Sunday, March 30, 2008
Confirmation Sunday 2008
John 20:19-31
Senior Pastor
Some
have trouble believing. This story
reminds us that some have trouble believing and it also reminds us that not all of us come to faith in the
same manner. Thomas wanted to be sure. You may remember earlier in John’s Gospel
(Chapter 14) when Jesus says I am going to prepare a place for you and
you know the way to the place where I am going, Thomas is the one who
interrupts Jesus and says, “Lord we do not know where you are going. How can we know the way?”
Thomas
wants specifics; he wants detailed directions.
He is thoughtful and intentional about his faith. So it is not unlike him to say to the other
disciples unless I have some proof here fellows, I am not going to believe. It is good for us to remember that people
come to faith in different ways. Some
of us come to faith through somewhat of an intuitive path and others need more
concrete information.
One of
you sent me this email a couple of weeks ago that told about a family out to
dinner. The six-year-old son asked if he could say the prayer before the
meal. The pleased parents said, “Sure.”
He
prayed, “God is good, God is great. Thank
you God for this food… and I would even thank you more if Mom gets us ice cream
for dessert. And Liberty and justice for all! Amen!"
Along
with the laughter from the other customers nearby, one woman remarked,
"That's what's wrong with this country.
Kids today don't even know how to pray.
Asking God for ice cream! Why, I never!"
Hearing
this, the young boy burst into tears and asked, "Did I do it wrong? Is God
mad at me?"
As his parents held him and assured him that he had done a terrific job, and
God was certainly not mad at him, an elderly gentleman approached the table.
He
winked at the youngster and said, "I happen to know that God thought that
was a great prayer."
"Really?" the boy asked.
"Cross my heart," the man replied. Then, in a theatrical whisper, he
added (indicating the woman whose remark had started this whole thing), "Too
bad she never asks God for ice cream. A little ice cream is good for the
soul sometimes."
The mom goes on to say, naturally, I bought my kids ice cream at the end of the
meal. My son stared at his for a moment, and then did something I will remember
the rest of my life. He picked up his sundae and, without a word, walked over
and placed it in front of the woman. With a big smile he told her, "Here,
this is for you. Ice cream is good for
the soul sometimes; and my soul is good already."
Sometimes
we need to help people come to belief.
We need to help them grow in their love of God and neighbor and to
experience the joy of living a Christian life.
We all need help at times in our
Christian walk.
Christian
Schwarz in his book The Three Colors of Ministry says that we should
notice that Jesus does not condemn Thomas for his desire to be sure. Rather Jesus
makes a special effort to help Thomas come to believe.
He makes a second trip to visit the disciples. This time John tells us that Thomas was with them.
Jesus
again offers them Peace. 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.” (v.27-29)
Blessed
are those who have not seen and yet come to believe. Some people have mystic experiences with Christ and come to
believe. But most of the people I know
in the church are in this category of those who have not seen and yet come to
believe. Either way, let’s be sure and
get the point that coming to belief in
Christ is important and when we can help others come to belief that is
important as well. That’s why as United Methodists we have
Confirmation Classes. Confirmation is an opportunity for people to come to
belief. It most often happens with young people, but
sometimes we have adult confirmation classes as well.
This
morning we want to focus on this group of bright young people studying the
faith. They have had opportunity to
learn about the history of the church universal as well as the United Methodist
Church. They have had opportunity to
study the Bible and the major themes in the Bible. They have taken time to talk about prayer and worship and our
sacraments and our social principles.
The Affirmation of Faith we will use this morning came out of their
study and reflection over these last several months. Susan and I, as your pastors here, have both been active in the
teaching rotation because we value this process of helping another come to
belief.
We want
to help these students stand up and confirm the faith that their parents have
brought them into as their own. We want
them to know that the church confirms them as valued members of this community
of faith. We want them to know this blessing of which Jesus
speaks that is ours as we come to belief.
It is a blessing of peace and assurance and abundant life.
John
ends this portion of his gospel with these words: 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.
(v.30 – 31)
Phil and
Linda Outhier, Susan, Devon and I, and
a number of friends-in-faith have been working and praying with these young
people since September because it is so important that we help others come to
believe. We want to tell them about
Jesus and the revelation of God through him.
But it is not only in Confirmation that this is important, it is
important throughout our lives. It is important that we share the story so that others may come to believe
and therefore to have life in his name.
Jesus invites us to be those people who keep the story alive. This morning we celebrate that very thing.
John 20:19-31
3/30/08
Seeing the Risen Christ (Confirmation Sunday 2008)
…reminds us that not all of
us come to __________
in the same manner.
“God is good, God is great.
Thank you God for this food…
and I would even thank you
more if Mom gets us ______
__________ for dessert. And
Liberty and justice for all! Amen!"
"Too
bad she never asks God for ice cream. A little ice
cream
is good for the ________ sometimes."
We all need ________ at
times in our Christian walk.
…Jesus makes a special
____________ to help Thomas
come to believe.
v. 27 - 29
…coming to belief in Christ is important and when ____
can help others come to belief that is important as well.
Confirmation is an opportunity for people to come to
____________.
We want them to know this ________________ of which
Jesus speaks that is ours as we come to belief.
v. 30 – 31
It is important that we __________ the story…
Kid’s question: What does Jesus help Thomas do?