Small Shifts, Big Faith: What is Your Story? What is Our Story? (Part XI)

Sermon Title: Small Shifts, Big Faith – What is Your Story? What is Our Story?

Good News Statement: Jesus encourages his church to be alive

Summary: The church isn’t perfect but yet is willing to grow in faith, practice love, and be alive today and tomorrow.

Preached: Sunday, August 23^rd, 2026 at Dogwood Prairie UMC & Seed Chapel UMC

Pastor Daniel G. Skelton, M.Div.

 

Scripture (NRSVUE): Acts 20:17-35 Today’s scripture passage comes from the Book of Acts. In this passage we hear of Paul’s story and testimony, which remind us of our own story and testimony in Christ Jesus. May we continue to tell our story so that others may know of Jesus. Our scripture reading comes from the Book of Acts Chapter Twenty, Verses Seventeen thru Thirty-Five. May the hearing and understanding of this scripture add a blessing to your life?

 

Paul Speaks to the Ephesian Elders

¹⁷ From Miletus he sent a message to Ephesus, asking the elders of the church to meet him. ¹⁸ When they came to him, he said to them:

“You yourselves know how I lived among you the entire time from the first day that I set foot in Asia, ¹⁹ serving the Lord with all humility and with tears, enduring the trials that came to me through the plots of the Jews. ²⁰ I did not shrink from doing anything helpful, proclaiming the message to you and teaching you publicly and from house to house, ²¹ as I testified to both Jews and Greeks about repentance toward God and faith toward our Lord Jesus. ²² And now, as a captive to the Spirit, I am on my way to Jerusalem, not knowing what will happen to me there, ²³ except that the Holy Spirit testifies to me in every city that imprisonment and persecutions are waiting for me. ²⁴ But I do not count my life of any value to myself, if only I may finish my course and the ministry that I received from the Lord Jesus, to testify to the good news of God’s grace.

²⁵ “And now I know that none of you, among whom I have gone about proclaiming the kingdom, will ever see my face again. ²⁶ Therefore I declare to you this day that I am not responsible for the blood of any of you, ²⁷ for I did not shrink from declaring to you the whole purpose of God. ²⁸ Keep watch over yourselves and over all the flock, of which the Holy Spirit has made you overseers, to shepherd the church of God that he obtained with the blood of his own Son. ²⁹ I know that after I have gone, savage wolves will come in among you, not sparing the flock. ³⁰ Some even from your own group will come distorting the truth in order to entice the disciples to follow them. ³¹ Therefore be alert, remembering that for three years I did not cease night or day to warn everyone with tears. ³² And now I commend you to God and to the message of his grace, a message that is able to build you up and to give you the inheritance among all who are sanctified. ³³ I coveted no one’s silver or gold or clothing. ³⁴ You know for yourselves that I worked with my own hands to support myself and my companions. ³⁵ In all this I have given you an example that by such work we must support the weak, remembering the words of the Lord Jesus, for he himself said, ‘It is more blessed to give than to receive.’ ”

 

This is the Word of God for the People of God; And all God’s people said, “Thanks be to God.”

 

 

Introduction:

The ministry of Jesus Christ has been shared. Healings have been performed. The blind were able to see and the lame able to walk. Those demon possessed were set free. The chains of the oppressed were broken. People began to believe and prayed to have their “unbelief turn into belief” (Mark 9:24). Some were even raised from the dead to breathe again. And some were welcomed home after being outcast to the dark, damp, tombs outside of the city walls.

Then, after riding into Jerusalem on a never before ridden donkey and being praised as the people laid their cloaks on the ground as shouts of “Hosannas” filled the air, Jesus is turned over to the religious leaders of the day. Jesus is questioned and tortured by the Roman soldiers—beaten nearly to death—prior to receiving a crown of thorns and a purple robe as a sign of earthly mockery. He was presented to the people in the presence of Pontius Pilate, who said, “But what crime has he committed? I cannot find anything he has done to deserve death! I will have him whipped and set him free” (Luke 23:22, GNT). To which the people responded, “Crucify him! Crucify him!” (Luke 23:20, GNT). Luke 23:24 states, “So Pilate passed the sentence on Jesus that they were asking for.”

