—Pat C. Hoy, II

The Christians

(The music plays.)

(The Choir sings Song #1.)

(As this song goes on, enter PASTOR and WIFE.)

(They join ASSOCIATE and ELDER, already on stage.)

(The Choir sings Song #2.)

(Singing ends.)

(PASTOR approaches the pulpit.)

(Takes a microphone in hand.)

PASTOR

Brothers and sisters …

Let’s pray.

Dear Lord,

bring us together today,

bring us together

in our hearts

and souls

and minds,

make us one,
makes us a body,

because when we are one body,
we see something
we cannot see
by ourselves.

Make us whole.

Take away our fear.

Give us strength,

and give us courage.

Give us the kind of courage that helps us press on
even though we know death is standing there,

watching,

waiting,

give us the courage to know,

to feel,

to understand,

that if we pass through that death, we will find

life

ever

lasting.

In the name
and in the blood
of Jesus.

Amen.

(Pause.)

Today’s sermon
has four titles.

If you’re taking notes, I suggest you write them down.

They are:

(Titles appear on the screen above.)

Where Are We Today?

A Powerful Urge

The Fires of Hell

and

A Radical Change.

Part 1:

Where are we today?

Well

We    are

here.

Where is here?

“Here” is this

church,
this big,
enormous
building.

1000s of seats, classrooms for Sunday school,
a baptismal big as a swimming pool. In the lobby
there’s a coffee shop and a bookstore,
and out back, a parking lot so vast
you could get yourself lost in it
if you’re not careful.

Where are we?

We are here, today,
a day of celebration,
a day of freedom …

… because 20 years ago this church was
nothing more than a storefront church,
10, 15 people.

Then for the next year, every Sunday,
20, 30 people

and then 50,

and then 100, and 100 that seemed big—

then 500.

We had to move ourselves into a bigger
space, a local gymnasium. But when 500
turned to three times that, then we started
holding three services every Sunday: one at
nine, one at ten-thirty, and one at noon,

and then we grew to twice that,

and then we just couldn’t fit.

So,

we built this,

this sanctuary,

built it from the ground up.

And however much we thought it was going to cost,
it cost that and many times over.

And we were in
way over our heads.

That

was ten years ago,
ten years from today.

And you stayed,

and you paid,

and together we prayed

that someday we would finally free ourselves of debt.

And that someday

is today.

And today is the day

that debt is paid.

And ya know, today should be a happy day:

We have, it seems, reason to celebrate.

We have, it seems, reason to think that we are

free.

Sorta reminds me of the one about the man who turned 102,
and at his birthday party,
his friend asked him, “Do you think you’ll make it to 103?”
and he said, “Of course I will,
because statistically speaking,

there are very few people who die

between 102 and 103.”