faith and doubt
Preaching
Lectionary Preaching Workbook
Series V, Cycle A
BRIEF COMMENTARY ON THE LESSONS
Lesson 1: Acts 2:14a, 22--32 (C, E, L)
This pericope contains a portion of Peter's Pentecost sermon, as recalled by Luke. It is a good representation of the major themes contained in the early apostolic preaching. The following points seemed to be central to the preaching of Peter and the other apostles and evangelists: (1) the signs and wonders performed by Jesus during his earthly ministry; (2) Jesus was handed over to be crucified by sinful people; (3) nevertheless, the suffering, death and resurrection of Jesus are a result of God's design; (4) these events are a fulfillment of Old Testament prophecies. (Psalm 16 is quoted as a proof that David had foretold the resurrection); (5) the first Christians were witnesses to these events; (6) finally, though it is not contained in this passage, there is an appeal to repent and believe the good news.
Lesson 1: Acts 2:42--47 (RC)
See Easter 4, Common
Lesson 2: 1 Peter 1:3--9 (C, RC, E, L)
Beginning today, the Second Lesson for the entire Easter season derives from the Epistle of 1 Peter. The first two verses reveal that this epistle is addressed to a post diaspora church, after the fall of Jerusalem. Though some think this epistle is not written by Peter, it certainly reflects the Rock's emphasis of the centrality of Christ's resurrection for believers. The audience of 1 Peter is different than that of Acts, since it contained few, if any, eyewitnesses of the Lord's passion, death and resurrection. Yet, these believers have been born anew by the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead. They live in hope as they wait for the completion of God's work of salvation in their lives. Even the fiery trials of tribulation and persecution cannot consume their faith but, rather, purify it. These believers have not personally seen Jesus. Yet, through trusting in him they are born anew by their faith in the risen Christ.
Gospel: John 20:19--31 (C, RC, E, L)
The gospel pericope is in two parts. The first part (vv. 19--23) provides for us the story of the Lord's appearance in the inner circle of the disciples. All but Thomas are present. Christ breathes on them and thereby bestows the Holy Spirit, granting them his peace as he commissions them to go out and proclaim the good news. Here we have John's rendition of Pentecost and Ascension, all rolled into one. In the second part of the passage (vv. 24--29), Christ reappears, but this time Thomas is with the other disciples. Christ challenges him to touch his wounds, to see and believe. Thomas confesses his faith, in light of the evidence. Yet Jesus declares that the ones who have not seen him like Thomas, yet still believe, are those truly blessed. The last two verses of the passage reveal the purpose of John's gospel. That his readers, who have not seen Christ, might believe in him and, thereby, obtain eternal life.
Psalm Of The Day
Psalm 16 (C, L) - ''You show me the path of life ...'' (v. 11).
Psalm 111 (E) - ''Great are the works of the Lord ...'' (v. 2).
Prayer Of The Day
Living God, we bless you that we are born anew through the resurrection of your Son. By the power of your Spirit, enable us to turn our backs to evil and witness to the light of your grace and love, which is ours through the merits of your Son, our Savior, Jesus Christ. Amen.
THEOLOGICAL REFLECTION ON THE LESSONS
Lesson 1: Acts 2:14a, 22--32
The Lamb. In verse 22, Peter maintains that Jesus was handed over to those who killed him by the plan and foreknowledge of God. God offered up his Son as a sacrifice for the sins of the world. God displays not only his love but his power, by harnessing humankind's evil impulses for the salvation of the world.
Humpty Dumpty. ''Humpty Dumpty sat on a wall. Humpty Dumpty had a great fall. All the king's horses and all the king's men could not put Humpty Dumpty together again.'' Nursery rhymes contain truths about life. The Humpty Dumpty rhyme, for instance, reveals the truth that certain actions cannot be undone. It teaches us to be circumspect concerning how we live our lives. Even God cannot undo what we have done, but he can put the pieces back together again. Peter boldly accuses his listeners of killing Jesus but the good news is that God put the pieces together again, he raised Jesus from the dead (vv. 23--24). Yet, according to the Gospel Lesson, even the resurrected Christ bore the scars of his execution. Thus, there is a twofold message in this passage. Our actions have lasting consequences but God can and does put together the broken pieces of shattered lives. Humans crucify Christ (we are still doing it) but God raises us to newness of life with him through faith.
