To Life

I'm trying to get caught up on posting sermons. I guess I preached this one from just an outline. I couldn't find a transcript. Maybe I'll eventually get around to doing an actual blog post... probably not.


Click on the title for audio
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To Life - 4/8/2012 

·       Ever been told something unbelievable?

·       I’ll believe it when I see it!

·       Seeing is believing. Sometimes it’s not.

·       John – Resurrection – Mary to tomb. Empty.

·       Peter & “other disciple” come. Go home.

·       Mary remains weeping. Sees gardener. Where is Jesus? It is Jesus. Goes to tell disciples.

·       John 20:19-31

·       Thomas gets a bad rap.

·       Doubting Thomas. Lacking faith. Sing songs.

·       He’s not the only doubter.

·       Mary. Empty tomb. Peter, John. Don’t get it.

·       Mary sees Jesus and tells disciples.

·       They lock themselves in a room that night.

·       Appears. Speaks. Shows scars. Then believe.

·       A week later. Back in a locked room.

·       Fear returned. Why? Doubt?

·       Thomas asks what the others had already seen.

·       Doubting Thomas? Doubting 12.

·       Thomas is not the only doubter. All doubt.

·       Mary. Peter & John. 12. Thomas. You and me.

·       John’s Gospel written 90 AD. Witnesses dead.

·       Message is, you can believe, too.

·       “Blessed are those who have not seen yet have come to believe.”

·       All of us have heard and not seen. Experienced. But not seen. We are blessed to believe.

·       More of a message.

·       Jesus comes. Doubt. Jesus returns. Doubt.

·       Our doubts don’t scare Jesus away.

·       Jesus has a very special love for you. As for me, the silence and the emptiness is so great that I look and do not see, listen and do not hear.
— Mother Teresa to Michael Van Der Peet. ‘79

·       Faith, not lack of doubt. Believing w/ doubt.

·       In spite of lack of faith – Disciples to apostle.

·       Those who follow become those who are sent.

·       Jesus comes with gifts.

·       Peace – calms fear & doubt. 3 times.

·       Purpose. – Go make disciples. Tell good news. Sent as Father sent me. Show God’s love.

·       Power – H.S. emboldened. Empowered.

·       Resurrection people. Easter people. Means?

·       Not living behind locked doors. Get out.

·       Can’t stay locked behind doors. Locked inside.

·       Sharing God’s love. We have a purpose.

·       Confident. Empowered by H.S.

·       Thomas had doubts. Thomas also had faith.

·        Answers John’s riddle. Beginning word became flesh.

·       My Lord. My God. Easter people know and follow.