Sermons From My Heart

A newspaper reporter went to interview a successful small business owner. “How did you do it?” he asked. “How did you make all this money?”

“I’m glad you asked,” the businessman said. “It’s a great story. When my wife and I married, we started out with a roof over our heads, some food in our pantry, and five cents between us. I took that nickel, went down to the grocery store, bought an apple, shined it up, and sold it for ten cents. “

“What did you do then?” the reporter asked.

“Well,” he said, “I bought two more apples, shined them up, and sold them for twenty cents.” The reporter thought this would be a great human interest story, so he asked excitedly, “Then what?” The businessman replied, “Then my father-in-law died and left us $20 million”.

The businessman prospered not because of his own ingenuity, but because he was connected. What does it mean to be connected? Well, it means three things. First, it means that we have power. When we say we have connections, it means that we have access to power and wealth. It means that we can get things done. When we are connected to each other through our faith in Jesus Christ, it means that we are strong and can get things done. Our faith gets nourishment and strength from both Christ and our fellow believers. As our faith strengthens, it bears fruit in the form of bringing benefit to ourselves and to the lives of others while doing God’s work in the world.

The second thing that being connected means is that we have a presence. We are not alone. Someone shares our lives. Someone is there for us, just like all of you are here for each other. If we abide with Christ, it means that we have a close, daily relationship with him. Thus, we become a branch of the vine called Christianity-a branch that bears fruit. As such, our wants will be his wants, we will pray according to his words, and he will be pleased with our prayers.

Finally, being connected means is that we will live a productive life. A vine and its fruit point to the giftedness of discipleship while also indicating the substance that will sustain new branches and abundant fruit. The relationship between the vine and the branches, as well as the connection between source and fruit, lies in the love between God and Jesus, and between Jesus and us. In other words, we are to love one another as Christ has loved us

We can only be grafted to Christ by cutting our attachment to our way of life and its creature comforts just like a gardener prunes bushes to make then grow better. The useless branches have to be removed in order to save and strengthen the stronger ones, much like a surgeon cuts off a person’s diseased limbs in order to save his or her life. Only then can we truly be fruitful and multiply.

“Mom, there he is! Grab the bag!” Sophia pressed her nose against the glass of the car window as Mom smiled and handed the man on the corner a bag filled with food and treats.

The man smiled and said, “God bless you!” as he accepted the free gift.

Whenever they went out, Mom, Sophia, and Dustin would bring a bag of food for anyone they saw who was in need. They would pray for the person after they received their bag.

“Dear God,” Dustin prayed, “please help this man have enough food to fill him up today and give him a warm place to sleep tonight. Most of all, if he doesn’t know You, I pray that he would open up his heart to you. Amen.”

“I bet he will love those chocolate chip banana muffins that we made!” Sophia said with a grin.

Dustin laughed. “Yeah, good thing we went out today. There might not have been any left if we hadn’t–they were so tasty!”

Mom grinned. “You both are eating so much these days, it’s like you have hollow legs!”

Sophia grew quiet as she looked out her window. “Mom? Do you think that man knows what love is?”

“Do you remember the verse we wrote down and put in the bag for him?” Mom asked.

“Yeah! First John 3:16: ‘This is how we know what love is: Jesus Christ laid down his life for us.'”

“Exactly right,” Mom answered. “Do you know the rest of that verse? It says, ‘And we ought to lay down our lives for our brothers and sisters.'”

“We can’t die for people every day!” Dustin reasoned.

Mom laughed. “No, we can’t. But we can let our words and actions tell others that Jesus loved them enough to die for them. We not only need to tell people about God’s love, but we also need to show it in the way we act toward others.”

“So I guess that man does know what love is, because we showed him!” Sophia said excitedly.

“Hey, Mom?” Dustin asked as they pulled into their driveway. “After we unload the groceries, will you show us the love of Jesus by making us more muffins?”

In 1 John 3:16-24, John is reassuring his readers. They are facing the problem of their basic relationship with Jesus. They are being influenced by false teachers. These teachers wanted to create an overall feeling of inadequacy on the part of Christians. This made the Christians receptive to teachings that contradicted the teachings of the Gospel.

These false teachers taught false ideas about the faith. John reassured his readers that because we are children of God and because He loves us, we can safely leave our futures in His hands. God has forgiven us. Jesus is that forgiveness. He offers us salvation by costly love. What He said and what He did are inseparable. Our ethics must also be the ethics of word and work. They must be inseparable.

Believers who want to obey and please God have tender consciences. Sometimes these consciences condemn us, but we must remember that we are children of God. The sin in our lives will be brought to light when we kneel before God. He will convict us of any hidden sins. We should want to obey and please God, and we should be glad when our consciences are sensitive to God. He might pierce our hearts, but we can take joy because we are children of God.

One of my ex-girlfriends once told me that true love means caring for someone else more than you care for yourself. Christian love is a good example of true love. Christian love is self-sacrificing and self-giving. It expresses itself in sacrificial giving to other Christians’ needs. This leads to confidence about the Christian’s relationship with God.

As believers, we can’t just sit back and do nothing. We can’t use our circumstances as an excuse to just sit around and do nothing. We have to get involved in His purposes. We are to serve God by spending our days doing good for others.

As Jesus exemplified, love always involves sacrifice, sometimes even unto death. Claiming to love others is easy, but true love translates into actions. Christians who love others are willing to give of themselves in costly ways. Christian love involves being Christ-like. Jesus had unlimited power, but He chose to live a simple life, teaching about God and heaven and investing in the lives of those who would continue His work. He gave up His privileges and His dignity in order to bring salvation to us. It makes us think: “What are we doing in our lives?”

One of the ways we serve God is by serving those in need. God often uses us to fulfill needs and answer prayers. As we serve others, our own hearts are encouraged as we encourage people and serve. As a result, our own faith will grow as God equips us for serving in new ways. The Bible promises again and again that God answers prayer. However, the statement “whatever we ask we receive” does not imply that if people just pray hard enough, they can have whatever they want. Their requests must be in line with God’s will, and they must be in a right relationship with God, as evidenced by their desire to do whatever pleases Him.

Some people say, “I’ll die for you,” but we do not always have to do this literally. Living sacrificially is a real death to self. It’s a killing of our selfishness and our own desires. To die for others, to live for others is a gift of love that can only come from God.

Our actions will speak louder than any words we will ever speak. When we call ourselves Christians, we are opening up our lives for inspection, and our lives become active witnesses for Jesus. People will respond to our good deeds and thoughtful acts of caring. In fact, people will want to know more about Jesus as our deeds prove to them that our faith is more than just talk.

For example, one morning shortly after the end of World War II, a soldier was making his way back to his barracks in London. As he turned the corner, he saw a little boy with his nose pressed to the window of a pastry shop. Inside the cook was kneading dough for a fresh batch of doughnuts. The boy stared in silence, watching every move.

The soldier walked quietly over to where the boy was standing. Through the steamed-up window he could see the mouth-watering morsels that were being pulled from the oven, piping hot. The boy’s mouth watered and released a slight groan as he watched the cook place them onto the glass-enclosed counter ever so carefully.

The soldier’s heart went out to the boy as he stood behind him. “Son, would you like some of those?” The boy said, “uh, yeah…I would!”

The soldier went inside and bought a dozen doughnuts, put them in a bag, and walked back to where the boy was standing. He smiled, held out the bag and said, “Here you are.” As he turned to walk away, he felt a tug on his coat. He looked back and heard the boy say quietly, “Mister…are you God?”

When we obey God and live a life that pleases God, we can be sure that we will receive what we ask for if it fits within His plan for our lives. God’s Word is His will. That’s why we have to make His Word the number one priority in our lives. When we keep God’s promises in our hearts and minds, it changes and shapes our characters. It makes our thoughts and desires in line with God’s thoughts and desires. Just as Christ grew inside of Mary until He had to come out, He will grow in us until He comes out of us. He will come out in our speech, our actions, and our decisions.

John writes to assure our hearts, provide confidence toward God and help his spiritual children know that Christ lives in them. Their lives are different because the Holy Spirit is working in and through them. With the words, “by this we know,” John assures all believers that they undoubtedly belong to God and are bound to heaven.

