Saturday, August 30, 2014

Lighthouse Sermon Aug. 31, 2014


The Light House Sermon  Aug. 31, 2014
Lighthouse Story (from Charles Stanley)
Parable of The Lighthouse
On a dangerous seacoast notorious for shipwrecks, there was a crude little lifesaving station.  Actually, it was merely a hut with only one boat, but the few members kept a constant watch over the turbulent sea.  With little thought for themselves, they would go out day & night tirelessly searching for those in danger as well as the lost.  Many lives were saved by this brave band who faithfully worked as a team in and out of the lifesaving station.  By and by, it became a famous place.

Some of those who had been saved, as well as others along the seacoast, wanted to become associated with this little station.  They were willing to give their time, energy and money in support of its objectives.  New boats were purchased.  New crews were trained.  The station, once obscure and crude and virtually insignificant, began to grow.  Some of its members were unhappy the hut was so unattractive and poorly equipped.  They felt a more comfortable place should be provided.  Emergency cots were replaced with lovely furniture.  Rough, handmade equipment was discarded and sophisticated, classy systems were installed.  The hut, of course, had to be torn down to make room for all the additional equipment, furniture, and systems.  By the time of its completion, the lifesaving station had become a popular gathering place, and its objectives had begun to shift.  It was now used as a sort of clubhouse, an attractive building for public gathering.  Saving lives, feeding the hungry, strengthening the fearful, and calming the disturbed rarely occurred.

Fewer members were interested in braving the sea on lifesaving missions, so they hired professional lifeboat crews to do this work.  The original goal of the station wasn’t altogether forgotten, however. Lifesaving motifs still prevailed in the club’s decorations. There was a liturgical lifeboat preserved in the Room of Sweet Memories with soft, indirect lighting, which helped hide the layer of dust upon the once-used vessel. About this time a large ship was wrecked off the coast and the boat crews brought in loads of cold, wet, half-drowned people.  They were dirty, some terribly sick and lonely.  Others were “different” from the majority of the club members. The beautiful new club suddenly became messy and cluttered. 

·       A special committee saw to it that a shower house was immediately built outside, away from the club so victims of the shipwreck could be cleaned up before coming inside.  At the next meeting there were strong words and angry feelings, which resulted in a division among the members.

 Most of the people wanted to stop the club’s lifesaving activities and all involvements with shipwreck victims.  You see, the newer members were not nearly as committed as the old members.  Besides, the older members began to die off.  Over time, the rescue efforts stopped altogether, as the membership became more and more comfortable, just gathering together, and having parties with their families. 

As the years passed, the light house station club would gather to hear historical presentations about the “good old days.”  But soon, they stopped telling these stories.  After that, new members never learned of the original purpose of the light house station club.  Once the light house station stopped risking their lives to save others, the club grew more popular, and it grew to become the most popular club in town.

Shipwrecks still occur in those waters, but now most of the victims are not saved.  Every day they drown at sea, and so few others seem to care . . . so very few. 

This lighthouse story is a parable—a parable people and charitable institutions.  But for our purposes this morning, this story actually summarizes 2000 years of church history.
·       As described in last week’s sermon, the Christian church initially burst into the world with a blaze of fire—shining the light of Christ’s love into the world
·       Rescuing people from loneliness, brokenness, hopelessness, and purposelessness.
·       Early Christians risked their lives and even sacrificed their lives, just as thousands of Christians are doing now in Syria and Iraq, where they are facing genocide.  Why?  Because the early church knew the same thing that the Iraqi & Syria Christians know today---that the Light of Christ is more important than earthly life.
·        So, like the rescuers in our story, they ventured into the stormy seas of violent persecution, so that a few people might be or just as few saved.  They understood /understand that the fulfillment of a purpose driven life is to shine the light of Christ’s love into a dark world.
Now 1700 years later:  The modern day picture of Christian scene in America is primarily not that of Christians venturing forth with the light of Christ into our our world.  Rather, the Christian scene, in too many places, is much more like the Lighthouse historical club. 
The main reason that some many churches are declining in membership is because they are no longer rescuing people from the darkness of our world.  Thus, the public perception of the church is that it is a religious club; that the church has nothing to offer them.  And most of the time they are correct.  Over time, the light of Christ is many churches has become extinguished.  It became extinguished, because most clergy and congregations do not understand the light of Christ’s love.
The truth about the light of Christ’s love is this---you either share it, or it will die.  Reflecting upon today’s Gospel—Jesus says that you do not hide your light under a bucket. Why?   Because the flame will burn up all the oxygen, and the fire will burn itself out.  How many churches have unknowing burnt out the light of Christ.
No, Jesus says that you share it—because the people wandering in darkness need to see the great light.
Now, what about us at Christ Church Quaker Farms?
·       We need to be more proactive in sharing the Light.  Why?  Not because we want to grow this church into a big church.  That is not the reason.
·       No, we need to share the light with those in the darkness because so few others churches are doing this.  In fact, these churches are giving the rest of us bad PR. People need what you and I have  been given.
It is because of this, that we are proclaiming that SEPTEMBER IS CHURCH HOMECOMING MONTH @ CCQF.  Everybody needs a spiritual home; and we would like to be that home for anybody wishing to share in the light of Christ’s love.  It all begins next Sunday with the return of our
·       Regular schedule of Sunday services at 8 & 10
·       The return of Sunday School
·       And our fantastic Homecoming Party, featuring our free lunch hosted by the Youth Group, and games, and more.
So, would you please take our the Homecoming Sunday invitation  in your bulletin?  Has the red heart. As I said last Sunday, I want to challenge everyone to invite one person to join us for homecoming Sunday next week. You can use this invitation, if you like.   I have already invited my person.   He will not come to church, but he will come to the party.  And that is just okay.
·       Those of you with us last week will recall that 60% of all people, who do not currently go to church, claim in a recent poll that they would go to church if a friend of family mbr asked them.  This is your big chance.  Share the light of Christ’s love, and it will come back to you in abundance.  Amen.

       The Rev. John Donnelly