Model For Ministry
Preaching
THE WESLEYAN PREACHING ANNUAL 2001--2002
Who is your model for ministry? Your mentor? Your inspiration? Try Jesus. He has given us basic principles for living, and for ministry. Let's examine some of these.
One, Jesus embodied God's love. Jesus said, "A new commandment I give you: Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another. All men will know that you are my disciples if you love one another" (John 13:34--35). John records these words of Jesus: "Greater love has no one than this, that one lay down his life for friends" (John 15:13).
Jesus is our model of love. He characterized his three years of ministry by demonstrating love. He left a legacy of love for his followers. It is a legacy unequaled by anyone, at anytime. We do our ministries a favor if we allow His love to mold our ministry. Kennon Callahan has said, "... the foundation of leading is love. People long for and look for a pastor who puts people first, who cares more about helping them with their lives than about the survival of an institution or the growth of an organization. People growth is more helpful than church growth" (A New Beginning for Pastors and Congregations, San Francisco: Jossey--Bass, 1999, p. 36).
Two, Jesus exercised the privilege of prayer. He taught His disciples by saying:
This is how you should pray: Our Father in heaven, hallowed be your name, your kingdom come, your will be done on earth as it is in heaven. Give us today our daily bread. Forgive us our debts, as we also have forgiven our debtors. And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from the evil one (Matthew 6:9--13 NIV).
It was Jesus who modeled prayer at the most crucial moment in his ministry, when He faced crucifixion. Matthew records these words: "Going a little farther, he fell with his face to the ground and prayed, 'My Father, if it is possible, may this cup be taken from me. Yet not as I will, but as you will,' " (Matthew 26:39).
Nothing will take the place of prayer and no exercise of the soul and heart will improve upon prayer. If Jesus saw the necessity of prayer for His ministry, how much more do you and I need prayer for our ministries?
Three, Jesus modeled compassion. When Jesus encountered two blind men sitting by the roadside, desiring to be healed, He ignored the cries of the crowd to pass them by. Instead, "Jesus stopped and called them. 'What do you want me to do for you?' He asked. 'Lord,' they answered, 'we want our sight.' Jesus had compassion on them and touched their eyes. Immediately they received their sight and followed Him" (Matthew 20:32--34 NIV).
A world which needs our ministry will welcome compassion. We would do well to read the Gospels frequently, to see how compassion characterized the life of our Lord. It is a model for our ministries.
Four, Jesus modeled servanthood. He washed the feet of the disciples and it was this Jesus who said "... whoever wants to become great among you must be your servant, and whoever wants to be first must be your slave - just as the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many" (Matthew 20:26--28 NIV).
Servanthood is the way of Jesus. It is making a comeback in the business area after a long absence. The "every man for himself" is giving way, somewhat, to a servant style of leadership. Servanthood for Jesus was a lifestyle. It was built into His character. It was a valued principle of Jesus.
Our ministries must be characterized by servant--styles. We must not seek to gain at the expense of others, nor to win at another's loss. Jesus said, "If anyone wants to be first, he must be the very last, and the servant of all" (Mark 9:35 NIV).
These four tools for ministry come out of the life of Jesus. The One who has called us to ministry desires the best and highest for us. Max Lucado writes: "God loves you just the way you are, but he refuses to leave you that way. He wants you to be just like Jesus" (Just Like Jesus, Word Publishing, 1998, p. 3). The challenge for our ministries is to be just like Jesus!
C. Neil Strait
April 7, 2002 Second Sunday Of Easter
WORSHIP HELPS
CALL TO WORSHIP
"Listen to me today," says God. "If you who call yourselves godly will humble yourselves and commit to spend time with me on a regular basis and turn your backs on unholy ways, I will forgive your sins and bring healing to your land." (Based on 2 Chronicles 7:14)
OFFERING THOUGHT
Revival touches not only the heart, but the pocketbook as well.
BENEDICTION
May the God who brings renewal to your hearts go with you today and stir the chords of evangelism, so that you may share the tidings of Good News with everyone you meet.
SERMON BRIEFS
It's Revival We Need
Acts 2:14a, 22--32
G. B. F. Hallock seventy years ago told about waiting on a train in a railroad station in the heart of London, England. He said that the station was filled with people watching for the train to arrive. Unacquainted with the system, he wondered why the folks were not anxious about whether the train would arrive early or late. He mentioned that to one of the waiting passengers. The man said, "You see that large bell? In a little while you will hear that bell ring because when the train is five miles away, it will run over a valve in the tracks and it will set that bell in motion." In a few minutes it began to ring violently, and instantly the crowd became excited and began elbowing their way to the front of the lines in anticipation of the train's arrival.
