In this message tied to the powerful film One Life, Pastor David explores the inspiring story of Sir Nicholas Winton — a man who, despite being a stockbroker with no formal humanitarian training, saved 669 Jewish children from Nazi-occupied Czechoslovakia during World War II. Winton’s quiet yet courageous actions serve as a compelling lens through which we’re invited to consider our own calling. Pastor David’s big idea? Don’t let what you do keep you from why you’re here. In other words, your job may fund your life, but it doesn’t define your purpose.
The sermon weaves together historical narrative, cinematic storytelling, and biblical truth, particularly drawing from Matthew 25:31–40, where Jesus calls us to serve “the least of these.” Pastor David reminds us that genuine faith is active, not passive — echoing James 1:27, which defines pure religion as caring for orphans and widows. This call to action isn’t limited to full-time missionaries or church staff; it’s for everyone who follows Christ. Nicholas Winton didn’t wait to be qualified — he simply saw injustice and stepped in.
Winton’s life illustrates how God often unlocks our deepest sense of purpose through service to others, especially those who can do nothing in return. As Pastor David notes, “Living with yourself at the center is empty, but living with others at the center is eternal.” The message is a challenge to resist the comfort of insulation and instead let the brokenness of the world interrupt our routines — because that’s where God’s mission begins.
Just as Winton kept a literal ticket system to deliver children to safety, the sermon ends with a striking spiritual metaphor: we, the Church, hold the “tickets” of the Gospel. It’s our mission to deliver them. For those still seeking meaning or salvation, the offer is still available — but just like the trains in One Life, the opportunity doesn’t last forever. As CT Studd famously said, “Only one life, ’twill soon be past; only what’s done for Christ will last.”
KEY SCRIPTURES:
Proverbs 14:31
Matthew 25:31–40
Mark 12:30–31
James 1:27
1 John 3:16–18
2 Corinthians 5:18–19
