The risen Christ confronts us in our doubts and fears with his living presence
Preaching
Lectionary Preaching Workbook
Series V, Cycle B
Theme For The Day: The risen Christ confronts us in our doubts and fears with his living presence, fortifying our faith, so that we might withstand the doubt.
BRIEF COMMENTARY ON THE LESSONS
Lesson 1: Acts 4:32--35 (C, RC)
The church in Jerusalem witnessed to the power of the risen Christ through the quality of their communal life. They were united in faith and love, freely sharing their possessions. In fact, many of those with property sold it and made the funds available to the whole community.
Lesson 1: Acts 3:12a, 13--15, 17--26 (E)
(See Easter 3)
Lesson 2: 1 John 1:1-2:2 (C)
The Epistle of 1 John begins in a similar fashion to the Gospel of John with the eternal Word of God. John claims to have personally encountered the eternal life of God; this word he proclaims to all who will hear, that they might have fellowship with the Father, the Son and the whole communion of faith. As in the prologue to the Gospel of John, John equates light with God's grace and darkness with sin and death. If we live in unconfessed sin, we live in the darkness, but if we confess our sin, God is gracious and forgives our iniquities, cleansing us from all unrighteousness. Jesus stands as our advocate, one who represents us to God, and as the expiation for our sins.
Lesson 2: 1 John 5:1--6 (RC, E)
(See Easter 6)
Gospel: John 20:19--31 (C, RC, E)
On the evening of Resurrection day, fear caused the disciples to huddle together in the upper room for protection. The news of the empty tomb and of the Lord's resurrection had not yet transformed their spirits. The risen Jesus appeared among them, breathed into them his Holy Spirit and commissioned the disciples to extend his reconciling grace. For John the resurrection, the ascension and Pentecost merge into a single event. Thomas was not present but was told that the Lord has made an appearance to them. Thomas would not believe without seeing the Lord and placing his hand in Christ's wounds. The Lord did answer Thomas' skepticism with the proof he sought but Christ utters a benediction on all who believe without seeing the evidence.
Psalm Of The Day
Psalm 133 (C) - "How good and pleasant it is when brothers live in unity" (v. 1).
Psalm 111 (E)
Psalm 117 (RC)
Prayer Of The Day
Living Lord, how grateful we are that you have not left us to our doubts and fears but have revealed yourself to us in the assembly of the faithful. In Jesus' name. Amen.
THEOLOGICAL REFLECTION ON THE LESSONS
Lesson 1: Acts 4:32--35
Welcome to paradise. If you've ever flown to Hawaii, you will recall the phrase: "Welcome to paradise!" Some people do indeed feel that way about our 50th state but then most of these people probably haven't lived there. Luke describes the Christian community in Jerusalem as a kind of spiritual paradise. "All the believers were of one heart and mind" (v. 32). Nobody was in need and everyone shared with his neighbor. If that isn't paradise, I don't know what is. Unfortunately, that particular community of faith didn't remain as it began. In almost every parish you will find negative, argumentative and divisive people. If you've found the kind of congregation described in Acts, you've probably died and gone to heaven.
Grace and giving. Grace and giving go hand in hand. Luke describes a grace--full community, where people freely shared their goods. Their giving spirit was a sure indication of their new life through the power of Christ's resurrection.
Lesson 2: 1 John 1:1-2:2
Word of Life (v. 1). For John, the Word of Life is the person of Jesus, the Christ. John claims to have experienced this Word personally, through his bodily senses. He makes this point in some length to counter the Gnostic heresies which claimed that Jesus had not come in the flesh. The same point is made in the prologue of John's gospel: "The Word became flesh and dwelt among us..." (John 1:14).
Fellowship (v. 3). Fellowship is a key concept in this passage. John contends that the end result of proclaiming the risen Christ is fellowship (community). In fact, the thread of community runs through all three pericopes this week. More will be said about this under "Sermon Approaches With Illustrations."
Walk in the light. John calls on the believers to match their words with their actions. If we say we have fellowship with the Lord and his people, while we walk in the darkness, we make ourselves liars. But if we walk in the light (walk our talk), we have fellowship with Jesus Christ and with one another (vv. 6--7).
Jesus for the defense (2:1). John holds up the ideal of a pure life for believers but concedes that we live in a sin--permeated world. Therefore, when we do sin we have an advocate (lawyer) to plead our case before the judgment seat of God. In fact, Jesus is the one whom the Father has chosen to judge the living and the dead. He who judges us is also the One who died and rose again for justification.