Lesson 2: 1 Peter 1:3--9
A new birth. We hear a lot of talk about being born again and it has created a lot of confusion. Some people don't know if they've been born anew. They haven't seen any visions, heard any voices or had any out of body experience. They can't name the day when God became more than a word to them. Yet the Lord is real to them and they trust in him for the forgiveness of their sins. How do we know if we are born anew or born again? Here are some factors to consider. Do we trust in Christ and his resurrection rather than rely on our own goodness? Do we believe that, in him, we have the forgiveness of sins? Do our lives make visible the grace and love of God, which we have received? We need to remind one another that being born anew does not depend on human formulas or feelings.
Hold up the shield of faith. Verse 5 states that we are protected by the power of God through faith. It does not mean that we are spared all adversity because, in verse 6, it speaks of the ''various kinds of trials'' the believers had to endure. What does faith shield us from then? How about doubt and despair? Believers realize that they will still have to undergo pain and suffering but do not view it as a sign of God's displeasure; rather, they regard it as the caldron in which their faith is strengthened and purified.
A refined faith. In this passage the tested faith of those addressed is compared to gold that is tested by fire. The process by which gold and other precious metals is refined is alluded to here. Suffering, persecution and other ordeals are like the refiner's fire, which burns away the base elements and leaves that which is precious and imperishable. Thus, a refined faith is not necessarily a faith that is acceptable to the cultural elite but a faith that has been put to the fire and thereby purified.
Gospel: John 20:19--31
Peace for the fearful of heart. The disciples were so petrified with fear that they were ensconced behind locked doors. At first, the Lord's appearance did not calm but rather exacerbated their fears. Jesus was tuned in to their inward condition. Two times he calms them with the words ''Peace with you.'' It is a total peace which Christ extends to them, a peace of heart, soul and mind. It is a peace that comes from knowing that Christ forgives them, that they have a second chance. What is even a greater source of assurance is that they are no longer bound by the fear of death. Jesus has tamed this great dragon. Death can still take the believer for a ride but cannot destroy those who belong to Jesus.
Apostles of forgiveness. John compresses resurrection, Pentecost, and ascension all into one event. Christ breathes on the disciples, imparting the Holy Spirit, so that they might have the power to carry on God's reconciling work. He sends them out with the authority to pronounce God's forgiveness. They are apostles of forgiveness. Exercising the power of forgiveness is the key to eternal life. Christ gives his followers the power to pronounce his forgiveness on those who will accept it (v. 23). Those who know God's reconciliation experience the joy of eternal life.
Believing is seeing. Thomas wasn't present when Jesus appeared to the other disciples. When they joyously informed him of their Master's visitation, Thomas was skeptical. ''Unless I see in his hands the print of the nails ... I will not believe'' (v. 25). Seeing is believing. Right! Wrong! We can only see a fraction of that which is real. We can't see microbes, nor can we see distant galaxies. Yet, we've been told by witnesses that have seen them that they exist. We have come to accept the unseen as gospel truth. When we're sick and go to the doctor and he tells us that we have a staph infection, for which he is prescribing an antibiotic, we don't question his judgment. We don't say: ''Wait a minute, Doc. How do you know such bacteria exist? I've never seen them. I don't believe in anything that I cannot see with my own eyes. Forget your medicine.'' We'd think that such a person is very foolish to limit himself to that which he could perceive with his senses. On the other hand, if we accept the physician's judgment that bacteria exist, if we by faith accept his hypotheses, we open the door to life and healing.
