Belief

No often as the church at least since I've been here, we talked a lot about the nuns and the done the people that don't know Jesus that we need. That we need to reach out to and evangelize to the share the gospel. But often what we fail to talk about is the unbelief among ourselves. The unbelief of those of us sitting in the pews this morning or maybe here on the stage or the chancel.

I know I've had times of us. I was wondering asking God why like who Am I who am I but the Lord does right? But today we talked about one of the disciples that walked with Jesus. the Dalai Lama the question and I kind of Wonder from his perspective the doubting Thomas. His testimony, I love hearing testimony. How God works you know, why? because no matter how much we learned up here about the Lord how much schooling we might go through. There's nothing real like hearing how God works in people's lives. You can't teach that.

And I wonder if that doubting Thomas would say something like this is off the top of my head this morning.

I didn't believe in Jesus. But he appeared. They told me to put my finger in his hands my hand into his side. And I believe and I wept and I cried my Lord and my God. Could you imagine the story? The testimony that he shared with his children. Those around him.

That g is us and fat rose from the dead.

for this morning the doubting Thomas the one that we often coin with this phrase in the Christian Community is truthfully an unfair judgment. Perhaps you've heard this before. The unlike the other disciples Thomas was not there that first Easter morning.

And I believe if he was he would have likely believe. What is an uncertain why Thomas was not there that person stir morning, but I would imagine it would have been significant there had to be a reason why wasn't there and I'm sure if we researched a little bit more maybe we find the answer.

but I think perhaps he was still weeping that is savior have been murdered. I've been crucified.

And I'm sure just like the other disciples. He had a hard time really believing trusting. That Jesus would fulfill the law. I mean how many times throughout the New Testament did the disciples question Jesus? Are there confused by his word and his teaching and then Jesus gives us what another parable. And he tries to continue to emphasize what his teaching is. We're off and left confused. So I never forget a few years ago. I'm friends with a lot of EX Catholic priests. And that one of them is my father Joe father. JoJo can probably be I don't know my father. My father's age and he was the pastor the priests of Our Lady of Fatima Catholic Church in Monroe, Louisiana. You guys know where Monroe, Louisiana is. You guys watch that show Duck Dynasty. That's when I started growing my beard when I lived in Monroe.

Ida fit in

then we started talking about the darling, That's because you know, we read out of the lectionary and we were preaching the same text that way. And that's the beauty of it. I can go to Every preacher from every denomination and we are preaching pretty much the same past the ones that Hollows lectionary Aries. And I he argue this with me. He said he believed the word that has really changed over the years, you know how language develops and change like, you know, the word y'all was actually upper-class word in the English vocabulary. But now I Southerners get the claiming.

Are Bible and the Webster dictionary? I wish I was surprised you still have. Any arguing that doubt that Thomas was experiencing really was stubbornness. Now we could raise her hands this morning, but at least the men in the room probably. stubbornness, right we have enough.

a little stubborn we we don't like to ask for help We R Who We R.

I think Thomas in some ways believed that Jesus had raised. But again, I think there was the stubbornness of I'm not going to believe it till I see it for me if I hear a fish story, you know, and my best friend says I caught a fish that was this big. But until I see that fish it's this day. I think that's a little bit.

An inkling the car that Jesus was there, but he didn't really understand it.

Jesus says blessed are those who believe and have not seen for the end of our text this morning and is often gets compared to us because we haven't physically seen Jesus last week, but in some ways it's kind of foolish. How can we treat you say we haven't seen Jesus? We haven't seen God. It was back to the same old question that we started months ago. Where have you seen God this week? And the first couple weeks you guys really looked at me quite strange and I remember I don't even know the first week that we had one person respond. But by now I can tell week after week. You all are witnessing God in the world and are open about you. Give a testimony of God's work in the world the powerful statement that God is a god of love that God is here and that we can tell others of God's work in the world because it's a testimony like Thomas had after he touched the hand inside of Jesus. We have a living testimony of the Lord and I'm sure if you go through your life other significant times. The first moment that you really understood who Jesus was. Maybe it wasn't the road to Damascus experience like Paul or you fell off the horse and we're blinded maybe I don't know. Each of us have a different experience with the Lord who we all have stories. If you don't have a story with God just ask him just be prepared. You never know. What the Lord may do.

