Sixth Sunday of Easter (2025)
Easter • Sermon • Submitted • Presented
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Paris Otterbein
Paris Otterbein
*Opening Prayer
*Call to Worship
(based on Psalm 67)
Leader: May God be gracious to us and bless us, and make His face shine upon us.
People: That His way may be known on earth, His saving power among all nations.
Leader: Let the peoples praise You, O God!
People: Let all the peoples praise You!
Leader: Let us open our hearts to the indwelling love of God.
People: We welcome His presence among us! Amen
Hymn #52 O God Our Help In Ages Past
Scripture Reading
Acts 16:9-15 - Velda
During the night Paul had a vision of a man of Macedonia standing and begging him, “Come over to Macedonia and help us.” After Paul had seen the vision, we got ready at once to leave for Macedonia, concluding that God had called us to preach the gospel to them.
From Troas we put out to sea and sailed straight for Samothrace, and the next day we went on to Neapolis. From there we traveled to Philippi, a Roman colony and the leading city of that district of Macedonia. And we stayed there several days.
On the Sabbath we went outside the city gate to the river, where we expected to find a place of prayer. We sat down and began to speak to the women who had gathered there. One of those listening was a woman from the city of Thyatira named Lydia, a dealer in purple cloth. She was a worshiper of God. The Lord opened her heart to respond to Paul’s message. When she and the members of her household were baptized, she invited us to her home. “If you consider me a believer in the Lord,” she said, “come and stay at my house.” And she persuaded us.
Children's Message
Scripture Reading
Jesus replied, “Anyone who loves me will obey my teaching. My Father will love them, and we will come to them and make our home with them. Anyone who does not love me will not obey my teaching. These words you hear are not my own; they belong to the Father who sent me.
“All this I have spoken while still with you. But the Advocate, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, will teach you all things and will remind you of everything I have said to you. Peace I leave with you; my peace I give you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid.
“You heard me say, ‘I am going away and I am coming back to you.’ If you loved me, you would be glad that I am going to the Father, for the Father is greater than I. I have told you now before it happens, so that when it does happen you will believe.
Sermon
Christians across the centuries have wondered: What is heaven like? While the Bible doesn’t give us exhaustive details, the glimpses we do have are breathtaking. The book of Revelation paints some of the most vivid images—like Revelation 21:3, where heaven is described as the place where God is fully present with His people. In Revelation 21 and 22, we read of streets of gold, gates made of pearl, and foundations adorned with precious stones. There's no need for the sun because God's glory is its light, and from His throne flows the river of life, with the Tree of Life growing on its banks. Earlier, in Revelation 4 and 5, heaven appears as a place of unceasing worship. Elsewhere in Scripture, heaven is portrayed as a joyful wedding banquet, a garden or paradise, and a place of eternal rest. These images stir our hope and deepen our longing for the life to come.
And I have no doubt that Heaven will be even more glorious than we can imagine. In fact, I remember a former parishioner who used to say to me, “Pastor, I want to go to heaven, but I don’t want to go today. But if it’s as beautiful as they say it is, I wish I would have gone yesterday.” As Christians, many of us are looking forward to eternity in Heaven with God.
But Jesus is addressing His disciples here in John 14. And this is John’s perspective of what takes place on Maundy Thursday. The focus here being Jesus preparing His disciples for His upcoming death. But He tells them something we need to hear today as well.
Even as Jesus affirms to His followers He will be leaving them physically, He gives to them a promise. In the second part of verse 23, Jesus says, “[The Father and I] will come to them and make our home with them.” And further, Jesus tells His disciples about the Holy Spirit. Now, you might have heard someone say, the word “Trinity” is not found in the Bible and while that may be true, Jesus is clearly here speaking about the relationship of Father, Son, and Holy Ghost. The three in one. Hear it again, Jesus says, “the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name”.
The same parishioner I quoted just a few minutes ago also used to say to me, “Pastor, I’m not with Jesus. Jesus is with me.” At first, I was not so sure what he meant by that, but the more I’ve thought about it, the more I realize how true it is. You see, while you and I can’t wait to go to Heaven, the reality this morning is that God is here, right now, with us. In fact, God promises to never leave us nor forsake us.
In just a couple of weeks, we will be celebrating Pentecost Sunday. And I don’t want to get too far ahead of myself, but it is the Sunday on which God sends the Holy Spirit to the disciples who are gathered together. And the Holy Spirit is not just a momentary gift, and not just for them but He is for you and me as well. Today, those of us who have accepted Christ into our hearts have received the Holy Spirit.
Paul in Ephesians 1:13 writes “And you also were included in Christ when you heard the message of truth, the gospel of your salvation. When you believed, you were marked in him with a seal, the promised Holy Spirit,” and Paul again in Romans 8:9 writes, “You, however, are not in the realm of the flesh but are in the realm of the Spirit, if indeed the Spirit of God lives in you. And if anyone does not have the Spirit of Christ, they do not belong to Christ.”
So this morning, you and I who have accepted Christ can affirm we have the Holy Spirit. This means God is with us, right here and right now. But now this is the hard part. If Heaven is a place where you and I have communion with God, then can we believe we are already experiencing Heaven? Can we believe Heaven is not only a place out there, but we can experience Heaven today.
Praise Song: Goodness Of God
Sharing of Joys and Concerns
Hymn #343, v. 3 Just As I Am
Silent Prayer
Pastoral Prayer
Lord's Prayer
Giving of Tithes and Offering
Doxology
Prayer of Dedication
Hymn #293 Rise Up, O Church of God
*Benediction
Sanctuary
Vermilion
Vermilion
*Call to Worship
(based on Psalm 67)
Leader: May God be gracious to us and bless us, and make His face shine upon us.
