Doubt - John 20:19-31 - Easter 2 - 4-24-22

 

Sermon podcast from the Second Sunday of Easter, 4-24-22 worship service - St. Paul's UCC in Downers Grove, IL. John 20:19-31

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Peace

Sermon podcast from today at St. Paul's UCC in Downers Grove, IL.  John 20:19-31
"Peace" podcast

They were still afraid

Last week’s Bible reading from Mark 16:1-8 left things hanging. In this week’s reading from John 20:19-31 . . . things are still unresolved.

Before we jump to the “Mark and John are written at different times and from different traditions” discussion, let’s ask some questions about the fearful disciples and their experience in this week’s reading.

1. Why were the disciples hiding? Was someone searching for them? What kind of trouble were they in?
2. How did Jesus get into a locked room? Did he ‘appear?’ Did the disciples open the door after hearing a ‘secret word?’
3. What did Jesus’ breath smell like when he breathed on the disciples?
4. What’s with the forgiving sins and retaining sins stuff here?
5. Jesus said “Peace be with you” thrice in this week’s reading. That’s got to be important, right?
6. Why does Thomas get singled out for not believing? Didn’t the other disciples see first?
7. Did Thomas reach and touch Jesus hands and side? Was it ‘gooey?’
8. Why weren’t the other signs verse 31 talks about written in this book? Are they written somewhere else?

What else is unresolved? What other questions do you have this week?

Peace Be With You

This week's "and old word is new!" Bible reflection (Thrice) provides the beginning to today's "say it again!" sermon at St. Paul's United Church of Christ in Downers Grove, IL.
"Peace Be With You" podcast

Thrice

In real estate, folks often say that the three most important things to consider are location, location, and location. 

In advertising, folks at least used to say that the three most important things to consider were repetition, repetition, and repetition. In today’s rapidly changing media culture I’m not sure that the rule still holds true, as web 2.0 push technology begins to fade and the new, 'personalized to each person with more information and direction than was ever available before' web 3.0 experience takes hold.

Nevertheless, seeing, hearing, smelling, feeling, or otherwise engaging a concept, an invitation, a greeting, a message, a song, or and advertisement of some kind multiple times still leaves a lasting impression on our minds.

So when you notice something being repeated in any context, it is best to pay attention to what it is. It is likely that the repeated word, picture, tune, or phrase is meant to be remembered. It is likely that it is meant to have a lasting importance.

In this week’s Bible reading from John 20:19-31, the one often referred to as the ‘doubting Thomas’ reading, Jesus greets the disciples three times. Thrice. Each time he says “Peace be with you.”

I think the repetition is meant to communicate something of lasting importance. So why isn't this Bible reading known as the “peace be with you” reading? 

Double Vision

I apologize to anyone who has that 1978 Foreigner song in their head now.

I'm not writing about that song.  Believe it or not, I'm writing about thomas

Traditionsays that Thomas went to India and is considered the one who introduced Christianity there. He became known as Thomas the Believer.

But the doubting Thomas name is the one that has ultimately survived.

What about the other nicknames for Thomas? In this week's Bible reading from John 20:19-31, there's another name - or two. Thomas is called "didymus," which means "the twin.

Twin?

Didymus means 'twin' in Greek. And the Aramaic word for twin?

Thomas.

So Thomas the twin -- or twin twin-- (Some think his given name is really Jude and Thomas Didymus are nicknames) who wasn't there when Jesus appeared to the other disciples, doubted the appearance had happened. And then Jesus came again and showed Thomas. And Thomas believed -- exclaiming, "My Lord and My God!"

Jesus response, often seen as a rebuke, I think simply displays a reality. Thomas believed because he saw -- and blessed are the ones who will believe without seeing.

I tend to ponder that 'didymus' part a whole lot more. Was Thomas a twin? Is that why he wasn't with the disciples the first time? Was he visiting his twin? Did Thomas simply look like someone else -- another disciple or even Jesus -- and is that why he got the nickname? Is Thomas the nickname for Jude -- the brother of Jesus? Were they twins? Did they just look alike? Is there more to this simple word than the passage lets on?

Questions about our faith, our experience with God, our understanding of the Bible, and even our belief didn't start with Thomas and they certainly don't end with us. I believe we will continue to study, doubt, struggle, reject and misunderstand God for as long as we breathe.

So is there anything good about this doubt, struggle, rejection, and misunderstanding?

