Aligning Our Life Stories with God's Narrative
Summary
In our journey through life, we often find ourselves living stories that we may not admire or even recognize. Today, we explore the importance of understanding the narrative of our lives and aligning it with the greater story of God. Reflecting on personal experiences, I shared how I once found myself in a place of deep disappointment, particularly in my family life. It was through reading a memoir that I realized I was living a story I did not want to be a part of—a story marked by anxiety and misplaced expectations. This realization prompted me to ask a crucial question: If someone were making a movie about my life, would I admire the character playing me?
Our lives are stories, and like any good story, they involve a protagonist with desires, obstacles, and conflicts. The key is to ensure that our desires align with God's greater narrative. Hebrews 11 reminds us of the faithful who, despite not receiving what was promised, continued to move towards God. Their stories were not defined by worldly success but by their faith and perseverance.
The Bible is filled with examples of individuals who entered new stories and identities through their relationship with God. Abram became Abraham, Sarai became Sarah, and Saul became Paul. These transformations illustrate the power of aligning our personal stories with God's story. The Apostle Paul emphasized that the core of his theology was not abstract doctrine but the story of Jesus, whose faithfulness and sacrifice redefine our own narratives.
Today, I invite you to consider the challenges you face and the story you are living. Imagine someone writing a book or making a movie about your life. How would the character playing you need to act to be admirable? God invites us to make our stories part of His great story, moving towards love, peace, and joy—the essence of His kingdom. Let us pray for the strength and wisdom to become the person we admire, co-authoring our story with God.
Key Takeaways:
1. Our lives are stories, and recognizing the narrative we are living is crucial. Reflect on whether the story you are living is one you admire and if it aligns with God's greater narrative. [01:14]
2. The Bible provides examples of individuals who entered new stories through their relationship with God, illustrating the transformative power of aligning our personal stories with His. [07:14]
3. The Apostle Paul's theology centered on the story of Jesus, whose faithfulness and sacrifice redefine our narratives, inviting us to live in alignment with His story. [08:02]
4. Consider the challenges you face and imagine someone making a movie about your life. Reflect on how the character playing you would need to act to be admirable and aligned with God's story. [08:33]
5. God invites us to make our stories part of His great story, moving towards love, peace, and joy—the essence of His kingdom. Pray for the strength and wisdom to become the person you admire. [09:08]
Youtube Chapters:
- [00:00] - Welcome
- [01:01] - Introduction to Life Stories
- [01:31] - Personal Disappointment
- [02:06] - Memoir Reflection
- [02:50] - Realization and Change
- [03:37] - Story of a Friend
- [04:23] - Understanding Life as a Story
- [05:08] - Who Do You Want to Be?
- [06:10] - Lives in the Presence of God
- [06:57] - Biblical Transformations
- [08:02] - Paul's Theology and Jesus' Story
- [08:33] - Facing Challenges
- [09:08] - God's Invitation
- [09:40] - Prayer for Transformation
- [09:58] - Closing and Invitation to Share Stories
Study Guide
Bible Study Discussion Guide
Bible Reading:
1. Hebrews 11:1-2, 13-16
2. Galatians 2:20
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Observation Questions:
1. In Hebrews 11, what is the significance of the faithful not receiving what was promised, yet continuing to move towards God? [06:26]
2. How does the transformation of individuals like Abram to Abraham and Saul to Paul illustrate the power of aligning personal stories with God's story? [07:14]
3. According to the sermon, what question should we ask ourselves when considering the story of our lives? [05:39]
4. What does the Apostle Paul mean when he says, "I have been crucified with Christ; it is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me"? How does this relate to the idea of living a new story? [08:02]
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Interpretation Questions:
1. How might the examples of biblical transformations (e.g., Abram to Abraham) encourage someone who feels stuck in their current life story? [07:14]
2. What does it mean for a spiritual memoir to derive its power from another story, specifically the story of Jesus, as mentioned in the sermon? [06:38]
3. How can the concept of living a story that aligns with God's greater narrative change one's perspective on personal challenges and disappointments? [08:33]
4. In what ways does the story of Jesus redefine our narratives, according to the Apostle Paul's theology? [08:02]
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Application Questions:
1. Reflect on your current life story. If someone were to make a movie about your life, what changes would you need to make for the character playing you to be admirable? [05:39]
2. Identify a specific area in your life where you feel your story does not align with God's greater narrative. What steps can you take to realign it? [01:14]