Jesus is marched from the palace to Calvary, bearing the weight of the cross—most likely the horizontal beam—as excruciating pain shot through his body with every step, as blood dripped from his head to the ground, soaking the dirty road beneath his feet, and as both cries and shouts surrounded him. On Calvary, he hung on the cross for six hours before taking his last breath and proclaiming “It is finished” (John 19:30). Then he was taken down from the cross and laid in the tomb of Joseph of Arimathea. Three days later he rose from the dead to prove that death does not have the last word, that a tomb sealed by a large stone could not withhold him, and that an instrument of death—the cross—is a promise of hope and salvation. And now, after 40 days of walking this earth in his resurrected form, he has ascended to heaven; but before leaving this earth, he gave his apostles and disciples a challenge: to keep the church alive.

This is where the Book of Acts comes into play. For those that are unaware, the Book of Acts (or sometimes called the Acts of the Apostles), written during the time of 33AD to 62AD, is a sequel to the Gospel of Luke. Luke was a physician back in the day and has been credited to write the Gospel of Luke and the Book of Acts. The theme of Luke’s writing after the ascension of Jesus Christ is focused on how the Holy Spirit empowers believers to declare the gospel among both Jews and Gentiles. In doing so they establish the church, which is the fulfillment of God’s promises from the beginning of time. Jesus states in Matthew 16:18, “And I tell you, you are Peter, and on this rock I will build my church, and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it.”

Luke’s purpose for writing the Book of Acts—the journey and testimony of Paul and the rise and growth of the early church—was to give an orderly account of the early church after Christ’s resurrection; and to highlight the notion that keeping the church alive was not, is not, and will not be easy. But keeping the church alive is necessary. So, for the next several weeks, we are going to explore certain themes sprinkled throughout the Book of Acts which I believe remind us of how important it is to keep the church alive today for tomorrow. And the question I propose to you is this: “What are we doing and could be doing to keep our church and the whole Church—the body of Christ—alive?”

 

Body:

This coming Friday, August 28^th, marks one year since my Grandma Jo took her last breath and was welcomed into her eternal home in God’s glory land after living on this side of heaven for 95 years. Some may say she flew away, singing “Blue Hawaii” with Elvis Presley by her side—since Elvis was her favorite—but I like to say she rode her blue bicycle with a basket on the front filled with memories that brought her joy up to heaven’s pearly gates. For my siblings and me, this coming Friday marks one year without any living grandparents.

I would like to share with you an excerpt from her obituary. It reads, “Joann Mary Johnson was born May 7, 1930 in Kewanee, IL the daughter of John and Laura (Jacobs) Johnson. Joann graduated from Geneseo High School in 1948. She married Willard “Woody” Skelton on November 27, 1948 in Greeley, Colorado. He died on August 3, 2000. Joann had been a stay at home mother, she had also worked 15 years as a Laundromat attendant, 15 years as a nursery attendant at First Congregational Church of Geneseo, and 3 years as district manager for the Quad City Times—a daily morning newspaper company. Joann had also helped her husband with their Root Beer Stand and his Tax and Bookkeeping Business, which was located right next to the Geneseo Donut Shop. In addition, Joann had helped with elderly care of others in their homes for several years. Joann was a member of the First Presbyterian Church of Geneseo since 1945. She was also a member of T.O.P.S., PBW (Professional Business Women,) and the Geneseo Lioness Club. She enjoyed attending Geneseo sports and family member’s sports. She loved flowers, Elvis, old movies, crossword puzzles, Yahtzee, and her family and pets.”[1]

