This is My Story…My Song | Acts 1:1-8
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This Is My Story…My Song: Sermon Series Kickoff Notes
Welcome, church family! As we begin our fall sermon series in the Book of Acts, I wanted to share my message notes for you to read, reflect, and revisit. Whether you’re catching up or diving deeper after watching the sermon video, I hope these notes encourage you and help anchor our hearts on Jesus, the true main character of our story.
Main Character Syndrome: A Modern and Ancient Struggle
A few years ago, a new term started circulating, especially among Gen Z—the “TikTok generation.” It’s called main character syndrome (MCS). The idea is that your life is a movie with you as the star, and everyone else is just background or supporting cast. Social media platforms amplify this narrative—every setback is a plot twist, every triumph is your Oscar moment.
But here’s the thing: main character syndrome isn’t just a problem for young people; it’s a human problem. We all walk into rooms wondering how we’re perceived. We replay conversations, notice when we’re ignored, and feel a sting when someone else gets recognition. What TikTok did was give an ancient temptation a new name and a platform.
The Oldest Temptation
The temptation to put ourselves at the center of the story started long before smartphones. The serpent’s offer in the Garden (“You can be like God”) was the original casting call to make life all about us. Later, at Babel, people wanted to “make a name for ourselves.” Building tall towers isn’t a construction project, it’s an attempt to build a personal brand. It’s all about becoming the star of our own movie.
A New Perspective in Acts: Jesus at the Center
As we walk through Acts, you might think that our series title, “This Is My Story, My Song,” encourages more main character syndrome. But the entire focus is actually the opposite: Jesus is the true main character. The Book of Acts isn’t about Peter, Paul, or any one human hero; it’s about the risen Christ working in and through His people.
When Jesus told His followers, “You will receive power…and you will be my witnesses,” He wasn’t promising to make them famous stars. Instead, our role in His story is to bear witness—to support, to testify, to point to Him.
Here’s the Christian paradox: We are both decentred and dignified. We are not the main character, but we are not insignificant extras either. God sees and knows us by name. As Psalm 8 says, “What is man that you are mindful of him? …yet you have crowned him with glory and honor.”
Ordinary People, Extraordinary Stories
This fall, we’ll explore Acts through the eyes of many individuals that Luke names—over 105 by some counts! We’ll meet:
John Mark, who failed on the mission field but learned his failures weren’t final.
Timothy, a timid and unimpressive young man whom God used mightily.
Lydia, a successful businesswoman whose generosity marked the early church.
A slave girl, invisible to the world, yet seen and freed by Jesus.
A Roman jailer, who moved from despair to everlasting joy in a single night.
Priscilla and Aquila, a couple whose quiet faithfulness impacted multiple churches.
Dionysius, an intellectual who bowed his knee to the risen Lord.
None of these people were the main character, but none were background scenery either. In God’s story, there are no extras, only beloved supporting characters with unique callings and significant roles.
The Gospel’s Gift: Freedom from the Center
Some of us need to be “dethroned,” exhausted by chasing after the lead role. For others, maybe you feel like an NPC (“non-player character”), overlooked and insignificant. The good news of the gospel is twofold:
You don’t have to carry the weight or exhaustion of being the star.
You are seen, named, and purposed by God Himself.
There is such freedom in having a supporting role in God’s story. When we try to make life all about us, every criticism becomes devastating, every failure catastrophic, and every room an audition for acceptance. The gospel invites us, instead, to take our place in God’s drama—and find life, not exhaustion.
Baptism: A Picture of a New Story
Today, we celebrate with four young men being baptized. Their stories aren’t dramatic by Hollywood standards—no prison breakouts or lightning bolts—but they are powerful. They were loved and pointed to Jesus in countless, faithful, ordinary ways. Their testimonies show us that our story becomes truly life-giving when it is centered on Christ.
Fanny Crosby: “This Is My Story, This Is My Song”
Our series title comes from the hymn “Blessed Assurance,” penned by Fanny Crosby, who wrote more than 8,000 hymns while blind. The hymn declares:
“This is my story, this is my song, praising my Savior all the day long.”
Our story is about praising Jesus. It’s about being gladly woven into the greatest story ever told.
Whose Story Are You Living?
