22 Apr Sorrowful Doubt to Hopeful Faith
Last Sunday, Joel Smith preached the sermon: “The Risen Christ,” from Luke 24:13-35. Joel encouraged us to passionately pursue Jesus as revealed in the Word and live to make Him known. We were equipped with a simple, yet effective Bible study tool called “The Sword Method” that leads us to consider four questions as we study the Bible: 1) What does this say about God? 2) What does this say about man? 3) Are there any commands to obey or examples to follow? 4) Who can I share this truth with?
Read: John 20:24-31
This Sunday, Pastor Jeremy Chasteen will preach from John 20:24-31 and will encourage us to believe that Jesus is the risen Christ and have life in him. In this passage, we see Jesus lovingly pursue Thomas and move him from sorrowful doubt to hopeful faith in the risen Christ. As you prepare for our corporate gathering, take time to reflect on the moment God first opened your eyes to see and believe the truth of Jesus’ death on the cross and resurrection from the dead in order to save you from sin and give you eternal life. Let this prayer from The Valley of Vision aid your reflection.
Reflect: “The Great Discovery”
Glorious God,
I bless thee that I know thee. I once lived in the world, but was ignorant of its Creator, was partaker of thy providences, but knew not the Provider, was blind while enjoying the sunlight, was deaf to all things spiritual, with voices all around me, understood many things, but had no knowledge of thy ways, saw the world, but did not see Jesus only.
O happy day, when in thy love’s sovereignty thou didst look on me, and call me by grace. Then did the dead heart begin to beat, the darkened eye glimmer with light, the dull ear catch thy echo, and I turned to thee and found thee, a God ready to hear, willing to save.
Then did I find my heart at enmity to thee, vexing they Spirit; then did I fall at thy feet and hear thee thunder, “The soul that sinneth, it must die,” but when grace made me to know thee, and admire a God who hated sin, thy terrible justice held my will submissive.
My thoughts were then as knives cutting my head.
Then didst thou come to me in silken robes of love, and I saw thy Son dying that I might live, and in that death I found my all.
My soul doth sing at the remembrance of that peace; the gospel cornet brought a sound unknown to me before that reached my heart – and I lived – never to lose my hold on Christ or his hold on me.
Grant that I may always weep to the praise of mercy found, and tell to others as long as I live, that thou art a sin-pardoning God, taking up the blasphemer and the ungodly, and washing them from their deepest stain.
“The Great Discovery,” in The Valley of Vision: A Collection of Puritan Prayers & Devotions, Ed. Arthur Bennett
Sing: Song List for Sunday
1. “Let the Nations Be Glad,” by Matt Boswell
2. “O Great God,” by Sovereign Grace Music
3. “Facing a Task Unfinished,” by Keith & Kristyn Getty