In front of her family and friends, I had the blessing to share about my grandma. Here is a little bit of what I shared: “To live 95 years for some is a dream—something that they don’t think will ever happen. For others it’s an accomplishment—a milestone moment. Then there are some that realize that 95 is just a number, and now they are 96, 97, 98, 99. As I stand before you today, I am only 65 years away from turning 95; and I pray that I will be able to achieve that milestone like my grandma did.  And sometimes I wonder how she lived this long since she had to raise my aunt and uncles. From what I have been told, they weren’t always the perfect angels they claim to be: getting home late after curfew, throwing army men across the room, not wanting to eat everything their mom made them, coming up with excuses not to do chores, taking each other places without telling her where they were going, and daring each other to do random things on bikes or just random things in general. My grandmother didn’t just experience 95 years of life: she lived 95 years of life; and during those 95 years she created a legacy—a story—for all of us to admire, to live out, and to carry with us in our heart.”

I begin today’s message by highlighting words written about my Grandma Jo, not to remember a sad moment, but to remind us all that we all have a story. Obituaries have a way of telling the story of the deceased. We all have a testimony that one day people will write about it and tell. Today, I invite you to think about your story, your testimony, as we read about Paul’s testimony to the elders in Ephesus. Is your story what you thought it would be? Is your story perfect? Does your story have faults, mistakes, and upheavals? Does your story have moments that you don’t want to forget? Where is Jesus in your story? I invite you today to ask yourself two questions: 1) What is my story? and 2) What is the story of our church?

 

Movement One: What is a Testimony?

Did you know you have a testimony? Did you know that our church has a testimony? But what is a testimony? Doing a brief search, a “testimony” is evidence or proof provided by the existence or appearance of something; a formal written or spoken statement. In relation to Biblical language, “testimony” means a solemn declaration or witness, or a personal account of God’s work—serving as God’s proof of His faithfulness, truth, and power. Breaking down the word “testimony” etymologically, we find that it comes from the Latin word testimonium which is a combination of two words: 1) testis meaning a witness and 2) –monium meaning to put something in action. Therefore, testimonium (testimony) is your account of you witnessing of your faith in action—how faith works in your life, where you witness the works of Christ in your story.

In today’s scripture passage, we hear of Paul’s testimony in a letter written to the elders of Ephesus. Before leaving, Paul wants to remind the people of his faith and of his story. He does so, hoping, to give the people hope to continue where he left off: reminding the people that they have a story to live and a testimony to share. Similar to us today!

When starting the early church, after being converted on the Road to Damascus, Paul, who was named Saul, shares a powerful testimony of how God is working in his life and what God needs the church, the people, to do. Luke notes in Acts 20:18-35, “But there is another urgency before me now. I feel compelled to go to Jerusalem. I’m completely in the dark about what will happen when I get there. I do know that it won’t be any picnic, for the Holy Spirit has let me know repeatedly and clearly that there are hard times and imprisonment ahead. But that matters little. What matters most to me is to finish what God started: the job the Master Jesus gave me of letting everyone I meet know all about this incredibly extravagant generosity of God. And so this is good-bye. You’re not going to see me again, nor I you, you whom I have gone among for so long proclaiming the news of God’s inaugurated kingdom. I’ve done my best for you, given you my all, held back nothing of God’s will for you. Now it’s up to you. Be on your toes—both for yourselves and your congregation of sheep. The Holy Spirit has put you in charge of these people—God’s people they are—to guard and protect them. God himself thought they were worth dying for. I know that as soon as I’m gone, vicious wolves are going to show up and rip into this flock, men from your very own ranks twisting words so as to seduce disciples into following them instead of Jesus. So stay awake and keep up your guard. Remember those three years I kept at it with you, never letting up, pouring my heart out with you, one after another. Now I’m turning you over to God, our marvelous God who’s gracious Word can make you into what he wants you to be and give you everything you could possibly need in this community of holy friends. I’ve never, as you so well know, had any taste for wealth or fashion. With these bare hands I took care of my own basic needs and those who worked with me. In everything I’ve done, I have demonstrated to you how necessary it is to work on behalf of the weak and not exploit them. You’ll not likely go wrong here if you keep remembering that our Master said, ‘You’re far happier giving than getting’” (The Message Bible).[2]

Paul is encouraging his own people, those in Ephesus who were a part of the church he founded and where he spent three years pouring out his life. So, this is, as far as he knows, the very last thing he’s going to tell them. This is a pretty remarkable passage because it basically sums up a lot of what Paul talks about in his New Testament letters. From this passage, we see that Paul had a clear idea of what it meant to give God everything. Does your story indicate moments when you gave God everything? Does your testimony—the living out of your faith—demonstrate a faith focused on God? Paul gives us three things to consider when it comes to our story and testimony as individuals and as a church.