Gospel: John 20:19--31
He stands among us (v. 19). As the disciples huddled together for protection, Jesus came and stood among them. In our fears, our confusion and our anxiety, the risen Lord stands with his own and among his own. The Lord stands among us with the peace of his presence.
Social security and insecurity. Many people are gravely anxious about our Social Security system, as it is predicted to go bankrupt after the turn of the century if we do not act. Social insecurity also takes the form of the fear of being a victim of violent crime. The disciples ensconced themselves behind locked doors to protect themselves from becoming victims. The resurrected Christ freed them to open the door and witness boldly concerning that which they had seen and experienced. Community with the risen Christ creates real social security for this world and the next.
Hands--on faith. Thomas insisted on a hands--on faith. He not only wanted to see the wounds of his Lord, he wanted to touch them. He needed to make sure that it was really Jesus, not just some manifestation of mass hysteria. What others said wasn't good enough, he wanted to experience Christ himself. Yes, those who believe without seeing are truly blessed but sometimes they are also conned into a false or immature faith. We would do well if more people demanded a hands--on faith.
SERMON APPROACHES WITH ILLUSTRATIONS
Lesson 1: Acts 4:32--35
Sermon Title: One In The Spirit, One In The Lord
Sermon Angle: The Christian community is filled with all sorts of people from every walk of life. We have different political views, we come to some different social stands and express ourselves uniquely. However, we have one magnet that draws us all together: the Spirit of our Lord and risen Savior. "We are one in the Spirit," as the song says, "we are one in the Lord; and we pray that all unity may one day be restored." This is the source of unity which Luke describes so glowingly in this passage.
Sermon Title: The Resurrection Frees Our Clenched Fists
Sermon Angle: You've probably heard the story of the chimp who reached through the narrow neck of a large jar to obtain the fruit inside. He clenched the luscious treat in his fist but the neck of the jar would not allow him to withdraw his fist with the fruit in it. He could have freed his hand by unclenching his fist but he refused to do that. He was imprisoned by his lust. The living Lord freed the believers in Jerusalem to release their grip on their possessions. They didn't regard any of their possessions as their own. They shared them freely. Not only did the apostle's preaching testify powerfully to the Lord's resurrection but also to the spirit of sharing in the Christian community.
Outline:
1. Tell the story of the chimp or a similar opener.
2. Greed keeps our fists clenched and attached to things.
3. The risen Christ opens our hearts and unlocks our grip on things.
4. The resurrection frees us to share with one another.
Lesson 2: 1 John 1:1-2:2
Sermon Title: Koinonia
Sermon Angle: All three lessons testify to the power of Christian community, the fellowship of believers. The New Testament word for the common life is koinonia. The root word here is koin, meaning "common" or "that which is held together." This lesson declares that the purpose for witnessing to the resurrection is that they might share in the fellowship with the Father, the Son and other believers (v. 3). The First Lesson, from Acts, describes the community in Jerusalem as a closely knit fellowship. In the Gospel, the risen Lord appears to those sharing a kind of fellowship of suffering. They were all mourning the death of their Lord and Master. The living Lord transformed that fellowship of suffering into a community of grace and life.
Outline:
1. The most prominent sign of the resurrected Christ is Christian fellowship.
2. All three lessons testify to its power. (Explain briefly.)
3. To be the Easter people is to live in a Christ--centered community.
Sermon Title: Self--deception
Sermon Angle: John boldly states that if we deny the reality of our sin, we are not only deceiving ourselves but living a lie (v. 8). We can fool others for a time, but God cannot be fooled; he sees the recesses of our heart. Self--deception proves dangerous; it leads to isolation, fragmentation of our personality and separation from God. Self--deception is dangerous to your health and well--being. John urges us to come clean through confession of our sins. It opens the door to fellowship with God and one another.
Outline:
1. To deny our sin is to live a lie - it leads to sickness, broken relationships and isolation.
2. To confess our sins is like walking in the light - nothing to hide.
3. If we confess, God will cleanse and forgive us.
__________
The movie The Godfather graphically depicts how some people appear to be living in the light, while they are actually walking in the darkness of sin and death. Michael Corleone and his wife were having their baby baptized in the church while at the same time Michael's henchmen were carrying out a murderous assault on the rival mob family. The scenes from the baptism were interspersed with bloody murder scenes. The baptismal vows were a lie, a deception on Michael's part. How many of us compartmentalize our lives into outer rooms of light and inner rooms of darkness, thinking that few people will see beyond the foyer?
