Fresh Start
“Fresh Start”
John 20:19-23
Introduction
- Rode hard and put away wet
- Story of Jane (Tabitha) – (light candle) so…
- Inspiring talk by Chuck Van Engen
- He is Risen – Risen Indeed
- Now what
- This is how the disciples felt
Jn 20: - 19 When it was evening on that day, the first day of the week, and the doors of the house where the disciples had met were locked for fear of the Jews…
Fear in a safe place
- I am afraid now on the pulpit
- Church is supposed to be a safe place
- Fresh Start
…Jesus came and stood among them and said, “Peace be with you.”
Shalom to you
- This is more than “Have a nice day”
- Wholeness, restoration of relations, everything in your life
- Advent – Prince of Peace
Deer in the Headlights (blow out candle)
- Peace wasn’t even in the picture
- This makes no sense
- Daryl telling me about Jane (Tabitha)
20 After he said this, he showed them his hands and his side. Then the disciples rejoiced when they saw the Lord.
21 Jesus said to them again, “Peace be with you…
Dancing on the tables
- Overjoyed is the feeling you cannot contain
- Shalom is also “settle down”
…As the Father has sent me, I am sending you.”
This is not what I signed up for…
- Jesus is saying… “Love came down, now I am sending you to become Love”
- What is a church word for that - Incarnation
- I am by default – non-incarnational
- What does Jane have to do with me…?
- Tell Daryl… if Jane would just go to church she would be okay…
- Why did Daryl tell me…? (light the candle)
22 And with that he breathed on them and said, “Receive the Holy Spirit. 23 If you forgive anyone his sins, they are forgiven; if you do not forgive them, they are not forgiven.”
Jesus is saying you are going to need a “helper”
Jn 14:16 - And I will ask the Father, and he will give you another Counselor to be with you forever— 17 the Spirit of truth.
Francis Chan says “Why would anyone need a helper or advocate if we can handle life on our own?”
- Stopping by to see Jane (Tabitha)
- Evan is going to talk about his need for a helper…
He is Risen
- The Now What is … I am sending you
- Do you need Jesus to breathe on you
- Do you want to live in a way that there is no way you can do it without the Holy Spirit
- Or do you want the doors to stay locked