Christ did reveal himself to Thomas through his physical senses but he pronounces that those who have not seen him and yet believe in him are the truly blessed ones (v. 29). If we believe in the risen Christ, even though we have not seen him, if we operate on the premise that he lives and forgives, we will come to experience his healing and life--giving power.
PREACHING APPROACHES WITH ILLUSTRATIONS
Lesson 1: Acts 2:14a, 22--32
Sermon Title: The Resurrection Of Humpty Dumpty
Sermon Angle: Peter accused his listeners of killing Jesus but then he added, ''But God raised him up.'' A convicted killer pleaded for mercy saying: ''If I could undo the horrible things
that I have done, if I could bring her back, I would.'' Then he tearfully added, ''But I can't.'' Some lives are so badly broken that there is nothing that can be done, humanly speaking, to restore them. The victims of incest, rape and child abuse, for example, have an arduous journey to reach some semblance of normalcy. But when we take a life, we cannot give it back again. Only God can raise up a life that has been taken, as he demonstrated in the raising of his son. All the king's horses and all the king's men couldn't put Humpty Dumpty back together again. There is a limit to what humans can do to restore that which they have broken, but the Lord can do what humans cannot. Our lives are often shattered, like Humpty Dumpty's, but the Lord can put us back together again. God can raise us to newness of life after we have taken even a fatal plunge.
Outline:
1. The crucifixion shows the brokenness caused by human sin
2. The resurrection shows how God restored the One who was broken
3. We're like Humpty Dumpty - there is much brokenness in our lives
4. The resurrected Christ can raise us to newness of life.
Sermon Title: Using Evil In The Service Of God
Sermon Angle: The cross is the prime example of how God breaks the back on evil, by employing evil in the service of God. The evil is a result of the misuse of human freedom. God shows his sovereignty by taking that which is opposed to him and using it for his redemptive purposes. We too can employ evil in the service of God and good, when we show love and forgiveness to the perpetrator of the evil.
Outline:
1. In the cross, God transformed an instrument of evil into an instrument of life
2. We too can use evil in the service of good when we
- forgive those who hurt us
- labor to eliminate the conditions that spawn evil
Lesson 2: 1 Peter 1:3--9
Sermon Title: The Rock Proclaims The New Birth
Sermon Angle: Peter proclaims the glorious fact that we have been given a new birth through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead. I once saw a sermon title which has stuck with me: ''Born Again Believers: Is There Any Other Kind?'' How true, but what does it mean to be born again? Some churches teach that we are born again through baptism; others maintain that we are born again when we consciously give our lives to Christ. Still others insist that there must be a special baptism or anointing with God's Spirit. This passage makes plain that we are born again not through human actions but through the resurrection of Jesus Christ. We appropriate Christ's resurrection when we die daily to sin through repentance, after which God raises us to newness of life. Thus, we are not just born again but again and again and again.
Outline:
1. When Christ died, the faith of his followers also died
2. Christ's resurrection gave the disciples of Jesus a new birth
3. What does it mean to be born anew or again?
- we die daily to selfishness and sin through repentance
- we turn the center of our lives over to Christ
- we no longer live; Christ lives in us
4. Let us bless God for our new birth (v. 3) and rejoice (vv. 8b--9).
Many people, even good Christians, are sometimes filled with anxiety about their forthcoming birth into the kingdom of heaven. This story, ''The Parable Of The Twins,'' might provide a new perspective.
Once upon a time, twin boys were conceived in the same womb. Weeks passed, as the twins developed. As their awareness grew, they laughed for joy: ''Isn't it great that we were conceived? Isn't it great to be alive?''
Together, the twins explored their world. When they found their mother's cord which gave them life, they sang for joy: ''How great is our mother's love, that she shares her own life with us.''
As the weeks stretched into months, the twins noticed how much each was changing. ''What does it mean?'' asked the one. ''It means that our stay in this world is drawing to an end,'' said the other. ''But I don't want to go,'' said the one. ''I want to stay here always.'' ''We have no choice,'' said the other. ''But maybe there is life after birth!'' ''But how can there be?'' responded the one. ''We will shed our life cord, and how is life possible without it? Besides, we have seen evidence that others were here before us, and none of them have returned to tell us that there is life after birth. No, this is the end.''