Gospel: John 20:19--31
Sermon Title: Jailbreak!
Sermon Angle: The disciples were still closeted behind locked doors that first Easter evening. Fear had driven them to lock themselves up, to fear for their lives. Suddenly Jesus broke into their midst, giving them his peace. Before long they left their jail. They went out into the highways and byways with the good news of eternal life, forgiveness and peace. From time to time some of them got thrown back in prison but they were always free. Christ had opened the jail door from the inside.
Outline:
1. Following the crucifixion, the Upper Room became a prison - fear kept them inside.
2. The risen Lord broke into their prison and freed them from fear of death.
3. They eventually broke out with the good news of freedom through the risen Christ.
- Freedom from fear, sin and death.
Sermon Title: To Stand Up Again Through The Power Of Faith
Sermon Angle: The crucifixion knocked the followers of Christ to the ground like a hand grenade. When the risen Lord invaded their space, their faith was flatter than a pancake. When Christ showed himself, they were soon ready to stand up again through the power of renewed faith. Thomas refused to be buoyed by their faith after Christ's first appearance. Yet even for him, the risen Lord lifted him out of the sinkhole of doubt on to the rock of a solid faith. We all have life experiences that sweep the legs of our faith out from under us. Thank God! We can stand again through the power of his resurrection!
Outline:
1. The crucifixion knocked the disciples to the pavement.
2. Fear of death kept them there for a time.
3. The Greek word for "resurrection" can be interpreted "to stand again" and that's what the risen Christ enabled them to do.
4. We might stumble and fall but the risen Christ will raise us up again.
Sermon Title: Believing Is Seeing
Sermon Angle: For Thomas seeing was believing, as the saying goes. However, most of us must be content to see Christ through the eyes of faith. For us believing is seeing. Faith opens up a realm we never dreamed of. Jesus pronounces his blessing on those who have not seen and yet believe (v. 29).
__________
Blaise Pascal, the great French scientist, mathematician and philosopher, was working at his laboratory shortly after his beloved daughter had died. A friend dropped by and was amazed by Pascal's quiet serenity in the face of tragedy. The friend observed: "I wish I had your creed, then I would live your life." Pascal countered: "Live my life and you will soon have my creed."
The faith that frees us is practical and experiential.
BRIEF COMMENTARY ON THE LESSONS
Lesson 1: Acts 4:32--35 (C, RC)
The church in Jerusalem witnessed to the power of the risen Christ through the quality of their communal life. They were united in faith and love, freely sharing their possessions. In fact, many of those with property sold it and made the funds available to the whole community.
Lesson 1: Acts 3:12a, 13--15, 17--26 (E)
(See Easter 3)
Lesson 2: 1 John 1:1-2:2 (C)
The Epistle of 1 John begins in a similar fashion to the Gospel of John with the eternal Word of God. John claims to have personally encountered the eternal life of God; this word he proclaims to all who will hear, that they might have fellowship with the Father, the Son and the whole communion of faith. As in the prologue to the Gospel of John, John equates light with God's grace and darkness with sin and death. If we live in unconfessed sin, we live in the darkness, but if we confess our sin, God is gracious and forgives our iniquities, cleansing us from all unrighteousness. Jesus stands as our advocate, one who represents us to God, and as the expiation for our sins.
Lesson 2: 1 John 5:1--6 (RC, E)
(See Easter 6)
Gospel: John 20:19--31 (C, RC, E)
On the evening of Resurrection day, fear caused the disciples to huddle together in the upper room for protection. The news of the empty tomb and of the Lord's resurrection had not yet transformed their spirits. The risen Jesus appeared among them, breathed into them his Holy Spirit and commissioned the disciples to extend his reconciling grace. For John the resurrection, the ascension and Pentecost merge into a single event. Thomas was not present but was told that the Lord has made an appearance to them. Thomas would not believe without seeing the Lord and placing his hand in Christ's wounds. The Lord did answer Thomas' skepticism with the proof he sought but Christ utters a benediction on all who believe without seeing the evidence.
Psalm Of The Day
Psalm 133 (C) - "How good and pleasant it is when brothers live in unity" (v. 1).
Psalm 111 (E)
Psalm 117 (RC)
Prayer Of The Day
Living Lord, how grateful we are that you have not left us to our doubts and fears but have revealed yourself to us in the assembly of the faithful. In Jesus' name. Amen.
