The Subject of Your Verbs
Preacher: The Rev. Andrew Van Kirk
Scripture: Luke 8:26-39
When Jesus delivers the man possessed by demons, the townspeople respond not with celebration, but with fear. They ask Jesus to leave. The man who had been healed, on the other hand, wants to follow—but Jesus tells him to stay, to return home and “declare how much God has done for you.”
And that’s the key. That’s the invitation: make God the subject of your verbs.
We often speak in passive language when describing the good that happens in our lives. “The door opened.” “Things worked out.” But faith teaches us to say, “God opened the door.” “God provided.” “God helped.”
Why does that matter? Because when we place God at the center of the story—not just as a background presence, but as the one who acts—we begin to live as people shaped by grace, not just luck. We remember that salvation isn’t a theory. It’s a God who heals, restores, and moves through our lives in tangible ways.
This week, look for the moments when you can speak the truth of your life with God at the center. Don’t shrink back from naming his work. Let your verbs preach the gospel.
Reflection Questions
Where have you experienced God’s action in your life recently—but been tempted to describe it as coincidence or luck?
What would it sound like to tell your story with God as the subject of the verbs?
How does naming God’s action out loud help strengthen your faith and encourage others?
What part of your life story do you need to revisit with fresh eyes, to see what God has done?
How can your daily conversations—at home, at work, at church—be shaped by this way of speaking and seeing?