And so the one fell into deep despair, saying, ''If conception ends in birth, what is the purpose of life in the womb? It's meaningless! Maybe there is no mother after all!'' ''But there has to be,'' protested the other. ''How else did we get there? How do we remain alive?''
''Have you ever seen our mother?'' said the one. ''Maybe she lives only in our minds. Maybe we made her up, because the idea made us feel good!''
And so the last days in the womb were filled with deep questioning and fear. Finally the moment of birth arrived. When the twins had passed from their world, they opened their eyes and cried for joy. For what they saw exceeded their fondest dreams. (Author unknown. Taken from the Wayne, Nebraska, Hospice Newsletter)
Sermon Title: Putting Faith To The Fire
Sermon Angle: Faith has traditionally served as a symbol of life. Thus, John F. Kennedy's grave has an eternal flame, so called, to symbolize the hope that his legacy would not burn out, but live on. Fire is also associated with judgment. It burns away that which is unworthy and leaves that which is eternal. Peter compares the faith of Christians to gold, which is refined through the fiery furnace (v. 7). Hard times, persecution and other forms of adversity are like a smelting furnace that purges away that which is temporal or unworthy, leaving that which is precious and eternal.
Gospel: John 20:19--31
Sermon Title: Believing Is Seeing
Sermon Angle: Believing in Christ is like stepping out into the shadows. There is no way to view the distant horizon. But when we launch out in faith, the shadows give way to a wonderful world of life and love, that we could not see before. Thomas came to believe through seeing. For us, the only options are to see through believing or to remain in the darkness.
Outline:
1. Thomas missed seeing Christ because he was absent from the assembly (We run the danger of missing Christ when we absent ourselves from the body of believers.)
2. He refused to believe the report of the other disciples
3. Christ honored his skepticism by appearing to Thomas
4. Faith is seldom free of all doubt
5. Christ will bless those who act out of their faith, rather than their doubts
Lesson 1: Acts 2:14a, 22--32 (C, E, L)
This pericope contains a portion of Peter's Pentecost sermon, as recalled by Luke. It is a good representation of the major themes contained in the early apostolic preaching. The following points seemed to be central to the preaching of Peter and the other apostles and evangelists: (1) the signs and wonders performed by Jesus during his earthly ministry; (2) Jesus was handed over to be crucified by sinful people; (3) nevertheless, the suffering, death and resurrection of Jesus are a result of God's design; (4) these events are a fulfillment of Old Testament prophecies. (Psalm 16 is quoted as a proof that David had foretold the resurrection); (5) the first Christians were witnesses to these events; (6) finally, though it is not contained in this passage, there is an appeal to repent and believe the good news.
Lesson 1: Acts 2:42--47 (RC)
See Easter 4, Common
Lesson 2: 1 Peter 1:3--9 (C, RC, E, L)
Beginning today, the Second Lesson for the entire Easter season derives from the Epistle of 1 Peter. The first two verses reveal that this epistle is addressed to a post diaspora church, after the fall of Jerusalem. Though some think this epistle is not written by Peter, it certainly reflects the Rock's emphasis of the centrality of Christ's resurrection for believers. The audience of 1 Peter is different than that of Acts, since it contained few, if any, eyewitnesses of the Lord's passion, death and resurrection. Yet, these believers have been born anew by the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead. They live in hope as they wait for the completion of God's work of salvation in their lives. Even the fiery trials of tribulation and persecution cannot consume their faith but, rather, purify it. These believers have not personally seen Jesus. Yet, through trusting in him they are born anew by their faith in the risen Christ.
