Tuesday, April 17, 2007

Thomas Sermon Text: Believing Thomas

This is the text for my sermon on Sunday. John 20:19-31:

19 On the evening of that day, the first day of the week, the doors being locked where the disciples were for fear of the Jews, Jesus came and stood among them and said to them, "Peace be with you." 20 When he had said this, he showed them his hands and his side. Then the disciples were glad when they saw the Lord. 21 Jesus said to them again, "Peace be with you. As the Father has sent me, even so I am sending you." 22 And when he had said this, he breathed on them and said to them, "Receive the Holy Spirit. 23 If you forgive the sins of anyone, they are forgiven; if you withhold forgiveness from anyone, it is withheld."

24 Now Thomas, one of the Twelve, called the Twin, was not with them when Jesus came. 25 So the other disciples told him, "We have seen the Lord." But he said to them, "Unless I see in his hands the mark of the nails, and place my finger into the mark of the nails, and place my hand into his side, I will never believe."

26 Eight days later, his disciples were inside again, and Thomas was with them. Although the doors were locked, Jesus came and stood among them and said, "Peace be with you." 27 Then he said to Thomas, "Put your finger here, and see my hands; and put out your hand, and place it in my side. Do not disbelieve, but believe." 28 Thomas answered him, "My Lord and my God!" 29 Jesus said to him, "Have you believed because you have seen me? Blessed are those who have not seen and yet have believed."

30 Now Jesus did many other signs in the presence of the disciples, which are not written in this book; 31 but these are written so that you may believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God, and that by believing you may have life in his name.
My question for the sermon was:

What does the Resurrection of Christ mean for your life?

The text has three things:

1. For the Fearful, there is Peace (v19-23)
2. For the Cynic, there is a Way Forward (v24-29)
3. For the Reader, there is Life (V30-31)

I'm only going to Blog on Point 2, if that’s OK with you'all.

Comin' soon.

3 comments:

byron smith said...

There is also the Holy Spirit.

Justin said...

There is also the Holy Spirit.

And joy, and relationship, and an Apostolic mission, and forgiveness.

I had to pick one. But all of this came out in Point 1 that I won't be blogging.

But you are right, Byron.

byron smith said...

Fair enough.