Ten Shekels and a Shirt - Part 6
The Moravians' sacrifice of selling themselves into slavery to spread the Gospel sparked a mission to share the Good News with the world.
This sermon tells the powerful story of two young Moravians who willingly sold themselves into slavery to reach 3,000 slaves on an island in the West Indies who had never heard of Christ. Their sacrificial act of love and commitment to sharing the Gospel, despite knowing they would never return, reflects the ultimate sacrifice of Jesus Christ for humanity. It emphasizes the profound impact of selfless dedication to spreading the message of Christ's redemption and the call for believers to follow in the footsteps of those who are willing to give up everything for the sake of the Gospel.
Full Transcript
Two young Moravians heard of an island in the West Indies where an atheist British owner had 2,000 to 3,000 slaves. And the owner had said, no preacher, no clergyman will ever stay on this island. If he's shipwrecked, we'll keep him in a separate house until he has to leave.
But he's never going to talk to any of us about God. I'm through with all that nonsense. 3,000 slaves from the jungles of Africa bought to an island in the Atlantic and there to live and die without hearing of Christ.
Two young Moravians heard about it. They sold themselves to the British planter and used the money they received from this sale, for he paid no more than he would for any slave to pay their passage out to his island, for he wouldn't even transport them. And as the ship left the river at Homburg, left its pier in the river at Homburg and was going out into the North Sea carried with the tide, the Moravians had come from Hernhut to see these two lads off in the early 20s, never to return again, for this wasn't a four-year term.
They'd sold themselves into lifetime slavery, simply that as slaves they could be as Christian where these others were. The families were there weeping, for they knew they'd never see them again. And they wondered why they were going and questioned the wisdom of it.
And as the gap widened and the houses had been cast off and were being curled up there on the pier, and the young boy saw the widening gap, one lad with his arm linked to the arm of his fellow raised his hand and shouted across the gap the last words that were heard from them. They were these, may the land that was slain receive the reward of his suffering. This became the quarrel of Moravian mission.
And this is the only reason for being, that the land that was slain, the reward of his suffering.
Sermon Outline
- The Story of the Moravians
- Their Sacrifice
- Their Legacy
- Their sacrifice sparked a mission
- To spread the Gospel to the world
Key Quotes
“May the land that was slain receive the reward of his suffering.” — Paris Reidhead
“They'd sold themselves into lifetime slavery, simply that as slaves they could be as Christian where these others were.” — Paris Reidhead
Application Points
- We should be willing to sacrifice for the sake of sharing the Gospel.
- Our faith should be demonstrated through our actions, just like the Moravians.
- We should be willing to take risks to spread the Good News to those who have not heard it.