Notes From Jon

Poor Thomas
Luke 24:36-43 and all of John chapter 20
Sermon for Second Sunday of Easter (A)
March 30, 2008

One of my goals in preaching is clarity – making sure that by the end of my message, what I’m saying has been clearly conveyed. Realizing of course that clarity depends partially on the one who’s hearing as well as the one who’s speaking, I work to make sure my presentation is easy to follow and understand, keeps the attention, and doesn’t try to fit in too many different ideas at once.

Sometimes I feel I do pretty well. Other times I don’t, and this past Sunday was one of those times. So what I’m doing now is trying to clarify. I apologize for not being as thoughtful about this sermon as I usually am. But I’m not taking back anything that I said. I simply want to make my own thoughts a little clearer.

So what follows is an expanded and (hopefully) clearer version of the sermon I preached on Sunday.

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Introduction – Poor Mr. Thomas

Before I read the scriptures for the message, I want to play a little game. It’s called “word association.” Psychologists use it all the time to get at our deepest thoughts, but I want to use it this morning to prove a theory.

I’m going to say a disciple’s name, and I want you to call out the first thing that comes to mind when I say it:

• Peter [responses included "steady," "denial," "foundation," "great preacher."]
• John [responses: "beloved," "faithful"]
• Matthew ["tax collector," "Levi,"
• Judas ["traitor," "betrayer"]
• Thomas [a resounding "DOUBTER"]

[Here, the scriptures were read]

How many of you have ever “doubted” God? Questioned? What were the circumstances? Look at Mr. Thomas, the disciple. He has been looked down on for centuries because of his doubt – even gaining the nickname “doubting Thomas.” And somewhere along the line we’ve picked up the idea that what Thomas did was wrong.

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