Opening Prayer:
Creator of all, we thank you for the opportunity to gather in study. Open our minds and hearts. By the power of the Holy Spirit, unite us in faith, hope, and love. Help us to be faithful to the gospel and to walk humbly with you. Grant us your peace as we grow in wisdom and understanding. We pray in Jesus’ name. Amen.
John 20:19-31 What can we learn from Thomas about how to deal with doubt?
This account between Thomas and Jesus set the stage for a real transition—from seeing and believing to simply hearing and still believing. Jesus was mindful of all future generations of Christians who would come to faith without an eyewitness. “Have you believed because you have seen me? Blessed are those who have not seen, and yet they believe.” (20:29) Both Jesus and the Evangelist were eager to get this message across. This transition implies the need for a new definition of faith in the absence of Jesus. Looking to the future, Jesus could see all those who would come to trust him “and have life in his name,” even though never physically seeing him.
1 Peter 1:3-9 What does it mean for you to confess that Jesus rose from the dead?
This letter was probably written between AD 70 and 90, after Paul’s missionary travels and before widespread persecution of the early Christians. The social context of the Greco-Roman world was very patriarchal, and foreign religions were suspect. Conversion might lead to division within the family and a resulting disruption of the social hierarchy. Most of the letter tacitly reassured Christians that by imitating Christ (and by obeying the authorities) they would survive the “various trials” brought on by their despised position in the culture. The writer was trying to establish the legitimacy of Christians and their faith so they would become accepted and no longer have to suffer unjustly.
Acts 2:14a, 22-32 On what do you base your faith in Jesus as Lord?
The people of the day were struggling with the notion of how an all-wise and all-powerful God was able to use the suffering and death of the Messiah to bring salvation and forgiveness to all the world. This was, Peter was saying, God’s plan all along. But we know today that a dead Jesus could not bring this salvation—God brought him back to life. Peter even quoted David as proof of the Resurrection. Few of the Jew’s ancestors were held in greater esteem than David, so to appeal to him was an effective tactic. But Peter did more than that. “David,” Peter said, “both died and was buried, and his tomb is with us to this day” present in Jerusalem and a place of great interest to all the Jews). David, a great hero and one of God’s favor, could not do what Jesus did, but he prophesied the resurrection of the Messiah, who was one of David’s own descendants. Peter reinforced David’s prophecy as one witness among many (2:32).
. Closing Prayer
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Blessed are you, |
May we who have received forgiveness of sins |