THE SERMON

Bill, a bright graduate student, decided to go to church. He had missed worshipping the past year or so because of his studies, and had grown careless about his appearance, letting his hair and beard grow. 

One spring Sunday morning Bill walked to a large conservative church a few blocks from his dorm dressed in his usual jeans, t-shirt and flip-flops. The service was packed and had already begun, so he tried finding a seat. Some of the people scowled as he came in, his hair wildly askew from the windy morning. But no one spoke to him.

The sermon was about to begin as Bill walked clear to the front. Realizing there were no seats, he sat down cross-legged on the carpet right in front of the pulpit. Someone then offered him a place, but he shook his head, quite content to sit on the floor, something clearly not done in that church. 

As the pastor prepared to speak, an elderly Deacon arose and began walking towards Bill. The old man was impeccably dressed in a suit and tie, and tension arose as the people wondered what he would do. So did the pastor, who took his time beginning his sermon. 

When the silver-haired Deacon reached the young man, he looked down at him, then slowly lowered himself to the carpet next to him. The two men smiled, shook hands and then looked up expectantly for the pastor to begin his sermon.

The pastor's first words were, "What I am about to preach you will never remember, but what you have just seen, you will probably never forget."

One never knows these days what people will wear to church. I have at times wished some would dress more thoughtfully, but I've decided to speak by example rather than with words. But I do wonder if I would have sat down on the floor next to Bill in my Van Heusen shirt, Brooks Brothers coat and Florscheims. 

Would you? Do you think the people remembered pastor's sermon? What is the best sermon you've ever heard? Or seen?

"You are the light of the world." (Matthew 5:14)