May 11, 2008
Acts 2

Does your congregation celebrate anniversaries and birthdays of members? On Pentecost Sunday, I would risk copyright infringement by singing “Happy Birthday” to the Christian church. Because this is the real beginning of the church.

Between Easter and Pentecost, the followers of Jesus huddled behind locked doors (John 20:19) to grieve about the good old days (Luke 24:14), or retreated to the familiarity of fishing (John 21:3). But at Pentecost, something happened.

Suddenly, they emerged from hiding – as startling a transformation as a turtle daring to abandon its shell. They spoke to massed crowds. They even ventured into the Temple itself (Acts 3). They defended themselves before the same Sanhedrin that had condemned Jesus.

So I would focus on that “something happened.”

And I would suggest that we get led astray by trying to determine exactly what that “something” was. It doesn’t matter whether it was wind, or fire (or alcohol! Acts 2:13-15). Jesus made the same point, talking to Nicodemus (John 3:8): you can discern the effects of wind, but you cannot define it.

I would use two gimmicks. Gimmicks always help to grab and to hold attention.

I would place a large bottle of liquor on the pulpit, to make the point that “spirits” has many meanings.

And I would use the Sports section of the newspaper. I would find a story about a team that has developed a “spirit” that goes beyond individual performances. The team has become more than the sum of its players.

That, I would suggest, is the “Spirit” that came to the frightened followers of Jesus. They set aside their differences; they worked for the good of the whole; collectively, they became fearless for Christ.

When a church, a congregation, develops such a spirit, it too can be born anew.

Afterthought: Many congregations attempt to dramatize the experience of speaking in many tongues (Acts 2:4-11). It can be done by inviting members of the congregation who speak other languages to recite the Lord’s Prayer simultaneously. The effect is babble – Babel, in Genesis 11. Yet everyone knows what they’re saying, even though they can’t understand the words.

As an alternative, you could invite the congregation to sing in a variety of languages. In my hymnbook (Voices United, United Church of Canada) the words of Amazing Grace are printed in eight languages. A similar variety might be available for the 23rd Psalm, or for a Christmas Carol. The experience matters more than the words -- many languages can blend compatibly when you’re singing the same tune.

JIm's full List of suggestions for preaching these stories