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HiStory
Brian Mashburn
November 8, 2020
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HiStory
"Out there" in the world we live in, a Presidential election has happened (at the time of this writing, we do not know the results). It feels weighty, important, and consequential. It feels like, and is, a big deal for us as members of the human race here on earth, and as citizens of our nation. History is being written as we speak.
Simultaneously, "in here", as a church family, we are participating in our 2020 Southwest Bible Project. We are reading God's history, if you will, that has already been written. With all that is going on "out there", it does not feel so weighty or important to be doing this Bible reading and study, but as Christians, we know better. We do not always act like we know, but we do know.
God's history is a big deal for us as members of Christ's church here on earth, and as citizens of His Kingdom. We read His story looking for our story, and even more important, we are looking for Him.
The world "out there" is crazy and hard to interpret, is it not?
If we anchor our souls to the news cycle, or our more immediate circumstances, our souls will be distressed. If we attach our feelings to the outcomes of elections or to Covid-related issues, or to anything else "out there", then we suffer from spiritual immaturity, with our feelings tossed back and forth by the waves, and our souls unanchored, blown here and there by every wind.
And so, we read God's history. What do we find "in here" that can help us navigate whatever comes "out there" in a real and practical sense?
In Acts 13, from our reading schedule this past week, we find the very first sermon of Paul. I want to look at it closely with you today, because he tells the entire story of God in 16 verses in order to "encourage" the audience who invited him to speak.
We have been practicing reading the Bible as STORY, so that part is not new to you I hope. What I want you to notice today is HOW he told the story. He tells it in a very strange way, on purpose, and I believe by doing so, Paul is giving you a true anchor for your soul that can stand the tests of ANYTHING that happens "out there".