Monday, April 16, 2018

sermon, "Is Seeing Really Believing...", by Pastor Ruth Foss, Stetson Memorial United Methodist Church, Patten, ME



April 8, 2018
Stetson Memorial UMC
John 20:19-31 The Voice
Psalm 114 NIV


“Is Seeing Really Believing…”

The Lord be with you…
And also with you…
Let us pray…
Pray that the words spoken are not my own but God’s Words…

A reading from the gospel of according to John, chapter 20, verses 19-31. Listen to and for a Word from God to His resurrected people…

Good Morning…
Mary ran back to the disciples and told them everything that had happened that Resurrection morning by the empty tomb. She told them she had seen the Lord. They must have thought she was hallucinating…she was grieved by the death of the person who saw the good in her…the One who delivered her. They had no idea what was going to happen later that evening…something that would change their and our world forever.
As they gather there in the locked room…because of their fear of what might happen to them… there was a hush as they thought about the events of 3 days ago. When all of he sudden Jesus appeared…out of nowhere. They were shocked and relieved to see their Teacher again. Unfortunately, Thomas was missing. He would have been so happy to hear the news…right? As they told Thomas all that happened he wouldn’t…he couldn’t believe he story he was being told. He wanted proof.

As they all…including Thomas…gathered together a few days later, Jesus again appeared to them. Knowing how skeptical Thomas was about resurrection Jesus offered him a chance to get his proof. In seeing Jesus Thomas fell to the floor realizing that it was really all true…Jesus had come back as he said he would… Oh Thomas…how could you have doubted…

doubteddoubting
1: to be uncertain about 
  • doubt he's right.
2: to lack confidence in 
  • doubted my own judgment.
3: to consider unlikely 
  • doubt I can go tonight.

How many of you here this morning ever doubted something or someone? Why did you doubt? We use phrases like “I will believe it when I see it”. We need to see the proof before we will believe. There are things like gravity and air that we can’t see but we believe. Why do you think we have to “see” the proof? We...as humanity…are visual. We need to see things…I know I am a visual learner. I learn better by someone showing me how to do something rather than reading about it in a book…

In the scripture from this morning we hear about some visual learners. First, we have the disciples who gathered together in the locked from the first time. Now it doesn’t tell us that they needed to see but when Mary came and told her she had seen the Lord they probably thought she was crazy. They knew what had happened 3 days prior and they were probably grieving over their loss…What a cruel joke Mary. Let us grieve in peace…you are not funny… Then Jesus appeared… Shocked and amazed they celebrated the joyous reunion with their Rabbi. Seeing Jesus resurrected they were able to believe what He had told them. Seeing was believing.©

But Thomas was missing. A few days later, as they gathered again, Thomas was with them. Again, they received their visual reminder and Thomas couldn’t deny what his eyes beheld…Jesus in the flesh. Jesus gave him the chance to touch Him…to feel Him. But just the sight of Jesus was enough for Thomas.  Seeing was believing.©

The disciples had a chance to see the resurrected Jesus but all who would follow, you and I, don’t have the same privilege. With us it comes down to a matter of faith. Do we believe God’s word about Jesus? Do we believe Jesus’ words in his scripture… “Blessed are all those who never see Me and yet they believe?” We are blessed because we believe…just as we believe and have faith in air and gravity…

For you and I as Christ Followers, seeing is not believing…remember we can’t see Jesus standing right in front of us. We as believers by faith declare that believing is seeing. If we don’t believe in the resurrection power, we will not see it. The world does not see because the do not believe. We are ale to see God working because we believe God is working.

Now here’s a thought…The world cannot see Jesus or God because they don’t believe. We agree on this. What if we let God and Jesus be seen in you and me so the doubting world would see and believe like Thomas did. What if…now I may be reaching here…what if that is part of our calling as Christ Follower’s…to be the image to be the thing that is tangible for a world looking for something to hold on too.

There are many “Doubting Thomas’” out there. Are you willing to appear among them and be the image of Jesus Christ…the Resurrected King of king’s and Lord of lord’s? Are you willing to be the vessel of Jesus Christ as He says to a faithless world… “Leave behind your faithlessness and believe?” Believing is seeing…let us help others to see… as we live as the resurrected of the King.