THEOLOGICAL REFLECTION ON THE LESSONS
Lesson 1: Acts 4:32--35
Welcome to paradise. If you've ever flown to Hawaii, you will recall the phrase: "Welcome to paradise!" Some people do indeed feel that way about our 50th state but then most of these people probably haven't lived there. Luke describes the Christian community in Jerusalem as a kind of spiritual paradise. "All the believers were of one heart and mind" (v. 32). Nobody was in need and everyone shared with his neighbor. If that isn't paradise, I don't know what is. Unfortunately, that particular community of faith didn't remain as it began. In almost every parish you will find negative, argumentative and divisive people. If you've found the kind of congregation described in Acts, you've probably died and gone to heaven.
Grace and giving. Grace and giving go hand in hand. Luke describes a grace--full community, where people freely shared their goods. Their giving spirit was a sure indication of their new life through the power of Christ's resurrection.
Lesson 2: 1 John 1:1-2:2
Word of Life (v. 1). For John, the Word of Life is the person of Jesus, the Christ. John claims to have experienced this Word personally, through his bodily senses. He makes this point in some length to counter the Gnostic heresies which claimed that Jesus had not come in the flesh. The same point is made in the prologue of John's gospel: "The Word became flesh and dwelt among us..." (John 1:14).
Fellowship (v. 3). Fellowship is a key concept in this passage. John contends that the end result of proclaiming the risen Christ is fellowship (community). In fact, the thread of community runs through all three pericopes this week. More will be said about this under "Sermon Approaches With Illustrations."
Walk in the light. John calls on the believers to match their words with their actions. If we say we have fellowship with the Lord and his people, while we walk in the darkness, we make ourselves liars. But if we walk in the light (walk our talk), we have fellowship with Jesus Christ and with one another (vv. 6--7).
Jesus for the defense (2:1). John holds up the ideal of a pure life for believers but concedes that we live in a sin--permeated world. Therefore, when we do sin we have an advocate (lawyer) to plead our case before the judgment seat of God. In fact, Jesus is the one whom the Father has chosen to judge the living and the dead. He who judges us is also the One who died and rose again for justification.
Gospel: John 20:19--31
He stands among us (v. 19). As the disciples huddled together for protection, Jesus came and stood among them. In our fears, our confusion and our anxiety, the risen Lord stands with his own and among his own. The Lord stands among us with the peace of his presence.
Social security and insecurity. Many people are gravely anxious about our Social Security system, as it is predicted to go bankrupt after the turn of the century if we do not act. Social insecurity also takes the form of the fear of being a victim of violent crime. The disciples ensconced themselves behind locked doors to protect themselves from becoming victims. The resurrected Christ freed them to open the door and witness boldly concerning that which they had seen and experienced. Community with the risen Christ creates real social security for this world and the next.
Hands--on faith. Thomas insisted on a hands--on faith. He not only wanted to see the wounds of his Lord, he wanted to touch them. He needed to make sure that it was really Jesus, not just some manifestation of mass hysteria. What others said wasn't good enough, he wanted to experience Christ himself. Yes, those who believe without seeing are truly blessed but sometimes they are also conned into a false or immature faith. We would do well if more people demanded a hands--on faith.
SERMON APPROACHES WITH ILLUSTRATIONS
Lesson 1: Acts 4:32--35
Sermon Title: One In The Spirit, One In The Lord
Sermon Angle: The Christian community is filled with all sorts of people from every walk of life. We have different political views, we come to some different social stands and express ourselves uniquely. However, we have one magnet that draws us all together: the Spirit of our Lord and risen Savior. "We are one in the Spirit," as the song says, "we are one in the Lord; and we pray that all unity may one day be restored." This is the source of unity which Luke describes so glowingly in this passage.
Sermon Title: The Resurrection Frees Our Clenched Fists
Sermon Angle: You've probably heard the story of the chimp who reached through the narrow neck of a large jar to obtain the fruit inside. He clenched the luscious treat in his fist but the neck of the jar would not allow him to withdraw his fist with the fruit in it. He could have freed his hand by unclenching his fist but he refused to do that. He was imprisoned by his lust. The living Lord freed the believers in Jerusalem to release their grip on their possessions. They didn't regard any of their possessions as their own. They shared them freely. Not only did the apostle's preaching testify powerfully to the Lord's resurrection but also to the spirit of sharing in the Christian community.