It's our growing response the gods work in the world. see God in the scripture that says Jesus read are on the disciples and gave them the gift of the Holy Spirit to be in relationship with us to the truth is we have some.

We've seen them at work in this world that's messed up and hurting.

We can see God. in the beauty around us So yesterday in the midst of everything, we drove up the Lancaster now, I'll tell you what, I really enjoy. As much as we loved in the city, you know my wife especially she doesn't like being away from everything to be able to see all the beautiful Green Space everywhere. Was so beautiful was so beautiful just reminded me of God's handiwork in the world. It reminded me of home just a little bit.

So the challenge is What makes God real to you? Why are you here this morning worshipping why are you online work working this morning? We can be a million places we can be. We can be up for some of us and a camper somewhere. We could be I don't know watching TV doing nothing. But we're here in church. Is it because that's what you're supposed to do? Or is it because you love God so much you want to take this time and separate and give God back, but he gives you life.

Why were you here this morning?

The challenges I believe is that some of us this morning. We have that friend. I'm sure we know those people that do not believe in Jesus because I've never seen me. I've never seen him so I don't believe they said how can you worship something you never saying? So that's where you come into play. You are that living testimony. You are that living testimony this morning just like Thomas. That we have physically seen the Lord. Maybe we didn't put our fingers in his side.

I'll never forget though.

Touching the blazes that Jesus was those last hours. Being the Church of the Holy Sepulchre where I was able to at least what they say touch the cross that Jesus was hung up touch the bed where he was laid.

I've seen God.

How many times do we say my Lord and my God? Can we eat we easily think of the Lord when we're struggling and we have difficulties? But when times are really good. What do we say? And maybe I'm the only one you'll see after all we learned. Now, I'm the biggest Center at First Lutheran.

We're able to to recognize God in our face because we realize he is always there. Get it helps us explain to non-believers why bad things happen in this world? It helps the show Grace to humanity. And while Thomas May forever be known and the Christian Community of the doubting Thomas. I think what we're correct in and saying. traumatizing stubbornness

I challenge you all. How many times have you believed God was not there that God had forgotten you. The guy would not provide and this could be as simple as worried having worried.

I have worried. I have a dress I have doubt.

But how do we live as though as God is present with less worried unless what's doubt and less stress. So Mother Teresa

I know we're not Catholic but she was a great person a lot of great work and the world and maybe some of you already know this this morning. That's okay. She wrote this in one of her journals. Where is my fan even deep down right in there is nothing but emptiness and darkness my God, how painful is it? This unknown hang a painting without ceasing. I have no faith. I dare not utter the words and thoughts that crowd my heart and make me suffer Untold agony. So many unanswered questions live within me. I am afraid to uncover them because of the blasphemy. If there if there be God, please forgive me. the Mother Teresa

a woman that had extreme faith doubted God just like Donna. Someone that walk with Jesus had doubt.

What Jesus tells us in Matthew 17:20 truly I tell you if you have faith as small as a mustard seed you can say to this mountain move from here to there and it will move nothing will be impossible for you.

how to bring this back and there's a book in library

I didn't used to think it was again. I've written papers on why I hated the book.

All the heretical teachings and the horrible things. I was just a young student that I thought he knew everything. But now as I've been told over the years the older I get the less I know. so the more questions that I have but you know in this book the main character map. Has a terrible childhood. No person should experience and then he loses his daughter. I'm sorry if I'm ruining the book for you. tragically to a child predator

an app to put imitation my papa in the mail. And papa, of course is God by a larger African-American woman and Mac is still unbelief. I'm through the incredible journey of healing from his life that is filled with mistrust and hate towards God.

Gets closer. He ask the hard questions, you know again, why do bad things happen to good people I Mean Fiddler. Happy morning. All the evil that that one person could do. I don't know the answer to it.

But it became so difficult for Matt except that guy.

