Stories Worth Telling
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· 2 viewsThrough Stephen’s witness in Acts 7:55–60, this homily reframes evangelism not as persuasion but as telling the story of where God has shown up in our lives. Rooted in personal testimony and shared reflection, the message invites the congregation to see Communion as both encounter and sending—grace received and grace shared.
Notes
Transcript
Me: Orientation
Me: Orientation
I have shared my story before, but it’s worth revisiting from time to time for newer visitors and members.
There was a season in my life when I wasn’t sure I belonged in the church.
Not because I didn’t believe in God...
...but because I struggled with the institution itself.
There were moments when the church felt confusing...
...even rejecting.
Moments when I wondered...
...if the church didn’t have room for me...
...did God?
...and I want to say that out loud...
...because I suspect I’m not the only one who has felt that way.
Some of us carry wounds from church.
Some of us carry disappointment.
Some of us have wrestled with belonging...
Not because we stopped believing in God...
...but because we weren’t always sure the church believed in us.
There was a time when I drifted away.
Not because I lost faith...
...but because I lost confidence that I had a place.
...and then one Sunday…
I walked into a church.
At the top of the stairs stood a woman whose face lit up when she saw me...
She didn’t test me...
She didn’t question me...
She didn’t fix me...
She welcomed me.
Walked me into Sunday School.
Introduced me to people.
Made space for me.
Sat with me during worship for a few Sundays...
...and in those moments...
I experienced something I hadn’t felt in a long time.
Belonging...
...and here’s what I learned...
Even when institutions struggle...
...God does not reject us.
God does not reject us.
God keeps sending people.
God keeps opening doors.
God keeps making space.
That moment didn’t come from an argument.
...or perfect theology...
...or a clever explanation...
It came from witness.
From someone showing me what grace looked like.
That moment changed my life.
That’s evangelism.
We: Identification
We: Identification
But when many people hear the word evangelism...
...they get nervous...
Maybe you do too.
Because evangelism often sounds like...
...having the right words...
...winning arguments...
...convincing people...
But what if evangelism isn’t about convincing people?
What if evangelism is simply about witnessing?
...not debating...
...not arguing...
...not persuading...
Just telling what we have seen.
God: Illumination
God: Illumination
That’s exactly what we see in Stephen today.
Stephen is surrounded by anger.
...noise...
...violence...
...and in that moment...
Scripture tells us:
“He looked into heaven and saw the glory of God.”
...and what did he do?
He didn’t debate...
He didn’t argue theology...
He simply said:
“Look! I see the heavens opened and the Son of Man standing at the right hand of God!”
He told what he saw...
That’s witness...
Not arguments.
Not pressure.
Not perfection.
Just telling what you have seen God do...
...and even as stones were thrown...
Stephen didn’t cure his enemies...
He forgave them.
He lived what he believed.
His life became witness.
His words became witness.
His love became witness.
You: Application
You: Application
Friends… the truth is...
Every person in this room has witnessed something...
Not necessarily visions of heaven...
But moments of grace...
Moments of healing...
Moments of belonging...
Moments when God showed up.
Maybe it was...
...a prayer that carried you...
...a friend who showed up...
...a moment when hope returned...
Evangelism begins there.
Not with doctrine.
...with story.
Not with pressure...
...with memory.
Evangelism often begins with what The Rev. Dr. Mark Teasdale calls a starting point...
...a story of God’s goodness in our lives.
That’s witness.
We: Inspiration
We: Inspiration
...and here’s what I want us to understand today.
Evangelism is not about convincing strangers.
It’s about sharing stories of grace.
It’s about inviting others into abundant life.
It’s about noticing where Christ has already been at work...
...and naming it.
That’s what we’re going to practice today.
Not perfectly.
Not dramatically.
Just faithfully.
Partner Practice
Partner Practice
I want to invite you into a simple practice...
Not preaching...
Not persuading...
Just sharing...
If you are comfortable, find 1 new friend or someone relatively new to you in the sanctuary...
...or type in the comments on Facebook and YouTube...
...share one brief moment where you have seen God show up in your life.
...and if finding someone new feels uncomfortable...
... I invite you to reflect quietly, where you are...
Where have you seen God show up recently...
Not a long story...
Just one moment...
If you choose to share, you’ll each have about 1 minute. We’ll come back together in three minutes.
Wrap Up
Wrap Up
Friends… what you just did...
That was evangelism.
Not pressure or persuasion...
But… witnessing.
You told or heard a story of grace.
...and here’s the beautiful truth...
Stephen didn’t change the crowd that day.
But someone was watching.
...a young man named Saul.
Years later...
Saul would become Paul...
One of the greatest witnesses the church has ever known.
We never know who is listening...
We never know what story God might use.
Today… we come to this table...
Not just to remember Christ...
...but to encounter Christ.
Stephen saw heaven opened.
Today...
...heaven opens here.
In bread.
In cup.
In grace.
Even when institutions struggle...
...this table remains.
Even when people fail...
...Christ still welcomes.
Even when belonging feels uncertain...
...grace keeps making space.
This table is witness...
It tells the story of love stronger than death.
Forgiveness is stronger than violence.
Grace is stronger than fear.
...and every time we receive this meal...
We are given a story worth telling.
In the name of our Creator, Redeemer, and Sustainer. Amen.
