Getting in spiritual SHAPE
Pastor David Stone spoke to students in Convocation about living for God’s glory
Liberty University welcomed David Stone to Convocation Friday, April 8. David Stone is the senior pastor of Southeast Christian Church, a multisite church with locations in Kentucky and Indiana.
Before Stone addressed the students, a video was shown in memory of Liberty student Dylan Engel. The video used the slogan “Make everybody feel like a somebody” and encouraged students to support fundraising activities for Engel’s family.
Authentic — David Stone encouraged students to live a life where they take advantage of the passion God has given to them. Photo credit: RJ Goodwin
Following the video, Sam Stone, junior class president and son of David Stone, introduced his father to the students.
“One thing I can say is I have never heard a sermon or a line of a sermon where I could say, ‘That’s not how he lives at home’ or, ‘That’s not how he acts when he’s around me,’” Sam Stone said. “Whatever you hear today — I don’t know every word he’s going to say — but I can promise you this: That’s the man that he is when he’s off the stage.”
After the introduction, David Stone took the stage and reminded students that they are blessed to attend Liberty and to not take it for granted.
He started his lesson by reminding students that living a Christian life does not mean you should live a boring life.
“Christians should have more fun than anybody else in the entire world because your past has been forgiven, your future has been settled, and you can live in the present and enjoy it,” David Stone said.
He then told students they were made for a unique purpose, and God has a way to use each and every person he created.
“You have to rely on his power rather than your own ability,” David Stone said. “It starts right now. It is not when I am older, when I get married, or after I graduate. It starts now, right where you are.”
David Stone outlined five points for the lesson with an acrostic form of the word SHAPE. These five letters represent spiritual gifts, heart, abilities, personality and experiences.
He said students must do what they are passionate about if they are to take full advantage of what God has given them.
“A career is what you are paid for, but a calling is what you were made for,” David Stone said.
He went on to tell how each and every person is going to have a unique version of SHAPE.
“We spend most of our lives trying to be copies, and we forget that God made each one of us an original,” David Stone said. “He made us just the way he did for a purpose. If you want to be a copy, copy Jesus Christ.”
David Stone ended with describing the last letter of the acrostic: experiences. He told the audience that sometimes they have to go through the rough to get to the good.
“God never wastes a hurt,” David Stone said.
He ended with a question for the audience that alluded back to the acrostic of SHAPE.
“How has God shaped you, and how can he use your shape for his glory?” David Stone asked.
MCQUAGE is a news reporter.