Embracing Our Stories: Bold Faith and Community
Summary
### Summary
Welcome to our series on storytelling, where we explore the profound impact of stories in the Bible and in our lives. Today, we reflect on how God has been writing stories in our church for over 150 years, and how He continues to do so in our various campuses across the Bay Area. We are grateful for the way God shows up in our lives, and we are excited about the upcoming series, "Hope for Everyone," which will outline our vision for the next decade.
We all have unique habits and quirks, and these often reflect deeper aspects of our personalities and stories. Similarly, the early church had unique characteristics that made them bold in their faith. They shared about what they cared about, and their lives were transformed by the Holy Spirit. This boldness was not just in words but in actions, as they shared their possessions and lives with one another.
The early church's story is recorded in the book of Acts, where we see the apostles empowered by the Holy Spirit to perform miracles and preach boldly. This led to the growth of the church and the transformation of many lives. The early Christians were devoted to teaching, fellowship, breaking bread, and prayer. They experienced awe and wonders, and they shared everything they had, ensuring that no one was in need.
This passage is descriptive of what happened when God showed up in the early church, not prescriptive for all Christians. However, it challenges us to imagine a community so sold out for Jesus that they live in such unity and generosity. At Menlo, we emphasize being thoughtful witnesses, living lives that reflect the gospel and sharing our stories with conviction and compassion.
We often hesitate to share our faith due to fear of social resistance, but the early church's example shows us the power of sharing our stories. Their boldness and willingness to share led to God's favor and the growth of the church. We are encouraged to pray for boldness and to share our stories, knowing that God can use them to impact others.
The early church had deep unity, a willingness to share, leaders who led by example, and the grace of God upon them. These qualities take time to develop and require investment in relationships. We are called to lean into community, even when it is challenging, and to share our stories and lives with others.
As we reflect on our own stories, we are reminded that our legacy is not in our possessions but in the impact we have on others. We have time to let God write new chapters in our stories and to share them with those around us. Let's pray for God to do in our community what He did in the early church, spreading the good news of Jesus and transforming lives.
### Key Takeaways
1. The Power of Storytelling: Our stories, like those of the early church, have the power to transform lives. When we share our experiences of God's faithfulness, we invite others to see His work in their own lives. This sharing fosters unity and encourages others to trust in God's ongoing story in their lives. [30:47]
2. Boldness in Faith: The early church's boldness came from their deep conviction and the empowerment of the Holy Spirit. They shared their faith despite resistance, and God blessed their efforts. We are called to pray for this same boldness, trusting that God will use our stories to impact others. [46:11]
3. Community and Generosity: The early Christians shared everything they had, ensuring no one was in need. This radical generosity was a response to God's work in their lives. We are challenged to consider what we are willing to share and how we can live out our faith through acts of generosity and community. [47:35]
4. Investing in Relationships: Building deep, lasting relationships takes time and effort. The early church's unity and willingness to share were built on their investment in one another. We are encouraged to lean into community, even when it is difficult, knowing that it is worth the effort. [51:38]
5. Legacy of Faith: Our legacy is not in our possessions but in the impact we have on others. We are reminded to focus on what truly matters—our relationships and the stories we share. By living out our faith and sharing our stories, we leave a lasting legacy that points others to Jesus. [57:08]
### YouTube Chapters
[0:00] - Welcome
[0:45] - Introduction to Storytelling Series
[2:30] - Upcoming Series: Hope for Everyone
[4:00] - Personal Quirks and Habits
[6:00] - The Early Church's Boldness
[8:00] - Sharing What We Care About
[10:00] - The Power of the Holy Spirit
[12:00] - The Early Church's Generosity
[14:00] - Descriptive vs. Prescriptive Passages
[16:00] - Thoughtful Witnesses
[18:00] - Praying for Boldness
[20:00] - Investing in Relationships
[22:00] - Legacy of Faith
[24:00] - Conclusion and Prayer
Study Guide
### Bible Reading
1. Acts 2:42-47 (ESV)
> "And they devoted themselves to the apostles' teaching and the fellowship, to the breaking of bread and the prayers. And awe came upon every soul, and many wonders and signs were being done through the apostles. And all who believed were together and had all things in common. And they were selling their possessions and belongings and distributing the proceeds to all, as any had need. And day by day, attending the temple together and breaking bread in their homes, they received their food with glad and generous hearts, praising God and having favor with all the people. And the Lord added to their number day by day those who were being saved."
2. Acts 4:32-35 (ESV)
> "Now the full number of those who believed were of one heart and soul, and no one said that any of the things that belonged to him was his own, but they had everything in common. And with great power the apostles were giving their testimony to the resurrection of the Lord Jesus, and great grace was upon them all. There was not a needy person among them, for as many as were owners of lands or houses sold them and brought the proceeds of what was sold and laid it at the apostles' feet, and it was distributed to each as any had need."
