Gifts of the Spirit

A sermon by Currie Burris

Acts 2: 1-21, 1 Corinthians 12: 3b-13

May 15, 2005

    Today is Pentecost Sunday. It is the day when the Holy Spirit came to the followers of Jesus, lifted them out of their fear and uncertainty, gave them a voice which could be heard and understood by all those gathered in Jerusalem from around the world.  The Spirit came, like a mighty wind, like tongues of fire, and sent them out into the world to tell the good news of God’s love in Jesus Christ.

    We remember and celebrate this day as the “birthday of the church,” the day that the Church became the Church. Interestingly, we do not celebrate Christmas, the day of Jesus’ birth as the beginning of the Christian movement. Nor do we celebrate Easter, the crucifixion, or the Resurrection, or the Ascension, as the start of the Church.  Pentecost is the beginning.  It is the day the church found its voice, the day the Church began telling its story.  It is the day the Holy Spirit came and gave the Church the power to proclaim to the world the amazing, redeeming, healing, life transforming grace of God in the life, death and resurrection of Jesus Christ. The Church began when it found its mission.

    Today we also welcome the newest members of the Church, the family of God. One family comes bringing their child to be baptized. In baptism, we recognize the love that God has held for this child since before its birth. We, as the church, vow to love, teach, nurture and guide this child in faith until the day that she will be able to claim that faith for herself.

    Three youth come for baptism and for confirmation. Six other youth come for confirmation.  In confirmation, these youth will be making their profession of faith in Jesus Christ.  They have studied the meaning of our confessions of faith, they have examined our sacraments of baptism and the Lord’s supper; they have studied God’s law in the Ten Commandments and the Great Commandment given by Jesus.  They have prayed and discerned God’s will for their lives.  They come today making their own free choice to receive God into their lives, to reject the ways of sin, and live by the light of Christ’s love.

    They make this decision on their own, without pressure or expectations from parents, teachers, pastor, or friends. They are proclaiming to the world that Jesus is their Lord and savior. And this day, like the day of Pentecost, is their birthday as well.  It is the birthday of their faith.  From this day forth, they are disciples of Jesus Christ, followers of The Way, active members of the Church. 

    They may go home this afternoon and wonder what has changed. Are they really different now? They may do a little self-check and ask if they look or feel different now. They may be tempted to conclude that nothing much really has changed. But the first step on a journey is not far from the place you started.  But many miles down the road, you are in a very different place than had you taken another path.  Five, ten, twenty years from now, these youth will be able to look back on this day and know how very different their lives would have been had they not made their decision for Christ today.

    And like those disciples on the day of Pentecost, the voice that these young people find today, the proclamation of their faith to the world, is a gift of the Holy Spirit. Like a mighty wind, like tongues of fire, the Spirit is in these youth today. The Spirit is lifting them, strengthening them, guiding them, teaching them, challenging them, and comforting them.  The Holy Spirit is in you, the newest people of faith here with us today.  The fire of the Spirit is in you. Let it speak.

    In our Corinthians text for today we learn that the Holy Spirit gives the Church many gifts and these gifts are expressed in the daily life of the church together for the common good of the church:  preaching, teaching, wisdom, healing, discernment, prayer, guidance, prophesy and tongues, the ability to speak the word of God to the people. All these and many other gifts from the Holy Spirit are a part of the life of the church today. Each one of us has been given a gift of the Spirit for the good of the church.

    All these and more are gifts of the Spirit.  But the first gift of the Spirit is faith. As Paul says, “No one can say Jesus is Lord, except by the Holy Spirit.” As parents bring their children to be baptized and hold in trust for them faith in which they grow, it is the gift of the Holy Spirit. As those children grow in the church, and grow in their knowledge and understanding of God in Christ, it is a gift of the Holy Spirit. As a young person stands before the world to proclaim their faith in the love of Jesus Christ, it is a gift of the Holy Spirit.  As we, through the witness of our lives and the proclamation of our hearts, tell the world of the saving grace of our Lord, it is the gift of the awesome, wind swept, and burning fire of the Holy Spirit.  Blow Spirit blow.  Burn Spirit burn. Let it be.  Amen.