The Preaching Platform

Illustration/Introduction for Pentecost Sunday Sermon:

There is a story of a small child who got lost and had subsequently fainted in a large field filled with tall grass and weeds. Since she wasn’t responding to the calls of those searching for her, the search party decided on a plan to find her as quickly as possible. They decided to hold hands unitedly in a straight line across the width of the field, and then walked through the field searching for the child. As they did so, holding hands together in a united search, she was soon found safely .

In Acts 1:4-5, while having a meal with His disciples, the Lord Jesus commanded them to wait for the gift of the Holy Spirit promised by the Father.  He said, “Do not leave Jerusalem, but wait for the gift my Father promised, which you have heard me speak about. ⁵ For John baptized with water, but in a few days you will be baptized with the Holy Spirit.”

In response, the disciples waited unitedly (“In one accord” – Acts 2:1) for the promise of God to be fulfilled. 

Image Credit: Snappa

Introduction

Recently, my brother Nimal, who was formerly a ship’s captain and is now a lay Pastor in our church, shared the Word of God in one of our services. In that sermon he expressed his appreciation and thanks to me for being the first in our family circle to accept the Lord Jesus & for holding on to that commitment in the midst of much opposition. The end result, he mentioned, was that he and eventually our entire family, came to salvation. I was so glad that after all these years he still remembered and was thankful.

We live in a world where gratitude is often not expressed and help given is easily forgotten. Undercutting and backstabbing seem to be the order of the day! That brings me to the main thought in my sermon.

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