Fourth Sunday of Easter (2025)
Easter • Sermon • Submitted • Presented
0 ratings
· 12 viewsNotes
Transcript
*Opening Prayer
*Call to Worship
(Based on Psalm 23)
L: The Lord is our Shepherd — we shall not want!
P: He leads us in grace, provides our needs, and fills our lives with good things!
L: He makes us lie down in green pastures; He restores our souls.
P: Even when we’re weary, He renews us with holy love and resurrection power.
L: He leads us in paths of righteousness for His name’s sake.
P: By His Spirit, we are growing in holiness and walking in newness of life!
L: Even though we walk through the valley of the shadow of death, we will not
fear.
P: Christ goes before us, beside us, and within us — our Redeemer lives!
L: He prepares a table for us, even in the presence of our enemies.
P: We are anointed, chosen, and filled — our cup overflows with joy and mercy!
L: Surely goodness and mercy will follow us all the days of our lives.
P: And we will dwell in the house of the Lord forever — alive in grace, alive in
Christ!
All Together: Thanks be to God — our Shepherd, Savior, and King! Let us
worship with glad hearts!
Hymn #43 Great Is Thy Faithfulness
Scripture Reading
Acts 9:36-43 - Karen
In Joppa there was a disciple named Tabitha (in Greek her name is Dorcas); she was always doing good and helping the poor. About that time she became sick and died, and her body was washed and placed in an upstairs room. Lydda was near Joppa; so when the disciples heard that Peter was in Lydda, they sent two men to him and urged him, “Please come at once!”
Peter went with them, and when he arrived he was taken upstairs to the room. All the widows stood around him, crying and showing him the robes and other clothing that Dorcas had made while she was still with them.
Peter sent them all out of the room; then he got down on his knees and prayed. Turning toward the dead woman, he said, “Tabitha, get up.” She opened her eyes, and seeing Peter she sat up. He took her by the hand and helped her to her feet. Then he called for the believers, especially the widows, and presented her to them alive. This became known all over Joppa, and many people believed in the Lord. Peter stayed in Joppa for some time with a tanner named Simon.
Children's Message
Donna
Scripture Reading
Then came the Festival of Dedication at Jerusalem. It was winter, and Jesus was in the temple courts walking in Solomon’s Colonnade. The Jews who were there gathered around him, saying, “How long will you keep us in suspense? If you are the Messiah, tell us plainly.”
Jesus answered, “I did tell you, but you do not believe. The works I do in my Father’s name testify about me, but you do not believe because you are not my sheep. My sheep listen to my voice; I know them, and they follow me. I give them eternal life, and they shall never perish; no one will snatch them out of my hand. My Father, who has given them to me, is greater than all; no one can snatch them out of my Father’s hand. I and the Father are one.”
Sermon Pastor Troy
For the next four weeks we are going to be looking at events that take place prior to the resurrection. That might sound strange since this series is called, “Resurrection Witness” but just like the early disciples looked back at the earlier ministry of Jesus and gained a greater understanding of what He was about and what He meant, so we too will see a continued call to live as disciples of the risen Christ as we remember some of the things He told His followers while He was still with them.
This account has Jesus walking in the temple courts in the winter, likely during Hanukkah, when He is approached by a group of Jews. And they make one simple request. Tell us if you are the Messiah or not. And tell us simply. Tell us with straightforward language. It reminds me of the couple traveling through Florida and he looks over and says, “Hey look we are in Kiss-a-Mee”. And his wife laughs and says it’s “Kissimmee”. And he says, “No it’s not it’s Kiss-a-Mee.” And they get into an argument and she says pull over and we’ll ask how they say it here. So they stop and go inside. She looks at the young man behind the counter and says, “Very carefully, and very slowly, tell us where we are.” So he looks back at them and says, “Bur Ger King”.
Just like this couple is looking for some clarity, these Jews who approach Jesus are looking for the same thing. No parables. No hidden messages. Are you the Messiah? Now, frequently, when a question like this arises it seems an attempt to trap Jesus. To get Him to say something He shouldn’t or to make some claim that can be used against Him. Whether their plan is entrapment or just outright curiosity, I don’t know.
But Jesus’ response is not what these guys were hoping for. Even if they weren’t trying to trap Him, they are attempting to put Him in box. But they aren’t the only ones are they? We do this too sometimes. We try to make God do what we want, to fulfill our desires. To give us the answers our way.
But instead Jesus points to His actions. These men are asking Him this question because they have heard the stories. Perhaps they were even there. This is the guy who healed the lame man. That’s the guy who gave sight to the blind. I once saw Him cast out a demon. So Jesus tells them, the works I do in My Father’s name speak for themselves.
