29/04/2019: Believe

CALL TO WORSHIP:   Psalm 150

Let Everything Praise the Lord

1 Praise the Lord!
Praise God in his sanctuary;
praise him in his mighty heavens!
2 Praise him for his mighty deeds;
praise him according to his excellent greatness!

3 Praise him with trumpet sound;
praise him with lute and harp!
4 Praise him with tambourine and dance;
praise him with strings and pipe!
5 Praise him with sounding cymbals;
praise him with loud clashing cymbals!
6 Let everything that has breath praise the Lord!
Praise the Lord!

 

English Standard Version (ESV)

The Holy Bible, English Standard Version. ESV® Text Edition: 2016. Copyright © 2001 by Crossway Bibles, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers.

READING:       John 20:19-31

Jesus Appears to the Disciples

19 On the evening of that day, the first day of the week, the doors being locked where the disciples were for fear of the Jews, Jesus came and stood among them and said to them, “Peace be with you.”

20 When he had said this, he showed them his hands and his side. Then the disciples were glad when they saw the Lord.

21 Jesus said to them again, “Peace be with you. As the Father has sent me, even so I am sending you.”

22 And when he had said this, he breathed on them and said to them, “Receive the Holy Spirit.

23 If you forgive the sins of any, they are forgiven them; if you withhold forgiveness from any, it is withheld.”

Jesus and Thomas

24 Now Thomas, one of the twelve, called the Twin, was not with them when Jesus came.

25 So the other disciples told him, “We have seen the Lord.” But he said to them, “Unless I see in his hands the mark of the nails, and place my finger into the mark of the nails, and place my hand into his side, I will never believe.”

26 Eight days later, his disciples were inside again, and Thomas was with them. Although the doors were locked, Jesus came and stood among them and said, “Peace be with you.”

27 Then he said to Thomas, “Put your finger here, and see my hands; and put out your hand, and place it in my side. Do not disbelieve, but believe.”

28 Thomas answered him, “My Lord and my God!”

29 Jesus said to him, “Have you believed because you have seen me? Blessed are those who have not seen and yet have believed.”

The Purpose of This Book

30 Now Jesus did many other signs in the presence of the disciples, which are not written in this book;

31 but these are written so that you may believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God, and that by believing you may have life in his name.

English Standard Version (ESV)

The Holy Bible, English Standard Version. ESV® Text Edition: 2016. Copyright © 2001 by Crossway Bibles, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers.

  1. Read the story of Easter Sunday – John 20:1-18. Take the time to reflect not only on the story itself, but especially the characters involved. Who was there? What did they see? How did they react to the fact that Jesus’ body was missing?
  1. Why do you think did the disciples not go out looking for Jesus?
  2. What do you think Jesus meant at John 20:17?
  3. Why do you think the disciples were behind locked doors (vs.19)?
  4. Have you ever been afraid? What are some of the fears that you have? Are they obvious to see, or are they locked away in your heart? How do you deal with them….?
  5. When Jesus appears to the disciples in the locked room; it is Good News (vs.19-22)! He immediately drives away the fear with the words “Shalom” which means “Peace to you!” He says it immediately the way he always does. He says “Peace.” He says “Shalom.” He says it’s all right. He speaks a word that is the opposite of fear and so deals with the shame, puts away and banishes any thoughts the disciples may have had about him bearing a grudge. Jesus was not out to settle any scores but to create a whole new life-bringing situation!

Think carefully about the way the love of Jesus, drives out fear! Use this reading to help you:

1 John 4:18[i] 

“There is no fear in love, but perfect love casts out fear. For fear has to do with punishment, and whoever fears has not been perfected in love.

  1. Do you need the Love and Peace of God to drive fear from your life? Do you need Jesus to come into the locked room of your heart? Do you know someone else who may need this gift of healing too?

God bless for the week ahead,

Rev. Tim

[i] English Standard Version (ESV) The Holy Bible, English Standard Version. ESV® Text Edition: 2016. Copyright © 2001 by Crossway Bibles, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers.