mySundaySermons

19 When it was evening on that day, the first day of the week, and the doors of the house where the disciples had met were locked for fear of the Jews, Jesus came and stood among them and said, “Peace be with you.” 20 After he said this, he showed them his hands and his side. Then the disciples rejoiced when they saw the Lord. 21 Jesus said to them again, “Peace be with you. As the Father has sent me, so I send you.” 22 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 retain the sins of any, they are retained.” 24 But Thomas (who was called the Twin ), one of the twelve, 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 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.” 26 A week later his disciples were again in the house, and Thomas was with them. Although the doors were shut, 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. Reach out your hand and put it in my side. Do not doubt 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 come to believe.” 30 Now Jesus did many other signs in the presence of his disciples, which are not written in this book. 31 But these are written so that you may come to believe that Jesus is the Messiah, the Son of God, and that through believing you may have life in his name. (NRSV)

Doors: wooden, steel, privacy, safety, security, overhead, front, back, side, sliding, folding..
locked, bolted, latched, pinned, jimmy’ed, propped, picked, alarmed, fireproofed, CLOSED..

The doors were shut for fear of personal attack
The doors were shut because of chaos among the disciples
The doors were shut because of the absence of the Spirit
The doors were shut because of doubt
The doors were shut because someone, on the inside, shut the door.

The door does not stop Jesus, it might stop us.
What doors will you open with the power of Jesus Christ?
What doors will you leave closed and remain afraid, alone, and confused?

Open hearts, Open Minds, Open Doors:
WHO? Reach out to those who are willing to re-think, re-consider, coming inside. Those who have been in, but have some reason, valid or not, that keeps them out.
Those who have been attacked by those on the ‘inside’
Those who see our chaos and confusion and division and don’t want to join the mess.
Those who have the nudging of the Holy Spirit and meet our spiritual emptiness.
Those who have questions, that might challenge us, to renew and relearn our own faith.
Those who have the desire to come in, but must walk through a door we have help shut.

Call; Open to doors to those who are willing to enter.. for Jesus is already with us.