Because He Lives – Mission

Because He Lives – Mission is the sermon for Doubting Thomas Sunday.  Every year, right after Easter, all of Christendom takes time to remember that Jesus didn’t just come to conquer death.  He came to conquer your doubts too.

Sticker Duty

Have you ever been on sticker duty?  Our church has community outreach events and once in a while, I’m just on sticker duty.  I went around to every child I could find and gave him or her a sticker.  Then I’d ask the family where they were from, whether or not they had a church, and invite them to ours.  Most of the people I spoke with had a church and knew their Savior, but there were some who did not.  One family responded to my invitation by saying, “We don’t do church.”  By the twinkle in the man’s eye I got the impression that he didn’t want to continue the conversation.  But I wanted to know why.  The chief priests and teachers of the law give us some insight.  “We gave you strict orders not to teach in this name,” he said. “Yet you have filled Jerusalem with your teaching and are determined to make us guilty of this man’s blood.” 

The Irony of Guilt

The irony of this statement spoken to Peter is of course that he was as guilty as they.  We are also guilty of this man’s blood.  When you say the word church, or imagine if you say “I’m the pastor…” People may think, “Here is another one, trying to make me guilty of this man’s blood.”

That thought is so terrifying to some that they would rather readjust the chains of guilt, and snuggle up to the cold brick wall of their unbelief. They think death is not a punishment of my sin.  Death is a natural part of life.  It’s the circle of life?  That is simply wrong.  Because of Easter you will live forever.

Want to hear more?  Watch this week’s message taken from Acts 5, Because He Lives – Mission.