Gospel: John 20:19--31 (C, RC, E, L)
The gospel pericope is in two parts. The first part (vv. 19--23) provides for us the story of the Lord's appearance in the inner circle of the disciples. All but Thomas are present. Christ breathes on them and thereby bestows the Holy Spirit, granting them his peace as he commissions them to go out and proclaim the good news. Here we have John's rendition of Pentecost and Ascension, all rolled into one. In the second part of the passage (vv. 24--29), Christ reappears, but this time Thomas is with the other disciples. Christ challenges him to touch his wounds, to see and believe. Thomas confesses his faith, in light of the evidence. Yet Jesus declares that the ones who have not seen him like Thomas, yet still believe, are those truly blessed. The last two verses of the passage reveal the purpose of John's gospel. That his readers, who have not seen Christ, might believe in him and, thereby, obtain eternal life.
Psalm Of The Day
Psalm 16 (C, L) - ''You show me the path of life ...'' (v. 11).
Psalm 111 (E) - ''Great are the works of the Lord ...'' (v. 2).
Prayer Of The Day
Living God, we bless you that we are born anew through the resurrection of your Son. By the power of your Spirit, enable us to turn our backs to evil and witness to the light of your grace and love, which is ours through the merits of your Son, our Savior, Jesus Christ. Amen.
THEOLOGICAL REFLECTION ON THE LESSONS
Lesson 1: Acts 2:14a, 22--32
The Lamb. In verse 22, Peter maintains that Jesus was handed over to those who killed him by the plan and foreknowledge of God. God offered up his Son as a sacrifice for the sins of the world. God displays not only his love but his power, by harnessing humankind's evil impulses for the salvation of the world.
Humpty Dumpty. ''Humpty Dumpty sat on a wall. Humpty Dumpty had a great fall. All the king's horses and all the king's men could not put Humpty Dumpty together again.'' Nursery rhymes contain truths about life. The Humpty Dumpty rhyme, for instance, reveals the truth that certain actions cannot be undone. It teaches us to be circumspect concerning how we live our lives. Even God cannot undo what we have done, but he can put the pieces back together again. Peter boldly accuses his listeners of killing Jesus but the good news is that God put the pieces together again, he raised Jesus from the dead (vv. 23--24). Yet, according to the Gospel Lesson, even the resurrected Christ bore the scars of his execution. Thus, there is a twofold message in this passage. Our actions have lasting consequences but God can and does put together the broken pieces of shattered lives. Humans crucify Christ (we are still doing it) but God raises us to newness of life with him through faith.
Lesson 2: 1 Peter 1:3--9
A new birth. We hear a lot of talk about being born again and it has created a lot of confusion. Some people don't know if they've been born anew. They haven't seen any visions, heard any voices or had any out of body experience. They can't name the day when God became more than a word to them. Yet the Lord is real to them and they trust in him for the forgiveness of their sins. How do we know if we are born anew or born again? Here are some factors to consider. Do we trust in Christ and his resurrection rather than rely on our own goodness? Do we believe that, in him, we have the forgiveness of sins? Do our lives make visible the grace and love of God, which we have received? We need to remind one another that being born anew does not depend on human formulas or feelings.
Hold up the shield of faith. Verse 5 states that we are protected by the power of God through faith. It does not mean that we are spared all adversity because, in verse 6, it speaks of the ''various kinds of trials'' the believers had to endure. What does faith shield us from then? How about doubt and despair? Believers realize that they will still have to undergo pain and suffering but do not view it as a sign of God's displeasure; rather, they regard it as the caldron in which their faith is strengthened and purified.
A refined faith. In this passage the tested faith of those addressed is compared to gold that is tested by fire. The process by which gold and other precious metals is refined is alluded to here. Suffering, persecution and other ordeals are like the refiner's fire, which burns away the base elements and leaves that which is precious and imperishable. Thus, a refined faith is not necessarily a faith that is acceptable to the cultural elite but a faith that has been put to the fire and thereby purified.