In other words, even though you’ve seen what I’ve done, that you stand here and ask me this question means you really don’t have a clue. These men had no understanding that Christ’s actions were a demonstration of who He was. So Jesus says, “Even if I tell you, would that make you more likely to believe?” No, probably not because the truth is the Messiah was to come in like a mighty warrior and Jesus was certainly not demonstrating the characteristics of a mighty warrior. Nor would Jesus ever be acting in a way that might be described as a mighty warrior.
Instead, Jesus describes Himself as a shepherd. Although not directly, the implication in there as He affirms His “sheep” know His voice and they follow Him. There are some aspects of the relationship between the sheep and a shepherd that we can take note of:
First, sheep recognize the shepherd’s voice because they are together every day. They have a familiarity. The shepherd’s voice is recognizable.
Second, sheep follow the shepherd because they have learned to trust the shepherd.
Third, sheep are obedient to their shepherd, not because they are forced but because they understand they belong.
And Jesus, tells these Jews one other thing about His relationship to the sheep. He says, “I give them eternal life.” This is one of those moments the disciples could look back at and realize what Jesus was trying to say to them. To prepare them for. The resurrection reaffirms that Christ didn’t simply die on a cross and come back from the dead. But that the events of Easter were the good shepherd laying down His life for His sheep.
But again, realizing this means we ask ourselves hard questions: Do we know His voice? Do we spend time with Him daily? Have we learned to trust Him? Do we obey Him, not because we are forced to, but because we find pleasure in doing His will?
Goodness Of God [ Default Arrangement ]
Sharing of Joys and Concerns
Hymn #461, v. 1 He Leadeth Me O Blessed Thought
Silent Prayer
Pastoral Prayer
Lord's Prayer
Giving of Tithes and Offering
Doxology
Prayer of Dedication
Hymn #462 Savior Like A Shepherd Lead Us
*Benediction
Hymn #286 Blest Be The Tie That Binds
Vermilion
Vermilion
*Call to Worship
(Based on Psalm 23)
L: The Lord is our Shepherd — we shall not want!
P: He leads us in grace, provides our needs, and fills our lives with good things!
L: He makes us lie down in green pastures; He restores our souls.
P: Even when we’re weary, He renews us with holy love and resurrection power.
L: He leads us in paths of righteousness for His name’s sake.
P: By His Spirit, we are growing in holiness and walking in newness of life!
L: Even though we walk through the valley of the shadow of death, we will not
fear.
P: Christ goes before us, beside us, and within us — our Redeemer lives!
L: He prepares a table for us, even in the presence of our enemies.
P: We are anointed, chosen, and filled — our cup overflows with joy and mercy!
L: Surely goodness and mercy will follow us all the days of our lives.
P: And we will dwell in the house of the Lord forever — alive in grace, alive in
Christ!
All Together: Thanks be to God — our Shepherd, Savior, and King! Let us
worship with glad hearts!
*Opening Prayer
Hymn #139 Great Is Thy Faithfulness
Scripture Reading
In Joppa there was a disciple named Tabitha (in Greek her name is Dorcas); she was always doing good and helping the poor. About that time she became sick and died, and her body was washed and placed in an upstairs room. Lydda was near Joppa; so when the disciples heard that Peter was in Lydda, they sent two men to him and urged him, “Please come at once!”
Peter went with them, and when he arrived he was taken upstairs to the room. All the widows stood around him, crying and showing him the robes and other clothing that Dorcas had made while she was still with them.
Peter sent them all out of the room; then he got down on his knees and prayed. Turning toward the dead woman, he said, “Tabitha, get up.” She opened her eyes, and seeing Peter she sat up. He took her by the hand and helped her to her feet. Then he called for the believers, especially the widows, and presented her to them alive. This became known all over Joppa, and many people believed in the Lord.
Children's Message
Scripture Reading
Then came the Festival of Dedication at Jerusalem. It was winter, and Jesus was in the temple courts walking in Solomon’s Colonnade. The Jews who were there gathered around him, saying, “How long will you keep us in suspense? If you are the Messiah, tell us plainly.”
Jesus answered, “I did tell you, but you do not believe. The works I do in my Father’s name testify about me, but you do not believe because you are not my sheep. My sheep listen to my voice; I know them, and they follow me. I give them eternal life, and they shall never perish; no one will snatch them out of my hand. My Father, who has given them to me, is greater than all; no one can snatch them out of my Father’s hand. I and the Father are one.”
Sermon
Goodness Of God
Sharing of Joys and Concerns
Hymn #690 v. 1 He Leadeth Me
Silent Prayer
Pastoral Prayer
Lord's Prayer
Giving of Tithes and Offering
Doxology
Prayer of Dedication
Hymn #688 Savior Like A Shepherd Lead Us
Benediction
God Be With You