Sincere love hates evil and rebellion against God. It shows genuine appreciation and honour for others. It compels us to give to others who are in need even if it means sacrifice on our part. Sincere love is not selective but extends to people we find unlovable. It produces compassion that commiserates and celebrates with others. This kind of love may sound impossible to maintain, and in our human strength it is impossible to maintain. As Paul says in Romans 13:8, we could never pay our continuing debt to love one another, but God gives us the resources we need to make our payments.

If generosity became a way of life for the churches we attend, what would it look like? Widows, single parents and children of divorce would benefit from love that is expressed in practical and relational ways. Programs would focus on bringing the healing message of Christ to broken hearts. Every churchgoer would feel valued for his or her gifts and encouraged to use those gifts. New ministries would develop as members saw opportunities to express God’s love to those in need. When we please God by helping others we are gifted with the Spirit of quiet hearts, peaceful minds, mouths full of praise and hands that help.

Bibliography

1. Jeremiah, David: The Jeremiah Study Bible: New Kings James Version (Brentwood, TN: Worthy Publishing; 2013; p. 1812)
2. Savannah Corkum, “Even Muffins Matter.” Retrieved from info@keysforkids.org
3. Palmer, E.F. & Ogilvie, L.J.: The Preacher’s Commentary Series, Vol. 35: 1,2 & 3 John/Revelation (Nashville, TN: Thomas Nelson Inc.; 1982; pp. 49-62)
4. Stanley, C.F.: The Charles F. Stanley Life Principles Bible: New King James Version (Nashville, TN: Nelson Bibles; 2005)
5. MacArthur, J.F. Jr.: The MacArthur Study Bible: New American Standard Bible (Nashville, TN: Thomas Nelson Publishers; 2006)
6. Pastor Allen Jackson, “Pause to Consider.” Retrieved from contact@allenjackson.com
7. Jim Burns, “Actions Speak Louder than Words.” Retrieved from www.homeword.com
8. Cindy Hess Kasper, “Relentless Love.” Retrieved from donotreply@email.rbc.org
9. Joni Eareckson Tada, “I’d Die for You.” Retrieved from response@joniandfriends.org
10. Max Lucado, “He Lives Within You.” Retrieved from www.maxlucado.com
11. “How You Can Live with an Attitude of Action.” Retrieved from Crosswalk@crosswalkmail.com
12. Joel Osteen, “Confidence to Receive.” Retrieved from devotional@goto.joelosteen.com
13. Michael Youssef, Ph.D., “Love in Action.” Retrieved from mydevotional@leadingtheway.org
14. Gary Chapman, “A Church That Cares.” Retrieved from Oneplace@crosswalkmail.com

John 10:11-18 is part of a longer discourse in which Jesus tells his disciples and us that he is the way to heaven and eternal life. In this passage he explains this concept by comparing himself to a shepherd. The image of a shepherd was one that was common among members of his audience. Palestine was more of a pastoral region than an agricultural region, so shepherds were very common. Sheep are quite dumb. They will follow anyone who leads them, even if it means that they will be led astray. A good shepherd watches out for his flock and protects them even to the point of sacrificing himself.

We, like sheep, are vulnerable and oblivious to the dangers around us. Like sheep, we live in a wilderness, and that wilderness is called our earthly lives. These earthly lives, with their emphases on putting ourselves first, shun the notion of putting off pleasure for the good of others. Our society emphasizes self-indulgence and shuns self-giving. In spite of this, there are people who are willing to give up something in exchange for something far greater. They sacrifice themselves for people they love and things they have faith in.  Sacrifice is a measure of their character and values. It proves the worth of their words and intentions.

There are many people in our world today who want to lead us. The question we have to ask ourselves is, “Who can we trust to lead us and not lead us astray?” We can’t trust politicians because they often make promises and don’t keep them. We can’t always trust ministers because they are human and are subject to human weaknesses unless they lead us in true faith. Ministers are replaceable. Most churches change their ministers every few years, especially if the minister is called to lead another flock. The minister must not be the one who makes us stay or go. Something even bigger must catch us, connect us and make us want to go deeper.

That something is the only one who we can trust to lead us. He is the only person who can back up his claims-Jesus. He accepts us as members of his flock. He gives us boundaries that will protect us. He gives us spiritual nourishment, rest, refreshment and joy. He gives himself away by laying down his life for us. He gives himself away to bring us closer to God. He protects us from Satan’s attempts to distract us while we are on our Christian walk of life. He gives our lives meaning and purpose. He is good all of the time. He will give us a rich life filled with purpose and true happiness. The eternal life he offers is absolutely wonderful and can never be diminished or taken away from us.

Jesus is our shepherd. He gave up the splendour and glory of heaven so that we could have the type of eternal life I referred to earlier. He protects us and guides us if we let him. He gave up his life on the cross so that we would have eternal life. In contrast, the religious leaders of Jesus’ day were nothing more than hired hands. They were poor shepherds. They were selfish, but Jesus was selfless. They abandoned the flock to save themselves, but Jesus laid down his life for the people. The religious leaders obeyed their own lusts, but Jesus completely obeyed his Father. The religious leaders cared only about themselves and their “chosen ones”, but Jesus was for everyone, even people who had not heard the good news-people such as the Samaritans and the Gentiles.

Our lives have a rhythm. We can feel when the rhythm is good. Everything is going well, and everything works together. We can also feel it when our lives are out of rhythm. They are forced. We feel drained. We ask ourselves why life is so hard. Jesus the good shepherd tells us that he came to show us how to live a life that is in sync with God. Like a good shepherd, Jesus came to show us the very best way to live the life God wants us to lead. 

A good shepherd has three outstanding characteristics:

1. He has love and compassion.
2. He knows each of his sheep by name.
3. He places his body between sheep and vicious animals. He will die protecting the sheep.

Jesus has all three of these characteristics in abundance. His love and compassion are outstanding. He knows all of his people by name. He knows the weak and the strong, the stubborn and the submissive, the hurts and needs of every sheep. He sacrificed himself on the cross so that we could have eternal life.

Every day Jesus surrounds us with opportunities, challenges, difficulties and decisions…and his grace. Even more, he wants us to live that life to the fullest. We are not perfect people, but we can still have that abundant life. Because he gave up his life for us on the cross like a good shepherd, we can have that abundant life. We have forgiveness and eternity. We are not alone, because he is with us, and he will be with us for all eternity.

The image of a Good Shepherd is a comforting one. We can take comfort in the knowledge that Jesus loves us and cares for us. We, like sheep, are vulnerable to attack. A good shepherd will protect us from attack, whereas a hired hand will flee to protect himself. A good shepherd leads his flock to where it needs to go for food, shelter and protection. We, like sheep, know and trust the shepherd. We, like sheep, know every inflection of his voice, the way he leads us to pasture, and his courage in the face of danger.

Jesus will never desert us. He will always be with us. He comforts us. Our sins have been forgiven. We have been adopted into the family of faith. Our prayers will be heard. We will have help for our problems. All we have to do is submit to his word and respond to his message in faith. That involves being thankful for Jesus and all the good shepherds who try to follow him and do his good work.

Jesus leads us to where we need to go. He leads us to the green pastures of our heavenly home. He protects us from the devil’s attacks. He laid down his life for us on the cross. The image of the good shepherd is a sign of Jesus’ divinity. The sacrificial lamb overcame Satan’s power. It turned the earthly view of power upside down.

Jesus is not an intermediary. He represents God’s love and our positive response. Jesus’ death reveals God’s love to us and our response to that love. We are called on to be shepherds, witnesses of God’s love. That love sustains us and the world. It also protects us and suffers with us. We are called on to show that love. That love encourages us to care for others, especially those who are suffering. It calls on us to move from words to action.

We are to care for others as God has cared for us. We are to work for their safety and security. We are not to refuse to help. We are to support others in using their own best instincts. If we do, we honour the Good Shepherd who leads us and cares for us.

We are called on to continue Jesus’s work. We are called on to be shepherds, witnesses of God’s love. We are to be there for each other. We are to care for and support one another. We must put ourselves in the path of evil when necessary. We are to go out and encourage other non-Christians and non-believers to join the flock, just like Jesus and other Christians encouraged us to join the flock. We are to guide Christ’s sheep, especially if we are in positions of leadership within the church. In other words, we are to be good shepherds ourselves, and with faith in Jesus we will be able to overcome any barriers that would otherwise hinder us in this task.

