The Second Sunday of Easter

Enter the Presence of God

Welcome & Greeting

Alleluia! Christ is risen!

The Lord is risen indeed! Alleluia!

Passing of the peace

Call to Worship

Isaiah 26:1–5 ESV

1 In that day this song will be sung in the land of Judah: “We have a strong city; he sets up salvation as walls and bulwarks. 2 Open the gates, that the righteous nation that keeps faith may enter in. 3 You keep him in perfect peace whose mind is stayed on you, because he trusts in you. 4 Trust in the Lord forever, for the Lord God is an everlasting rock. 5 For he has humbled the inhabitants of the height, the lofty city. He lays it low, lays it low to the ground, casts it to the dust.

Let us pray together:

Great are you, O Lord, and greatly to be praised.

Great is your power. Your wisdom is infinite, and we praise you.

We, who are just a particle of your creation. We, who carry our mortality with us—the witness of our sin, and the witness that you resist the proud.

Yet we praise you.

You awaken us to delight in your praise. For you made us for yourself, and our heart is restless until it finds its place of rest in you.

Grant us, Lord, to know and understand which is first: to call on you, or to praise you? To know you, or to call on you? For who can call on you, not knowing you? Whoever does not know you might call on you as someone other than you really are.

Or rather, do we call on you so that we may know you? But how do they call on him in whom they have not believed? Or how will they believe without a preacher? (Romans 10:14).

And whoever seeks the Lord will praise him: for they that seek will find him, and they that find will praise him.

We will seek you, Lord, by calling on you. And we will call on you, believing in you, because you have been preached to us. With the faith you have given us, we will call on you. That faith has inspired us, through the incarnation of your Son, through the ministry of the preacher.

Amen.

Confession of Sin

Psalm 32:1–4 ESV

1 Blessed is the one whose transgression is forgiven, whose sin is covered. 2 Blessed is the man against whom the Lord counts no iniquity, and in whose spirit there is no deceit. 3 For when I kept silent, my bones wasted away through my groaning all day long. 4 For day and night your hand was heavy upon me; my strength was dried up as by the heat of summer. Selah

Brothers and sisters, the proof of God’s amazing love is this: While we were yet sinners Christ died for us. Because we have faith in him, we have the freedom to approach his throne of mercy with confidence. In faith in penitence, let us confess our sins before God and one another. I will pray with corporately for all of us, after which there will be a period for you to confess silently to our Redeemer and King.

Prayer of Confession

We have sinned, Lord, and have gone astray. We have forgotten your commands and chased our own evil thoughts.

We have behaved in a way unworthy of the calling and gospel of your Christ, who suffered and was humiliated for us.

Together we have turned in the wrong direction, cutting short your kindness and your mercies from the depth of your compassion. You are good, you are patient, but we are worthy of punishment.

Who can resist you and the strength of your mighty arm? If you were to shut the heavens, who would open them again? If you let loose your torrents, who could restrain them?

It would be a small thing for you to make poor and make rich, to make alive and to kill, to strike and to heal. And your will is perfect.

We have sinned, and you are angry. We have disgraced even our neighbors. You turned your face; we are filled with shame.

But do not turn away, Lord. Forgive us. We are your people. Correct us in your goodness, not in your anger, so we do not come to nothingness and contempt in the eyes of the entire world.

Hear, now, our silent confessions.

Following our corporate confession, we take a moment to confess our sins in silence.

In the name of Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

Words of Comfort and Promise

For those sinners in need of a Savior today, hear these words of comfort and promise:

Psalm 32:5 ESV

5 I acknowledged my sin to you, and I did not cover my iniquity; I said, “I will confess my transgressions to the Lord,” and you forgave the iniquity of my sin. Selah

Hear the Word of God

Prayer for Enlightenment

Lord, have mercy on us, and hear our desire. It is not of the earth, and it is not about gold, silver, or precious stones. It is not about nice clothes, or honors, or a good position. And it is not about the pleasures of the flesh or necessaries for the body on this life’s pilgrimage.

All these things will be added to those who seek your kingdom and righteousness. But see, O Lord Our God, here is our desire …

Would you see, Father, and approve? If it pleases you in your mercy, may we find grace before you, that the inner parts of your word would be opened to us?

