Showing posts with label John 20:19-31. Show all posts
Showing posts with label John 20:19-31. Show all posts
4/11/2021
Not Written - John 20:19-31 - Easter 2 - 4-11-21
4/19/2020
Peace - John 20:19-31 - Second Sunday of Easter - 4-19-20
Video sermon preview
"Peace" podcast
The whole worship service livestream recording
4/29/2019
I Doubt It
Sermon podcast from Sunday, 4/28/19 at St. Paul's UCC in Downers Grove, IL. John 20:19-31.
Video Sermon Preview
"I Doubt It" podcast
Video Sermon Preview
"I Doubt It" podcast
4/08/2018
Not Written
Sermon podcast from today at St. Paul's UCC in Downers Grove, IL. John 20:19-31. What's Next?
Sermon preview video
"Not Written" podcast
Sermon preview video
"Not Written" podcast
4/12/2015
Not Written
For today's sermon at St. Paul's UCC in Downers Grove, I pretty much took the questions from this week's Bible reflection (They Were Still Afraid) and tossed them out the window. I moved to some other questions -- about tornados, murder, religious freedom, and a few other 'can of worms' topics.
"Not Written" podcast
"Not Written" podcast
4/19/2009
Questions
I felt a bit snarky as it related to this week's Bible study blog entry for i.ucc. (They were still afraid) The post is part of the sermon -- but things didn't go at all in the direction that the post was going. This week's sermon is the one I said was going to be "mildly shocking." Folks seemed to be pretty into it and we had a great morning worship service.
"Questions" text (as much as was scripted)
"Questions" podcast (to hear all the fun)
3/30/2008
I doubt it
Monday's Bible study blog entry for i.ucc.org (Doubt) is now this morning's sermon at Union Congregational Church, United Church of Christ in Somonauk!
"I Doubt It" text
"I Doubt It" podcast
"I Doubt It" text
"I Doubt It" podcast
3/24/2008
Doubt
Here's this week's Bible study blog entry for i.ucc.org:
How much do you doubt? How much is too much? How much is too little?
This week's reading from John 20:19-31 is about Thomas (you know, "Doubting Thomas!") and Jesus. I have a few short thoughts about doubt and I'd live to hear what you think:
Here are four statements about doubt. Think about whether you agree or disagree with them:
The second one is the one that I was taught by a few teachers when I was growing up.
The third one was what the second one led to in my mind as I grew.
The fourth one is what I believe.
What do you doubt? What do you believe?
How much do you doubt? How much is too much? How much is too little?
This week's reading from John 20:19-31 is about Thomas (you know, "Doubting Thomas!") and Jesus. I have a few short thoughts about doubt and I'd live to hear what you think:
Here are four statements about doubt. 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
The second one is the one that I was taught by a few teachers when I was growing up.
The third one was what the second one led to in my mind as I grew.
The fourth one is what I believe.
What do you doubt? What do you believe?
4/17/2006
Sick
Yesterday afternoon, today -- and who knows how much longer.
I hate being sick.
I did use some time to post a Bible reflection at i.ucc.org. This one is called "Double Vision."
I apologize to anyone who perhaps has that 1978 Foreigner song in their head now.
Doubting Thomas.
Tradition tells us 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 our scripture reading this week, John 20:19-31, we find another name or two. Thomas is called "didymus," which means "the twin.
Whose twin?
Didymus means 'twin' in Greek. Do you know the Aramaic word for twin?
Thomas.
So Thomas the twin -- or twin twin-- (Scholars 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's revelation for as long as we breathe.
So is there anything good about this doubt, struggle, rejection and misunderstanding?
Well. . . maybe not. But I believe that 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. Where are you in that kind of double vision?
I hate being sick.
I did use some time to post a Bible reflection at i.ucc.org. This one is called "Double Vision."
I apologize to anyone who perhaps has that 1978 Foreigner song in their head now.
Doubting Thomas.
Tradition tells us 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 our scripture reading this week, John 20:19-31, we find another name or two. Thomas is called "didymus," which means "the twin.
Whose twin?
Didymus means 'twin' in Greek. Do you know the Aramaic word for twin?
Thomas.
So Thomas the twin -- or twin twin-- (Scholars 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's revelation for as long as we breathe.
So is there anything good about this doubt, struggle, rejection and misunderstanding?
Well. . . maybe not. But I believe that 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. Where are you in that kind of double vision?
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