Sharing God's Story

But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you; and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth. Acts 1:8

We’ve been working our way through the various Elements of a Living Faith, and the presence and power of the Holy Spirit is at work in this place! Can you feel it? Prayer, Worship, Studying Scripture, Acts of Service and Justice, Stewardship of Life and Resources – each one of these basic “Elements” that we have considered thus far, you have embraced and engaged with an energy and enthusiasm that is a joy to witness. As a congregation we are growing in clarity and understanding about what it means to be followers of Jesus, both individually, and as part of the whole body of Christ, the church in the world.

At each point along the way we have tried to remind you that none of these elements are “ends in themselves.” Each Element of a Living Faith is important for nurturing the faith that lives within you, but they do not constitute a stopping point. Every blessing given by God is intended not only to bless the one who receives it, but to overflow into the world beyond, giving blessing to all, that everyone may see and hear and know the truth of God’s love revealed in Jesus Christ. Our faith, a Living Faith, is deeply personal, but never private. That’s just not how God operates!

In just a few weeks our Lenten journey will come to an end, and we will celebrate anew the incredible, marvelous, wonderful mystery of the Resurrection – God’s exclamation point on the story of love that Jesus lived out for the sake of all creation. And, just like the first witnesses of Jesus’ life, death, resurrection and ascension, we are sent to “go and tell” what we have received from God through the witness of those who shared the story with us.

What, exactly, is a witness? Simply put, a witness is one who tells others what they have seen or experienced. According to Jesus, that is part of our job description as his followers. Just as the first witnesses to the empty tomb went and told the others what they had seen, we too are invited to tell others what we have seen, or known, or experienced—in our life of faith, in our church community, in the power of faith at work in the world.

Somewhere along the line, good church people got the idea that “witnessing” had to do with converting people to Christianity. With that kind of expectation, the idea of sharing God’s story took on intimidating proportions, and began to look like street-corner preachers – including the ones who sometimes make us uncomfortable.

Starting with the joyful proclamation we will share on Easter Sunday, “Christ is Risen! Christ is Risen indeed!,” we will explore how we can be witnesses to the hope that lives within us. As we learn to talk about what we believe, and what guides our living and loving, we will learn about ways to pass on that story to other people in our lives. Do not be afraid. God’s story is meant to be shared!