 

Movement Two: Live As An Authentic Example of Christ…

First, Paul tells us that our story and testimony should demonstrate living an authentic life in Christ. Paul notes in Acts 20:18-21, “You yourselves know how I lived among you the entire time from the first day that I set foot in Asia, serving the Lord with all humility and with tears, enduring the trials that came to me through the plots of the Jews. I did not shrink from doing anything helpful, proclaiming the message to you and teaching you publicly and from house to house, as I testified to both Jews and Greeks about repentance toward God and faith toward our Lord Jesus.”

Paul is establishing himself here as an example to follow. Even more than that, people had most likely come into the church at Ephesus to try and discount what Paul was teaching. Paul had many opponents who tried to add requirements for being considered a follower of Christ, like following the Law of Moses. So, these people were doing anything they could to discount Paul, including attacking his character, downplaying his faith, and tearing apart his testimony. Some likely said that Paul was only saying all of this to make money, or he had some other sort of agenda. So, Paul wants to clear the air. Before he gives them his last instructions before leaving them, he wants to make sure they know that he’s saying all of this from a pure heart. Paul notes, “I have no other agenda. I have no desire for money. With tears I have served Christ, in the good, the bad, and the difficult.” Paul wants it to be recorded that his story, his testimony of faith, isn’t based on worldly things but on the heart of Jesus Christ.

Paul’s purpose in saying all of this, again, is to make sure they know where he’s coming from. That he’s the real deal. He’s not a poser, not someone with an agenda besides just serving Christ. But we can look at this, what he said about himself, and learn something quite profound. What does it mean to give God your everything? It means that we live in such a way that he can point to our lives as proof of who we follow.[3]

If people were to read your story, let’s say 25 years from now, would they be reading the story of someone who was willing to give God everything? Would they be reading a story that leaves them saying, “I want to follow Christ. This person endured so much, faced challenges, and experienced defeat but still believed.” In your story, will people read how money was the focus of your agenda, instead of Christ? Will they read how you put your agenda before that of Christ’s agenda? Will they read of someone who gave up on God when things got tough instead of trusting in Him more? At the start of Paul’s testimony, we are left asking, “What will others say about our story?”

Church, the same goes for us. Paul poured out his life into the Church at Ephesus. Paul did not just teach truth to the masses, in front of large groups of people, and then go off and teach or live something completely different around individual people or individual families. In public, and in private, or with small groups and with individuals, he taught and lived the same truth. He was an authentic example of a follower of Christ. Will people read about our story and see a church filled with people willing to pour out their life to serve Jesus and others, and to be in ministry with the community? Church, does our story contain moments where we gave God everything and truly did what the people needed?

 

Movement Three: Serve Christ No Matter What

Second, Paul reminds us in his testimony to serve Christ no matter what. Acts 20:22-24 notes, “And now, as a captive to the Spirit, I am on my way to Jerusalem, not knowing what will happen to me there, except that the Holy Spirit testifies to me in every city that imprisonment and persecutions are waiting for me. But I do not count my life of any value to myself, if only I may finish my course and the ministry that I received from the Lord Jesus, to testify to the good news of God’s grace.”

