For just a moment, I want you to imagine a lightning rod on top of our steeple [rather than a cross]. Some cynic with a wicked sense of humor has said that, if it were up to most of its members, modern churches would have lightning rods on their steeples instead of crosses in memory of that time when lightning struck the early church. He’s speaking of the amazing events that happened on the Day of Pentecost. But then he adds, “The lightning rods would serve as protection against such events ever happening again.”  

On the Day of Pentecost lightning struck the early church. Not literally, of course, but figuratively. You remember the story. The closest followers of Jesus were gathered in an upper room in Jerusalem. All the original twelve were there, save one. Judas’ place had been taken b…