Argue again that he I believe believe in God. He just didn't want anything to do with a hateful mean guy and that's where some of our people are in the world today. They just don't want to be involved with the god that they can't see an ounce of love it. Because why? They don't recognize God in the good times. This down in God's love that Matt held was a mixture of his bad life experiences and the lack of embracing God to the good times as well. Dua for some people it's difficult when we pray and I believe God has uses masculine nouns. Okay, you know his and all this but for people that were abused by father, it's hard to Envision. How God is a loving father. So what's it takes to work? It takes from work because why because God our Father in Heaven sets the standard of what a father is like right. The other way around. how to get my favorite scene of this book and in the movie is when I'm knocking them get on this boat And the boat Begins the same. And they walk together on the water.

And I believe in Christian life. There are a lot of times where we have to trust God and get out of our boats. If you get out of a boat. And very very early in the morning and Matthew 14:25 to 30. He came to his disciples walking on the way. Now you guys remember this when Jesus was walking on the lake. What does the scripture say? Some of it? Right. Jesus was walking on water. Jesus is what I mean how abnormal would that be? You see a random person out there on the lake and walking on the water. I'm just imagining someone that wasn't with them that saw Jesus walking on the water. I want to type of song walking on water.

They were so frightened and they screamed so there is some proof. I don't know if it's reading it or not. But there are ghosts you guys know that we talked about ghost in the Bible. But Justin Jesus spoke to them be encouraged, it's me. Don't be afraid and Peter replied Lord if it's you ordered me to come to you on the water.

Aziza said, Peter got out of the boat that was walking on the water towards Jesus. But then when Peter saw the strong when he became frightened and he began to sink and he shouted rescue. We are we are we are now questioning Jesus, so it's not, says time saying your hands and your side. Will you call me out on the water? If it's really you you hear the doubt, right? These are men of extreme faith that walk with Jesus everyday and the claim that we don't have any dog ever to me. I don't know it sounds a little foolish. We all have our doubts and it's okay. We don't have to be perfect. It be many times. Peter is described in these verse against as a dollar or someone with little thing. But what other disciples did you see getting out of the boat and walking to Jesus? This is how people would later become the Rock in which Jesus Built in shirt. And I would argue that Peter in these verses of weakness showed that he believed without seeing. These very verses of Doubt or unbelief within the scriptures had become almost a scapegoat for some of us today. To look at them and their unbelief. And if they made it to Hammond. Surely I can make it. if me and again if God can

For Kingdom work surely he can use the messed up Center like all of us, right?

The fact is what may appear to be a moment of weakness. Is a fact a moment of incredible belief. Incredible belief so we have some some questions for you this morning. Where is God calling you to get out of the boat?

Where is God calling you to serve alongside him? How is God calling us first Evangelical Lutheran Church? That is a mouthful, right? To continue the Legacy that was started in the 40s. incredible history How can we embrace the idea that God is physically with us. Through the Holy Spirit. I was told I was going to talk about the Holy Spirit at our church. Everyday, I hear about the Holy Spirit. What an incredible Witness? Oftentimes he's like the red-headed stepchild, right? We don't talk about the Holy Spirit.

Please what that Jesus tells us in the scriptures that he breathed the Holy Spirit on the disciples. That through God all things.

but instead live in those moments with Trust

I can rehashed how God has done this in my life, but I'm not going to really this morning.

But all the times that I feared for the worst God was with me. All the crazy Ministry ideas over the years. I have no idea. How do they work that out? But God used it.

And I remember launching a children's ministry wants that. Church Avenue in the same model for like 20 years and I just was unhappy with it. And I wanted an opportunity. I know if shared this with some of you I just want an opportunity for

do something different. We launched the children's worship service man. That was Radical. We launched up a kids small group Ministry. I mean my son Ricky Lee could tell you that communion was the body and blood of Jesus Christ. Because of discipleship that we were doing with 2 year olds, they can learn more than you think they can.

Young kids we have such an incredible opportunity to love on these children. They raise them up in the face things that they'll never forget. Teaching them little things like the Lord's Prayer.