Gospel: John 20:19--31
Peace for the fearful of heart. The disciples were so petrified with fear that they were ensconced behind locked doors. At first, the Lord's appearance did not calm but rather exacerbated their fears. Jesus was tuned in to their inward condition. Two times he calms them with the words ''Peace with you.'' It is a total peace which Christ extends to them, a peace of heart, soul and mind. It is a peace that comes from knowing that Christ forgives them, that they have a second chance. What is even a greater source of assurance is that they are no longer bound by the fear of death. Jesus has tamed this great dragon. Death can still take the believer for a ride but cannot destroy those who belong to Jesus.
Apostles of forgiveness. John compresses resurrection, Pentecost, and ascension all into one event. Christ breathes on the disciples, imparting the Holy Spirit, so that they might have the power to carry on God's reconciling work. He sends them out with the authority to pronounce God's forgiveness. They are apostles of forgiveness. Exercising the power of forgiveness is the key to eternal life. Christ gives his followers the power to pronounce his forgiveness on those who will accept it (v. 23). Those who know God's reconciliation experience the joy of eternal life.
Believing is seeing. Thomas wasn't present when Jesus appeared to the other disciples. When they joyously informed him of their Master's visitation, Thomas was skeptical. ''Unless I see in his hands the print of the nails ... I will not believe'' (v. 25). Seeing is believing. Right! Wrong! We can only see a fraction of that which is real. We can't see microbes, nor can we see distant galaxies. Yet, we've been told by witnesses that have seen them that they exist. We have come to accept the unseen as gospel truth. When we're sick and go to the doctor and he tells us that we have a staph infection, for which he is prescribing an antibiotic, we don't question his judgment. We don't say: ''Wait a minute, Doc. How do you know such bacteria exist? I've never seen them. I don't believe in anything that I cannot see with my own eyes. Forget your medicine.'' We'd think that such a person is very foolish to limit himself to that which he could perceive with his senses. On the other hand, if we accept the physician's judgment that bacteria exist, if we by faith accept his hypotheses, we open the door to life and healing.
Christ did reveal himself to Thomas through his physical senses but he pronounces that those who have not seen him and yet believe in him are the truly blessed ones (v. 29). If we believe in the risen Christ, even though we have not seen him, if we operate on the premise that he lives and forgives, we will come to experience his healing and life--giving power.
PREACHING APPROACHES WITH ILLUSTRATIONS
Lesson 1: Acts 2:14a, 22--32
Sermon Title: The Resurrection Of Humpty Dumpty
Sermon Angle: Peter accused his listeners of killing Jesus but then he added, ''But God raised him up.'' A convicted killer pleaded for mercy saying: ''If I could undo the horrible things
that I have done, if I could bring her back, I would.'' Then he tearfully added, ''But I can't.'' Some lives are so badly broken that there is nothing that can be done, humanly speaking, to restore them. The victims of incest, rape and child abuse, for example, have an arduous journey to reach some semblance of normalcy. But when we take a life, we cannot give it back again. Only God can raise up a life that has been taken, as he demonstrated in the raising of his son. All the king's horses and all the king's men couldn't put Humpty Dumpty back together again. There is a limit to what humans can do to restore that which they have broken, but the Lord can do what humans cannot. Our lives are often shattered, like Humpty Dumpty's, but the Lord can put us back together again. God can raise us to newness of life after we have taken even a fatal plunge.
Outline:
1. The crucifixion shows the brokenness caused by human sin
2. The resurrection shows how God restored the One who was broken
3. We're like Humpty Dumpty - there is much brokenness in our lives
4. The resurrected Christ can raise us to newness of life.
Sermon Title: Using Evil In The Service Of God
Sermon Angle: The cross is the prime example of how God breaks the back on evil, by employing evil in the service of God. The evil is a result of the misuse of human freedom. God shows his sovereignty by taking that which is opposed to him and using it for his redemptive purposes. We too can employ evil in the service of God and good, when we show love and forgiveness to the perpetrator of the evil.
