Tell You Story

Tell Your Story

Acts 1:6-14

Some years ago, a commuter on the Long Island Railroad was known to every regular patron on the five o'clock local.

He was a well-dressed, soft-spoken young man.

Every evening after the train left the subway he would rise and go to the front of the car.

As he walked back he would speak to every passenger, saying, "Excuse me; but if any of your family or any of

your friends are blind, tell them to consult Dr. Garl.

He restored my sight."

My friends, that’s evangelism. That’s witnessing... He testified., courageously, confidently he commended to each and all the one who had opened his eyes.

He had good news and he told it.

My friends, we have good news to tell! But are we telling it?

Today is Ascension Sunday.

Today is the day that we remember how Christ ascended into heaven to take his rightful place at the right hand of the father.

In our scripture today, Jesus tells his disciples before he leaves that they will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes upon them and that they will be his witnesses.

Jesus had spent much time preparing his disciples for this day.

Teaching them

Leading them

They watched him as he performed miracles and opened physically and spiritually blinded eyes.

Now, Jesus was telling his disciples, it’s your turn.

He’s telling them that it's their turn to go and share the good news to the ends of the earth.

But Jesus is not asking or expecting them to do this on their own.

He promises them that they will receive power from the Holy Spirit that will go with them as they share the good news.

He is promising them that even though he will be gone, that they will not be left alone to endure this task.

The disciples, did as Jesus commanded.

The disciples went forth sharing the good news

Sharing what Christ has done for them and what he could do for others.

Sharing that God loved the world so much that he gave his only son to give his life so that ours might be saved.

This was not an easy task for the disciples.

They experienced violence

They experience teasing and mocking

It cost many their lives

But because of their faithful dedication, Christianity grew and prospered and now we have a church on almost every street corner.

Today, Christ is calling us to continue the work of sharing the good news.

Christ is calling us to be His witnesses in our world.

God is saying to us that it is our turn to go and tell others about the love and forgiveness that God offers freely.

To spread the good news to the ends of the earth.

When you were takin into membership of the church, you vowed to participate in the ministry of the church by your prayers, your witness, your gifts, your service, and your witness.

So that in everything God may be glorified.

But, God does not expect you to do this on your own.

You have the Holy Spirit within you, leading and guiding you.

Will there be times when you meet opposition? Sure

Will there be those who just don’t listen? Sure

But….

Could you meet someone who needs to hear the good news? Yes

Could you help change someone’s life? Absolutely

So church, what is your story?

What has Christ done for you?

Has God helped you through a rough time in your life that he can now use through you to help someone else going through the same thing?

What good news do you have to share with the world?

Are you telling it?

Phyllis Davidson told me a story about a time when she was asked to give her testimony to the student body at the middle school about her experience of having cancer.

How many people in the audience could have needed to hear about a God who is bigger than cancer?

How many people in the audience needed to know that they were not alone in their struggles?

We all have a story... We all have good news to share… Now, let’s get out there and tell it.

Tell it for the world to hear.

In the name of the father, of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. Amen.