We are knocking.

We ask in the name of Jesus Christ your Son, who is on your right hand, the Son of Man, who you have established as your mediator and ours. We ask in the name of him through whom you sought us, so that we might seek you.

We ask through your Word, through whom you made all things (and among them, also ourselves). He is the only begotten, through whom you called believers to adoption (and so also ourselves).

We ask by him who sits on your right hand, and who intercedes with you for us, in whom are hidden all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge.

We seek those treasures in your word. If it pleases you in your mercy, may We find grace before you, that the inner parts of your word would be opened to us?

We are knocking.

May the words of our mouths and the meditations of all our hearts be acceptible to you, O Lord, Our Rock, and Our Redeemer.

Amen

Scriptural Lessons

The Psalm

Psalm 111 ESV

1 Praise the Lord! I will give thanks to the Lord with my whole heart, in the company of the upright, in the congregation. 2 Great are the works of the Lord, studied by all who delight in them. 3 Full of splendor and majesty is his work, and his righteousness endures forever. 4 He has caused his wondrous works to be remembered; the Lord is gracious and merciful. 5 He provides food for those who fear him; he remembers his covenant forever. 6 He has shown his people the power of his works, in giving them the inheritance of the nations. 7 The works of his hands are faithful and just; all his precepts are trustworthy; 8 they are established forever and ever, to be performed with faithfulness and uprightness. 9 He sent redemption to his people; he has commanded his covenant forever. Holy and awesome is his name! 10 The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom; all those who practice it have a good understanding. His praise endures forever!

The Gospel

John 20:19–31 ESV

19 On the evening of that day, the first day of the week, the doors being locked where the disciples were for fear of the Jews, Jesus came and stood among them and said to them, “Peace be with you.” 20 When he had said this, he showed them his hands and his side. Then the disciples were glad when they saw the Lord. 21 Jesus said to them again, “Peace be with you. As the Father has sent me, even so I am sending you.” 22 And when he had said this, he breathed on them and said to them, “Receive the Holy Spirit. 23 If you forgive the sins of any, they are forgiven them; if you withhold forgiveness from any, it is withheld.” 24 Now Thomas, one of the twelve, called the Twin, was not with them when Jesus came. 25 So the other disciples told him, “We have seen the Lord.” But he said to them, “Unless I see in his hands the mark of the nails, and place my finger into the mark of the nails, and place my hand into his side, I will never believe.” 26 Eight days later, his disciples were inside again, and Thomas was with them. Although the doors were locked, Jesus came and stood among them and said, “Peace be with you.” 27 Then he said to Thomas, “Put your finger here, and see my hands; and put out your hand, and place it in my side. Do not disbelieve, but believe.” 28 Thomas answered him, “My Lord and my God!” 29 Jesus said to him, “Have you believed because you have seen me? Blessed are those who have not seen and yet have believed.” 30 Now Jesus did many other signs in the presence of the disciples, which are not written in this book; 31 but these are written 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.

After the lessons, we respond:

This is the Word of the Lord!

Thanks be to God!

Homily

“To weep over a dying Savior is to lament the remedy; it were wiser to bewail the disease.” Charles Spurgeon

‌Last Sunday, the Christian world remembered once again the resurrection of our Lord. Our celebration does not end, as Christ still lives! Today, on the second Sunday of Easter, we delve into the heart of John's Gospel, where we are invited into a moment of profound transformation. This passage not only recounts the risen Christ's appearances to His disciples but also unfolds the foundational truths of the faith that are immediately applicable to our lives, checks we can take straight to the bank. Here, in the midst of fear and doubt, we find the grace of God, faith in Him, and His Holy Scripture.

Imagine the disciples, heartbroken and weeping over the dying savior, after witnessing Jesus' crucifixion, locked away, wrestling with a deep crisis of faith. Then, suddenly, Jesus appears before them, revealing his resurrected body. Their shock turns to joy as they realize that their beloved teacher is alive! In that moment, their despair is transformed into hope and their doubt into faith.