Amen…


==============
April 16, 2018

April 14, 2018
a vessel of Jesus Christ
April 14, 2018
we did not touch Christ
edited April 14, 2018
yet we believe
April 14, 2018
yet they believe, yet we believe
edited April 14, 2018
We believe Christ’s words
(answering the question yes)
April 14, 2018
believing is seeing
April 14, 2018
we see the Christ
April 14, 2018
Seeing is not believing
edited April 14, 2018
Do we believe  Christ’s words – v2
April 14, 2018
do we believe Christ’s words
April 14, 2018
we are able to see God working
April 14, 2018
believe  through the Spirit
April 14, 2018
believe with your heart - 2
April 13, 2018
our eyes can deceive us
April 13, 2018
don’t believe your eyes
April 13, 2018
in believing we have sight
edited April 13, 2018
I am a witness – v2
edited April 13, 2018
a believer in miracles – v2
edited April 12, 2018
in seeing Christ – v2
April 12, 2018
in seeing Jesus
April 12, 2018
Jesus appeared
April 12, 2018
I am a witness (1/2)
April 12, 2018
I am a witness (2/2)
April 12, 2018
I am a witness
Luke 24:44b
“Everything must be fulfilled that is written about me
in the Law of Moses, the Prophets and the Psalms.”
Luke 24:41-48
Luke 24:36b-48
“Jesus Appears to the Disciples” (NIV)
The Upper Room Disciplines for 2018
“Questions of Identity: Who Am I?”
April 9, 2018 to April 15, 2018
Anne Broyles
devotion for April 12, 2018
read April 12, 2018
&
April 12, 2018
a believer in miracles
April 11, 2018
a risen Christ
April 11, 2018
The Risen Christ With Them
Luke 24:36b-40
Luke 24:36b-48
“Jesus Appears to the Disciples” (NIV)
The Upper Room Disciplines for 2018
“Questions of Identity: Who Am I?”
April 9, 2018 to April 15, 2018
Anne Broyles
devotion for April 11, 2018
read April 11, 2018
&
April 11, 2018
touching the hands of Jesus
April 10, 2018
he needed proof
April 10, 2018
we all would have doubted – v2
April 10, 2018
we all would have doubted
edited April 9, 2018
may we see Christ – v2
April 9, 2018
I couldn’t believe it
edited April 9, 2018
I give you peace – v2
April 8, 2018
I give you peace
April 8 2018
may we see Christ
April 8, 2018
help us to believe
April 8, 2018
blind to the miracles
April 8, 2018
seeing with their hearts
April 8, 2018
Second Sunday of Easter
John 20:29
John 20:19-31 (The Voice)
Psalm 114 (NIV)
and sermon: “Is Seeing Really Believing…”
video
text

by Pastor Ruth Foss
sermon blog
meditation blog
“God’s Whisper” blog                             
Children’s Message
by Pastor Ruth Foss
Stetson Memorial United Methodist Church
Patten, ME
April 8, 2018
&
April 8, 2018
Christ calls us to rise
April 8, 2018
rise beloved
April 7, 2018
Easter Lilies – close-ups
April 7, 2018
They all thought Christ was dead
edited April 7, 2018
my despair became joy – v2
edited/ change voice April 7, 2018
my despair became joy
(speaking as Mary)
April 7, 2018
despair became joy
edited/new name April 2, 2018
calling her name, Mary
April 2, 2018
saying her name, Mary
April 2, 2018
they were filled with great joy
April 2, 2018
the Devil was surprised
April 2, 2018
the rejected rock
April 1, 2018
Easter Sunday/ Resurrection Sunday
worship service
Matthew 28:1-10 (The Message)
Psalm 118:1-2, 14-17, 21-24 (Complete Jewish Bible)
sermon, inspired by the Reverend T.D. Jakes,
“And They Thought You Were Dead…”
video
text
led by Pastor Ruth Foss
sermon blog
meditation blog
“God’s Whisper” blog                             
Children’s Message
by Pastor Ruth Foss
communion – invitation and Great Thanksgivign
by Pastor Ruth Foss
Stetson Memorial United Methodist Church
Patten, ME
Easter Sunday/ Resurrection Sunday
worship service
April 1, 2018
&
Easter Sunrise Service                
led by Pastor Ruth Foss
sermon blog
meditation blog
“God’s Whisper” blog
Stetson Memorial United Methodist Church
Patten, ME
Easter Sunday/ Resurrection Sunday
April 1, 2018

All of my poems, photographs, and videos are copyrighted by Raymond A. Foss, 2000, 2001, 2002, 2003, 2004, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2008, 2009, 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014, 2015, 2016, 2017, and 2018. All rights are reserved. Contact me at Ray Foss (raymondafoss@gmail.com) for usage. See all 46,800 of my poems at www.raymondafoss.blogspot.com Poetry Where You Live.

Christ, Faith, God, Spirit, love, grace, prayer, Resurrection, Pastor Ruth Foss, Stetson Memorial United Methodist Church, Doubting Thomas, doubt, belief, John 20, Luke 24, sermon,

#Christ #Faith #love #grace #Spirit #God #hope #journey #Messiah #prayer #sacrifice #forgiven #mercy #salvation #adoption #cross #Easter #Resurrection #victory #risen #HeIsRisenIndeed #DoubtingThomas #doubt #belief #John20 #Luke24 #sermon

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