Over the past several years I have been hearing people express that there is a stirring in their hearts about the return of Jesus. What we need is a revival, a spiritual focus, that will alert the people of our world to the anticipated arrival of Christ to take His people to heaven.
I. Revival is renewal.
Revival's renewal must start down deep within the reservoirs of people's desire. There must be a wanting to do God's will and to follow God's guidance. Obedience becomes the password for those longing to follow the will and ways of God. It can begin in a group setting like a church. People are thirsty for the presence of God. Renewal can begin in individuals who are surrendered to Him and who undertake their renewal as the power and baptism of the Spirit.
James Hamby wrote, "The Holy Ghost did not fall upon the Upper Room until they had prayed and sought God for ten long days. Daniel did not receive the outline of Israel's history from God's messenger until his twenty--first day of prayer and fasting. Saul, who later became Paul, did not receive sight for his blinded eyes until he had prayed and fasted for three days. There never has been and there never will be such a thing as spontaneous revival. Revival did not come like that in Bible times, and it will not come like that today. We may never know who prayed the revival down, but if it comes, you can be sure that somewhere a hungry soul sought God" (Albert M. Wells, Jr., Inspiring Quotations, Nashville: Thomas Nelson Publishers, 1988, p. 171).
Are you hungry enough to wait on the Lord and seek His face to bring a revival to your spirit and the world around you?
II. Revival is reaching outward.
Revival is more than words; it is an act of faith. When the Spirit renews our hearts, a holy desire seizes us and we want to reach out to others both materially and spiritually. On the spiritual side it is sharing Jesus with people around us. We call that evangelism. Bill Bright writes that many Christians in America have lost their sense of an awesome holy God. Their knowledge of His divine attributes of love, power, wisdom, grace, etc., have been lost or misplaced. "Vast numbers of church members do not know that He is present, active, available, and knowable to them. According to numerous surveys, fifty percent of the hundred million who attend church each Sunday have no assurance of their salvation. And 95 percent are not familiar with the person and ministry of the Holy Spirit. Only two percent of believers in America regularly share their faith in Christ with others" (Bill Bright, The Coming Revival, Orlando: New Life Publications, 1995, p. 65).
If we are actively reaching outward to the lost through evangelism, something dynamic will begin to happen. I believe that moral values, social behavior and concern, cultural activities, lifestyles, and decisions will be made based on Christ and His agenda for life. Serving will become a priority in the heart and life of the Christian who has been renewed through the Spirit. Looking for opportunities to serve others initiates from a heart sold out to Jesus.
Chuck Swindoll quotes Billy Graham when he says, "The evangelistic harvest is always urgent. The destiny of men and of nations is always being decided. Every generation is strategic. We are not responsible for the past generation, and we cannot bear the full responsibility for the next one; but we do have our generation. God will hold us responsible as to how well we fulfill our responsibilities to this age and take advantage of our opportunities" (Charles Swindoll, Strengthening Your Grip, Waco: Word Books, 1982, p. 235).
Our generation is waiting for someone to reach outward and bring it back to the center of real life - Jesus!
III. Revival is Jesus.
Peter expressed to the crowd that the patriarch David prophetically spoke of the resurrection of the Christ who was Jesus of Nazareth. Without Jesus, life has no meaning or direction. Peter and the other 119 disciples on the day of Pentecost boldly proclaimed that Jesus had come into the world and had done some glorious things on their behalf.
A. Jesus in His lifetime performed miracles and wonders.
B. Jesus was crucified for the sins of the world.
C. Jesus died so that they might have life.
D. Jesus was resurrected to demonstrate the power of God.
E. Jesus will forgive anyone who will ask Him into their life.
F. Jesus will abide with those who invite Him to stay.
G. Jesus will give eternal life real meaning to anyone who wants it.
A young child was taken to an art gallery by his mom and saw the picture Holman Hunt painted titled Light of the World. The boy looked at the picture intently and could not understand why the person on the other side of the door refused to let the kind, loving, patient man inside. He observed the nail--pierced hand and the thorn--crowned brow. He realized that if admitted the man would do no harm, only good. After many minutes of silence, he looked into his mother's face and asked, "Mother, why don't they let him in?"
