WHAT COMES NEXT?
Message by Guest Speaker Chris Chase – April 7, 2024
John 20:19-31 (NIV) On the evening of that first day of the week, when the disciples were together, with the doors locked for fear of the Jewish leaders, Jesus came and stood among them and said, “Peace be with you!” After he said this, he showed them his hands and side. The disciples were overjoyed when they saw the Lord. Again Jesus said, “Peace be with you! As the Father has sent me, I am sending you.” And with that he breathed on them and said, “Receive the Holy Spirit. If you forgive anyone’s sins, their sins are forgiven; if you do not forgive them, they are not forgiven.” Now Thomas (also known as Didymus), one of the Twelve, was not with the disciples when Jesus came. So the other disciples told him, “We have seen the Lord!” But he said to them, “Unless I see the nail marks in his hands and put my finger where the nails were, and put my hand into his side, I will not believe.” A week later his disciples were in the house again, and Thomas was with them. Though the doors were locked, Jesus came and stood among them and said, “Peace be with you!” Then he said to Thomas, “Put your finger here; see my hands. Reach out your hand and put it into my side. Stop doubting and believe.” Thomas said to him, “My Lord and my God!” Then Jesus told him, “Because you have seen me, you have believed; blessed are those who have not seen and yet have believed.” Jesus performed many other signs in the presence of his disciples, which are not recorded in this book. But these are written that you may believe that Jesus is the Messiah, the Son of God, and that by believing you may have life in his name.
“I think in my life the thing that has crippled me the most as a person is shame, and maybe that’s my…upbringing…Shame only exists when you hide it. When you are able to be open about it and talk about it and own it and say, ‘Yeah, I’m struggling…” – Rebecca Quin (WWE’s Becky Lynch)
1. Jesus steps in and gives His peace.
2. Jesus steps in and gives purpose.
– Proclaim the gospel: Luke 4:18-19 (Jesus quoting Isaiah 61…) – “The Spirit of the Lord is upon me, for he has anointed me to bring Good News to the poor. He has sent me to proclaim that captives will be released, that the blind will see, that the oppressed will be set free, and that the time of the Lord’s favour has come.
– Offering grace to others
3. Jesus steps in and gives reassurance.
4. Jesus steps in and gives reason to believe again and again.
John 20:30-31 (NET) Now Jesus performed many other miraculous signs in the presence of the disciples, which are not recorded in this book. But these are recorded so that you may believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God, and that by believing you may have life in his name.
About Chris Chase, guest speaker: Chris Chase is a husband, father of two and serves as a church engagement advisor in Ontario for World Vision Canada. Prior to this, he spent close to 20 years split between pastoral ministry and seminary administration. When not with his family or serving at his local church, Chris loves writing, being a sports and gym enthusiast, and coffee – both on his own and with friends. He is also a professional uber driver for his kids.
You can listen to the sermon on YouTube here.
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