Their fear is emblematic of our human condition - the fear that stems from our sin, our separation from God. Into this fear, Jesus enters, not with condemnation but with peace.

"Peace be with you," He declares. This peace is nothing less than the peace of reconciliation, the peace that surpasses all understanding, which Christ alone can give. It's a vivid picture of grace alone. We did not earn this peace, nor could we, let alone repay for it as though we could offer something commensurate. It is a gift, bought at the price of Christ's own blood.

‌It is a tragedy that we remember Thomas for his doubt and not for his faithful ministry, but in God’s providence, we get to experience how Jesus addresses his skepticism. He doesn’t turn Thomas away or even rebuke him; He invites him closer. "Put your finger here, and see my hands; and put out your hand, and place it in my side. Do not disbelieve, but believe" Thomas’s response, "My Lord and my God!" is a declaration of faith that comes from encountering the risen Christ.

It is not the strength of our faith that saves us, nor will we ever dain to attain some measure of “good enough,” but the object of our faith: Christ Himself. Our doubts do not disqualify us; they drive us to seek Christ, in whom our faith is made complete.

John then states the purpose of his Gospel: "but these are written 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." This statement anchors us in the sufficiency of Scripture. The Scriptures are written that we might know Christ, believe in Him, and have eternal life with Him for the praise and glory of His name. It is through God’s Word that our faith is birthed and built.

John's Gospel, and indeed all of Scripture, is not just a historical account; it's the living Word of God, active and powerful, able to transform hearts and lives through the Holy Spirit. In a world filled with voices and choices, the Bible stands as our true north, a fixed-point of reference, the Objective source of truth, guiding us back to Christ, the foundation of our faith.

Where is Christ in your crisis of faith, when rain falls on the just and unjust alike? Where is Christ when you’re having an interpersonal struggle? Where is He in times of tragedy?

Brothers and Sister, Christ is Emmanuel. He is with you. The Christian, just like Thomas, when circumstances breed doubt through tragedy or mismanaged expectations and failures, God is with you. Cry out, “My Lord and my God!” Look for Christ and you will find Him with you, wholly understanding, having suffered as you may be suffering now.

Of course, if you are here and are not Christian, we are so thankful that you have come. The call for you, dear friends, is both simple and a great weight: repent of your sins and believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God, and that by believing you may have life in his name. There is no sin, failure, shortcoming, or fault that is beyond His recompense. Let this be the day of salvation. If this is you, we would love to speak with you, pray for you, and come alongside you in your walk with God.

Amen.

Respond to God

Let us now pray in response and thanksgiving.

Be exalted, O Lord, above the heavens;

Let your glory cover the earth.

Show us your mercy, O Lord;

And grant us your salvation.

Clothe your ministers with righteousness;

And make your chosen people joyful.

Give peace in our time, O Lord;

For only in you can we live in safety.

Let your way be known on earth;

Your saving power among all nations.

Lord, keep our nation under your care;

And guide us in the way of justice and truth.

Let not the needy, O Lord, be forgotten;

Nor the hope of the poor be taken away.

Create in us clean hearts, O God;

And revive us by your Spirit.

Prayer of Response and Thanksgiving

Let us now pray in response and thanksgiving.

Lift up your hearts.

We lift them up to the Lord.

Let us give thanks to the Lord our God.

It is right for us to give thanks and praise.

Almighty and everlasting God, who in the Paschal mystery established the new covenant of reconciliation: Grant that all who have been reborn into the fellowship of Christ’s Body may show forth in their lives what they profess by their faith; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Amen.

Depart in Peace

Having answered the call to worship, confessed and received assurance of pardon, and having heard the Gospel, you are charged to depart and serve, loving God with all of their heart, mind, soul, and strength, and loving your neighbor as yourself.

Hebrews 13:20–21 (ESV)

Benediction

20 Now may the God of peace who brought again from the dead our Lord Jesus, the great shepherd of the sheep, by the blood of the eternal covenant, 21 equip you with everything good that you may do his will, working in us that which is pleasing in his sight, through Jesus Christ, to whom be glory forever and ever.

May the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, the love of God the Father, and the fellowship of the Holy Spirit be with you all.

And also with you.