That's the eternal question ... "Why don't we let him in?" Revival is letting Jesus into the heart for salvation's sake.
Derl G. Keefer
Are YOU Missing?
John 20:19--31
The Sanhedrin felt smug and confident about the crucifixion of Jesus of Nazareth. The panic--stricken disciples thought they might be next on the crucifixion list. They went into hiding behind closed doors in the Upper Room where they had their last meal with Jesus. Each squeak of the floor sent terror streaking through their bodies, as they feared it might be the soldiers from the Sanhedrin. As they met together to formulate a plan, they were surprised when the risen Jesus appeared in their midst without warning! Christ gave them the common eastern greeting of the day, "Peace be with you."
During their time together Jesus talked and the disciples listened. Ten of the original twelve were present at the meeting. Judas had committed spiritual and physical suicide and was gone. The other was alone somewhere in his own spiritual hell, scared and isolated. His absence from the group caused him to miss the exciting return and encouragement of Jesus.
There are some things that Thomas missed, and if we aren't careful we, too, can miss them if we absent ourselves from the friends of Jesus.
I. Thomas missed the fellowship with Jesus.
We don't know where Thomas was, but undoubtedly he was contemplating the events of the week. Jesus had come to interpret the events to his disciples ... but Thomas was missing. While Thomas was alone and in despair, Jesus had come to drive away the feelings of aloneness and to bring comfort and cheer ... but Thomas was missing. While Thomas was gone wishing to talk with Jesus and to share his concern and heartache, Jesus was with the group blessing them with His holy presence ... but Thomas was missing.
What about us? Are we missing the wonderful things that Jesus offers His people? Are we relying on ourselves or on the resurrected Jesus? Henry Manning said, "A habit of devout fellowship with God is the spring of all our life, and the strength of it." That's what Jesus brought for those disciples that day - a spring and strength to life. Thomas missed it. We must not!
II. Thomas missed the fellowship with Christian friends.
There were people there who could bolster Thomas' emotions and encourage his heart by listening to his heartache. Strength often comes in numbers and there were nine others there ready to help him ... but Thomas was missing. Barbara Hargrove, commenting on the program of local parishes, wrote that the "... (the program) is probably least effective when it concentrates on ... groups of members who are segregated on the basis of age, sex, marital status, or whatever is the latest form of dividing the people up. It probably is most effective ... when it takes advantage of the fact that it is one of the few social groupings in today's society which spans three or more generations, to involve the young with the old who are visible evidence of their history, and the old with the young who embody the future" (Albert M. Wells, Jr., Inspiring Quotations, Nashville: Thomas Nelson, 1988, p. 41).
We must be ready to be involved in fellowship with other Christians so that we can be a "mutual admiration society" ready to lift each other up in common unity. Don't be missing!
III. Thomas missed the Master's blessing.
When Jesus mystically appears, He brings greetings to those poor lost souls. He repeats His greeting in verses 19 and 21, indicating a significant saying. Between the two greetings Jesus shows them the scars in His hands and side, indicating that it is really Him. He is saying that yes, He had died, but death, hell, and the grave could not hold Him, for now He is alive! The peace He brings is for the pardoned sinner and the peace He gives is for the one who would accept His offer. Can you imagine the joy that flooded the hearts and spirits of those disciples who received the Master's blessing? But, Thomas is missing! Jesus comes to bring a radiant joy into the hearts of anyone who would accept His sacrificial offering of death now transformed into resurrection life! It truly is joy unspeakable in the core spirit of believers. Don't be missing!
IV. Thomas missed the commissioning to serve.
Jesus tells them in verse 21 that as the Father has sent Him into the world He is now sending them ... but Thomas was missing.
Elton Trueblood challenged the church: "If Christianity is to be understood not as a retreat from life in the world but as an effort to transfigure life itself, it follows that the Church needs the service of men and women at the point where they are most exposed to the problems of our political and economic order ... The older idea was that the lay members were the pastor's helpers, but the new and vital idea is that the pastor is the helper of the ordinary lay members in the performance of their daily ministry in the midst of their secular life (Elton Trueblood, The Company of the Committed, pp. 62--63).
It is a working, cooperative, massive business that we are engaged in serving others! Don't miss the opportunity to serve, because Jesus commissioned us to do just that today.
The truth is that Thomas was no more skeptical than the others had been before they had seen the Lord in His risen state. He was as Charles Erdman called him "an honest doubter." He loved Jesus. The great part of this story is that the next time Jesus appears, Thomas is there. If Jesus gives you a second chance ... don't be absent.
