On this 14th Sunday after Pentecost, Aug. 25th, 2024, Rev. Matt Sapp focuses on what we're aiming for at church, what we're trying to do, and who we're aiming to be together, both with one another and with God. We've talked about doing the will of God together as we wrapped up our summer series on the Sermon on the Mount. We've discussed the shared experience of God, something we pray for every Sunday in worship, and explored this in the context of the tabernacle and its central place in the lives of the Hebrew people. Last week, we talked about discipleship and baptized 5 new believers. This week, we're focusing on the great story of God through two stories from scripture: the parable of the prodigal son in Luke and the story of Esther from the Old Testament.We use storytelling formulas to view our own lives through these biblical stories. One formula is the Pixar storytelling spine, which follows a structure like 'Once upon a time... Every day... Until one day... Because of that... Until finally.' Another is Joseph Campbell's Hero's Journey, which fits the prodigal son story perfectly. These formulas help us reflect on our own life's disruptions and low points and contemplate what God's 'until finally' will be for us.In exploring the story of Esther, we see a Jewish orphan who becomes the queen and eventually uses her position to save her people. The prodigal son's story is a classic hero's journey—demanding his inheritance, wasting it, hitting rock bottom, and finally being welcomed back home by his father. These narratives resonate with our personal stories, reminding us that our individual stories are part of a larger, divine narrative.We also shared a modern story from the Olympics, where British triathlete Alexander Yee won the gold medal after hearing an encouraging shout from his mentor. This exemplifies how our stories are enriched and empowered by sharing and support from others.Our final takeaway is that individual stories are great, but the real power lies in sharing them together. Our faith's magic happens when we recognize that God is weaving our stories into a greater tapestry. Let's pray for the courage to be faithful representatives of our church and our Lord Jesus Christ.Chapters(00:00) Welcome and Purpose of Worship(00:39) August Reflections and Church Aims(01:26) Exploring the Great Stories: Prodigal Son and Esther(02:01) Reading from the Book of Esther(07:41) The Story of Esther: A Deeper Dive(08:34) Pixar Storytelling Spine(10:17) Hero's Journey(14:21) Connecting Our Stories to God's Narrative(17:02) The Power of Shared Stories(18:22) Closing Prayer and EncouragementEsther 2:15-18When the turn came for Esther (the young woman Mordecai had adopted, the daughter of his uncle Abihail) to go to the king, she asked for nothing other than what Hegai, the king’s eunuch who was in charge of the harem, suggested. And Esther won the favor of everyone who saw her. She was taken to King Xerxes in the royal residence in the tenth month, the month of Tebeth, in the seventh year of his reign. Now the king was attracted to Esther more than to any of the other women, and she won his favor and approval more than any of the other virgins. So he set a royal crown on her head and made her queen instead of Vashti. And the king gave a great banquet, Esther’s banquet, for all his nobles and officials. He proclaimed a holiday throughout the provinces and distributed gifts with royal liberality. Central is proud to be a placewhere all generations worship, grow, and serve together.where women and men have equal opportunities for leadership.where traditional worship is engaged with excellence.and where diverse approaches to Christian faith and theology all find themselves at home under the lordship of Christ.You can support our ministry by sending a gift via onrealm.org/centralbaptistnewnan/GiveWant to learn more about Central? Visit our website at centralbaptistnewnan.org or give us a call at 770-683-0610.