Outline:
1. In the cross, God transformed an instrument of evil into an instrument of life
2. We too can use evil in the service of good when we
- forgive those who hurt us
- labor to eliminate the conditions that spawn evil
Lesson 2: 1 Peter 1:3--9
Sermon Title: The Rock Proclaims The New Birth
Sermon Angle: Peter proclaims the glorious fact that we have been given a new birth through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead. I once saw a sermon title which has stuck with me: ''Born Again Believers: Is There Any Other Kind?'' How true, but what does it mean to be born again? Some churches teach that we are born again through baptism; others maintain that we are born again when we consciously give our lives to Christ. Still others insist that there must be a special baptism or anointing with God's Spirit. This passage makes plain that we are born again not through human actions but through the resurrection of Jesus Christ. We appropriate Christ's resurrection when we die daily to sin through repentance, after which God raises us to newness of life. Thus, we are not just born again but again and again and again.
Outline:
1. When Christ died, the faith of his followers also died
2. Christ's resurrection gave the disciples of Jesus a new birth
3. What does it mean to be born anew or again?
- we die daily to selfishness and sin through repentance
- we turn the center of our lives over to Christ
- we no longer live; Christ lives in us
4. Let us bless God for our new birth (v. 3) and rejoice (vv. 8b--9).
Many people, even good Christians, are sometimes filled with anxiety about their forthcoming birth into the kingdom of heaven. This story, ''The Parable Of The Twins,'' might provide a new perspective.
Once upon a time, twin boys were conceived in the same womb. Weeks passed, as the twins developed. As their awareness grew, they laughed for joy: ''Isn't it great that we were conceived? Isn't it great to be alive?''
Together, the twins explored their world. When they found their mother's cord which gave them life, they sang for joy: ''How great is our mother's love, that she shares her own life with us.''
As the weeks stretched into months, the twins noticed how much each was changing. ''What does it mean?'' asked the one. ''It means that our stay in this world is drawing to an end,'' said the other. ''But I don't want to go,'' said the one. ''I want to stay here always.'' ''We have no choice,'' said the other. ''But maybe there is life after birth!'' ''But how can there be?'' responded the one. ''We will shed our life cord, and how is life possible without it? Besides, we have seen evidence that others were here before us, and none of them have returned to tell us that there is life after birth. No, this is the end.''
And so the one fell into deep despair, saying, ''If conception ends in birth, what is the purpose of life in the womb? It's meaningless! Maybe there is no mother after all!'' ''But there has to be,'' protested the other. ''How else did we get there? How do we remain alive?''
''Have you ever seen our mother?'' said the one. ''Maybe she lives only in our minds. Maybe we made her up, because the idea made us feel good!''
And so the last days in the womb were filled with deep questioning and fear. Finally the moment of birth arrived. When the twins had passed from their world, they opened their eyes and cried for joy. For what they saw exceeded their fondest dreams. (Author unknown. Taken from the Wayne, Nebraska, Hospice Newsletter)
Sermon Title: Putting Faith To The Fire
Sermon Angle: Faith has traditionally served as a symbol of life. Thus, John F. Kennedy's grave has an eternal flame, so called, to symbolize the hope that his legacy would not burn out, but live on. Fire is also associated with judgment. It burns away that which is unworthy and leaves that which is eternal. Peter compares the faith of Christians to gold, which is refined through the fiery furnace (v. 7). Hard times, persecution and other forms of adversity are like a smelting furnace that purges away that which is temporal or unworthy, leaving that which is precious and eternal.
Gospel: John 20:19--31
Sermon Title: Believing Is Seeing
Sermon Angle: Believing in Christ is like stepping out into the shadows. There is no way to view the distant horizon. But when we launch out in faith, the shadows give way to a wonderful world of life and love, that we could not see before. Thomas came to believe through seeing. For us, the only options are to see through believing or to remain in the darkness.
Outline:
1. Thomas missed seeing Christ because he was absent from the assembly (We run the danger of missing Christ when we absent ourselves from the body of believers.)
2. He refused to believe the report of the other disciples
3. Christ honored his skepticism by appearing to Thomas
4. Faith is seldom free of all doubt
5. Christ will bless those who act out of their faith, rather than their doubts