Derl G. Keefer
One, Jesus embodied God's love. Jesus said, "A new commandment I give you: Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another. All men will know that you are my disciples if you love one another" (John 13:34--35). John records these words of Jesus: "Greater love has no one than this, that one lay down his life for friends" (John 15:13).
Jesus is our model of love. He characterized his three years of ministry by demonstrating love. He left a legacy of love for his followers. It is a legacy unequaled by anyone, at anytime. We do our ministries a favor if we allow His love to mold our ministry. Kennon Callahan has said, "... the foundation of leading is love. People long for and look for a pastor who puts people first, who cares more about helping them with their lives than about the survival of an institution or the growth of an organization. People growth is more helpful than church growth" (A New Beginning for Pastors and Congregations, San Francisco: Jossey--Bass, 1999, p. 36).
Two, Jesus exercised the privilege of prayer. He taught His disciples by saying:
This is how you should pray: Our Father in heaven, hallowed be your name, your kingdom come, your will be done on earth as it is in heaven. Give us today our daily bread. Forgive us our debts, as we also have forgiven our debtors. And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from the evil one (Matthew 6:9--13 NIV).
It was Jesus who modeled prayer at the most crucial moment in his ministry, when He faced crucifixion. Matthew records these words: "Going a little farther, he fell with his face to the ground and prayed, 'My Father, if it is possible, may this cup be taken from me. Yet not as I will, but as you will,' " (Matthew 26:39).
Nothing will take the place of prayer and no exercise of the soul and heart will improve upon prayer. If Jesus saw the necessity of prayer for His ministry, how much more do you and I need prayer for our ministries?
Three, Jesus modeled compassion. When Jesus encountered two blind men sitting by the roadside, desiring to be healed, He ignored the cries of the crowd to pass them by. Instead, "Jesus stopped and called them. 'What do you want me to do for you?' He asked. 'Lord,' they answered, 'we want our sight.' Jesus had compassion on them and touched their eyes. Immediately they received their sight and followed Him" (Matthew 20:32--34 NIV).
A world which needs our ministry will welcome compassion. We would do well to read the Gospels frequently, to see how compassion characterized the life of our Lord. It is a model for our ministries.
Four, Jesus modeled servanthood. He washed the feet of the disciples and it was this Jesus who said "... whoever wants to become great among you must be your servant, and whoever wants to be first must be your slave - just as the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many" (Matthew 20:26--28 NIV).
Servanthood is the way of Jesus. It is making a comeback in the business area after a long absence. The "every man for himself" is giving way, somewhat, to a servant style of leadership. Servanthood for Jesus was a lifestyle. It was built into His character. It was a valued principle of Jesus.
Our ministries must be characterized by servant--styles. We must not seek to gain at the expense of others, nor to win at another's loss. Jesus said, "If anyone wants to be first, he must be the very last, and the servant of all" (Mark 9:35 NIV).
These four tools for ministry come out of the life of Jesus. The One who has called us to ministry desires the best and highest for us. Max Lucado writes: "God loves you just the way you are, but he refuses to leave you that way. He wants you to be just like Jesus" (Just Like Jesus, Word Publishing, 1998, p. 3). The challenge for our ministries is to be just like Jesus!
C. Neil Strait
April 7, 2002 Second Sunday Of Easter
WORSHIP HELPS
CALL TO WORSHIP
"Listen to me today," says God. "If you who call yourselves godly will humble yourselves and commit to spend time with me on a regular basis and turn your backs on unholy ways, I will forgive your sins and bring healing to your land." (Based on 2 Chronicles 7:14)
OFFERING THOUGHT
Revival touches not only the heart, but the pocketbook as well.
BENEDICTION
May the God who brings renewal to your hearts go with you today and stir the chords of evangelism, so that you may share the tidings of Good News with everyone you meet.
SERMON BRIEFS
It's Revival We Need
Acts 2:14a, 22--32
G. B. F. Hallock seventy years ago told about waiting on a train in a railroad station in the heart of London, England. He said that the station was filled with people watching for the train to arrive. Unacquainted with the system, he wondered why the folks were not anxious about whether the train would arrive early or late. He mentioned that to one of the waiting passengers. The man said, "You see that large bell? In a little while you will hear that bell ring because when the train is five miles away, it will run over a valve in the tracks and it will set that bell in motion." In a few minutes it began to ring violently, and instantly the crowd became excited and began elbowing their way to the front of the lines in anticipation of the train's arrival.