Bibliography

1. Swindoll, Charles R.: Swindoll’s New Testament Insights on John (Grand Rapids, MI: Zondervan; 2010)
2. Jeremiah, David: The Jeremiah Study Bible, NKJV (Brentwood, TN: Worthy Publishing; 2013)
3. George Hermanson, “Saying and Doing.” Retrieved from www.georgehermanson.com/2009/05/saying-and-doing-year-b-easter-4-sermon.html
4. Preaching Magazine, January/February 2015 (Nashville, TN: Salem Publishing; p. 64)
5. Pastor Ken Klaus, “A Very Real Gift.” Retrieved from lh_min@lhm.org
6. Pastor Ken Klaus, “Never Know.” Retrieved from lh_min@lhm.org
7. Mike DeVries, “Rhythm.” Retrieved from www.homeword.com
8. Dr. Neil Anderson, “Your Journey toward Christ.” Retrieved from Christianity.com@crosswalkmail.com
9. Anne Graham Lotz, “Because He Lives.” Retrieved from angelmin.info@angelministries.org
10. Frederikson, R.L. & Ogilvie, L.J.: The Preacher’s Commentary Series, Vol. 27: John (Nashville, TN: Thomas Nelson Inc.; 1985)
11. Pastor Ken Klaus, “An Act of Valor.” Retrieved from lh_min@lhm.org
12. George Hermanson, “Saying and Doing.” Retrieved from www.georgehermanson.com/2009/05/saying-and-doing-year-b-easter-4-sermon.html
13. F. Dean Leuking, “Shepherding.” Retrieved from http://www.religion-online.org/showarticle.asp?title=680
14. Lucy Lind Hogan, “Commentary on John 10:11-18.” Retrieved from http://www.workingpreacher.org/preaching.aspx?commentary_id=1239
15. The Rev. Dr. Laura Mendenhall, “Led from Behind.” Retrieved from http://day1.org/682=led_from_behind.print
16. Exegesis for John 10:11-18. Retrieved from www.lectionary.org

Good morning boys and girls!

How many of you have pets? I had three cats at my house a few years ago. One was a sixteen-year-old male named Rusty because he was rust-coloured. My family also called him Tubby because he was fat. He loved to eat, and he loved begging for food whenever anyone was in the kitchen. He also loved to explore the house and the yard, especially the basement.

We also had his sister, and her name was Mama. She was usually very quiet and slept most of the time-usually outside my bedroom door. The third one was a four-year-old male name Bo. He loved to stir up trouble, especially with Rusty. Sometimes I had to take a squirt bottle filled with water and let him have it………although one time I had to use a glass that was half-filled with water.

All three of them were a big responsibility, just like all pets are a big responsibility, but everyone in the family loved them. They had to have lots of food and water. They had to be kept cleaned and taken to the veterinarian when they were sick. They needed someone to care for them.

People also need someone to take care of them. Who takes care of you? Jesus also looks after us, and he tells how and why he cares for us in John 10:11-18. Jesus referred to himself as the good shepherd so that the people would know what he was talking about. Jesus was preaching in Palestine, and sheep were quite common in that area. Sheep are not very smart though. They were easy prey for animals such as bears, foxes or coyotes. They needed someone to protect them from harm and to lead them to fresh grass to eat. They needed someone who would be willing to die to protect the sheep. That person is a shepherd. Let me explain what a shepherd does by telling you a story about a boy named Seth.

“Mr. Markley,” Seth said after class one morning, “in our lesson, why did Jesus call Himself a good shepherd?”

Seth was new in the class. His home was in Texas, and he didn’t usually go to Sunday school. But he was spending a few weeks with his grandparents, and they took him to Sunday school. He liked it very much. Seth grinned at his Sunday school teacher now. “I’d like it better if Jesus said, ‘I am the good cowboy!’ We have lots of cowboys back home. I’m going to be one someday!”

Mr. Markley laughed. “I know you love your Texas ranch, Seth,” he replied, “but Jesus knew what He was saying when He compared Himself to a shepherd rather than a cowboy. Tell me–what does a cowboy do?”

“Aw, that’s easy.” Seth’s eyes lit up. “He drives the cattle where he wants them to go. They used to do it on horseback, but now they use pickup trucks a lot. Sometimes they even use helicopters! That’s what I want to do!”

“Well, how about sheep?” asked Mr. Markley, “How do you get sheep to go where you want them to go? Do you drive them, too–with a horse or truck or helicopter?”

Seth grinned. “I don’t really know a lot about sheep. I just know they used to always need a shepherd to take care of them. Otherwise, I guess they wandered away and got lost or got into trouble. I think they’re kind of dumb. That’s why I’d rather have . . .”

Mr. Markley held up a hand. “Wait a minute,” he said. “Think about the way people act, and maybe you’ll see why Jesus compared Himself to a shepherd. Do you think maybe we’re more like sheep than cattle? Most people don’t mind following a good leader, but they don’t like to be forced to go any particular way.”

“I guess that’s true,” acknowledged Seth.

Mr. Markley nodded. “God doesn’t force us to go His way–like a cowboy would drive the cattle. God is like a loving shepherd, ready to help us and lead us. Without Him, we’re lost and just wander around.”

“I think I get it,” said Seth, “and I guess I’ll be learning more about that while I’m here, right?”Mr. Markley smiled and nodded.

Let’s bow our heads for a moment of prayer. Dear God, Thank you for being our Good Shepherd. Thank you for loving us and taking care of us. Thank you for laying down your life for us so that we can have eternal life with you in heaven. In Jesus’ name we pray, AMEN.

Bibliography

1. “The Good Shepherd.” Retrieved from http://sermons4kids.com/good_shepherd.htm
2. “Not a Cowboy.” Retrieved from newsletter@cbhministries.org
3. Real Life Devotional Bible (Grand Rapids, MI: Zonderkidz; 2008)

Acts 4:5-12 features a boldness characterized by the Holy Spirit, which shows up just in time of need. The passage recalls the words of Jesus in Luke 12:11-12: “When they bring you before the synagogues, the rulers and the authorities, do not worry about how you are to defend yourselves or what you are to say, for the Holy Spirit will teach you that very hour what you ought to say.” Both passages foresee how Jesus’ followers will respond. For example, Peter is filled with the Holy Spirit in Acts 4:8 and answers in a way that Acts 4:13 calls “boldness”.

The Sanhedrin, consisting of 71 members, included the rulers, elders and scribes and was the highest legislative and judicial body in Jerusalem. The Sanhedrin thought Peter, John and the beggar were on trial, but Jesus Christ was on trial again because He was the power behind the paralyzed man’s healing.  The message of the resurrection stirred the pot here. They didn’t fix their attention on one thing done by Peter. Instead, they framed an indefinite question. They hoped Peter would say something on which they might condemn him-the same hope they had every time they questioned Jesus. Their whole inquiry was rooted in the assumption that the Sanhedrin looked down at powerless idiots. The irony is that the powerless idiots had something that the members of the Sanhedrin didn’t-the name of Jesus, whom the Sanhedrin rejected, but now who has returned with power. The undeniable evidence against the Sanhedrin was a man who was once lame and was now walking.

The actions of the Sanhedrin show how power operates in the absence of truth. People in power, especially religious power, who have no concern for truth will follow a pattern when challenged:

1. Intimidation. They will use their authority to strike fear in the hearts of their opponents.
2. Tradition. They will invoke the long history of believing something and doing something a certain way.
3. Coercion. They will manipulate the behaviour of opponents by using threats, bribes, blackmail, flattery or death.

The Sanhedrin tried to use their authority to scare Peter. It’s not unusual for the enemies of Christianity to intimidate or scare Christians. Such attempts can only fail, because Christians draw strength from their faith in Christ. This strength helped Peter defend himself and launch into a sermon. This strength changed Peter. Nothing but the conviction of the truth could have caused this change.

The Book of Acts is our window into the lives of the early Christians, who were still fresh from their encounter with the Risen Christ-the one who dared them to live as if death didn’t have power over them anymore. Peter is Exhibit A. He sets an example for us of what it looks like to imitate Jesus in our everyday lives. When he spoke, the Holy Spirit took possession of Peter’s mind, emotions, will and body. Peter surrendered his life and opened himself to be a container and a transmitter of the living Spirit of God. Peter’s need to defend himself before the Sanhedrin brought forth the power the Holy Spirit infused in him.