Well. . . maybe not. But God has given us minds to think and the ability to learn. Some can believe simply because they believe. Others ask a whole lot more questions.

God's neighborhood is big enough for the doubters and the believers. What do you think about that kind of double vision?

Not written

This morning I preached for the last time as pastor of Union Congregational United Church of Christ in Somonauk, Illinois.  The sermon was not written.
"Not Written" podcast

Peace be with you

This week's Bible reflection (Repetition)  provides, pretty much untouched, the opening segment of Sunday's sermon at Union Congregational United Church of Christ in Somonauk, IL. 
"Peace be with you" text
"Peace be with you" podcast 

Repetition

In real estate, folks often say that the three most important things to consider are location, location, and location. 

In advertising, folks at least used to say that the three most important things to consider were repetition, repetition, and repetition.  In today’s rapidly changing media culture I’m not sure that the rule still holds true, as web 2.0 push technology continues to grow yet is likely to give way to the still-in-definition web 3.0 (something marvelous to connect people) technology.

Nevertheless, seeing, hearing, smelling, feeling, or otherwise engaging a concept, an invitation, a greeting, a message, a song, or and advertisement of some kind multiple times still leaves a lasting impression on our minds.

So when you notice something being repeated in any context, it is best to pay attention to what it is. It is likely that the repeated word, picture, tune, or phrase is meant to be remembered. It is likely that it is meant to have a lasting importance.

In this week’s Bible reading from John 20:19-31, the one often referred to as the ‘doubting Thomas’ reading, Jesus greets the disciples three times. Each time he says “Peace be with you.”

I think the repetition is meant to communicate something of lasting importance. Why don’t we ever refer to this Bible reading as the “peace be with you” reading? 

They were still afraid

Here's this week's Bible study blog entry for i.ucc:

Last week’s Bible reading from Mark 16:1-8 left things hanging. In this week’s reading from John 20:19-31 . . . things are still unresolved.

Before we jump to the “Mark and John are written at different times and from different traditions” discussion, let’s ask some questions about the fearful disciples and their experience in this week’s reading.

• Why were the disciples hiding? Was someone searching for them? What kind of trouble were they in?
• How did Jesus get into a locked room? Did he ‘appear?’ Did the disciples open the door after hearing a ‘secret word?’
• What did Jesus’ breath smell like when he breathed on the disciples?
• What’s with the forgiving sins and retaining sins stuff here?
• Jesus said “Peace be with you” twice in this week’s reading. That’s got to be important, right?
• Why does Thomas get singled out for not believing? Didn’t the other disciples see first?
• Did Thomas reach and touch Jesus hands and side? Was it ‘gooey?’
• Why weren’t the other signs verse 31 talks about written in this book? Are they written somewhere else?

What else is unresolved? What other questions do you have this week?

BarlowGirl -- I Believe in Love Bible Study

I wrote a Bible Study for the newest Interlinc music magazine. (YLO 69) It just came out in print. The version in the magazine wraps things up a lot more neatly than the one I originally wrote (It looks like the editors weren't comfortable with a celebration of questions and doubt.) Here's the orginal version -- based on BarlowGirl's song, "I Believe in Love."

Leader Guide

Artist: BarlowGirl
URL: barlowgirl.com
Album: How Can We Be Silent
Label: Fervent/Word
Song: I Believe in Love
Writer: Kirk Moore
Ministry: Union Congregational Church
Location: Somonauk, Illinois
Email: kirk@revkirk.com

Theme:
Doubt, Faith
Materials Needed: Card Deck, Apostle’s Creed handout (using the version most appropriate for your tradition.)

Objective:
By the end of this study, students will have talked about their doubts and shared their beliefs. They will be encouraged to live their lives for Jesus even through their doubts.
Note: Frank talk about doubt can be unnerving to some of us in youth ministry. This study is designed to give students a safe place to talk about their doubts and to grow in faith.

Warm- up:
I Doubt It: Take an ordinary deck of cards (or an "Old Maid" deck or an "Uno" deck or any other kind of card game) and deal out all the cards to every person in the group. Have players take turns putting down their cards, face down, in the correct order. If the player doesn’t have the correct card they have to bluff their way through the turn without someone challenging the truth of their play. The game goes by many names – the least offensive is probably "I Doubt It." If a person is challenged and caught trying to pass off their cards as some other cards, they must pick up all the cards in the discard pile. If the person who challenges them (by saying "I doubt it" after the cards are placed in the discard deck but before someone else begins their turn) finds that the player challenged was telling the truth, the challenger picks up the discard deck. It really is a fun game, though it can last for as little as a few minutes or as long as a few hours (Call the game over and congratulate all players if it goes longer than 10 minutes.)

