May 24, 2015 – “Meant It” from John Knox Kirk on Vimeo.
A sermon preached at John Knox Kirk of Kansas City, Missouri, on May 25, 2015.
Romans 8:22-27
and Acts 2:1-21
Editorial note: I’m working on correcting spacing issues. Thank you for your patience in the meantime.
So there was this rocky sea coast where shipwrecks were frequent,
and somewhere along the shoreline there was a ramshackle little lifesaving station.
It was just a hut.
There was only one boat,
but the handful who worked at the station
were a devoted lot who kept constant watch.
With little regard for their own safety,
they regularly went out into a storm
if they had ANY evidence
there had been a shipwreck along the coast.
Many lives were saved,
and soon the station became famous.
As the fame of the station grew,
so did the desire of others to become associated with its excellent work.
They raised money for new boats,
more training, more crews.
The hut, too, was replaced by a comfortable building,
which could adequately handle the needs
of those who had been saved from the sea. A good thing.
And, since shipwrecks don’t happen every day,
it ALSO became a popular gathering place—a sort of local club.
…As time passed,
the members became so engaged in being together
that they had less interest in lifesaving—
–they did, though, enjoy sporting their lifesaving badges.
As a matter of fact, when some people actually were rescued,
it was kind of a nuisance
because they were sometimes dirty and sick
and soiled the carpeting and the furniture.
SOON, the social activities of the club became so numerous
and the lifesaving activities so few
that there was a showdown at a club meeting—
–with some members insisting
they return to their original purpose.
A vote was taken–they were a tiny minority—
and were invited to leave the club and start another.
Which is precisely what they did–a little down the coast.
They did so with selflessness and daring in saving lives–
–and after awhile, their heroism made them famous.
Whereupon, their membership was enlarged, their hut reconstructed—
–and you might guess how it went from there…
If you happen to visit that area today–
–you will find a number of exclusive clubs dotting the shoreline.
Each of them justifiably proud of its origin and its tradition.
…Shipwrecks still occur in those parts,
but nobody seems to notice much…[1]
Here’s what I think: If it weren’t for Pentecost–
–this could well have been what happened to
the first followers of Jesus Christ.
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