mySundaySermons

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.” After he said this, he showed them his hands and his side. Then the disciples rejoiced when they saw the Lord. Jesus said to them again, “Peace be with you. As the Father has sent me, so I send you.” When he had said this, he breathed on them and said to them, “Receive the Holy Spirit. If you forgive the sins of any, they are forgiven them; if you retain the sins of any, they are retained.” But Thomas (who was called the Twin ), one of the twelve, was not with them when Jesus came. 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.” 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.” 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.” Thomas answered him, “My Lord and my God!” 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.” Now Jesus did many other signs in the presence of his disciples, which are not written in this book. 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. [RSV]

Seeing is Believing

• Show Me, What Proof is convincing for one is not convincing for all
• Evidence might be physical, emotional or spiritual
• Understanding is the starting point

Not Seeing, yet Believing is Faith

• Faith is based in what we do not control
• Faith is Trusting what is untrustworthy
• Faith is Affirming what God provides

Faith is the Core

• Faith is generally a process
• Faith is tested as a muscle is strengthen
• Faith is hardened as steel is heated and cooled.

The Purpose of Faith is for our Relationship of Salvation

• Jesus’s Death pays for our sin
• Jesus’s Resurrection restores our life
• Jesus’s presence in the Holy Spirit is to build the relationship

Commitment to the Relationship

• Starting with the Scriptures, Feed your Faith and Belief
• Building on the faith you have seen, heard, read, experienced Test
• Take the Jesus relationship to life: Family, Work, School, Community, etc.
• Jesus makesFoundation for our Relationship with God Through Christ Jesus
•  COMMIT to Intentional Spiritual Growth. Bible Study, Sunday school, Daily Devotion, Small Group.
  • Disciples were Gathered, even in fear and doubt, Jesus SHOWS up.
  • Disciples share their faith stories, Jesus Shows up to Confirm
  • Disciples offer questions and challenges, Jesus Shows up for Faith
  • Disciples meet Jesus in the process and their life is filled with Faith and Salvation, through Jesus Christ, living with them.