Each of us is living inside a story. Are you trying to write your own and make your name great, always auditioning for the world’s approval? Or are you willing to step into the story Christ offers—the story where the true Hero steps onto the stage and invites you into a supporting role?
Jesus, the Author of life, entered His own creation, suffered, and was rejected so we could be adopted into His family. The gospel isn’t asking Jesus to be a side character in your movie—it’s an invitation to lay down your script and receive a part in His story.
Invitation: Make This Your Story
As we journey through Acts together this fall, my prayer is that you’ll find freedom and joy in playing a supporting, but deeply significant, role in God’s unfolding story. You don’t have to write yourself into significance—He has already done it, and His invitation is open to you.
May “This is my story, this is my song, praising my Savior all the day long” become truer for all of us as we step into another season of following Christ together.
With love and gratitude,
Your Pastor
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Discussion Guide: This Is My Story…My Song
Opening Prayer
Begin with a prayer, asking God to open hearts and minds to His Word and to guide the discussion.
Introduction
The sermon introduced the concept of “main character syndrome” and challenged listeners to consider who truly is at the center of the Christian story. Rather than living for our own glory, we are invited to find our identity and purpose in Christ and become part of the greater story He is writing.
Scripture Focus
Acts 1:1–8
Genesis 3
Psalm 8
Key Themes & Quotes for Reflection
1. Main Character Syndrome: A Modern and Ancient Problem
Main character syndrome “isn't just a Gen Z problem, it's a human problem.”
“TikTok didn't just give us a name, it just gave an old problem a platform.”
In Genesis 3, the serpent tempts humanity with, “you can be like God… This story can now be all about you.”
Discussion Questions:
In what ways are you tempted to make yourself the main character of your life story?
Can you identify moments where you’ve felt overlooked, or like an “NPC” (non-player character)? How did you respond?
2. The Acts of the Risen Lord Jesus
“There is a main character to this story, and it's not Peter, it's not Paul, it's not Stephen, it's not Philip—it's Jesus. It's the risen Christ.”
“Jesus gives His people their role… ‘you will be my witnesses.’ So, his role is main character. Our role is to bear witness.”
Discussion Questions:
What does it look like, practically, to take on the role of “witness” in your daily life?
How does shifting the focus from yourself to Christ bring freedom or relief?
3. The Christian Paradox: De-centered but Dignified
“It both de-centers us, but it also dignifies us. At the same time…”
“You’re not the center, but you’re also dignified, and that's the Christian paradox that we have to hold throughout this entire thing.”
Referencing Psalm 8: “What is man that you are mindful of him?... You have crowned him with glory and honor.”
Discussion Questions:
How does the knowledge of God’s love for you, even when you are not the main character, affect your sense of self-worth?
Discuss the difference between being de-centered (not self-focused) and being devalued.
4. Everyone Has a Part in God’s Story
“Every single one of them is seen, is known, and is transformed by the risen Christ. In God's story, there is no background scenery. There are no extras.”
“You don't have to write yourself into significance. You never could, and you don't have to.”
Discussion Questions:
Are there areas in your life where you feel insignificant? How does God’s story speak to that?
What are ways you can encourage others who feel like their roles are small or unnoticed?
5. The Freedom of Playing a Supporting Role
“Being the main character is exhausting… every failure is catastrophic. Every criticism is a wound. Every room you enter is an audition… and you can never rest.”
“The blessedness of self-forgetfulness” (Tim Keller).
Discussion Questions:
In what ways have you experienced exhaustion from trying to be at the center?
How can giving Christ the lead role bring rest and “self-forgetfulness” in your spiritual life?
6. Baptism: Symbol of a New Story
“Their story has become his story. Their song wasn't, look what I've done. Their song now is blessed assurance. Jesus is mine and I am his.”
Discussion Questions:
If you have been baptized, what does it mean for you to “die to the old story” and rise to new life in Christ?
How might your personal testimony point to Jesus as the hero, rather than yourself?
Application Challenge
This week, look for ways to let Christ be the main character in your thoughts, relationships, and actions.
Practice encouraging someone else in their supporting role, affirming their value in God’s story.
Reflect daily on the question: Whose story am I choosing to live out today?
Closing Prayer
End by thanking God for welcoming us into His story, for the privilege of being witnesses, and ask for grace to live lives that point to Jesus instead of ourselves.