In these verses, Paul reveals that he doesn’t know exactly what will happen to him in Jerusalem. He only knows, because the Holy Spirit had testified to him, that imprisonment and afflictions await him. But he’s still going! He knows what is coming, but he’s still going. What Paul was going to face in Jerusalem was imprisonment, flogging, and potentially execution. Jerusalem is where the Jews, the Jews who decided to put Jesus on the Cross, who hated him, were centrally located. And yet with all of this, he was still going. Why was he so willing to suffer? Because he was resolved to serve Christ no matter what came. Verse 24: “But I do not count my life of any value to myself, if only I may finish my course and the ministry that I received from the Lord Jesus, to testify to the good news of God’s grace.”

What a profound statement. “I do not count my life of any value to myself.” Basically, I don’t care about my life! Paul didn’t care about his life, except that he would complete the ministry that God had called him to, the ministry of testifying to the Gospel. Most people, including myself, would do just about anything to avoid physical pain. If you’ve ever broken a bone, you know, in that moment, that you just want the pain to subside. How is it that Paul was so willing to suffer? Not that he was looking to suffer, wanting to suffer. But if it came, or even if he knew it was coming, he was willing to suffer. Why? Because he had his eyes set on one thing: testifying to the Gospel! He had been so radically saved by the mercy of God in Christ that he could not help but share it with others, no matter the consequences!  Paul wanted to serve Christ no matter what!

Can you imagine if we were so unashamed of the Gospel that we weren’t worried so much about rocking relationships, or hurting our reputations, or being dismissed as outcasts? Can you imagine, like Paul, even being willing to die for the ministry that God has called us to? Can you imagine what impact we would have here in Oblong if we weren’t too embarrassed to share the Gospel openly? I know that takes time and you won’t overnight have the boldness that Paul had, but are you pursuing this? Is it your desire to serve Christ, no matter what?! No matter the consequences?![4]

Does your story serve him no matter the consequences: serve him in the good times and in the bad and serve him no matter what because he loves you no matter what? If someone were to read your story, would they read about a person who was willing to serve, to help, to face challenges, to almost do the impossible knowing that the outcome may not be ideal? Will people read your story and see where there were moments to serve but you past them by because you had other things to do? Does your story include serving?

Church, does our story include serving? As your pastor, I do my best to serve when I can, as often as I can, wherever I can, not to gain recognition but to demonstrate to others that I am extension of what our church strives to do: to be present for those in need. When people read of our story, of our testimony, will they see a church that lived out its faith in service or will they read of a church that was too scared to serve, too scared to take risks, too scared to make an investment? Church, I know that when people read of our story they will read of a church that was willing to serve because we have served organizations, individuals, and families in need. But I’m wondering if there are more opportunities in which God needs us to do more serving: in our church and outside our church. How can we make sure serving Christ—his mission, his testimony, his word—is part of our story today and tomorrow?

 

Movement Four: Embrace and Declare all of God’s Word

Third, in our story we must embrace and declare all of God’s Word. Acts 20:25-27 notes, “And now I know that none of you, among whom I have gone about proclaiming the kingdom, will ever see my face again. Therefore I declare to you this day that I am not responsible for the blood of any of you, for I did not shrink from declaring to you the whole purpose of God.”

We must embrace and declare all of God’s Word. I cannot tell you how common it is to treat the Bible as a buffet. You go down the line and you pick and choose what you like best. The things you don’t like or you prefer to skip out on—just leave it there. Ignore it. No big deal. The Bible is not a buffet line. God has not provided suggestions for what we might believe to be true and how we might live our lives. God’s Word is the Truth. And we embrace it not just because it’s our duty, but because we trust the One who spoke these words, amen? We embrace all of God’s Word, even the parts we struggle with, because we know that our God is good. We know that He is working out all things for our good. We know that, ultimately, all things are for His glory. [5]

I’ve been guilty of this in the past, as I’m sure some of you may do this. But it’s really easy to never open God’s Word except to those few passages that we love. There’s nothing wrong with this to some degree. But did you know that we need all of God’s Word. Second Timothy 3:16-17 makes it clear: in order for you to be a complete [follower] of God, you need all of God’s Word. I need all of this. It’s all true. It’s all relevant. It’s all God-breathed. This is probably why Paul ends his testimony in verses 28-35 with these instructions: we are called to keep watch of the flock—those God has put in our care—to shepherd the church of God—to lead the church in ways that reflects the message and mission of Jesus Christ—and to be alert of people and things that will try to push us away from Christ. Paul concludes his testimony by informing us that his story was not authored by outside human help, but by his will and trust in God. He gave himself to God’s work and didn’t ask for anything in return.

