Stories to Tell, Gifts to Share

Return to your home, and declare how much God has done for you. Luke 8:39

For we cannot keep from speaking about what we have seen and heard. Acts 4:20

We all have stories to tell: funny experiences, learning experiences, news about our families, triumphs and tragedies, and plans for the future. And as the people of God, we have stories to tell about what God has done for us and about how God’s grace has changed our lives. Sometimes we are not really aware of these stories until they are coaxed out of us—but they are there, part of who we are.

That’s not all. Whether we know it or not, we also have stories to tell about what God has done through us—stories about how God has used us to make a difference in the lives of others. Getting to know those stories makes us even more aware of God’s grace.

God has given us so much—and the gifts of God are for sharing.

The Bible is a collection of stories about people with gifts to share—stories about people whose lives were so changed by God that they were able to make a difference in the lives of others. In Adult Forum starting this week we will look at four of those stories and try to connect them with the stories of our own lives.

For the next year the congregation will be focusing in on storytelling and on giving—so that all can see that both storytelling and giving are part of our grateful responses to the grace of God.

Stories to Tell & Gifts to Share, Copyright © 2007 Augsburg Fortress.