Pilots and Prototypes

Isaiah 49:6

1 PILOTS AND PROTOTYPES

1.1 New Inventors

You’ve heard of pilot schemes or prototypes

where something is launched to see how it works before a pattern is made?

We’ve seen on “The New Inventors” inventions that have gone through prototypes.

Sometimes a pilot scheme may involve people.

It means more to us when we think of a pilot boarding a large ship to guide it into port.

One nervous captain asked the pilot.

“Do you know where the reefs are?”

“Not exactly”, confessed the pilot,

“But I do know where they’re not.”

Here at the beginning of 2011, it’s good timing to talk about prototypes and pilots.

1.2 Experience is a Pilot (Ps 40:3)

The lectionary readings this morning speak to us about prototypes and pilot schemes.

The composer of Psalm 40 sings to us from v3,

“He put a new song in my mouth, a song of praise to our God,

Many will see and fear, and put their trust in the Lord”

Just one person experiencing God can be a pilot for others.

We worship together so that like coals in a fire we warm one another and keep one another alive.

Our very worship here this morning becomes a prototype for the world around us.

2 A LIGHT TO THE NATIONS (Isa 49:6)

2.1 Further than a flat earth

The reading from Isaiah re-inforces this.It goes further in 49:6.

“It is too light a thing that you should be my servant to raise up the tribes of Israel.

I will give you as a light to the nations, that my salvation may reach to the end of the earth.”

Mind you, they thought the earth was flat at the time, but we know what is meant.

In fact, now we know that the earth is round, there’s no stopping, and therefore no excuse for stopping.

2.2 Experience is contagious

The servant is not to be just a pilot to raise up the tribes of Israel then in exile in lonely Babylon, somewhere in what is now southern Iraq.

No, it was going to be contagious.

The very fact that the servant would inspire his people would mean that the people once inspired would inspire the world.

We are in the season of Epiphany where the good news of great joy experienced in Bethlehem

is to be made known to inspire the world as we find it in 2011.

So, how are we going to do it?

3 ANNOUNCING THE PROTOYPE

3.1 The Great Pilot (John 1:29-34)

What happens to the babe of Bethlehem?

He grows up to be our great pilot, the prototype for all humanity.

The words put into the mouth of John the Baptist announces him as this great pilot,

our prototype as “the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world!” who gives the world a new lease of life.

Jesus is not just some other good bloke.He breaks the previous mould and becomes a pilot for us then and now.He undergoes baptism by water so that he may baptise with spirit.

He sets out before us as pilot and prototype so that we may follow in his footsteps throughout 2011 and forevermore.

3.2 The Disciple Magnet (John 1:35-42)

This becomes his active intention. This prototype, this pilot, becomes a magnet attracting disciples. This is the whole point.

He invites them and us to come and see, then follow him.

What is the point of a pilot if there is none to follow?

What is the point of a prototype if that is the end of it?

4 THE CHURCH

4.1 The Church enriched (1 Cor 1-9)

Paul continues this theme to the church in Corinth.

Those who follow Jesus, then and now, keeping affirming at worship together and in service outside that we are warmed by this great pilot and prototype of all humanity.

Paul writes about the church:

“being enriched in him” (1:5),

“not lacking in any spiritual gift” (1:7), and

that we shall be sustained to the end (1:8).

4.2 Refreshing the world

We are a fire never meant to go out but to catch others alight.We are in 2011, a fresh new year in the season of Epiphany.

The world is tired and needs refreshing with the prototype who is our great pilot.

Our task as the church in 2011 is to refresh the world with the hope we keep finding in Jesus who keeps refreshing us, and who sends us from here to refresh the world.

AMEN