Transition:
Say: This game lets you doubt the validity of what other people are saying to you. It applauds the idea that doubt may be risky, but not unhealthy. Is that a life rule? Is there a life rule anything like it? Is there a life rule completely opposite of it? Today we’re going to listen to a song from BarlowGirl called "I Believe in Love." It is filled with things the singer believes about God and things that the singer doubts. While you’re listening, try to write down as many things as you can that the song shares about doubt and about belief. Write down other ideas that come to you even if you don’t hear them in the song.

Play "I Believe in Love" from BarlowGirl.
During the song, have students write sentences with the ideas they hear in the song. Some they might come up with are:

• My prayers often seem unanswered
• I think God is silent
• I don’t know if I have enough faith
• Just because I can’t see God doesn’t mean God isn’t real
• Where is God when I’m in pain and when I’m afraid?

Transition:
Say: "I believe in the sun even when it’s not shining. I believe in love even when I don’t feel it
And I believe in God even when He is silent. I believe." Our song expresses belief and faith even in the presence of doubt. But can you believe even when you have doubt? Let’s spend time talking about it.

Bible Lesson:
Have a student (or students) read John 20: 19-31 aloud.
Say: Many of you have heard the Bible passage about "Doubting Thomas." Even if you’ve never heard of these verses before, you’ve probably heard the words "Doubting Thomas" before. Here’s where they come from. After he was resurrected, Jesus came to the disciples and showed them his wounds and he breathed on them. When he breathed on them he told them to receive the Holy Spirit. He told them about forgiving sins. However, Thomas wasn’t with them at the time. When the disciples told Thomas about what they had seen, he wouldn’t believe them until he saw it for himself. And then a week later, Jesus appeared again and showed Thomas. He told Thomas to stop doubting and to believe. He also told everyone that the ones who believe without seeing would be blessed. And therefore we should decide to believe without seeing. We should be moved to go from doubters into believers. We have learned that our questions are signs of doubt and that doubt is the opposite of faith.
Ask: What are your thoughts about the last three things that I said? (Repeat them if necessary) Let students discuss their thoughts.
Say: Jesus didn’t scold Thomas for having doubts. Jesus showed Thomas what he needed to believe. I don’t think that doubt is the opposite of faith.

Let me make some statements to you. Think about whether you agree or disagree with them

• Doubt is uncertainty or skepticism
• Doubt is the absence of faith
• Faith cannot exist with doubt
• Doubt and faith exist together

(Let students respond and discuss their thoughts about the four statements.)

Say: The Apostle’s Creed is a very old testimony of Christian belief. It is said and respected in most Christian denominations today. Let’s say it together: (The text varies slightly from tradition to tradition. Use the version of the creed that is appropriate to your tradition.)

I believe in God, the Father almighty,
creator of heaven and earth.
I believe in Jesus Christ, God's only Son, our Lord,
who was conceived by the Holy Spirit,
born of the Virgin Mary,
suffered under Pontius Pilate,
was crucified, died, and was buried;
he descended to the dead.
On the third day he rose again;
he ascended into heaven,
he is seated at the right hand of the Father,
and he will come to judge the living and the dead.
I believe in the Holy Spirit,
the holy catholic Church,
the communion of saints,
the forgiveness of sins,
the resurrection of the body,
and the life everlasting. Amen.

Ask: What would it look like if we took some of our thoughts from listening to the song and used them to express our doubts at the same time we express our testimony of belief from the Apostle’s creed? It might start something like this:
I don’t know if I have enough faith but . . .
I believe in God, the Father almighty,
creator of heaven and earth.

Spend time letting students share thoughts and put together a statement of faith that acknowledges doubt at the same time as affirming faith in God. Have everyone read the composition you’ve come up with together at the end of the meeting.

Wrap-up:
We’re on a faith journey. May our doubt deepen our faith as we continue . . . Let’s share our faith composition together.

Closing affirmation of faith:
Invite students to read their composition. At the end take a deep breath and dismiss the students with a simple, "Amen."