The Holy Spirit is both sanctifier and strengthener. He helps us remember what God did and said. He gives us the gift of faith to believe. He enables us to grow in Christlike character. He equips us to be bold and fearless in times of trial.

Peter’s first point turned the tables. When he used the term, “whom you crucified,” he became the accuser instead of the accused. Peter noted that the Sanhedrin looked for something to be the cornerstone of the foundation of their faith, while rejecting the real cornerstone-Jesus. In fact, they tried to destroy this cornerstone by crucifying Jesus, but they only made it stronger when they unknowingly became part of God’s plan of salvation.

Through the life, death and resurrection of Jesus, we are reconciled to God. The cross was the final sacrifice for our sins. When we accept what Christ did for us, we are forgiven and set free of guilt and self-condemnation.

Peter’s speech testifies to a powerful reality: the once-muted church speaks because the dead don’t stay dead. Jesus may have been crucified, but God raised Him from the dead. Jesus is the beginning of the resurrection of the dead-the beginning of the Easter Resurrection that ends the settled order based on death. The dead don’t stay dead, so the rule of power and wealth has come to an end. A new creation is at hand.

The temple authorities put Jesus in the lowest place they could. He was given an outcast’s death outside the city walls. That was the ultimate in exclusion from the community, the ultimate in silence. But God raised Jesus to the place of highest honour and authority, at the very centre of God’s new community. Peter used the words of Psalm 118 to put the temple authorities on notice that in raising Jesus from the dead, God made him the cornerstone of a new temple with the only power under heaven to heal. Those who killed Jesus were ignorant of God’s plan. If they had known, they might not have done the deed. The builders referred to in Psalm 118 were identified either as those who do not believe, or Christians who had fallen away.

Peter warned the Sanhedrin that the healing of the lame man in the temple in the name of Jesus would have world-changing implications. The name of Jesus brings salvation, healing, wholeness and newness of life to those who believe. There are only two religious paths. The broad one is salvation by works, which leads to eternal death. The narrow one is based on faith in Jesus and leads to eternal life. Unfortunately for the Sanhedrin, they were on the broad path.

Peter explained the two conditions that must happen before people can be called children of God. The first is that we must receive Jesus. We must open the door of our hearts and invite Him to come in. The other is that we must believe in the name of Jesus. Salvation is only found in the perfect person and work of Jesus. When Jesus is with us, anyone who hears His Words with an open mind will find He is anything but boring. His words have not lost their passion. His actions have not lost their power.

Peter’s response in this passage from Acts expresses a bold declaration about the saving nature of Jesus. This bold declaration needs to be expressed today. Peter didn’t aim to exclude future religious movements, but his speech has been used throughout history to discriminate. Any time the name of Jesus is used to divide and not unite, to generate hatred and not love, to separate people instead of joining them together, His Name has been misused and profaned. The Spirit’s boldness empowered an emphasis that seemed to be necessary. We are no less in need of Spirit-driven boldness today so that the world will see us as companions of Jesus. This should encourage us to make other people look at us and wonder why we show hope, grace and joy.

A single route to salvation may sound strange to many people in our world today. It can provoke resistance and even scorn. Many people like to think that they are okay because they are not as bad as some others. The reality is that all of us are sinners. Arrogance plays no part in this declaration. It’s about humility, recognizing that we can do nothing to save ourselves. We depend totally on Christ for salvation. We can’t prove to an unbeliever that salvation can be found in Jesus alone, but we can show the joy and humility that only salvation in Christ brings to our lives.

Many people today buy into the false belief that all religions are the same. These people proclaim that all religions teach similar things, lead to the same God and have equally respectable founders. But did Buddha, Muhammed or Krishna rise from the dead? The answer is no. Only Jesus surprised the world when He rose from the dead, in great power and glory, so that everyone can know that He is the only one who guarantees our resurrection into eternal life. The evidence of Christ’s resurrection is overwhelming, but the devil has blinded the minds of unbelievers to keep them from seeing the glory of Christ and the Truth of the Gospel. When Jesus returns to judge the world, they will be in for a big surprise!

All of us are born under the curse and penalty of sin. There is only one way sin can be forgiven.

Why is there so little evidence of the use of the power of the name of Jesus in modern Christianity? Why do we wring our hands at the enormity of untouched human need in churches today? To answer these questions, we must ask ourselves the following questions:

1. Do we believe that Jesus was who He said He was?
2. Did he do the miraculous works of God recorded in the Gospels?
3. Do we accept that what He did as Jesus of Nazareth He continued to do through the apostles and the early church?
4. Is He ready and willing to do the same today in the new chapter of Acts being written in our time?
5. Are we open to the possibility that this can be an age of miracles if we dare to believe and pray adventuresomely in Jesus’ name?
6. What is it in me, or in my church, which has blighted our boldness with the blandness of expecting little and settling for it?

The reason for the decline of institutional Christianity in the western world today is that we have lost the “Christ-only” reason for living. We need Peter’s boldness to preach and teach, and then model with our living, that there is no other way. In Peter’s statement, he brushed aside nationalism, the sacrificial system of ancient Israel, and the compulsive complex set of rules and regulations of religion. Christ is all or not at all. Only Christ can save us. How often in our own lives do we appeal to an outside authority for an excuse to explain what we are not capable of doing ourselves? While Peter and John had the name of the resurrected Christ to support them, how much do we delight in invoking the name of someone else-namely Jesus-in order to fill our own needs to be appreciated? When do we call on the power of the risen Lord to fill us with the joy and glee of the Holy Spirit? In what way is the Spirit of the Risen Christ moving across our land, our churches today that are upsetting and unsettling to those in power?

In our day God’s power seems neither obvious nor disruptive. Our eyes don’t easily see God at work in the world. We confess that we are disciples-God’s work, our hands. How is our own short-sightedness preventing us from seeing God at work in the world? What might we see if we learned to see with different eyes? What might we lose? What might we gain?

Bibliography

1. Jeremiah, David: The Jeremiah Study Bible, New King James Version (Brentwood, TN: Worthy Publishing; 2013, p. 1492-1493)
2. A Commentary on the Acts of the Apostles, with a Revised Version of the Text. Part of Wordsearch 11 Bible software package.
3. Barnes’ Notes on the New Testament. Part of Wordsearch 11 Bible software package.
4. Ogilvie, L.J. & Ogilvie, L.J.: The Preacher’s Commentary Series, Vol. 28: Acts (Nashville, TN: Thomas Nelson Inc.; 1983; pp. 92-100)
5. MacArthur, J.F. Jr.: The MacArthur Study Bible: New American Standard Bible (Nashville, TN: Thomas Nelson Publishers; 2006)
6. Anne Graham Lotz, “Believe in His Name.” Retrieved from info@angelministries.org
7. Pastor Ken Klaus, “Good Teachers-One Saviour.” Retrieved from lh_min@lhm.org
8. Kurt Selles, “Salvation in No Other Name.” Retrieved from today@thisistoday.net
9. Paul Chappell, “The One Cure for Sin.” Retrieved from daily@dailyintheword.org
10. David Marker, “Bible Study: 4 Easter (B).” Retrieved from www.episcopaldigitalnetwork.com
11. The Rev. Dr. Steve Montgomery, “By What Power?” Retrieved from www.day1.org
12. Michael Youssef, Ph.D., “Surprised by the Only.” Retrieved from www.ltw.org
13. Troy Trodtgruben, “Commentary on Acts 4:5-12.”  Retrieved from www.workingpreacher.org/preaching.aspx?community_id=2388

1. Scott Hoezee, “Acts 4:5-12.” Retrieved from http://cep.calvinseminary.edu/sermon-starters/easter-4b-2/?type-old-testament-lectionary
2. Mitzi J. Smith, “Commentary on Acts 4:5-12.” Retrieved from www.workingpreacher.org/preaching.aspx?community_id=1250
3. Doug Lee, “The Parton Saint of the Tongue-tied.” Retrieved from www.ekklesiasiaproject.org/blog/2012/04/the-patron-saint-of-the-tongue-tied/
4. John Holbert, “A Fresh Wholeness: Reflections on Acts 4:5-12.” Retrieved from www.patheos.com/progressive-christian/fresh-wholeness-john-holbert-04-23-2012
5. F. Scott Spencer, “Commentary on Acts 4:5-12.” Retrieved from www.workingpreacher.org/preaching.aspx?community_id=301
6. “Left Behind and Loving It: The Most Misused Scripture on the World.” Retrieved from http://leftbehindandlovingit.blogspot.ca/2012/04/most-misused-scripture-in-world.html
7. Jeremiah, David: A.D.: The Bible Continues (Carol Stream, IL: Tyndale House Publishers Inc.; 2015; pp. 57-73)
8. Swindoll, Charles R.: Swindoll’s Living Insights New Testament Commentary: Acts (Carol Stream, IL: Tyndale House Publishers, Inc.; 2016; pp. 76-85)

Have you ever wondered how the disciples were able to accomplish so much after Jesus returned to heaven? The answer is revealed in the story of Peter and John and the healing of the lame man. We read what happened because of that healing in Acts 3:11-26.

