Sermon Tone Analysis

! INTRODUCTION

* *

*1.      **We have SEEN how Jesus called all kinds of people to be His disciples*

a.

We have met Peter, Andrew, James, John, Philip, Matthew and Thomas

b.

They were all so DIFFERENT

c.       BUT Jesus had a PURPOSE for each of them

d.

SAME as with YOU and me

 

*2.

**Want to go back and visit with THOMAS a little more*

a.

We looked through Thomas how pessimistic people can become POSITIVE

b.      Want to look at Thomas’ experience that SHATTERED his faith

 

*3.

**Have you ever had your faith SHATTERED?

*

a.

Of course not you say, well down deep we all have had those bone crunching, faith shattering experiences

b.      Thomas did

c.

Let us look at HOW to get through such a time as that

 

 

*FIRST:  SEEK OUT FELLOW BELIEVERS*

* *

*John 20:19-24 *Then the same day at evening, being the first /day/ of the week, when the doors were shut where the disciples were assembled for fear of the Jews, came Jesus and stood in the midst, and saith unto them, Peace /be/ unto you.

And when he had so said, he shewed unto them /his/ hands and his side.

Then were the disciples glad, when they saw the Lord.

\\      Then said Jesus to them again, Peace /be/ unto you: as /my/ Father hath sent me, even so send I you.

And when he had said this, he breathed on /them/, and saith unto them, Receive ye the Holy Ghost: Whose so ever sins ye remit, they are remitted unto them; /and/ whose so ever /sins/ ye retain, they are retained.

\\     But Thomas, one of the twelve, called Didymus, was not with them when Jesus came.

*1.      **We read back in John 14 where Jesus tells His disciples that He is going AWAY*

a.       Then chapters 15 thru 19 we find Jesus

                                                              i.

TEACHING them

                                                            ii.

PRAYING for them

b.

Jesus tells of

                                                              i.

His BETRAYAL

                                                            ii.

His ARREST

                                                          iii.

His CRUCIFIXION

 

*2.

**Three days later we HEAR of Thomas *

a.       Third time in the book of John

b.      Verse 24 shows us that Thomas’ FAITH was shattered

c.       Confused, bewildered the DISCIPLES had met together

d.      WHY?

To CONSOLE, to COMFORT each other

                                                              i.

It was the EVENING of the DAY

1.

The DAY when Jesus ROSE from the dead

                                                            ii.

Certainly in that room they discussed the women’s report

                                                          iii.

Certainly they discussed the report of the EMPTY tomb

e.

We find that they are meeting in SECRET

                                                              i.

The doors are SHUT and LOCKED

                                                            ii.

Verse 19 tells us why - they were in FEAR of the Jews

                                                          iii.

They were NOT sure what to make of it all

 

*3.

**And WHILE they were meeting – what HAPPENED*

a.       Jesus APPEARED to them

b.

There He IS

c.

Those shut and LOCKED doors could not keep Him OUT

d.

But STILL the disciples needed some convincing

e.       Jesus SHOWS them His hands and His side

f.

The Disciples NOW are beside themselves

g.

Their SORROW has turned into JOY

h.

Just as Jesus said

 

*John 16:20 *Verily, verily, I say unto you, That ye shall weep and lament, but the world shall rejoice: and ye shall be sorrowful, but your sorrow shall be turned into joy.

*4.      **Jesus did NOT say that their sorrow would be REPLACED by joy*

a.       Jesus said that their sorrow would be TURNED into joy

b.

What made them SORROWFUL will be the SAME thing that will make them JOYFUL

c.

In the SAME way that one day the PROBLEMS that bring us sorrow NOW will be turned into SOURCES of JOY

d.

We have all seen that life on earth sure brings a lot of GRIEF

e.

That life on earth is UNFAIR

f.

We can’t explain why God sometimes let good people suffer so much

 

*1 Corinthians 13:12 *For now we see through a glass, darkly; but then face to face: now I know in part; but then shall I know even as also I am known.

i.

In ancient days mirrors were NOT made of glass with silver back coating, but from polished brass

                                                            ii.

The best they could see was a blurred or vague image

g.      Paul continues in verse 12 that in the PRESENCE of Jesus

                                                              i.

The vague,

                                                            ii.

The unclear WILL make SENSE

1.

Our SORROW will be turned into JOY