Understanding Your Story

Introduction

Acts 29 does not exist in the Bible

It ends at Acts 28

story of the first church

What if the story didn’t end there?

What if it continued through you

What story would your life tell?

This is the purpose behind Acts 29

My prayer is that through this series you would

start/begin your story

Remember your story

Keep writing

and tell your story

but not a story about you

A story of the power of God through you

You have a part to play in the story

Deuteronomy 4:9 “But watch out! Be careful never to forget what you yourself have seen. Do not let these memories escape from your mind as long as you live! And be sure to pass them on to your children and grandchildren.”

Deuteronomy 6:4–9 “Listen, O Israel! The Lord is our God, the Lord alone. And you must love the Lord your God with all your heart, all your soul, and all your strength. And you must commit yourselves wholeheartedly to these commands that I am giving you today. Repeat them again and again to your children. Talk about them when you are at home and when you are on the road, when you are going to bed and when you are getting up. Tie them to your hands and wear them on your forehead as reminders. Write them on the doorposts of your house and on your gates.”

Deuteronomy 6:20 “In the future your children will ask you, ‘What is the meaning of these laws, decrees, and regulations that the Lord our God has commanded us to obey?”

Psalm 145:4 “Let each generation tell its children of your mighty acts; let them proclaim your power.”

Tension

But this is not always easy

Sometimes we don’t tell others, let alone our chidren

We are afraid

We don’t know as much as we thing we should

Shame/guilt in our story

We’ve never experienced God

A time is coming when the “Bible tells me so” is no longer relevant

People don’t care what you know

They long to hear about what you’ve experience

So… Does acts 29 exist in your life?

Does the story continue through you?

Truth

Jesus is alive… Thats what we celebrated last week

Jesus is now ready to start His mission

And his plan is you and I

Matthew 28:18–20 “Jesus came and told his disciples, “I have been given all authority in heaven and on earth. Therefore, go and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit. Teach these new disciples to obey all the commands I have given you. And be sure of this: I am with you always, even to the end of the age.”

disciple - learners (we have kids learning sports) Jesus has ALL authority

Authority (exousia) - authority; power

This is extremely important to know

What He has, can be given

Acts 1:6–8 “So when the apostles were with Jesus, they kept asking him, “Lord, has the time come for you to free Israel and restore our kingdom?” He replied, “The Father alone has the authority to set those dates and times, and they are not for you to know. But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes upon you. And you will be my witnesses, telling people about me everywhere—in Jerusalem, throughout Judea, in Samaria, and to the ends of the earth.”

Go make disciples

Lets take note of what Jesus did not say

He didn’t want them to get revenge

He was just wrongfully convicted and murdered

Yet he wanted his disciples to go tell them the good news

Baptizing them

This is your story

A public profession of faith

Have you told your story this way?

Father who loves you

Son who gave his life for you

Spirit who lives inside of you

Application

Ask God to help you remember

Write down your story

Share your story

Spouse

Friend

Small group

We value Practice not Perfection

Prayer team