Paul’s testimony may not resonate with everyone, it may not be helpful for everyone, and it certainly may not be received by everyone. Paul’s testimony is Paul’s testimony. Just like your testimony is your testimony. However, his testimony, his story, does enlighten us to think of our own story and testimony—our own witness of faith. Does your testimony recall your story of knowing Christ? Does your testimony reveal hardships and successes? Does your testimony showcase your trust in the good news of God’s grace? Does your testimony include moments of service of embracing God’s word, and of being a living example of Christ? What is your story?[6]

 

Movement Five: What is Your Story?

You have a story. As a matter of fact, you have a story that needs to be told because there is something contained in your story that can change someone’s life. What is your story? Are you proud of your story? Is there something you would delete from your story? Are there things you still want to add to your story? Is Jesus part of your story? Is his love, grace, and forgiveness themes interwoven throughout the pages of your story?

You know, I was thinking about my Grandma Jo’s story this past week and realized something: although her story included milestones, good days and bad days, and moments to remember and moments to forget, I believe the best part of her story is what was found at the end of her obituary. At the end of her obituary is listed the names of her children and their spouses, the names of her 20 grandchildren and spouses/significant others, the names of her 18 great-grandchildren, and those who had passed away before her. My grandma’s story is not necessarily found in the things she accomplished or stashed away in boxes, but rather in the people she gave her love to: her family. As you think about your story today, think about the people that are in your story: those who challenged you, encouraged you, inspired you, lifted you up, wiped away your tears, left you frustrated, and who loved you. Your story lives with them.

Now Church, we have and continue to do wonderful things in which add depth and meaning to our story. When people read our story, I know they will read about a rural church that did what it could, when it could, as often as it could because it had a big heart. People will read about those who called this church their home; and as they do so, they read about a family of God. They will read about our struggles. They will read about the things we tried. They will read about our failures. They will read about the attempted jokes told from behind this pulpit. They will read about our laughter. They will read about our joys and accomplishments. They will read about the many events and dinners we had. They will read about the children. They will read about our improvements. They will read about our willingness to serve. They will read about our love and commitment to the Lord. They will read about our faith. But most importantly, they will read, hopefully while standing in this very sanctuary, about a church that was alive. That had a story to tell.

Church, what is our story? What is our testimony? Paul gave us three things to consider—living like Christ, serving like Christ, and embracing God’s word. How are we living those things out within our church? How are you, individually, living those things out in your story today?

 

Conclusion:

I would like to end today’s message by sharing with you something that I shared at my Grandma’s service. “My grandma was a card sender. Each card was an extension of her love and care, a simple reminder that she was thinking about you. I always looked forward to receiving a card from grandma. As the years went by, what she wrote became less and less, but something always stayed the same.[7] The way and what she signed never varied. She would sign “Grandma Jo” and under her name she would write “xo…xo…xo”—“hugs and kisses.” My Grandma’s story shown through in what she sent to each and every person: her love, her hugs, and her kisses.

I stand before you today, praying and hoping that what Paul sent the elders of Ephesus, in his card, is received in your heart today. He told of his testimony, shared about his life story, so that the people and the early church would continue where he left off. His story is what we use today to continue our story. His testimony is what motivates us as a church to live out our faith. Your story isn’t done yet! The story of our church isn’t done yet! What are you willing to do to keep your story, your testimony, and this church a live for years to come? In the words of an Indigenous Proverb, “Tell me the facts and I’ll learn. Tell me the truth and I’ll believe. But tell me a story and it will live in my heart forever.” Tell your story. Be your story. And cherish your story because it might just change someone’s life. “xo…xo…xo”

Let it be so…

 

Closing Prayer:

Let us pray… Dear God, we have a story, we have a testimony, because you are in our life. Help us to continue living the story you have written for us and for our Church. Guide our hearts to be a living and breathing testimony of your word, of your service, and of your love. Inspire us to keep the stories alive. In Jesus’ name, Amen.