3. Consider a personal challenge you are currently facing. How can viewing this challenge as part of God's larger story help you approach it differently? [08:33]
4. Think about a time when you felt disappointed or stuck in your life story. How can the biblical examples of transformation inspire you to seek change? [07:14]
5. How can you incorporate the story of Jesus into your daily life to ensure your narrative aligns with His? What practical steps can you take this week? [08:02]
6. Reflect on a recent decision or action. How did it align or misalign with the values of love, peace, and joy—the essence of God's kingdom? What would you do differently next time? [09:08]
7. Identify one aspect of your life where you feel restless or unfulfilled. How can you invite God to co-author this part of your story with you? [09:40]
Devotional
Day 1: Recognizing Your Life's Narrative
Our lives are stories, and recognizing the narrative we are living is crucial. Reflect on whether the story you are living is one you admire and if it aligns with God's greater narrative. Each of us is living a story, whether we are aware of it or not. This story is composed of our desires, challenges, and the paths we choose. It is essential to pause and reflect on whether the story we are living is one we admire. Are we the protagonist we would want to see in a movie about our lives? More importantly, does our story align with the greater narrative of God? By examining our lives through this lens, we can identify areas where we may be living out of sync with God's purpose for us. This reflection is not about achieving worldly success but about ensuring our desires and actions are in harmony with God's story. [01:14]
Hebrews 12:1-2 (ESV): "Therefore, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us also lay aside every weight, and sin which clings so closely, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, looking to Jesus, the founder and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is seated at the right hand of the throne of God."
Reflection: What is one aspect of your life story that you feel is not aligned with God's greater narrative? How can you begin to realign it today?
Day 2: Transformative Power of God's Story
The Bible provides examples of individuals who entered new stories through their relationship with God, illustrating the transformative power of aligning our personal stories with His. Throughout the Bible, we see individuals whose lives were transformed by aligning their stories with God's. Abram became Abraham, Sarai became Sarah, and Saul became Paul. These transformations were not merely changes in name but signified a profound shift in identity and purpose. By entering into a relationship with God, these individuals embraced new stories that were part of His greater narrative. This transformation is available to us as well. By aligning our personal stories with God's, we can experience a similar renewal and find our true identity and purpose in His story. [07:14]
2 Corinthians 5:17 (ESV): "Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation. The old has passed away; behold, the new has come."
Reflection: What is one area of your life where you feel God is calling you to embrace a new story? How can you take a step towards that transformation today?
Day 3: Jesus' Story Redefines Our Narrative
The Apostle Paul's theology centered on the story of Jesus, whose faithfulness and sacrifice redefine our narratives, inviting us to live in alignment with His story. The Apostle Paul emphasized that the core of his theology was not abstract doctrine but the story of Jesus. Jesus' life, death, and resurrection redefine our narratives, inviting us to live in alignment with His story. This means that our lives are not defined by our past mistakes or worldly achievements but by the faithfulness and sacrifice of Jesus. By embracing His story, we are invited to live lives marked by love, grace, and purpose. This redefinition of our narrative is a powerful reminder that our worth and identity are found in Christ alone. [08:02]
Galatians 2:20 (ESV): "I have been crucified with Christ. It is no longer I who live, but Christ who lives in me. And the life I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me."
Reflection: How does the story of Jesus challenge or redefine the way you view your own life story? What changes can you make to align more closely with His narrative?
Day 4: Imagining an Admirable Character
Consider the challenges you face and imagine someone making a movie about your life. Reflect on how the character playing you would need to act to be admirable and aligned with God's story. Life is filled with challenges, and it is easy to become overwhelmed or lose sight of our purpose. However, by imagining our lives as a story, we can gain a new perspective. If someone were making a movie about your life, how would the character playing you need to act to be admirable? This exercise can help us identify areas where we need to grow and change. By aligning our actions with God's story, we can become the person we admire and live a life that reflects His love and grace. [08:33]
1 Peter 2:12 (ESV): "Keep your conduct among the Gentiles honorable, so that when they speak against you as evildoers, they may see your good deeds and glorify God on the day of visitation."