I'm going to be able to leave them through that. What does that exactly mean? Because when we think that were not sufficient or that the people that were teaching just will get lost. We lose the point Jesus. The holy spirit is the one that does the work. We're just instruments were tools, right? I'm a tool for the law on Sunday morning preachers work, but it's the Holy Spirit people. We have some small groups that are beginning to reopen right at our church. How was the Lord calling you to leave one? I know you guys had the neighborhood Mitch Wright Creek Ovid. Small group meeting and homes. Some of you may feel comfortable doing that. Some of you may not this is about choices. We all have to make our own choices, you'll notice or tents in the fuse again, if you don't want to use you don't feel comfortable, don't you something? Okay what the Lord is calling you to do do it comfortable. Trust in God always trust a not. So how is the Lord calling you this morning? At some point we will do the spiritual gift inventory. We will inventory every single person at First Lutheran. The figure out where the Lord has get them cuz we learn in the scriptures, right? All of us are gifted. That's why you're part of this church. All the spiritual gifts that Paul talks about are present in every single Body of Christ. And I don't care if you are a year old are your 109? Write the Lord from using only Resorts 109 cuz I know we have one person turning 95 that this week. I think.

Lively I'm going to close sooner than 40 minutes Easter Sunday.

What is Guy Towing for a church to do next? houses To be radical instruments for Jesus it is time to do something a little different. Right in the past. Mainline denominations relied on one way to get new disciples for Jesus. Do we know what that was? have babies how babies

To the faith now we're having to do things. We have to talk to people. And lutherans especially we were in an educational institution write a university. That's where we went. We came into existence but it is time as my forefathers when I was raised we get on Horseback, right we get on our motorcycles. We getting our pickup trucks week to the community for Christ. It's not about just evangelism here this morning. It's about living the word being a living testimony of insane Insanity to change the world 20 seconds. We can all count 20 seconds, right? So what are those 22nd that you are going to use for God to change the world?

Because of God can use Mother Teresa. Peter the doubting Thomas God can use us. Again, we're going to at some point you a food pantry. I've had too many people telling me the phone number to a food pantry at our church and there's so much need in our community Lancaster yesterday. We noticed it's a beautiful churches up there. We noticed one church had the outdoor food pantry. It was it was really cool. Maybe God is calling you this morning to start a church somewhere outside of the church. Does anybody? I can't raise my hand.

Maybe got carne asada torture to Jim. Maybe you go to the same restaurant every week. Anybody do that? The few people maybe that's where the next Church First Lutheran Church. I don't know North Point Diner campus.

Maybe he's calling you that to do something. I do even more crazy. Maybe God is calling you to plan a church. Lutheran we are a driven in many ways ministry, right? We have lay people.

Doesn't heard this in the catechism somewhere. I'm sure. Right. We are called to be ministers in our community. So are we called this fresh Expressions? So I'm saying it really loud because last time I said it people's phones on Facebook started getting ads for fresh Expressions. Watch the videos learn what it's about. We can have a hundred campuses real quick and different areas of the church if anybody likes to get tattoos, that would be a good place to start to equal tattoo shop. I don't have a single one, but God is calling us to this time. Right God is calling us to get out of our stubbornness. It's time to believe that the fish has this big this morning that this is the gospel, right? It's time for us to get out of our doubts. Are Shane are mistrust and go into unknown Waters? And if I could ever bring you guys on a field trip, we can go take a water tour of the swamps of south Louisiana where you can't see the bottom, but you just trust that there's enough water for that boat to go. So we have airboats.

We got to trust that God is with us all the way bright. So think about it pray about it and let me know. Let us pray. Amazing God we we thank you for the opportunity to hear your word to worship this morning, and we want to thank you for this congregation faithfulness to your holy word. We praise you for the gift of tree salvation. We thank you that your Resurrection on the cross. Tell that to you rose from the dead. Godzilla Thomas

Are the Thomas could be a living testimony? Put his fingers in your hands and then your side. It helped us if we experience the love of Christ be that living testimony to the world so that our friends and our family. and even members of this Community of Faith Can do you? And we pray all this in Jesus name. Amen.