### Observation Questions
1. What were the four main activities the early church devoted themselves to according to Acts 2:42-47?
2. How did the early Christians demonstrate their unity and generosity in Acts 4:32-35?
3. What was the result of the early church's actions and lifestyle as described in Acts 2:47? [36:40]
4. According to the sermon, what was the source of the early church's boldness in sharing their faith? [46:11]
### Interpretation Questions
1. Why do you think the early church's unity and willingness to share their possessions were so impactful in their community? [47:35]
2. How does the early church's example challenge modern Christians in terms of generosity and community living? [50:22]
3. What might it look like today to be a "thoughtful witness" as described in the sermon? [38:09]
4. How can the concept of "sharing about what we care about" apply to our daily lives and interactions with others? [32:11]
### Application Questions
1. Reflect on a time when you hesitated to share your faith due to fear of social resistance. How can you pray for boldness in those situations? [39:37]
2. The early church shared everything they had to ensure no one was in need. What are some practical ways you can demonstrate generosity in your community? [47:35]
3. Building deep, lasting relationships takes time and effort. What steps can you take to invest more in your relationships within your small group or church community? [51:38]
4. Think about your own story of faith. How can you share it with conviction and compassion to encourage others? [38:09]
5. Our legacy is not in our possessions but in the impact we have on others. What specific actions can you take this week to leave a positive impact on someone’s life? [57:08]
6. Identify one area in your life where you can be more open to sharing your story of faith. How can you take a step towards doing that this week? [42:04]
7. The early church prayed for boldness and received it. When was the last time you prayed for boldness? How can you incorporate this prayer into your daily routine? [46:11]
Devotional
Day 1: The Transformative Power of Storytelling
Description: Stories have a profound impact on our lives, especially when they reflect God's faithfulness. The early church's stories, as recorded in the book of Acts, show how sharing personal experiences of God's work can foster unity and encourage others to trust in God's ongoing story in their lives. When we share our stories, we invite others to see God's hand in their own lives, creating a ripple effect of faith and transformation. This practice of storytelling is not just about recounting events but about bearing witness to God's presence and action in our lives. [30:47]
Acts 4:33 (ESV): "And with great power the apostles were giving their testimony to the resurrection of the Lord Jesus, and great grace was upon them all."
Reflection: Think of a recent experience where you saw God's hand at work in your life. How can you share this story with someone this week to encourage their faith?
Day 2: Boldness in Faith
Description: The early church's boldness was rooted in their deep conviction and the empowerment of the Holy Spirit. Despite facing social resistance and persecution, they shared their faith with courage and confidence. This boldness was not just in their words but also in their actions, as they performed miracles and lived out their faith openly. We are called to pray for this same boldness, trusting that God will use our stories to impact others. By stepping out in faith and sharing our experiences, we can inspire others to seek and trust in God. [46:11]
2 Timothy 1:7-8 (ESV): "For God gave us a spirit not of fear but of power and love and self-control. Therefore do not be ashamed of the testimony about our Lord, nor of me his prisoner, but share in suffering for the gospel by the power of God."
Reflection: Identify one area in your life where you feel hesitant to share your faith. What steps can you take to overcome this fear and share your story with boldness this week?
Day 3: Radical Generosity and Community
Description: The early Christians demonstrated radical generosity by sharing everything they had, ensuring that no one was in need. This generosity was a natural response to God's work in their lives and a reflection of their deep sense of community. They were devoted to teaching, fellowship, breaking bread, and prayer, which fostered a strong sense of unity and mutual support. We are challenged to consider what we are willing to share and how we can live out our faith through acts of generosity and community. [47:35]
Acts 2:44-45 (ESV): "And all who believed were together and had all things in common. And they were selling their possessions and belongings and distributing the proceeds to all, as any had need."
Reflection: Reflect on your resources and possessions. What is one thing you can share or give away this week to help someone in need and demonstrate God's love?
Day 4: Investing in Relationships
Description: Building deep, lasting relationships takes time and effort. The early church's unity and willingness to share were built on their investment in one another. They were committed to spending time together, supporting each other, and growing in their faith as a community. We are encouraged to lean into community, even when it is challenging, knowing that it is worth the effort. By investing in relationships, we create a supportive environment where faith can flourish and lives can be transformed. [51:38]
Hebrews 10:24-25 (ESV): "And let us consider how to stir up one another to love and good works, not neglecting to meet together, as is the habit of some, but encouraging one another, and all the more as you see the Day drawing near."