Reflection: What is one specific action you can take today to become more like the admirable character you envision in your life story?
Day 5: Co-Authoring with God
God invites us to make our stories part of His great story, moving towards love, peace, and joy—the essence of His kingdom. Pray for the strength and wisdom to become the person you admire. God extends an invitation to each of us to co-author our stories with Him. This means moving towards love, peace, and joy—the essence of His kingdom. By making our stories part of His great story, we can experience a life of purpose and fulfillment. This requires prayer, strength, and wisdom to become the person we admire. It is a journey of faith, trusting that God is guiding us and shaping our story for His glory. As we align our lives with His story, we can experience the fullness of His kingdom in our daily lives. [09:08]
Colossians 3:15-17 (ESV): "And let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, to which indeed you were called in one body. And be thankful. Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly, teaching and admonishing one another in all wisdom, singing psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, with thankfulness in your hearts to God. And whatever you do, in word or deed, do everything in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him."
Reflection: In what ways can you invite God to co-author your story today? What steps can you take to move towards love, peace, and joy in your life?
Quotes
Our lives are lived as stories and if we get them wrong we get our life wrong. Many years ago now, well over a decade, I found myself deeply disappointed, and that was true in a number of areas of my life but particularly in my family life. My failures as a dad, the details don't matter, not all my story to tell, but it was very painful for me. [00:01:14]
I thought as I was reading that book if they were confident in their faith, if they were joyful, if they could trust God, if they could be direct and honest with their kids, but also loving and conf—that's somebody that I would admire, not these, you know, Martyrs, whiny self, but I was heading that direction. [00:03:10]
A story is simply a person, a protagonist who has a heart desire, an object of desire, and they wanted and they wanted very much, but they have to overcome obstacles and conflict to get it. And that's our lives, that's us, that's you and me. And I can give up, I can quit, I can ask questions about am I seeking to desire the right thing. [00:04:23]
The question is if somebody was making a movie about your life just today, how would the person who's playing you need to act, need to live, what choices would they need to make, what posture, what orientation toward life would they need to assume for you to admire that person deeply. [00:05:43]
Hebrews, that great chapter, Hebrews 11, talks about people who did not receive what was promised, but they were commended for their faith even though they did not receive. They didn't get the object of their desire, not in this world, but they kept moving towards God. [00:06:57]
The philosopher Alistar McIntyre said the only way one can answer the questions who am I or what shall I do is by asking the prior question, what story am I a part of. And that's why so often in the Bible, which is the great story, the story of God and God's desire to be with his people, you see folks being given a new identity as they become part of a new story. [00:07:14]
He was Jacob, the Grabber, the deceiver, he's now entered into a new story and is Israel, the one who contended with God. Jesus says to Simon, you were called Simon, but now you're going to be Peter, you're going to be The Rock. When I enter into a new story, it causes me to look at my life differently. [00:07:57]
Richard Hay has written a great book about the Apostle Paul and his Theology and he says the core of Paul's thought was not some religious Doctrine or an abstract system, it was the story of Jesus, that the faithfulness of Jesus is the way that he lived his story and somehow his story becomes our story. [00:08:02]
Take whatever challenge you face, want you to think about it right now, your problems at work, in your family, deep disappointment, horrible loss, or frustration that you know is pretty trivial but it still gnaws at you. For whatever reason you feel inadequate, overwhelmed by your tasks, now pull yourself out for a moment. [00:08:33]
God Is Watching, God is inviting you to make your story part of his great story. You know what makes us deeply admire a person is when they are moving towards love and peace and joy, that is the kingdom of God. So today ask that question, somebody's writing the story of my life, how would the person playing me have to act in order for me to admire them deeply. [00:09:08]
God, together with you, can I write a different story about this day. Everybody has a story. Hey, if you enjoyed that video, be sure to subscribe to our YouTube channel so you don't miss any future teachings from John Ortberg here at Become New. My name is Tim and I'm a part of the team here. [00:09:40]
This series is all about stories, everybody has a story and everybody's story matters and we want to know about your story, whether it's a story of coming to Faith or a story of spiritual growth, whatever it is, we're here for you. You can email that to us at connectcomnew.com or you can text it to us. [00:09:58]
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