Over the past several years I have been hearing people express that there is a stirring in their hearts about the return of Jesus. What we need is a revival, a spiritual focus, that will alert the people of our world to the anticipated arrival of Christ to take His people to heaven.
I. Revival is renewal.
Revival's renewal must start down deep within the reservoirs of people's desire. There must be a wanting to do God's will and to follow God's guidance. Obedience becomes the password for those longing to follow the will and ways of God. It can begin in a group setting like a church. People are thirsty for the presence of God. Renewal can begin in individuals who are surrendered to Him and who undertake their renewal as the power and baptism of the Spirit.
James Hamby wrote, "The Holy Ghost did not fall upon the Upper Room until they had prayed and sought God for ten long days. Daniel did not receive the outline of Israel's history from God's messenger until his twenty--first day of prayer and fasting. Saul, who later became Paul, did not receive sight for his blinded eyes until he had prayed and fasted for three days. There never has been and there never will be such a thing as spontaneous revival. Revival did not come like that in Bible times, and it will not come like that today. We may never know who prayed the revival down, but if it comes, you can be sure that somewhere a hungry soul sought God" (Albert M. Wells, Jr., Inspiring Quotations, Nashville: Thomas Nelson Publishers, 1988, p. 171).
Are you hungry enough to wait on the Lord and seek His face to bring a revival to your spirit and the world around you?
II. Revival is reaching outward.
Revival is more than words; it is an act of faith. When the Spirit renews our hearts, a holy desire seizes us and we want to reach out to others both materially and spiritually. On the spiritual side it is sharing Jesus with people around us. We call that evangelism. Bill Bright writes that many Christians in America have lost their sense of an awesome holy God. Their knowledge of His divine attributes of love, power, wisdom, grace, etc., have been lost or misplaced. "Vast numbers of church members do not know that He is present, active, available, and knowable to them. According to numerous surveys, fifty percent of the hundred million who attend church each Sunday have no assurance of their salvation. And 95 percent are not familiar with the person and ministry of the Holy Spirit. Only two percent of believers in America regularly share their faith in Christ with others" (Bill Bright, The Coming Revival, Orlando: New Life Publications, 1995, p. 65).
If we are actively reaching outward to the lost through evangelism, something dynamic will begin to happen. I believe that moral values, social behavior and concern, cultural activities, lifestyles, and decisions will be made based on Christ and His agenda for life. Serving will become a priority in the heart and life of the Christian who has been renewed through the Spirit. Looking for opportunities to serve others initiates from a heart sold out to Jesus.
Chuck Swindoll quotes Billy Graham when he says, "The evangelistic harvest is always urgent. The destiny of men and of nations is always being decided. Every generation is strategic. We are not responsible for the past generation, and we cannot bear the full responsibility for the next one; but we do have our generation. God will hold us responsible as to how well we fulfill our responsibilities to this age and take advantage of our opportunities" (Charles Swindoll, Strengthening Your Grip, Waco: Word Books, 1982, p. 235).
Our generation is waiting for someone to reach outward and bring it back to the center of real life - Jesus!
III. Revival is Jesus.
Peter expressed to the crowd that the patriarch David prophetically spoke of the resurrection of the Christ who was Jesus of Nazareth. Without Jesus, life has no meaning or direction. Peter and the other 119 disciples on the day of Pentecost boldly proclaimed that Jesus had come into the world and had done some glorious things on their behalf.
A. Jesus in His lifetime performed miracles and wonders.
B. Jesus was crucified for the sins of the world.
C. Jesus died so that they might have life.
D. Jesus was resurrected to demonstrate the power of God.
E. Jesus will forgive anyone who will ask Him into their life.
F. Jesus will abide with those who invite Him to stay.
G. Jesus will give eternal life real meaning to anyone who wants it.
A young child was taken to an art gallery by his mom and saw the picture Holman Hunt painted titled Light of the World. The boy looked at the picture intently and could not understand why the person on the other side of the door refused to let the kind, loving, patient man inside. He observed the nail--pierced hand and the thorn--crowned brow. He realized that if admitted the man would do no harm, only good. After many minutes of silence, he looked into his mother's face and asked, "Mother, why don't they let him in?"
That's the eternal question ... "Why don't we let him in?" Revival is letting Jesus into the heart for salvation's sake.
Derl G. Keefer
Are YOU Missing?
