April 26 – Third Sunday of Easter

Lectionary

Lectionary readings from Vanderbilt Divinity Library online

(http://divinity.library.vanderbilt.edu/lectionary/BEaster/bEaster3.htm)

 

Acts 3:12–19

Peter preaches in Solomon’s Portico.

Psalm 4 (VU pg. 727)

Answer me when I call, O God.

1 John 3:1–7

We are children of God.

Luke 24:36b–48

Jesus invites the disciples to touch his hands and feet.

 

Spark

Use two large sheets of paper. On one write, “I believe…”; on the other, “I doubt….” Invite people to share their beliefs and their doubts. These might lead to after-worship discussions, or a sermon series.

 

With Children

Play a true or false game about yourself:

I am over the age of 25….

I love dogs… (and so on)

Have the statements get more and more absurd. Talk about how all of us at certain times want proof to believe some things. Don’t downplay the importance of doubt!

 

Sermon Starter

One evening last spring, about 50 members of our congregation joined a group from a local Jewish synagogue in a lively discussion about our respective understandings of God. Some of the Jewish responses were especially interesting. “I believe that God is One with whom we wrestle,” one participant said. Another agreed: “God is the One with whom I argue.”

 

I was initially surprised by these comments, but I now see that they provide a framework for understanding today’s gospel reading. Even though Thomas had often heard Jesus speak of his final fate, he found his friends’ description of their experience of their resurrected Lord to be unbelievable. He needed more proof, so declared: “Unless I see the mark of the nails in his hands, and put my finger in the mark of the nails and my hand in his side, I will not believe.”

 

Jesus’ response is instructive. Rather than berating his disciple for having doubts, Jesus invited Thomas to touch his hands, feel his side, and do what he must in order to understand and believe. And the good news is that God invites our doubts and questions with the same gracious and open spirit with which Jesus embraced Thomas. Indeed, it’s when we wrestle with our deepest uncertainties that the light comes into the dark places of life, and we gain further clarity and assurance about matters of life and faith.

 

Hymns

Acts

VU 397            “O praise the gracious power

 

Psalm

VU 948            “O God, hear my prayer” (psalm response)

 

Epistle

VU 365            “Jesus loves me”

MV 157           “I am a child of God”

 

Gospel

VU 185            “You tell me that the Lord is risen”

VU 396            “Jesus, stand among us” (a good introit)

VU 618            “God, when I stand”

MV 177           “This is my body”