People: That His way may be known on earth, His saving power among all nations.
Leader: Let the peoples praise You, O God!
People: Let all the peoples praise You!
Leader: Let us open our hearts to the indwelling love of God.
People: We welcome His presence among us! Amen
*Opening Prayer
Hymn #686 O God Our Help In Ages Past
Scripture Reading
During the night Paul had a vision of a man of Macedonia standing and begging him, “Come over to Macedonia and help us.” After Paul had seen the vision, we got ready at once to leave for Macedonia, concluding that God had called us to preach the gospel to them.
From Troas we put out to sea and sailed straight for Samothrace, and the next day we went on to Neapolis. From there we traveled to Philippi, a Roman colony and the leading city of that district of Macedonia. And we stayed there several days.
On the Sabbath we went outside the city gate to the river, where we expected to find a place of prayer. We sat down and began to speak to the women who had gathered there. One of those listening was a woman from the city of Thyatira named Lydia, a dealer in purple cloth. She was a worshiper of God. The Lord opened her heart to respond to Paul’s message. When she and the members of her household were baptized, she invited us to her home. “If you consider me a believer in the Lord,” she said, “come and stay at my house.” And she persuaded us.
Scripture Reading
Jesus replied, “Anyone who loves me will obey my teaching. My Father will love them, and we will come to them and make our home with them. Anyone who does not love me will not obey my teaching. These words you hear are not my own; they belong to the Father who sent me.
“All this I have spoken while still with you. But the Advocate, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, will teach you all things and will remind you of everything I have said to you. Peace I leave with you; my peace I give you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid.
“You heard me say, ‘I am going away and I am coming back to you.’ If you loved me, you would be glad that I am going to the Father, for the Father is greater than I. I have told you now before it happens, so that when it does happen you will believe.
Sermon
1. Christians across the centuries have wondered: What is heaven like? While the Bible doesn’t give us exhaustive details, the glimpses we do have are breathtaking. The book of Revelation paints some of the most vivid images—like Revelation 21:3, where heaven is described as the place where God is fully present with His people. In Revelation 21 and 22, we read of streets of gold, gates made of pearl, and foundations adorned with precious stones. There's no need for the sun because God's glory is its light, and from His throne flows the river of life, with the Tree of Life growing on its banks. Earlier, in Revelation 4 and 5, heaven appears as a place of unceasing worship. Elsewhere in Scripture, heaven is portrayed as a joyful wedding banquet, a garden or paradise, and a place of eternal rest. These images stir our hope and deepen our longing for the life to come.
2. And I have no doubt that Heaven will be even more glorious than we can imagine. In fact, I remember a former parishioner who used to say to me, “Pastor, I want to go to heaven, but I don’t want to go today. But if it’s as beautiful as they say it is, I wish I would have gone yesterday.” As Christians, many of us are looking forward to eternity in Heaven with God.
3. But Jesus is addressing His disciples here in John 14. And this is John’s perspective of what takes place on Maundy Thursday. The focus here being Jesus preparing His disciples for His upcoming death. But He tells them something we need to hear today as well.
4. Even as Jesus affirms to His followers He will be leaving them physically, He gives to them a promise. In the second part of verse 23, Jesus says, “[The Father and I] will come to them and make our home with them.” And further, Jesus tells His disciples about the Holy Spirit. Now, you might have heard someone say, the word “Trinity” is not found in the Bible and while that may be true, Jesus is clearly here speaking about the relationship of Father, Son, and Holy Ghost. The three in one. Hear it again, Jesus says, “the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name”.
5. The same parishioner I quoted just a few minutes ago also used to say to me, “Pastor, I’m not with Jesus. Jesus is with me.” At first, I was not so sure what he meant by that, but the more I’ve thought about it, the more I realize how true it is. You see, while you and I can’t wait to go to Heaven, the reality this morning is that God is here, right now, with us. In fact, God promises to never leave us nor forsake us.
6. In just a couple of weeks, we will be celebrating Pentecost Sunday. And I don’t want to get too far ahead of myself, but it is the Sunday on which God sends the Holy Spirit to the disciples who are gathered together. And the Holy Spirit is not just a momentary gift, and not just for them but He is for you and me as well. Today, those of us who have accepted Christ into our hearts have received the Holy Spirit.
7. Paul in Ephesians 1:13 writes “And you also were included in Christ when you heard the message of truth, the gospel of your salvation. When you believed, you were marked in him with a seal, the promised Holy Spirit,” and Paul again in Romans 8:9 writes, “You, however, are not in the realm of the flesh but are in the realm of the Spirit, if indeed the Spirit of God lives in you. And if anyone does not have the Spirit of Christ, they do not belong to Christ.”
8. So this morning, you and I who have accepted Christ can affirm we have the Holy Spirit. This means God is with us, right here and right now. But now this is the hard part. If Heaven is a place where you and I have communion with God, then can we believe we are already experiencing Heaven? Can we believe Heaven is not only a place out there, but we can experience Heaven today.
Praise Song Goodness Of God
Sharing of Joys and Concerns
Hymn #488, v. 3 Just As I Am
Silent Prayer
Pastoral Prayer
Lord's Prayer
Giving of Tithes and Offering
Doxology
Prayer of Dedication
Hymn #433 Rise Up O Church Of God
Benediction
God Be With You
