I Doubt It-Second Sunday of Easter-LCMS Readings

Description

John 20:19-31

What bad press.  When Jesus declared He was going to return to Bethany, after the death of Lazarus, the disciples knew there could be danger.  The Pharisees and the chief priests and the elders of the people had made it clear they considered Jesus a threat.  In some ways, Bethany was in enemy territory.  Yet it was Thomas who said, “Let us go with Him, that we may die with Him.”  Could this be the same man who is labeled as “doubting Thomas”?

Yes.  Such courage.  Such doubt.  Perhaps we know what that is like.  Last week, we proclaimed our faith in the resurrected Jesus.  The alleluias were loud and boisterous and heartfelt.  What about this week?  Life has settled in.  Has doubt crept in as well?   We are not so unlike Thomas.  Willing to die with Jesus one moment, and wavering the next.  And to us Jesus says, “Put your finger here.  Believe!”  And our response is the same as that of Thomas:  “My Lord and my God.”

 

+ WE PREPARE TO WORSHIP +

[Worship Planners: A Worship CD and/or the praise team can play in the background 10-15 minutes before the service.]

 

TIME OF PRAISE AND WORSHIP 

I Am Free

Jon Egan, © 2004 Vertical Worship Songs

The Rising River Is

Michael W. Smith, ©2008 Smittyfly Music

All The Earth Will Sing Your Praises

Paul Baloche, © 2003 Integrity’s Hosanna! Music

 

[Traditional Options]

Now All The Vault of Heaven Resounds

ELW 367; LBW 143; LSB 465; LW 131

Jesus Lives! The Victory’s Won         

ELW 621; LBW 133; LSB 490; LW 139

All the Way My Savior Leads Me

BH 75 214; BH 91 62; CH 680; CHH 559; HWC 460; HFG 598; HLC 440; HGP 365; RH 606; STTL 559; WC 641; WAR 505; WHM 420; WIS 490

 

INVOCATION AND INTRODUCTION OF TODAY’S THEME

            Pastor:             We have much to celebrate.  We are the people of God.  We begin in His name.

People:            Father, Son and Holy Spirit.

Pastor:             On this day our celebration still focuses on the empty tomb, and the victory of  Jesus.

People:            He died to forgive our sins and rose again to give us new life.

Pastor:             And there is even more to celebrate, as we think of the words of the risen Christ,  spoken to His first disciples and to us –

People:            “Peace be with you.”

Pastor:             He is risen.

People:            He is risen indeed.

Pastor:             Jesus is Lord and Savior.

People:            The empty tomb removes any doubt

 

OPENING PRAYER: [This prayer is offered as an idea] —    “Lord Christ, we are here to celebrate You!  We have stood before Your empty           tomb, and have rejoiced in Your victory ver sin and death.  Fill us with Your Spirit, that we might be able to proclaim, ‘My Lord and my God’, and that Your victory might be ours.  You are our risen Savior and living Lord, and in Your name we pray.  Amen.

 

TIME OF GREETING

 

TIME OF CONFESSION AND FORGIVENESS

 

            Pastor:             Even as we celebrate, we are made aware of our need to confess.  Yet we confess our sins and our sinfulness, not   as those who have no hope – but as those                                                  who know the grace and power of our God.  Trusting in Him alone, we make confession. Father, we come as Your people, acknowledging our sinfulness,                                                      trusting in Your mercy and love.

 

People:                Forgive us father, for the times we live as if Christ were still in the tomb.  Forgive us for the times we remain buried in our sins, dead to the guiding of Your                                                 Spirit.

Forgive us for the times we are like Thomas, who proclaimed “I will not believe”

Forgive the times we doubt our beliefs, and believe our doubt

We want Your Word of peace

(A time of personal reflection and confession)

         

            Pastor:             The empty tomb proclaims the Gospel of Christ.  He died for us, as the sacrifice for our sins.  He was raised by the Father that those who believe in Him                                                      might also rise to walk in newness of life, here and now, and for all eternity.  To those who believe, He gives power to become the children of God, living as                                                  resurrected people.  Christ is “our Lord and our God”

 

 

+ We Hear the Word of God +

[It is suggested that the introductions be read out loud as well as the Scripture itself]

 

FIRST READING     Acts 5:12-20   (NIV)

The early believers live in power and joy.  The message of the risen Christ is proclaimed.    

¹²The apostles performed many miraculous signs and wonders among the people. And all the believers used to meet together in Solomon’s Colonnade. ¹³No one else dared join them, even though they were highly regarded by the people. ¹⁴Nevertheless, more and more men and women believed in the Lord and were added to their number. ¹⁵As a result, people brought the sick into the streets and laid them on beds and mats so that at least Peter’s shadow might fall on some of them as he passed by. ¹⁶Crowds gathered also from the towns around Jerusalem, bringing their sick and those tormented by evil spirits, and all of them were healed. ¹⁷Then the high priest and all his associates, who were members of the party of the Sadducees, were filled with jealousy. ¹⁸They arrested the apostles and put them in the public jail. ¹⁹But during the night an angel of the Lord opened the doors of the jail and brought them out. ²⁰“Go, stand in the temple courts,” he said, “and tell the people the full message of this new life.”