John 20:19--31
The Sanhedrin felt smug and confident about the crucifixion of Jesus of Nazareth. The panic--stricken disciples thought they might be next on the crucifixion list. They went into hiding behind closed doors in the Upper Room where they had their last meal with Jesus. Each squeak of the floor sent terror streaking through their bodies, as they feared it might be the soldiers from the Sanhedrin. As they met together to formulate a plan, they were surprised when the risen Jesus appeared in their midst without warning! Christ gave them the common eastern greeting of the day, "Peace be with you."
During their time together Jesus talked and the disciples listened. Ten of the original twelve were present at the meeting. Judas had committed spiritual and physical suicide and was gone. The other was alone somewhere in his own spiritual hell, scared and isolated. His absence from the group caused him to miss the exciting return and encouragement of Jesus.
There are some things that Thomas missed, and if we aren't careful we, too, can miss them if we absent ourselves from the friends of Jesus.
I. Thomas missed the fellowship with Jesus.
We don't know where Thomas was, but undoubtedly he was contemplating the events of the week. Jesus had come to interpret the events to his disciples ... but Thomas was missing. While Thomas was alone and in despair, Jesus had come to drive away the feelings of aloneness and to bring comfort and cheer ... but Thomas was missing. While Thomas was gone wishing to talk with Jesus and to share his concern and heartache, Jesus was with the group blessing them with His holy presence ... but Thomas was missing.
What about us? Are we missing the wonderful things that Jesus offers His people? Are we relying on ourselves or on the resurrected Jesus? Henry Manning said, "A habit of devout fellowship with God is the spring of all our life, and the strength of it." That's what Jesus brought for those disciples that day - a spring and strength to life. Thomas missed it. We must not!
II. Thomas missed the fellowship with Christian friends.
There were people there who could bolster Thomas' emotions and encourage his heart by listening to his heartache. Strength often comes in numbers and there were nine others there ready to help him ... but Thomas was missing. Barbara Hargrove, commenting on the program of local parishes, wrote that the "... (the program) is probably least effective when it concentrates on ... groups of members who are segregated on the basis of age, sex, marital status, or whatever is the latest form of dividing the people up. It probably is most effective ... when it takes advantage of the fact that it is one of the few social groupings in today's society which spans three or more generations, to involve the young with the old who are visible evidence of their history, and the old with the young who embody the future" (Albert M. Wells, Jr., Inspiring Quotations, Nashville: Thomas Nelson, 1988, p. 41).
We must be ready to be involved in fellowship with other Christians so that we can be a "mutual admiration society" ready to lift each other up in common unity. Don't be missing!
III. Thomas missed the Master's blessing.
When Jesus mystically appears, He brings greetings to those poor lost souls. He repeats His greeting in verses 19 and 21, indicating a significant saying. Between the two greetings Jesus shows them the scars in His hands and side, indicating that it is really Him. He is saying that yes, He had died, but death, hell, and the grave could not hold Him, for now He is alive! The peace He brings is for the pardoned sinner and the peace He gives is for the one who would accept His offer. Can you imagine the joy that flooded the hearts and spirits of those disciples who received the Master's blessing? But, Thomas is missing! Jesus comes to bring a radiant joy into the hearts of anyone who would accept His sacrificial offering of death now transformed into resurrection life! It truly is joy unspeakable in the core spirit of believers. Don't be missing!
IV. Thomas missed the commissioning to serve.
Jesus tells them in verse 21 that as the Father has sent Him into the world He is now sending them ... but Thomas was missing.
Elton Trueblood challenged the church: "If Christianity is to be understood not as a retreat from life in the world but as an effort to transfigure life itself, it follows that the Church needs the service of men and women at the point where they are most exposed to the problems of our political and economic order ... The older idea was that the lay members were the pastor's helpers, but the new and vital idea is that the pastor is the helper of the ordinary lay members in the performance of their daily ministry in the midst of their secular life (Elton Trueblood, The Company of the Committed, pp. 62--63).
It is a working, cooperative, massive business that we are engaged in serving others! Don't miss the opportunity to serve, because Jesus commissioned us to do just that today.
The truth is that Thomas was no more skeptical than the others had been before they had seen the Lord in His risen state. He was as Charles Erdman called him "an honest doubter." He loved Jesus. The great part of this story is that the next time Jesus appears, Thomas is there. If Jesus gives you a second chance ... don't be absent.
Derl G. Keefer