Jesus worked through Peter and the Holy Spirit to heal the lame man. Jesus had two main purposes for healing the lame man:

1. He loved the lame man and released his healing power because of the compassion and concern in His heart.
2. He wanted the people to know that the movement he started when he was on earth was continuing through His disciples, in whom He was living through the Holy Spirit.

Peter directed the attention away from himself and toward Jesus. We as Christians are encouraged to follow the same pattern.

Faith was the secret of the lame man’s healing, and it is the secret of unlocking all power in heaven and earth. That’s why Peter could heal the lame man. He had great faith and consequently great power. Peter wanted the people to receive the same gift of faith.

Faith is a response to Christ’s love revealed on the cross and in the Resurrection. Faith comes by hearing the truth. When we have faith, we receive Christ’s healing power through the gift of the Holy Spirit for our needs and those for whom He guides us to pray. Unless a prayer request glorifies Him, His name can’t be used nor the power released.

The Jews knew about miracles and could interpret them. They should have known that the miracle of the lame man’s healing came from God and not from man. Peter’s sermon was a call for the Jews to repent and accept Jesus as the Messiah. He told the Jews that they were responsible for Jesus’ arrest and death and that they needed to repent, even though Jesus was crucified because of the ignorance of the people.  In the very city where his audience had crucified Jesus, Peter used the word “you” four times to confront them with the enormity of their sins. Before these people could repent, they had to see themselves as guilty before God.

Peter could have scolded the Jews for crucifying Jesus, but if he did he would not have reached their hearts. His goal was to encourage the Jews to repent, and that could only be done with tenderness, love and kindness. Love, not scolding, is the key to encouraging people to repent.

The main reason why the Jews crucified Jesus was that they did not know that He was the Messiah. Ignorance must be considered when looking at a crime, but the Jews did have an opportunity to know that Jesus was the Messiah. Peter reminded them that since these events were predicted in the Old Testament, they had hope in God’s mercy, especially since they were living under grace just like we are living under grace today.

In Acts 3:22 and 23, Peter quoted Moses, the hero of the Israelites. Moses said in Deuteronomy 18:15,18 and 19 that God would raise up a prophet. That prophet was Jesus. The New Testament is the glorious revelation of the Old Testament shadows that mysteriously forecast the coming of the Saviour. Peter showed that he preached the same Messiah and God that the prophets proclaimed.

Peter told his audience that he knew that they and their leaders had killed Jesus in ignorance and Jesus appealed to the Father in Luke 23:24 not to hold their sin against them. Their sins could be blotted out if they would only repent and be converted.

It’s one thing to admit our mistakes, and another to actually be willing to turn to God. If we are willing to accept Christ as our Saviour, God’s grace will be enough. He will wipe away our sins. He will restore us and our relationship with Him.

Peter promised three results of repentance:

1. Forgiveness of sins.
2. Times of refreshing. People will be refreshed in their Spirits when the Holy Spirit comes to live within them.
3. Christ will return and establish His kingdom on earth. The earth will be renewed beyond the abundant and productive state it had before Adam and Eve’s fall.

Every sermon in the Book of Acts is built around the resurrection of Jesus Christ, and the sermon we heard in the reading from Acts is no exception. If Christ is not resurrected, then His death is meaningless.

Countless people who place their faith in Christ say that their first and most evident emotion is the sense of having a burden lifted from them. The idea of repentance applies to us today. The Scriptures state that if we do not hear God’s Word and repent, we will be destroyed. We have a choice, and we should choose the offer of mercy and embrace the Messiah. If we do, we will receive the same power of the Holy Spirit. When we receive the Holy Spirit, we will also be able to accomplish so much for the Kingdom while we are here on earth.

Bibliography

1. Jeremiah, David: The Jeremiah Study Bible, New King James Version (Brentwood, TN: Worthy Publishing; 2013, pp. 1491-1492)
2. ESV Study Bible. Part of Wordsearch 11 Bible software package.
3. Ogilvie, L.J. & Ogilvie, L.J.: The Preacher’s Commentary Series, Vol. 28: Acts (Nashville, TN: Thomas Nelson Inc.; 1983; pp. 81-86)
4. MacArthur, J.F. Jr.: The MacArthur Study Bible, New American Standard Version (Nashville, TN: Thomas Nelson Publishers; 2006)
5. Dr. Tony Evans, “Do You Need to Change Your Expectations?” Retrieved from Crosswalk@crosswalkmail.com
6. “Repentance.” Retrieved from Oneplace@crosswalkmail.com
7. Richard Neill Donovan, “Exegesis for Acts 3:12-19.” Retrieved from www.sermonwriter.com
8. Barnes’ Notes on the New Testament. Part of Wordsearch 11 Bible software package.

Hello boys and girls!

Has anyone told you something that was so amazing that you could not believe it?

Sometimes people like to tell us things that we can’t believe. For example, some people might have told you that there is no such thing as the Easter Bunny or Santa Claus.

Have any of you ever heard of a book called “Ripley’s Believe it or Not?” The man who wrote it enjoyed collecting stories that were unbelievable but true. For example, a young girl from California once swung 68 hula hoops on her body at the same time. A man once had a chicken that laid a square egg. The world’s largest hot dog was over 3000 feet long, weighed 885 pounds and took 103 butchers to carry it. As I mentioned a few moments ago, these stories are hard to believe, but they are true.

Even the Bible has stories in it that are true even though they are hard to believe. For example, Thomas the disciple refused to believe the other disciples when they told him that they had seen the Risen Saviour. He was not with the other disciples in the room when they saw Jesus on the first Easter night. He refused to believe them until he could see Jesus in person. One week later all of the disciples (including Thomas) were in the same room when they saw Jesus again. Jesus knew that Thomas needed proof of his resurrection, and that’s why he invited Thomas to put his finger in the nail holes in his hands and the spear hole in his side. Only then did Thomas believe.

Some people are like that today. They refuse to believe that Jesus rose from the dead because they have not seen him with their own eyes. They want concrete proof. On the other hand, all of us know that Jesus rose from the dead because we believe it in faith. We do not need to see it with our own eyes. We have faith in Jesus’ promise that he would rise from the dead.

Let us bow our heads and close our eyes for a moment of prayer. Dear God, thank you for sending Jesus to die on the cross for our sins. Give us the faith we need to accept the Resurrection by faith.  We ask this in the Name of Your Son our Saviour Jesus Christ, AMEN.

Bibliography

1. “Believe It or Not!” Retrieved from webservant@sermons4kids.ccsend.com

2. “Identification, Please.” Retrieved from webservant@sermons4kids.ccsend.com

Picture for a moment the scene in John 20:19-31. All of the disciples (except Thomas) are gathered behind a locked door because of fear of the Jews. After all, their Lord and Saviour had just been crucified, and they were probably thinking to themselves, “Are we going to be crucified next?” Suddenly, Jesus appears as if by magic. Now the disciples are REALLY scared. They are probably thinking to themselves, “Uh oh, we’re in trouble now!!!!! Are we going to get scolded for abandoning Jesus in his hour of need?” Imagine their shock when, instead of scolding them, Jesus says, “Peace be with you” and breathes the Holy Spirit upon them[1]. They were so happy and relieved that they had to tell everyone what happened, and one of the first people they spoke to was Thomas, the absent disciple.

