The Apostle Paul calls us Jars of Clay (2 Corinthians 4:7). As followers of Jesus we must allow the Word of God to fill us with it's message of Truth and Grace. In this way, we become a "vessel for honor, sanctified, useful to the Master, prepared for every good work" (2 Timothy 2:21).

Monday, April 24, 2017

A Watching World - April 23, 2017 sermon


By Pastor Greg ...

One year for her birthday, a little girl was given one of those little electric cars that can be driven through the yard.  She was thrilled!  Once the battery was charged, mom and dad took the car outside, and the little girl climbed inside, checked her mirrors, and adjusted the radio.  Then she smashed the accelerator to the floor.  Bouncing across the yard, she suddenly stopped in about 10 feet, beeped the horn and yelled, "You Jerk!" In another ten feet, she did the same thing.  Mother and father were confused, so they asked their daughter what was wrong.  Why did she keep yelling "You Jerk" every time she blew the horn? “Cuz that's what you're supposed to do" she replied.  "That's how Mommy does it."
Kids.  Some days it’s like looking in a mirror.  But maybe that’s not a bad thing.  Maybe it’s good for us to look in a mirror from time to time; just to see how our actions are being perceived.
Did you know that this is one of the things the Bible does for us?  As we look at the people in there, we sometimes catch a glimpse of ourselves here.  Such is the case of a disciple named Thomas.  He is known as Doubting Thomas, but the real lesson here is to understand just whom he doubted.
 (John 20:24-29) 24 One of the twelve disciples, Thomas (nicknamed the Twin), was not with the others when Jesus came. 25 They told him, “We have seen the Lord!” But he replied, “I won’t believe it unless I see the nail wounds in his hands, put my fingers into them, and place my hand into the wound in his side.”
26 Eight days later the disciples were together again, and this time Thomas was with them. The doors were locked; but suddenly, as before, Jesus was standing among them. “Peace be with you,” he said. 27 Then he said to Thomas, “Put your finger here, and look at my hands. Put your hand into the wound in my side. Don’t be faithless any longer. Believe!” 28 “My Lord and my God!” Thomas exclaimed.
29 Then Jesus told him, “You believe because you have seen me. Blessed are those who believe without seeing me.[1]
Although this man is known as Doubting Thomas, in truth, he did not doubt Jesus.  He doubted his friends.  In this instance, the other 10 believed because they had already seen the proof.  Thomas had not.  He was not with them when Jesus appeared the first time (John 20:19).  So, it’s not as if Thomas disbelieved the evidence; when he saw Jesus, he believed.  However, Thomas would not believe the testimony of his friends.
Kind of makes you wonder why, doesn’t it?
I think Thomas was searching his friends for some evidence that what they said was true, but he just couldn’t find it.  I believe this is what our friends and neighbors are looking for as well; they want to see evidence that what a Christian says is true.  The person who is not following Jesus wants to know that He can really change their life.  But first, they want to see the change in you.
I know, I know.  Christians are always making excuses, insisting that they are not perfect.  They tell the world to look at Jesus; He is the only One who will not disappoint.  Yet John the Apostle places this incident with Thomas before us as a mirror.  But why?  Why did John feel we needed to know this?  Was he trying to discredit Thomas, or was he trying to teach us something else?  Why is this incident so important to you and me?
The answer to this question is found in John 20:29. “Blessed are those who believe without seeing me.”  Which pretty much sums up almost every Christian since Jesus ascended to heaven.
Think about it; it’s not like Jesus suddenly appears to the person still living outside of the faith.  I doubt you had the opportunity to see His hands and side.  But still, you believed.  And how is it you came to believe?  Why did you believe?  Maybe it was because you had a Bible.  John did say that “these are written so that you may continue to believe that Jesus is the Messiah, the Son of God, and that by believing in him you will have life by the power of his name[2] (John 20:31).  Perhaps you heard a dynamic speaker who spoke to your heart.  Or maybe it was a Sunday school teacher who helped you understand.  Maybe it was a combination of these – the Bible, the teacher who helped you understand what is written, and the preacher that challenged you to accept the truth.  However, there is probably one primary reason you believed; you saw the Truth in the life of someone else.
I don’t care how old you are; people are drawn to authentic Christians.  Well, if a person is actually thirsty and hungry for Truth.  I mean, in a world filled with lies, anger, and selfishness, the authentic Christian is like a breath of fresh air.  They are honest and truthful.  They are patient and kind.  Meeting an authentic Christian is like catching a momentary glimpse of God, and you realize that the world is not quite as bad as you imagined.
But then there are the hypocrites; those who profess to be Christians but certainly don’t act that way.  The damage these people do is sometimes irreversible.
For those of you that grew up attending church, think back a bit.  Were you not shocked the first time you saw a person from church acting just like a person of the world?  Didn’t that experience rock your faith?  Then imagine what it must do to the individual who has never been to church.
For those who started coming to church later in life, think back a bit.  How did you respond the first time you met an authentic Christian?
If you were to ask me, I’d say nothing turns a person away from Jesus more than hypocrisy; nothing opens their heart faster than authenticity. 

I have to say that this short discussion about Thomas seems to be John’s way of shaking up the Church.  It’s like he wanted the Church to realize that although Thomas had the risen Christ to overcome his doubts, the rest of the world will have to depend on the witness of believers.  If this world were going to be changed, then Christian men and women would need to become authentic.
Nothing’s changed.  How will the World believe in Jesus today?  Through authentic Christians who allow the lost to see Jesus living in them.
The Apostle Peter calls us to live properly among our unbelieving neighbors.  He warns us that these people observe our honorable behavior (1 Peter 2:12).  The Apostle Paul tells us to not copy the behavior and customs of this world (Romans 12:2).  He tells us to get rid of all bitterness, rage, anger, harsh words, and slander because the world will only believe our message when we are kind, tenderhearted, and forgiving (Ephesians 4:31).  Even Jesus observes that only when the world sees Christians loving one another will it believe they are His disciples (John 13:35).

Why is this important?  Because there is a lack of love and concern for other people in this world … and no one seems to care.  Not even the Church appears to be concerned about the way Christians treat one another.  Go to your local Christian bookstore.  You’ll discover a lot of self-help books which focus on a deeper relationship with God.  But when is the last time you saw a book challenging Christians to follow their duty and responsibility to be a “light to the world” (Matthew 5:14)?
When is the last time you were concerned about your behavior and what it was saying to a watching world?
Yeah, sure, people will be blessed if they believe without seeing Jesus.  But since He is in Heaven, who is going to show Jesus to these people?  If we don’t, then what chance does that give unchurched Harry and Sally?
If you are a believer, you have a duty to be a witness for Jesus.  You represent Jesus to this world by the manner of your living, by the words you speak, by the things you do, and through your treatment others (by the way, that includes what we say and post on Facebook).  If you are a believer, YOU are Jesus to the people of this world.  If they cannot see Him in you, they will probably never see Him at all.


[1] Tyndale House Publishers. (2007). Holy Bible: New Living Translation (3rd ed., Jn 20:24–29). Carol Stream, IL.
[2] Tyndale House Publishers. (2007). Holy Bible: New Living Translation (3rd ed., Jn 20:31). Carol Stream, IL.

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