Acts 7:1-8 (NIV)
Read by: Shelly Scott
If you had to tell the story of Jesus, where would you begin?
Have you ever had the experience, when someone asks you about something and you have to stop and think, where do I begin? This kind of thing happens to me when someone asks about how my wife and I met and why we’re in Alabama. I mean I could briefly say, well we met through work and our job brought us here. And while that would be true, it would not be complete. There is so much more to the story that invests our life together in this place with meaning.
This is the same kind of thing that happens when one tries to tell the story of Jesus. Where do you begin? Maybe you begin with a traveling teacher, or a Jewish boy, or a pregnant Mary, or a people waiting for God. Unfortunately, in recent history, the story has gotten shortened and flattened in order to make it easy to remember and easy to accept as true. And for many this has flattened and hollowed out the true meaning of the story, making it difficult to find their place in it.
Over the next few episodes, we’ll listen to Stephen’s rendition of the Big Story. When the Priests in the Sanhedrin ask him about his claims, he takes it back to Abraham, and frames for them the story that he sees himself living in. A unified story that leads to Jesus.
----------REFLECT----------
1. What part of this passage stuck out to you?
2. As you reflect on your understanding of the Story of Jesus, are these features of the story that typically come to mind?
3. Take a moment to consider the reality that the faith that you have or are considering, is ancient. Through all of the joy and pain of Human history this story has remained, and been affirmed and confirmed by countless witnesses. You are a part of that story… What does that bring up in you?
As we will pray through these next few episodes, Lord help us to discover your Story in deeper ways and find our place in it.
----------GO DEEPER----------
Bible Project: Old Testament Overview >>
Bible Project: Acts 1-12 Overview >>
InterVarsity Press Selections: Acts >>
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