1 00:00:00,000 --> 00:00:02,580 (upbeat music) 2 00:00:02,580 --> 00:00:11,600 - Why don't you go ahead and hug a neck of someone 3 00:00:11,600 --> 00:00:15,280 you don't like as they bring out this table. 4 00:00:15,280 --> 00:00:18,740 Guys, it's Easter Sunday, Resurrection Sunday. 5 00:00:18,740 --> 00:00:23,080 You do know Jesus is alive, yes? 6 00:00:23,080 --> 00:00:27,480 Jesus is alive and he is worth celebrating today. 7 00:00:27,480 --> 00:00:29,760 And he has changed my life. 8 00:00:29,760 --> 00:00:32,060 I can only speak for my life because I'm living my life, 9 00:00:32,060 --> 00:00:34,000 but I do know some of your testimonies. 10 00:00:34,000 --> 00:00:36,240 I know he's changed some of your lives as well. 11 00:00:36,240 --> 00:00:37,960 And the word tells us that we overcome 12 00:00:37,960 --> 00:00:41,960 by the blood of the lamb and the word of our testimony. 13 00:00:41,960 --> 00:00:44,080 And sometimes you just gotta cry out to God and say, 14 00:00:44,080 --> 00:00:45,120 "Thank you." 15 00:00:45,120 --> 00:00:49,020 Thank you, God, for coming and living 16 00:00:49,020 --> 00:00:52,840 an impeccable, perfect life, and then dying for me, 17 00:00:52,840 --> 00:00:57,840 for pitiful, weak me, and then rising again. 18 00:00:58,200 --> 00:01:02,240 Guys, our God is alive and at the right hand of the Father. 19 00:01:02,240 --> 00:01:04,540 And we celebrate that today. 20 00:01:04,540 --> 00:01:06,480 And I'm glad that you're here for joining us 21 00:01:06,480 --> 00:01:07,520 on a live stream today. 22 00:01:07,520 --> 00:01:09,160 Thank you so much for joining us. 23 00:01:09,160 --> 00:01:11,400 It's a glorious day to be in the house. 24 00:01:11,400 --> 00:01:12,980 It's so good to see some of you. 25 00:01:12,980 --> 00:01:14,760 Some of you are new here. 26 00:01:14,760 --> 00:01:16,880 Welcome if you're joining us for the first time. 27 00:01:16,880 --> 00:01:19,300 And some of you haven't been here for quite a while 28 00:01:19,300 --> 00:01:20,140 and you're here today. 29 00:01:20,140 --> 00:01:22,120 And I just wanna say thank you for being with us 30 00:01:22,120 --> 00:01:24,200 to worship the Lord. 31 00:01:24,200 --> 00:01:26,560 It's good to see all of you in the house today. 32 00:01:26,560 --> 00:01:28,880 A couple of announcements, and I might be reiterating a few 33 00:01:28,880 --> 00:01:30,600 that Pastor Barbie already said, 34 00:01:30,600 --> 00:01:32,280 but the Lee Singers will be here next week 35 00:01:32,280 --> 00:01:34,120 and we'll have our outdoor picnic. 36 00:01:34,120 --> 00:01:36,520 I'm gonna bring a message next week centered around 37 00:01:36,520 --> 00:01:38,320 what the purpose of Springhouse is. 38 00:01:38,320 --> 00:01:40,460 And so if you wanna come and hear more about Springhouse, 39 00:01:40,460 --> 00:01:42,520 next week is a good week to come, 40 00:01:42,520 --> 00:01:44,680 hear about what the Lord's doing here. 41 00:01:44,680 --> 00:01:47,880 And then also Pastor Barbie, she's mentioned 42 00:01:47,880 --> 00:01:50,560 there's no midweek gathering this coming Thursday, 43 00:01:50,560 --> 00:01:52,880 but the following week on April 11th, 44 00:01:52,880 --> 00:01:54,400 she's gonna start a series called 45 00:01:54,400 --> 00:01:56,200 "I Wish Someone Had Told Me." 46 00:01:56,200 --> 00:01:57,560 And it's gonna be great. 47 00:01:57,560 --> 00:02:00,160 So I invite you to come six to seven o'clock 48 00:02:00,160 --> 00:02:01,320 on Thursday nights. 49 00:02:01,320 --> 00:02:02,840 I think there's workbooks already out 50 00:02:02,840 --> 00:02:03,920 in the foyer for that. 51 00:02:03,920 --> 00:02:06,640 There's some workbooks available as a part of that class. 52 00:02:06,640 --> 00:02:07,880 Man, you don't wanna miss that. 53 00:02:07,880 --> 00:02:10,040 So mark your calendars for that. 54 00:02:10,040 --> 00:02:12,320 And then the following Sunday on the 14th, 55 00:02:12,320 --> 00:02:14,080 this guy, his name's Jonathan Evans, 56 00:02:14,080 --> 00:02:17,600 and he is the chaplain for the Dallas Cowboys 57 00:02:17,600 --> 00:02:19,400 and a part of the Evans family, 58 00:02:19,400 --> 00:02:22,960 Tony Evans, Priscilla Shirer, is that correct? 