6/28/59

Scripture: read Psalm 107: 1-15

[This is one of those rare sermons where Dr. Kingdon did not write it out in longhand, but rather spoke extemporaneously from this outline and notes]

A. Story (“Hunger”) of a young writer in direst poverty.

No morsel of food for days on end.

Raw meat off a “bone for the day.”

Stomach in revolt. “Hunger.”

But lust for physical food never drowned out deeper hungers of spirit.

1. Much deeper - his unappeased hunger for human fellowship.

2. And hunger for self-respect. Refused “free” breakfast at police station, and walked proudly out.

3. Hunger for righteousness; Dire want did not tempt him to dishonesty.

4. Longing for mental achievement.

B. Most of us have never known such physical hunger.

We read - famine conditions in China, India, Russia.

Depression bread lines in USA

Malnutrition in Germany, Austria during the war; stunted bodies of children.

Some malnutrition among school children who may not know how to eat.

But more and more people in this country are “calorie counters” -- we have sufficient food.

C. However - not enough of us give sufficient attention to balanced diet for the whole person.

[Craig] “Pork & poker, beef & bridge, mutton & movies.” not enough for growing a healthy soul.

Arctic explorers and early seafaring men -- scurvy, from lack of vegetables.

“Spiritual scurvy” when higher faculties receive no nourishment.

Charles Darwin - atrophy of love of music.

Tragedy that so many souls shrivel because not fed.

D. We feel sorry for the hungry.

Sometimes lack of appetite is worse.

Longing to understand the experience of the race will assure a full life.

Those who hunger for the Living God shall be filled.

But only the “hungry” can be filled.

In this sense, hunger is true blessedness.

E. The gospel is medicine for sick souls. Better yet, it is food for starved lives!

1. Israelites - grateful for “manna.”

2. Jesus offering imperishable food and permanently satisfying “water of life.” [John 4: 10].

3. The need for vision, faith, moral ideal, foundation for hope, inspiration of love -- all are found in him.

4. He is like the staff of life, the wheat that nourishes.

F. In the Lord’s Supper - at Communion; To eat the tiny morsel of bread and take the tiny sip from the cup brings no magical transformation in our lives.

The calories of the Lords’ Supper (few crumbs and a tiny sip) will not appease much hunger.

But we are invited to “feed on him in our hearts with faith and thanksgiving.”

When we rise from this table, whether we have been fed or not depends on the inner receptiveness or hunger with which we have come.

G. Old custom of Christians -- come to this table before one has taken food. We do not require physical fasting before communion.

But it is true that the table of the Lord is for the hungry -- for those who hunger and thirst for a better life.

Not for the full, but for those who are conscious of this need.

Not for the satisfied, but for those who yearn for the living bread of life.

It is to the hungry that Jesus has said: “I will come in to him and sup with him, and he with me.” [Revelation 3: 20].

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Delivered in Wisconsin Rapids, June 28, 1959 (communion Sunday)