So why was Thomas absent? Some scholars speculate that it might have been because of grief over the death of Jesus. Different people have different ways of dealing with grief. Some choose to share their grief publicly, while others share their grief with just a few close family members and friends. Still others choose to grieve alone and in silence. Some scholars believe that Thomas might have fallen into that third category.

In any event, Thomas refused to believe the news that Christ was alive. We are the same today. In many cases, we can’t believe everything we hear. That’s why agencies such as the police and Phone Busters always warn us about scams. We can’t trust everyone and everything. Trust in political figures is at an all-time low. Trust in the church and its leaders has also been eroded, especially by recent scandals[2].

It’s no wonder, therefore, that when someone tells us something so incredible, we don’t always believe what they say-gossip being a notable exception, particularly gossip about celebrities. In most cases, we demand concrete proof. In some cases, concrete proof or some other supporting evidence is required, such as in a court of law. We need to probe and test what others tell us. We need to judge it according to Jesus’ teaching. Specifically, we need to ask three questions:

1. Is this loving?
2. Does that harm anyone?
3. Am I bringing peace as Jesus did?

Jesus knew that Thomas would need to see the concrete proof of his death and resurrection, just like we need to see it by reading all of the four major Gospels-Gospels that were written by reliable, independent eyewitnesses. That’s why he reappeared at a time and in a place where ALL of the disciples were gathered-INCLUDING THOMAS![3] When Thomas had an opportunity to see the evidence, he did not need it[4]. For him, Jesus was alive, and that’s all that mattered. People have differing needs and find various routes to faith, and seeing Jesus in the flesh was Thomas’s route to faith.

Believing without seeing is the essence of walking by faith and is something that Jesus appreciates, but there is a tension between seeing and believing. The apostle Peter acknowledged this tension when he wrote in 1 Peter 1:8, “Though you have not seen [Christ], you love Him; and even though you do not see him now, you believe in him and are filled with an inexpressible and glorious joy”. That should be true for every Christian. We believe in someone we have never seen and expect to spend eternity with him. The world says, “I’ll believe it when I see it”, but Christians say, “I’ll see it when I believe it”.[5] Christianity is the ability to see the light of Christ active in the world and to recognize it for what it is-the action and the goodness of God-even when it is present in ordinary people who are doing extraordinary things.

God can take skeptics and turn them into believers. In fact, some of the greatest preachers in both history and in modern times either started out as skeptics or had doubts at times on their faith journeys. For example, in his autobiography, “Just As I Am”, Billy Graham wrote of an incident that occurred just before his famous 1949 Los Angeles Crusade-the crusade that really launched his ministry. His heart was heavily burdened with his doubts about whether or not he could trust the Bible. He had his own version of Christ’s 40 days in the desert when he went into the San Bernardino Mountains, knelt before a tree stump and opened his Bible. He wrote the following paragraphs:

“The exact wording of my prayer is beyond recall, but it must have echoed my thoughts: ‘O God! There are many things in this book I do not understand. There are many problems with it for which I have no solution. There are many seeming contradictions. There are some areas in it that do not seem to correlate with modern science. I can’t answer some of the philosophical and psychological questions that…others are raising.

I was trying to be on the level with God, but something remained unspoken. At last the Holy Spirit freed me to say it. ‘Father, I am going to accept this as Thy Word—by faith! I’m going to allow faith to go beyond my intellectual questions and doubts, and I will believe this to be your inspired Word.’”

“When I got up from my knees…that August night, my eyes stung with tears. I sensed the presence and power of God as I had not sensed it in months. Not all my questions were answered, but a major bridge had been crossed. In my heart and mind, I knew a spiritual battle in my soul had been fought and won.[6]”

Just like Billy Graham’s faith was sustained by fellowship with God and with other believers, our faith is strengthened when we gather with fellow believers, especially at weekly worship services or in group Bible study. Those who do not go to church for reasons other than health or work schedules-reasons such as not liking the minister or the Order of Service or the music-may find it harder to have faith in Christ. They need to look at what they miss by not attending church, just like we also have to look at what Thomas missed by not being with the other disciples when Jesus appeared to them for the first time after his resurrection. [7]

Even I have had my doubts about Christ and my faith in my life. Like many of you, I was born, raised, baptized and confirmed in the church, but when I went to university and for many years afterward, my faith was weakened (and to this day I honestly don’t know why). God did not lose patience with me, but instead used my father’s battle with terminal lung cancer along with the resulting support of the people and minister of my church at the time to bring me back into the fold and lead me to the bigger and better things that he had in mind for me-namely, my lay ministry in my church.

Like Billy Graham on that night in August 1949, we may want to believe, but struggle with hard questions and hard circumstances. Sometimes it is because we have been hurt, just like the faith of many Christians has been shaken by sex abuse scandals. Honest doubters are not close-minded people. They remain open to belief. They remain open to receiving the gift of faith, just like the disciples were open to receiving Christ’s gift of the Holy Spirit. Doubt is a powerful weapon that the devil uses to attack our minds when our faith is weakened by daily struggles, distance from God, or by never truly knowing the Saviour[8]. Doubt can lead to faith. Only those who have had their faith shattered by the blows of pain and adversity can get to the other side of Calvary and experience the faith offered by the resurrection. [9]

Faith begins with honesty, and doubt is the foundation of honesty. Faith is the overcoming of doubt, NOT an absence of doubt. The most endearing things in life can’t be proven-they have to be accepted on faith. We must move beyond doubt to faith. There are those who say that because of the bad choices you have made in the past, you have sinned and fallen so far away from God that you can’t get back. Well, God says, “I doubt it!!!!!!!!” Doubt can lead to solutions and a better understanding. It doesn’t matter what the cause of our doubt is. Living beyond a doubt means living as encouragers through prayer concerns for others, preparing meals for those who are sick or mourning the loss of a loved one who has just passed away, or by sending notes and cards. Belief includes some sense of experience.

Sometimes our faith is shaken because our expectations of Christ are not fulfilled. For example, our faith might be shaken when we ask God to heal a loved one who is sick, and the loved one dies. At times like this, we might be tempted to give up on God, but we must keep on believing.  Jesus said in John 20:29, “Blessed are they who did not see, and yet believed”. When we feel that God has let us down, we must remember that he does what he does for us because it fits in with his plan for our lives. In his great wisdom, he is doing something that is even greater than what we asked him to do. We would do well to remember the old adage that “God works in mysterious ways”.

God can take a weakened faith and make it stronger. For example, tradition has it that the disciple Thomas went to India and founded a church there. Today, many Christians in India call themselves by his name. They are known as the St. Thomas Christians.[10] Thomas’ doubt was erased, and he went places[11]. Billy Graham’s doubts were erased on that summer night in 1949, and he went on to become one of the most famous and most successful evangelists of our time. If Thomas, Billy Graham and other men of God can have their doubts about their faith erased and go on to have successful ministries, God can erase our doubts and help us to be successful in our faith journeys.

[1] Rev. Charles Hoffacker, “Other Resurrections”. Retrieved April 5, 2010 from http://www.lectionary.org

[2] Jude Siciliano, OP, “First Impressions 2^nd Sunday of Easter-C-April 11, 2010” Received by email on April 3, 2010 from jboll@preacherexchange.org

[3] ESV Study Bible

[4] John Shearman’s Lectionary Resource, Second Sunday of Easter-April 11, 2010 Received by email from http://www.seemslikegod.org

[5] Robert A. Schuller, “Believing without Seeing” Received by email on June 28, 2008 from positiveminute@hourofpower.org

[6] Billy Graham, “Just As I Am”, (1997, Toronto, ON: HarperCollins), p. 139

[7] Donald Strobe, “Believing Thomas” Retrieved on April 4, 2010 from esermons.com

[8] Tracie Miles, “Believing is Seeing” Received by email on June 1, 2009 from Encouragement_for_Today@crosswalkmail.com

[9] Donald Strobe, “Believing Thomas” Retrieved on April 4, 2010 from esermons,com

[10] Selwyn Hughes, “Coming Back from Doubt” Received by email on September 22, 2009 from crosswalkmail.com

[11] Sermon Writer, “The Second Sunday of Easter, Year C, April 11, 2010” Retrieved on April 5, 2010 from lectionary,org

Picture the scene in John 20:19-31. All the disciples except Thomas are in a room behind locked doors at night. It was common for early Christians to meet at night. In times of persecution they were forbidden to meet during the day, so they had to meet at night. The disciples are scared. They saw their leader brutally killed, and they are afraid that they will also be killed. In more ways than one, the room and the situation are dark.