Reflection: Think of one person in your church or community with whom you can deepen your relationship. How can you intentionally invest in this relationship this week?
Day 5: Legacy of Faith
Description: Our legacy is not in our possessions but in the impact we have on others. The early church's story reminds us that what truly matters is our relationships and the stories we share. By living out our faith and sharing our experiences, we leave a lasting legacy that points others to Jesus. We have the opportunity to let God write new chapters in our stories and to share them with those around us, spreading the good news and transforming lives. [57:08]
2 Corinthians 3:2-3 (ESV): "You yourselves are our letter of recommendation, written on our hearts, to be known and read by all. And you show that you are a letter from Christ delivered by us, written not with ink but with the Spirit of the living God, not on tablets of stone but on tablets of human hearts."
Reflection: Consider the legacy you are leaving behind. What is one way you can intentionally share your faith story this week to impact someone else's life for Christ?
Quotes
1. "We share about what we care about. Actually, it doesn't even matter if you don't want to share about it. If you care about it enough, you will share about it. It's kind of involuntary. Today is the first Sunday of the regular season for NFL football. Thank God, right? Just like, whoo, some of you feel differently than that. And I'm guessing that if you have someone in your life who cares about football, you didn't need me to share the news with you that today was the first day of football." [30:47] (28 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
2. "I think that our faith can become one of those things that we care about what we don't care enough about to share about. We become secret agents for God. And people in our lives would be surprised to find out that we have a personal relationship with Jesus. And when we look at the examples of the early church, if that's us, if we become secret agents for God, we are going to be challenged by the approach of the early church." [32:11] (24 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
3. "Can you imagine a community so sold out for Jesus, so overwhelmed by their love for the God of the universe, their appreciation for the work that Jesus did on their behalf? Can you imagine a life group, a church, where this is the way they are described? They cared so deeply for Jesus. They cared so much for the work that he was doing that they could be described this way. Could you imagine it? They didn't have to imagine it because they lived it." [38:09] (31 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
4. "Look, it's easy to look around in a community like ours and think, I don't have what that person has. I haven't accomplished what that person's accomplished. I don't have the same life that they have. But I'm telling you, you have a story that's worth sharing, and God's not done writing it. And you have no idea of what's going on in your life. And you have no idea of what's going on in your life. And you have no idea of what's going on in your life. And you have no idea of what's going on in your life." [40:50] (19 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
5. "I wonder what it would look like if that was what our communities were characterized by. Now, the church in Acts, it wasn't always a story that was up and to the right. They had major moments of crisis, including the very next chapter from the one that we're reading. but they stayed on mission to share their stories of hope with the world around them, even when it costs them. Because we share about what we care about." [53:50] (26 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
6. "The good news for you today is that no matter how much time you have, you have time. You have time to share your story. You have time to let God write a new chapter in your story even right now, even this week. And so no matter what your faith has looked like, no matter what your life has looked like, let's pray that God chooses to do in Silicon Valley, and the Bay Area, what he did all these years ago in the story of the early church that spread around the world that we are still sharing all these years later." [58:17] (35 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
7. "I think sometimes we have in our minds this idea that if I just sort of like do all the right things, then the universe just kind of does what it should do for me. But you see so clearly here that God had an active hand on the early church, that His favor was uniquely on the early church in the first century. And as a result, they found favor with all people, that more and more people kept getting saved, that the stories were worth sharing, that even people in the communities that they were serving, well, they would have said, I don't believe like this group of people do, but I'm glad they're here." [39:37] (35 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
8. "I wonder, what is the thing for you that feels like that? Maybe like, are you somebody that you have to load the dishwasher in a very specific way? A couple of you, I hear it. Maybe for you, you are the person in your neighborhood that makes sure that everyone drives the speed limit. Like you are letting people know. You have this sign that says kids at play, even when there aren't kids at play. Like you are letting people know." [29:32] (26 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
9. "I think for a lot of us after the last several years, actually what comes naturally is isolation. We have to work harder to lean into community, but it's worth the work. See, the community that we see in the book of Acts is one where they were vulnerable with each other, where they shared a common cause of being vulnerable with each other. And I think that's what's so great about this book. It's a story of people bringing hope with them every day, to every place and to every person that they would meet." [52:58] (24 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
10. "I would encourage you to tell your story to a loved one. And I would encourage you this week to tell the story of a loved one, a loved one that you lost, that's no longer around. Remember the power of their story too. I want you to maybe think about this question this week. What story do I help people tell about me? Is it that you were kind and patient? Maybe that you were willing to help others or you were able to overcome challenges beyond your circumstances because faith wasn't just an accessory to your life, it was essential. It was the core of your life." [56:25] (47 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
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