 

Benediction:

Church, we have a story to tell! We have a story that began many years ago. Let’s keep writing, let’s keep living, and let’s keep sharing that story. May the Lord make His face shine upon you, and be gracious to you; and May the Lord turn his face toward you and give you peace (Numbers 6:24-26). In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit go forth being the church God needs all of us to be. And all God’s people said, Amen. Amen. Amen.

 

 

[1][1] Joann M. Skelton Obituary: https://www.stackhousemoore.com/obituaries/Joann-M-Skelton?obId=44752336

[2] Paul’s testimony begins with reminding the people that through humility, tears, and endurance and through trials and hate from the Jews, he didn’t give up. He acknowledges that his life only has value if he continues in the works and witness of God’s grace and good news, if he continues to seek out Jesus in his life. Then Paul’s testimony reveals how God has called him to keep watch over the flock, to shepherd the church of God, and to be alert of those who will strive to prevent you from seeking out Jesus. Lastly, Paul concludes his testimony by informing us that his story was not authored by outside human help but by his will and trust in God: his willingness to witness how his faith had actively lead him to Jesus.

[3] To use the old adage, we do not talk the talk without walking the walk. We genuinely treasure Christ above all else, and that is seen in how we live our lives.

[4] This verse has become my life-verse because I want to be able to one day say this truthfully about myself that I care so much about serving Christ and being faithful to Christ that my physical life doesn’t really even matter. What matters is serving him.

[5] We see in verses 26 and 27 that Paul took this seriously. “Therefore I declare to you this day that I am not responsible for the blood of any of you, for I did not shrink from declaring to you the whole purpose of God.” There’s an indirect reference here to Ezekiel 33. You don’t have to turn there, but you may want to make note of it. Listen closely. I’m going to read the first six verses of Ezekiel 33, because I want us to see the seriousness of what Paul is saying. Ezekiel 33:1-6 shares, “The word of the Lord came to me: ‘Son of man, speak to your people and say to them, “If I bring the sword upon a land, and the people of the land take a man from among them, and make him their watchman, and if he sees the sword coming upon the land and blows the trumpet and warns the people, then if anyone who hears the sound of the trumpet does not take warning, and the sword comes and takes him away, his blood shall be upon his own head. He heard the sound of the trumpet and did not take warning; his blood shall be upon himself. But if he had taken warning, he would have saved his life. But if the watchman sees the sword coming and does not blow the trumpet, so that the people are not warned, and the sword comes and takes any one of them, that person is taken away in his iniquity, but his blood I will require at the watchman’s hand.”’”

Suddenly Paul being innocent of the blood of all becomes very weighty and serious. This wasn’t Paul being melodramatic, it was Paul living within reality. We are called to be faithful in sounding the horn, in presenting the Gospel. If we fail to sound the horn it doesn’t mean we’re no longer redeemed, but it does mean there is some type of consequence for not sounding the horn. This also doesn’t mean we should live our life in a state of constant paranoia wondering if we missed one person that we could have shared with. But it does mean that we should be committed to the ministry that God has called us to. We should be committed “watchmen” and have a healthy view of the seriousness of not giving God your everything.

