They reported all that God had done through them and how he had opened a door of faith to the Gentiles.

— Acts 14:27

I once heard a speaker say that if your teenager is disconnected or uninterested in being part of the family, give them a better story to be a part of. If you have teenagers, that may be worth thinking about.

In this section we see Paul and Barnabas sharing stories of transformation. After returning to Antioch, they gathered the community of believers and “reported all that God had done through them.” In other words, they shared with passion and excitement the things that the Spirit of God was doing.

Part of having a deep sense of awe in our life with God is knowing that we are part of a better story. We might even say that continuing to tell the ­stories of God’s work will help to keep the mission going. After Jesus had sent his disciples out in pairs to spread the good news about him, he brought them together again and had them share stories of what had happened (Luke 10:1-24). Stories have the power to make our faith real, and they prompt us to live with our eyes open to see where God is working.

As we grow in faith, we begin to understand that we are part of a greater story that needs to be shared with others. And when we are down and discouraged, stories can help us regain our joy.

God, thank you for inviting me into your story. Help me to share with humility and boldness how you are working in my life and in the lives of others. Amen.