where God is at work in the story of your life?
-In developing God stories for people to hear to meet needs that the world is hungry for, what resonates with you for stories to share with others? Examples listed include stories of hope, encouragement, just in time, healing, financial provision, peace, new things God is doing, God’s grace, and God’s blessings.
Listening to someone else’s story is a true gift to them and to you
-Why is it important to first listen to others before we respond and tell our story of Jesus?
Holy listening is deep listening, both to God and to the other person, which takes time
-Why does the deep listening, known as holy listening, often take time and patience?
God’s stories can help dismantle cultural barriers and respect diversity
-In what ways can God’s stories dismantle cultural barriers while respecting the worth and value of each culture?
The Bible, the living Word of God, is a tapestry of stories, each leading us closer to God’s unfailing love and infinite wisdom
-What are the various ways that we cherish our stories, leading us closer to God’s unfailing love and infinite wisdom?
Posted in Family Love
Posted in story, Acts 15:1-15, Acts 15:19, cicumcise, ethnocentrism, cultural pride, Paul, Barnabas, Jews, Gentile, argue, debate, share, listen, culture barriers, Diversity, Galatians 6:12
Posted in story, Acts 15:1-15, Acts 15:19, cicumcise, ethnocentrism, cultural pride, Paul, Barnabas, Jews, Gentile, argue, debate, share, listen, culture barriers, Diversity, Galatians 6:12
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