Sometime one moment changes everything. Piper at one day in 2000. That sermon recked me in the best of ways. I still have the journal I wrote in that night - Will not bore you with the details but here are some highlights -
“heard piper today - cried over the nations and I don’t know why - overwhelming - undone.”
“I think I have been repurposed”
“will fight the rest of my life - may I never sacrifice speaking what God tells me to say on the alter of being liked”
“I can’t die with shells in my hands!”
“oh God this changes everything.”
“I have never been normal - always the outlier always the black sheep - at lest that remain the same.”
Found a video (link below) on Piper’s shells illustration and the guy is right - It may be the single most influincal illustration of my generation. Here is why I say that:
I personally have seen this sermon transcended culture. I have seen It’s infunace reaching far beyond the English speaking world. When I first heard it I was like the tin man. It broke me only to replace my heart with the nations. Four years later I was siting in a Turkish man livingroom. Still sleepy from the flight and a little weary in a culture so different from my own. At the time, I knew only three word of Turkish and they were bathroom and pay bill. He did not know much English and our seasoned interpitor was off running an errand. We sat in silence smiling and nodding, Over and over. If people could transform into emotions I would become an awkward turtle in the moment. Scanning the room I saw a “one day” video. Walking over I pulled it out A little relieved to see something familiar - behind me I heard him say
“Piper?”
Turning I said “Piper?!”
He laughed “Piper!”
I smiled “yep, Piper!”
He said “shells” and gestured like he was stabbed in the heart.
I was silent for a moment then slowly returned the same gesture “shells”. I would soon find out he was training to be a pastor because of that sermon. He would soon find out because of that sermon I was in Turkey to help him reach his goal. In the moment, We just hugged, laughed and repeating the same two words till they became to us a prayer.
Some things transcend cultures the gospel and good preaching are such things. They can
Build bridges to worlds where brotherly love and friendship may be found without an interpitor. Along the way making it possible for an unsure homesick missionaries to feel the warmth of home on the other side of the world.
As a Footnote - when the interpreter returned she did not know what to think. Both of us were red eyed from crying and oddly enough laughing.(I don’t really know why the laughing everything was just funny). We were watching the sermon like it was a movie. We both had popcorn and large drinks. We would stop it at our favorite spots and act out how it made us feel and how the Lord dealt with us. I showed him where I was sitting - He did the best Piper impression I have ever seen (by a Turkish man).
I think it goes without saying but I will anyway. Don’t let our fan boy ways confuse you. Piper was just a means of our joy rolling up to glory in Jesus. Piper was more like an usher. He showed us to our seats. We were their to see Jesus and Jesus was the one on display, He alone took center stage and we beheld his glory. Put another way, Piper’s sermon was the catalyst for my friendship but Jesus was the glue. He was our friend in common. He was the one we both knew. How else could a middle aged Turkish national and a 23 year old American ever find common ground but at the cross. While Piper was great and all. It was the gospel fire burning in both our hearts that warmed our friendship. I think Piper would agree.
I think it goes without saying but I will anyway. Don’t let our fan boy ways confuse you. Piper was just a means of our joy rolling up to glory in Jesus. Piper was more like an usher. He showed us to our seats. We were their to see Jesus and Jesus was the one on display, He alone took center stage and we beheld his glory. Put another way, Piper’s sermon was the catalyst for my friendship but Jesus was the glue. He was our friend in common. He was the one we both knew. How else could a middle aged Turkish national and a 23 year old American ever find common ground but at the cross. While Piper was great and all. It was the gospel fire burning in both our hearts that warmed our friendship. I think Piper would agree.
Conclusion
Below is a video about pipers sermon at One Day. It’s a little slow in pace and long on exposition. The narrator is a bit needlessly exaggerated BUT a good video none the less. It is produced by southern seminary so bit of a sly advertising. Also if your looking for a seminary southern (SBTS) is ok but southeastern (SEBTS) is better .. yea my Alma mater.
Below is a video about pipers sermon at One Day. It’s a little slow in pace and long on exposition. The narrator is a bit needlessly exaggerated BUT a good video none the less. It is produced by southern seminary so bit of a sly advertising. Also if your looking for a seminary southern (SBTS) is ok but southeastern (SEBTS) is better .. yea my Alma mater.