Suddenly, Jesus appears. He walks through the locked door. The first words Jesus says to the assembled disciples are, “Peace be with you.” They are terrified, first for fear of the Jews and because they thought they were seeing a ghost. But when Jesus shows them His wounds, they know this is their Lord. Jesus promised the Holy Spirit would come. Just as God created humanity with His breath in Genesis 2:7, He gave the Holy Spirit to His disciples by breathing on them. God is recreating humanity in Christ. The darkness of the room is dispelled by the light of Christ.

Jesus gave the disciples and us a mission, but we and they can’t begin this mission of healing and peace without the power and energy of Jesus’ risen life. Jesus breathed on these men. As God breathed His life into that first man and he became a living soul, Jesus shared the intimacy of His own life with His disciples that they may be a new humanity, recreated and empowered for their mission.

If Christianity seems to us to be having rather less than a remarkable impact on the world, it’s because too many people have the idea that we’re in a waiting game, that we are basically killing time until Jesus comes back and we all get to go to heaven. We’re sitting around like people waiting to catch a flight. That isn’t what Jesus told us to do. He didn’t say, “Now sit tight in those pews and twiddle your holy thumbs. I’ll be back as soon as I can.” He said in John 20:21, “As the Father has sent me, I send you.”

Part of Jesus’ mission, and hence part of the mission of the disciples and us, is to deal with forgiveness. Specifically, we are to declare on what terms, to what people and to what temper of mind God will extend forgiveness. It is not the authority to forgive people. It establishes the terms and conditions on which people can be pardoned, with a promise that God will confirm all that they taught-that is, that all might have assurance of forgiveness if they comply with these terms.

In John’s Gospel, sin is a failure to see the truth-a refusal to accept the risen Christ. Jesus is sending the disciples and us into the world, empowered by the Holy Spirit, to proclaim the risen Christ. Some people will accept their testimony and ours, and others will reject it. Their response will determine whether they will find themselves among those whose sins are forgiven or among those whose sins are retained.

One of the sins that can be forgiven is unbelief-specifically, refusing to believe that Christ rose from the dead. Thomas was guilty of this sin. He refused to believe the disciples’ statement that they saw the risen Christ. He wanted concrete proof. Many people today are like Thomas. They refuse to believe because they do not see Jesus. The testimony of fellow believers, like that of the other disciples, should be enough proof that He rose from the dead.

Jesus didn’t scold Thomas for his unbelief. Rather than belittling Thomas for His doubts, Jesus welcomed his reach and touch, which moved Thomas from unbelieving to believing. Thomas saw and believed, and Jesus affirmed his belief. But then He added, “Blessed are those who have not seen and yet have believed.” Anyone today can have as much confidence believing without seeing as those who saw and believed. Jesus approved Thomas’ faith, but He more highly approves the faith of those who should believe without having seen the risen Saviour.

To Mary, Thomas and the disciples, sight of the risen Lord was granted. Faith doesn’t rest on sight or smell or touch, but on the word and call of the risen Lord! As the apostle John believed before he saw the risen Lord, so we believe and trust the witness of those who have seen and believed. We have seen His life revealed in the community of those on whom He has breathed and as we have heard Him speak our name and responded in trusting faith. We have been born into His family. The Spirit then confirms that we are the children of God, as blessed as those who have seen and believed.

Closely connected with the sin of unbelief is the sin of doubt. Doubt destroys faith if doubt is not resolved.  At times it serves as an excuse not to do God’s will. It can also be used as a cover to do evil. Doubt can’t remain without harming us. To cease doubting means that we must take action, to believe, to trust in the Lord, to surrender our lives to Him, to follow Him-and to confess Him as Thomas did: “My Lord and my God!”

Will we be more like the disciples during the first week after Easter, who claim to believe in the resurrection, but whose lives give no sign that it has made a difference for them? Or will we be like the kind of people whose words and actions proclaim the faith that has claimed our lives, graced us with peace, and has given us a sense of meaning and purpose?

The cause of Thomas’ defection was his own doubting and denying heart. Those who profess to be Christians and yet deliberately absent themselves from fellowship with their Christian brothers and sisters are the ones who are usually most in need of Christian fellowship. There are certain things that we can only experience when we are part of Christian fellowship. The idea that we don’t have to go to church to be a Christian is a folly. We can only know God’s blessing when we are part of His body here on earth.

Amid the scandal of the crucifixion and the empty tomb, Jesus doesn’t hide. He reveals himself, makes himself known to those who love Him. When we go through the struggles and temptations of life we are sometimes tempted to hide from our trouble. During this time, we find ourselves only wanting to be with the selfish trinity of me, myself and I. We find ourselves no longer wanting to fellowship with friends and family and becoming most distant from those whom we love. It might be beneficial during times of trial to retreat, but we must do what Jesus did. We must make ourselves visible instead of hiding like Thomas did.

One way we can make ourselves visible is to tell our own stories of joy and pain, sunshine and rain. When we share our stories, we create the opportunity to become wounded healers. If we have a story of suffering, we must share it, because there is glory to be found in our story.

What will it take for us to believe? Our eternal destiny rests on our answer. Jesus lives and because He lives we can agree with a no-longer doubting Thomas and say, “My Lord and my God.” If we do, our lives will be eternally changed for the better.

Are we doubting Thomases? Do you doubt God could ever love someone like you? Maybe you’ve been ridiculed and bullied and struggled with your self-worth? Author Philip Yancey once said, “Grace does not depend on what we have done for God, but rather what God has done for us. Ask people what they must do to get to heaven and most reply, ‘Be good.’ Jesus’ stories contradict that answer. All we must do is cry, ‘Help!’”

When we embrace God’s love, it’s easier for us to let go of the need to please people, the need for validation. We choose to please God through obedience because we love Him and He loves us, unconditionally.

Bibliography

1. Jeremiah, David: The Jeremiah Study Bible, New King James Version (Brentwood, TN: Worthy Publishing; 2013, p. 1478-1479)
2. Barnes’ Notes on the New Testament. Part of Wordsearch 11 Bible software package.
3. Fredrikson, R.L. & Ogilvie, L.J.: The Preacher’s Commentary Series, Vol. 27: John (Nashville, TN: Thomas Nelson Inc.; 1985; pp. 275-280)
4. Stanley, C.F.: The Charles F. Stanley Life Principles Bible, New King James Version (Nashville, TN: Nelson Bibles; 2005)
5. Selwyn Hughes, “Missing from the Meeting.” Retrieved from Crosswalk@crosswalkmail.com
6. “Stop Doubting.” Retrieved from www.forthright.net
7. Pastor David J. Risendahl, “Doubting Apostles.” Retrieved from www.StPlC.org
8. Rev. Ken Klaus, “What Will It Take?” Retrieved from lh_min@lhm.org
9. The Rev. Billy Honor, “How to Handle a Scandal.” Retrieved from www.day1.org
10. “An Invasion.” Retrieved from dailyreadings@ransomedheart.com
11. Rev. Gregory Seltz, “How is God Present in My Life?” Retrieved from lh_min@lhm.org
12. Richard Niell Donovan, “Exegesis for John 20:19-31.” Retrieved from www.lectionary.org

13. Carol Round, “Are You a Doubting Thomas?” Retrieved from noreply@assistnews.net

Do you like eggs? There are so many different ways to fix eggs — fried, scrambled, or hard boiled. You can make an omelet or a breakfast burrito. You can eat them by themselves or mix them with chicken or tuna to make sandwiches. Eggs are also used to make delicious treats such as cookies, cakes, and pies.

Have you ever wondered why some eggs are white and some eggs are brown? Well the answer is quite simple. White chickens lay white eggs and reddish brown chickens lay brown eggs. Is there any difference between white eggs and brown eggs? Well, yes, white eggs are white and brown eggs are brown.

