April 7, 2013
2nd Sunday of Easter
Worship Theme: Something
bigger than ourselves
Acts 5: 27-32 CEB
John 20:19-31 Gods Word
Bible
Revelation 1:4-8 CEB
The Power of the
Resurrection
A reading from the book of Revelation, chapter 1,
verses 4-8, I am reading from the Common English Bible. Listen for a word of
God for you and me the people of God.
Each
year, Ray and I, with the girls, walk in the “Walk for Hunger: Crop Walk”. We are able to help in the battle of
hunger by getting sponsors so that we can earn money towards the fight. The war
on hunger rages on but we are able to fight in the battle together. We, at
times, can get discouraged when we hear about all those men, women and children
that live impoverished lives and don’t know where there next meal is coming
from but we still enter the battlefield hoping for victory in the war. We do it
because we want no one to go without. This battle goes beyond us. . . beyond
our neighborhood. . . it is global.
We
as Christians may feel that we are in a war that we just can’t win. Sometimes
we all feel like we are fighting a losing battle. We see all the death and
destruction around us and get a little overwhelmed by the battle field but
there are some victory’s. . . some battles that we may win. When a loved one
turns their life around and follows the way of Jesus. . . there is victory in
the battle. When a single mother finds her significance and hope in Jesus. . . there
is a victory in the battle. When a child starts bringing their parent to church.
. . there is a victory in the battle. We are fighting a battle not just for our
lives but for the lives of all humanity. It is a huge war but there is victory
in the Cross. . . Christ is risen, Christ is risen indeed.
Last
Sunday, we celebrated one of the most important days in a Christian’s life. . .
the day when Christ rose from the dead conquering sin and death. This was the
first battle won in the war on sin and death. The war still rages but we have
victory in Jesus. . . for Christ has risen, Christ has risen indeed.
There is power in the cross of Jesus. . . there is power in the Resurrection. .
. Power for you and power for me. We are in the battle of something bigger than
ourselves.
In
the Acts scripture from this morning, we hear a little bit about that power. .
. .enough to give us hope. When we obey God. . . the God who won that battle of
sin and death by raising our Lord and Savior from the dead. . . our hearts are
changed and are given the Holy Spirit that enables us to fight the good fight
against sin and have those victories from time to time. That victory give us
hope in a lost world. Because. . . Christ has Risen, He has risen indeed. Because
of this fact, these apostles stayed in the fight. . . even though they were
“encouraged” not to. . . There is power
in the Cross. . .
The
John scripture paints a picture that maybe you or I have seen at times. We are
afraid and are behind locked doors. . . afraid to share our faith because of
ridicule. . . afraid to share our faith because we might lose friends. . . afraid
to get into the battle. But Jesus came and gave them peace. And not only did
they receive peace but the received the Holy Spirit that emboldened them to go
out and preach the gospel. They were given the power to forgive sins. . . or
not. All this was because Christ had risen. . . he had risen indeed.
There is Power in the cross of Jesus. . .
And
then we have the reading from the book of Revelation. . . one of my favorite
books of the Bible. It proves the power found in the cross. . . the power that
flows down from Golgotha’s Hill onto humanity. You see. . . we are set free
from sin by His blood. . . we have become His kingdom here on earth. .
. priest to share the Gospel of grace, peace and forgiveness. We are here to
share that Gospel until He returns and brings about a New Heaven and a New
Earth. And His return is a promise to you and to me. . . to all who believe. .
. past, present and future. Our Lord God promises it and we know it is true for
our God is the Alpha and Omega. . . beginning and end, the one who is, was and
is coming. . . The Almighty. Hallelujah amen! We have hope for Christ
has risen. . . He has risen indeed!
There is power in the cross of Jesus. . . there is power in His Resurrection!
Life
is but a whisper on the wind, here today but gone tomorrow. We may fear that we
are devoting our lifetime to empty, meaningless things. We may try to do the
right things and fail miserably. But we have power and hope to change things. .
. even just a little. We have the power and strength to fight the good fight
while we are here and we may even win some of the battles for Christ. But. . . but.
. . if we spend our time behind locked doors, as the disciples did at first,
how can we change the world in which we live? Jesus penetrates our locked doors
as He did with the disciples. He penetrates our fears and doubts with peace.
But.
. . If Christ has conquered why is there so much doubt and hypocrisy? Why is
there evil still in the world? I have had these same questions and have
struggled with them myself. But I have hope in that even if I don’t live to see
Christ come back, as He said He would, every little battle I fight. . . every
battle. . . large or small. . . that I win. . . brings that day a little closer.
For I believe that Christ has risen, He has risen indeed. There is power in the Cross of Jesus.
Church.
. . we need to be out there on the battlefield. We are given power and might
through the resurrection of Christ. We can no longer sit behind closed doors
afraid of what others might do or say. We can no longer sit nonchalantly by and
do nothing because we feel it is difficult and large of a task to
undertake. We are called and empowered.
. . redeemed and esteemed to share the power we have been given. We have hope
and direction because Christ is risen. . . He is risen indeed. There is power in the cross and resurrection
of our Risen Lord,
Jesus Christ!
Alleluia. . . Amen!
April
9, 2013
Worship
Theme: “Something bigger than ourselves”
Revelations
1:4-8 (Common English Bible)
John
20:19-31 (God’s Word Bible)
Act
5:27-32 (Common English Bible)
Call
to Worship (see Psalm 150)
Unison
Prayer (Praising God of Many Names, UMH #104)
Prayer
of Dedication (GBOD April 7, 2013)
Communion
liturgy
and
sermon “The Power of the Resurrection”
by Pastor Ruth
Foss
sermon blog
meditation
blog
“God’s
Whisper” blog
Suncook United Methodist Church
Suncook, NH
April 7, 2013
Second Sunday of Easter
Eastertide
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Poetry Where You Live.