Outline:
1. Tell the story of the chimp or a similar opener.
2. Greed keeps our fists clenched and attached to things.
3. The risen Christ opens our hearts and unlocks our grip on things.
4. The resurrection frees us to share with one another.
Lesson 2: 1 John 1:1-2:2
Sermon Title: Koinonia
Sermon Angle: All three lessons testify to the power of Christian community, the fellowship of believers. The New Testament word for the common life is koinonia. The root word here is koin, meaning "common" or "that which is held together." This lesson declares that the purpose for witnessing to the resurrection is that they might share in the fellowship with the Father, the Son and other believers (v. 3). The First Lesson, from Acts, describes the community in Jerusalem as a closely knit fellowship. In the Gospel, the risen Lord appears to those sharing a kind of fellowship of suffering. They were all mourning the death of their Lord and Master. The living Lord transformed that fellowship of suffering into a community of grace and life.
Outline:
1. The most prominent sign of the resurrected Christ is Christian fellowship.
2. All three lessons testify to its power. (Explain briefly.)
3. To be the Easter people is to live in a Christ--centered community.
Sermon Title: Self--deception
Sermon Angle: John boldly states that if we deny the reality of our sin, we are not only deceiving ourselves but living a lie (v. 8). We can fool others for a time, but God cannot be fooled; he sees the recesses of our heart. Self--deception proves dangerous; it leads to isolation, fragmentation of our personality and separation from God. Self--deception is dangerous to your health and well--being. John urges us to come clean through confession of our sins. It opens the door to fellowship with God and one another.
Outline:
1. To deny our sin is to live a lie - it leads to sickness, broken relationships and isolation.
2. To confess our sins is like walking in the light - nothing to hide.
3. If we confess, God will cleanse and forgive us.
__________
The movie The Godfather graphically depicts how some people appear to be living in the light, while they are actually walking in the darkness of sin and death. Michael Corleone and his wife were having their baby baptized in the church while at the same time Michael's henchmen were carrying out a murderous assault on the rival mob family. The scenes from the baptism were interspersed with bloody murder scenes. The baptismal vows were a lie, a deception on Michael's part. How many of us compartmentalize our lives into outer rooms of light and inner rooms of darkness, thinking that few people will see beyond the foyer?
Gospel: John 20:19--31
Sermon Title: Jailbreak!
Sermon Angle: The disciples were still closeted behind locked doors that first Easter evening. Fear had driven them to lock themselves up, to fear for their lives. Suddenly Jesus broke into their midst, giving them his peace. Before long they left their jail. They went out into the highways and byways with the good news of eternal life, forgiveness and peace. From time to time some of them got thrown back in prison but they were always free. Christ had opened the jail door from the inside.
Outline:
1. Following the crucifixion, the Upper Room became a prison - fear kept them inside.
2. The risen Lord broke into their prison and freed them from fear of death.
3. They eventually broke out with the good news of freedom through the risen Christ.
- Freedom from fear, sin and death.
Sermon Title: To Stand Up Again Through The Power Of Faith
Sermon Angle: The crucifixion knocked the followers of Christ to the ground like a hand grenade. When the risen Lord invaded their space, their faith was flatter than a pancake. When Christ showed himself, they were soon ready to stand up again through the power of renewed faith. Thomas refused to be buoyed by their faith after Christ's first appearance. Yet even for him, the risen Lord lifted him out of the sinkhole of doubt on to the rock of a solid faith. We all have life experiences that sweep the legs of our faith out from under us. Thank God! We can stand again through the power of his resurrection!
Outline:
1. The crucifixion knocked the disciples to the pavement.
2. Fear of death kept them there for a time.
3. The Greek word for "resurrection" can be interpreted "to stand again" and that's what the risen Christ enabled them to do.
4. We might stumble and fall but the risen Christ will raise us up again.
Sermon Title: Believing Is Seeing
Sermon Angle: For Thomas seeing was believing, as the saying goes. However, most of us must be content to see Christ through the eyes of faith. For us believing is seeing. Faith opens up a realm we never dreamed of. Jesus pronounces his blessing on those who have not seen and yet believe (v. 29).
__________
Blaise Pascal, the great French scientist, mathematician and philosopher, was working at his laboratory shortly after his beloved daughter had died. A friend dropped by and was amazed by Pascal's quiet serenity in the face of tragedy. The friend observed: "I wish I had your creed, then I would live your life." Pascal countered: "Live my life and you will soon have my creed."
The faith that frees us is practical and experiential.