[6] Here’s another testimony. Before leaving Springfield, Illinois, to take residence at the White House in 1861, former President Abraham Lincoln shared a simply but profound testimony. Author Jon Meacham, in his book And There was Light: Abraham Lincoln and the American Struggle, shares, “For more than a quarter of a century I have lived among you, and during all that time I have received nothing but kindness at your hands. Here I have lived from my youth until now I am an old man. Here the most sacred ties of earth were assumed; here all my children were born; and here one of them lies buried. To you, dear friends, I owe all that I have, all that I am. All the strange, [checkered] past seems to crowd now upon my mind. Today I leave you; I go to assume a task more difficult than that which devolved upon General Washington. Unless the great God, who assisted him, shall be with and aid me, I must fail. But if the same omniscient mind, and Almighty arm that directed and protected him, shall guide and support me, I shall not fail, I shall succeed. Let us all pray that the God of our fathers may not forsake us now. To him I commend you all-permit me to ask that with equal security and faith, you all will invoke His wisdom and guidance for me.”  Lincoln’s testimony expresses great sadness for leaving a place that meant so much to him: where life began a new chapter, where grief struck his heart, where joy was expressed, and where hope turned into a reality. His testimony also reveals how he can’t do what needs to be done for the nation unless God is with him. Unless he seeks out the presence of God, he won’t have the will to form what he declared in 1863 at Gettysburg, “[That] this nation, under God, shall have a new birth of freedom—and that government of the people, by the people, for the people shall not perish from the earth.”  Lincoln needed God in his life.

The last testimony I will share with you comes from a recent article published by Bishop David Bard of the Illinois Great Rivers Conference on January 19, 2026, focused on the work of Rev. Dr. Marin Luther King, Jr. Bishop Bard wrote, “Dr. King’s speaking and preaching reflected his deep intelligence and profound eloquence, offered in a distinctive voice which continues to resonate with so many who heard it, whether in person, or, like me, through recordings.  Whenever I reflect on Dr. King, or read his words, his voice echoes in my soul. Dr. King used his intelligence and eloquence and rich voice to articulate a renewed American dream “when all of God’s children, black men and white men, Jews and Gentiles, Protestants and Catholics, will be able to join hands and sing in the words of the old […] spiritual, ‘Free at last, Free at last, Great God a-mighty, We are free at last.’ King delivered these words in Washington, D.C. on Aug. 28, 1963, as part of the “March on Washington for Jobs and Freedom.”  Dr. King was a profound dreamer who had a phenomenal ability to put such dreams into words. As Christians we remember that Dr. King’s dreams were rooted and grounded in faith in Jesus Christ.  Dr. King not only called the nation to live out the true meaning of its creed that all were created equal, but also called people of faith to live out their faith by doing the work of justice, peace, reconciliation, and love.”

Dr. King’s testimony, his witness to faith in action, continually pursued places where Jesus was and where Jesus needed to be found. And when Jesus was found, Dr. King’s “Beloved Community”  began to take shape: conflicts were resolved in peace, nonviolence, and without hostility, ill will, or resentment; a mutual understanding of peace was realistic; kindness, compassion, and love for all life was practiced; and the means to understand that all people have the value of an inherent worth was received. Dr. King’s testimony revealed that when Jesus is sought after and found, people can truly begin to live in peace, reconciliation, and love.

In Paul’s, in Lincoln’s, and in Dr. King’s testimony, we see how witnessing our faith in action is a means to seek Jesus in our life. Thinking about your own testimony, where did you find Jesus, how often have you sought out Jesus, and why did you search for Jesus? Whether you realize it or not, you do have a testimony; and within that testimony is a story about a person who isn’t perfect, who doesn’t always get things right, who makes mistakes every day, who commits sins, who is tired, who is struggling, who is doubting, who is fearing, and who is asking questions. But also in that story is a person who doesn’t want to give up, who knows that joy comes in the morning, who understands that the messes of today are messages for tomorrow, who acknowledges that trials can be turned into triumphs, and who realizes the importance of seeking out Jesus in their life. You have a testimony; so don’t be afraid to show your faith in action as you search for Jesus.

[7] Before I share that with you, I want to end this portion of the service with a few words from a card that was given to me. The card says, “We all need a time to grieve—quiet time for reflection to sift through memories and come to grips with what has happened. We all need a time for tears, not for the one who is not at peace in heaven, but for ourselves as we realize that things will never be the same. We all need a time to just “be,” when we can open ourselves to God and let the reassurances of His everlasting love start to heal our broken hearts.”