“What about the inside?” you may ask. On the inside they look just the same. The color of the shell has nothing to do with an egg’s quality, nutritional value, or flavor. On the inside, all eggs are the same.

You know, that is true of people too. Some people may be light-skinned and have blond hair and blue eyes. Others may be dark-skinned and have brown hair and brown eyes. On the outside, they may look different, but on the inside they are the same.

Simon Peter was one of Jesus’ disciples. He was a Jew and he believed that God sent Jesus only to the Jews. God gave Peter a vision that showed him that He created all people and that He loved them all the same. After God showed him that, Peter said, “I now realize that God does not show partiality. He accepts people from every nation who fear him and do what is right.” God also showed Peter that he must” tell the good news that Jesus is the Lord of all and that everyone who believes in him will be forgiven of their sins.”

Sometimes we sing “Jesus Loves the Little Children.”

Jesus loves the little children.

All the children of the world.

Red and yellow, black and white

They are precious in his sight.

Jesus loves the little children of the world.

We sing the song, but do we believe it? Do we show it in the way that we treat other people? I hope so!

In the late 1960s there was a pastor, known by his friends as Chuck, who felt God had called him to teach the Bible in an understandable way. He became the pastor of a small church in California. The hippie culture was in full swing, and kids were losing their minds. Sex, drugs and rock and roll was the mantra of the day. Parents thought an entire generation was lost.

Chuck looked at these hippies and for the most part didn’t want that much to do with them, but his wife Kay, who was one of the unsung heroes of the Jesus Movement, had a real heart for these kids and she prayed for them.

One day their daughter brought home a living, breathing hippie. It turns out that this hippie was a Christian, and he talked about how his friends were coming to faith in Christ. Chuck and Kay wanted to open their church to these hippies, and Chuck shared this with his church’s board of directors.

The elders did not want hippies in their church because their bare feet would stain the new carpet. The next Sunday morning, Chuck was at the front door with a basin of water and a rag, ready to wash the hippies’ feet so they could come to church.

Chuck won that battle. The hippies started coming, and this became part of a modern revival known as the Jesus Movement, the impact of which continues to this day. Chuck was willing to overcome personal prejudice and say, “Yes, Lord.”

The apostle Peter also overcame his personal prejudices. Acts 10:34-43 is a part of one of Peter’s sermons. His main point is that God shows no partiality. Everyone who believes in God is saved. Peter finally realized that God’s love and salvation are open to everyone-both Jews and Gentiles. Anyone who believes in Jesus will receive forgiveness of sins. That brought a deep desire in the hearts and minds of Cornelius and his household. The way the Holy Spirit fell upon them is a good lesson that we can’t administrate Pentecost. We should also not be surprised when it happens. When we spread the Good News, the gift of faith to respond is given, and the Holy Spirit follows. God used Peter to show Cornelius and his family the way to God. Those who really seek God will find Him.

When Christ paid the price for our sins through His death, He established peace between God and man. He removed the barrier between God and man. If Jesus can pray for the forgiveness of those who cursed Him, spat upon Him, beat Him and ultimately crucified Him, how can we think that His forgiveness is not big enough for us? His forgiveness is big enough because of His limitless love, immeasurable grace and unwavering faithfulness.

In light of the reaction of the Jews, the purpose of the Gentiles’ speaking in tongues was that the Holy Spirit was poured out on the Gentiles. This reinforces Peter’s private vision in Acts 10:9-16 to take the Good News to everyone. In Caesarea, God made it known that anyone who called on the name of the Lord would be saved. It didn’t matter if people were Jews or Gentiles. Because God sent Peter to this unlikely place to share the Gospel, the message of God’s love and grace for everyone has spread throughout the world.

We are not to judge each other. Paul tells us in Romans 2 that “God judges those who do wrong things, and we know that His judging is right.” Racism begins in our hearts with wrong attitudes, a lack of compassion, or a lack of understanding of different cultures. It’s perpetuated by our failure to speak out against it.

Acts 10:37-40 is one of the best summary statements of Christ’s ministry in the entire New Testament. Peter pointed out that he witnessed the events of Jesus’ ministry firsthand. No one was more intimately involved in the events of Jesus’ death than Peter; his own denial of Jesus would be something he would never forget. He finished where every account of Christ’s life should: with His death and resurrection.

We can have confidence that if God has a calling for us, even if it is to go into a territory that is unfamiliar to us, He will go ahead of us. He will prepare our hearts for our missions, and He will prepare others to receive what we are offering them. We will be ambassadors for Jesus. As His representative, we will have the power and authority that Jesus has.

Peter concludes his gospel presentation by providing the answer that Cornelius and every person needs: it is only through faith in Jesus that a person can be right with God. So what does Peter’s declaration that God shows no partiality mean for our modern Christian community? Our churches remain largely segregated according to ethnicity or race. Some of this is cultural, some of it has to do with our comfort levels, and some of it has to do with the makeup of the population of our local areas. But could it also have to do with the fact that many of us in the white Christian community have not made peace with our suppression or oppression of minority communities? Then there is the church’s relationship with the LGBTQ community. The church has largely been hostile to this community, although many denominations such as the United Church of Canada and the Anglican Church of Canada have overcome this hostility by becoming welcoming, affirming congregations and by performing same sex weddings. The story in Acts 10:34-43 has proved to be an important piece in our journey to fully welcoming our LGBTQ brothers and sisters. The Spirit moves as the Spirit moves!

I have seen this personally in the life of one of my cousins. His father was my father’s brother. His father and mother were very strict, devout members of a United Baptist church in Saint John, New Brunswick. They raised five children in the Baptist church, but two of their sons rebelled. One was a homosexual who died of AIDS approximately 25 years ago, and another son became a criminal. His parents even resorted to sending him to stay with my grandparents from time to time. He later moved to British Columbia and started a construction company. He led a troubled life, including divorce, but Jesus did not give up on him. I can proudly say that at some point during the last several years my cousin repented and accepted Jesus as his Lord and Saviour. I know this has happened because he is one of my friends on Facebook, and I have seen posts where he has expressed his love for Jesus.

The setup of Acts 10:34-43 is the encounter between Peter and Cornelius. We are in the position of Cornelius. We have received God’s invitation to seek and pursue, and we are the recipients of good news. How do we live like this and carry that forward? As verse 33 says, “Now all of us are here in the presence of God to listen to all that the Lord has commanded you to say.” Are we ready for these opportunities when they come our way? Are we ready when that opportunity to witness and testify presents itself?

Bibliography

1. Jeremiah, David: The Jeremiah Study Bible: New Kings James Version (Brentwood, TN: Worthy Publishing; 2013; pp. 1505-1506)
2. “All the Children of the World.” Retrieved from www.Sermons4Kids.com
3. Ogilvie, L.J. & Ogilvie, L.J.: The Preacher’s Commentary Series, Vol. 28: Acts (Nashville, TN: Thomas Nelson Inc.; 1983; pp. 183-185)
4. Jameson, R.; Fausset, A.R., & Brown, D.: A Critical & Explanatory on the Whole Bible, Vol. 2 (Oak Harbor, WA: Logos Research Systems; 1997; pp. 186-187)
5. Stanley, C.F.: The Charles F. Stanley Life Principles Bible: New King James Version (Nashville, TN: Nelson Bibles; 2005)
6. MacArthur, J.F. Jr.: The MacArthur Study Bible: New American Standard Bible (Nashville, TN: Thomas Nelson Publishers; 2006)
7. Lucado, M.: The Lucado Life Lessons Study Bible (Nashville, TN: Thomas Nelson; 2020; pp. 1519-1521)
8. Bob Christopher, “Christ Must Increase.” Retrieved from bob@basicgospel.net
9. Pastor Greg Laurie,” Without Prejudice.” Retrieved from www.harvest.org
10. Berni Dymet, “It’s Black and White.” Retrieved from berni@christianityworks.com
11. Bob Christopher, “Cornelius Was Convinced.” Retrieved from bob@basicgospel.net
12. Michael Youssef, Ph.D., “His Forgiveness is Big Enough.” Retrieved from mydevotional@leadingtheway.org
13. Michael Youssef, Ph.D., “A Move of the Spirit.” Retrieved from mydevotional@leadingtheway.org
14. Joel Osteen, “Anointed to Heal.” Retrieved from devotional@goto.joelosteen.com