59 00:02:22,960 --> 00:02:24,040 Yes. 60 00:02:24,040 --> 00:02:26,280 And so he's coming to be with us. 61 00:02:26,280 --> 00:02:27,760 He's been with us before, 62 00:02:27,760 --> 00:02:30,480 and he promises to really bring a rich word. 63 00:02:30,480 --> 00:02:33,760 So you'll wanna be here on the 14th for that as well. 64 00:02:33,760 --> 00:02:36,560 God has saved the very best for right now for us. 65 00:02:36,560 --> 00:02:39,840 And we are in the middle of a year-long series 66 00:02:39,840 --> 00:02:44,840 on his life, I'm sorry, his word, his life, and his church. 67 00:02:44,840 --> 00:02:46,720 We're gonna talk about his church in the next few weeks. 68 00:02:46,720 --> 00:02:48,120 We're gonna start that part of the series, 69 00:02:48,120 --> 00:02:49,680 but within the middle part of this series, 70 00:02:49,680 --> 00:02:52,480 we're in a mini series, his death, burial, and resurrection. 71 00:02:52,480 --> 00:02:54,480 Which one do you think we're gonna talk about today? 72 00:02:54,480 --> 00:02:56,440 His resurrection, okay? 73 00:02:56,440 --> 00:02:59,420 Guys, his resurrection is good news. 74 00:02:59,420 --> 00:03:02,560 The gospel of Jesus Christ, literally translated gospel, 75 00:03:02,560 --> 00:03:04,920 means good news. 76 00:03:04,920 --> 00:03:07,540 Anything that has been dead and comes back to life, 77 00:03:07,540 --> 00:03:09,780 that's good, good, good, good news. 78 00:03:09,780 --> 00:03:12,160 And I want us to proclaim and understand 79 00:03:12,160 --> 00:03:15,100 and know Jesus is alive. 80 00:03:15,100 --> 00:03:18,080 Jesus is alive, no question about it. 81 00:03:18,080 --> 00:03:21,320 Guys, there's over 4,200 religions in the world, 82 00:03:21,320 --> 00:03:24,240 and we are the only one who proclaims a God 83 00:03:24,240 --> 00:03:26,360 who is alive today. 84 00:03:26,360 --> 00:03:28,340 And I'm gonna tell you, if I have a God to choose 85 00:03:28,340 --> 00:03:30,440 out of 4,200, I'm gonna pick the one who's alive. 86 00:03:30,440 --> 00:03:32,280 I'm gonna pick the one I have access to. 87 00:03:32,280 --> 00:03:34,480 I'm gonna pick the one who cares about me 88 00:03:34,480 --> 00:03:36,480 and sees me and is brooding over me 89 00:03:36,480 --> 00:03:39,600 and wants to have a relationship with me. 90 00:03:39,600 --> 00:03:40,880 How many have tried to have a relationship 91 00:03:40,880 --> 00:03:41,800 with something that's dead? 92 00:03:41,800 --> 00:03:44,140 Doesn't work too well, does it? 93 00:03:44,140 --> 00:03:46,200 We want a relationship with a God who is alive, 94 00:03:46,200 --> 00:03:48,280 and he is alive today. 95 00:03:48,280 --> 00:03:49,460 He is alive today. 96 00:03:49,460 --> 00:03:52,940 You know, when I was little, I went to a Catholic church. 97 00:03:52,940 --> 00:03:55,720 I was brought up Catholic for the first part of my life. 98 00:03:55,720 --> 00:03:57,860 And I remember going to this Catholic church, 99 00:03:57,860 --> 00:03:59,780 and somewhere around six, seven, or eight, 100 00:03:59,780 --> 00:04:03,400 I went to my first confessional, my first confessional. 101 00:04:03,400 --> 00:04:06,600 So in the Catholic practice, you go to the priest 102 00:04:06,600 --> 00:04:08,940 and you offload your sin onto the priest, 103 00:04:08,940 --> 00:04:11,620 and the priest will then take it to the Lord on your behalf. 104 00:04:11,620 --> 00:04:15,820 And so I went into this house with this priest. 105 00:04:15,820 --> 00:04:17,540 I sat on his couch, and he was looking at me, 106 00:04:17,540 --> 00:04:18,880 and he was like, "Kevin, I want you to tell me 107 00:04:18,880 --> 00:04:20,240 "everything that you've done wrong." 108 00:04:20,240 --> 00:04:22,040 And so I was thinking, all right, 109 00:04:22,040 --> 00:04:23,340 as a six, seven, eight year old, 110 00:04:23,340 --> 00:04:25,540 I think I punched my brother in the face once, 111 00:04:25,540 --> 00:04:27,880 and he said, "Ooh, that's good, tell me more." 112 00:04:27,880 --> 00:04:30,480 And I was like, "Well, I think I took something 113 00:04:30,480 --> 00:04:32,540 "out of the refrigerator I wasn't supposed to." 114 00:04:32,540 --> 00:04:35,400 He said, "Good, good, good, tell me more." 115 00:04:35,400 --> 00:04:37,740 And I was like, "Well, I think maybe I took an eraser 116 00:04:37,740 --> 00:04:42,440 "out of my buddy's desk at school, and I didn't return it." 117 00:04:42,440 --> 00:04:43,880 And he was like, "Good, good." 118 00:04:43,880 --> 00:04:46,800 He was so encouraging about my sin, 119 00:04:46,800 --> 00:04:48,460 I started making sin up. 120 00:04:48,460 --> 00:04:49,300 (congregation laughing) 121 00:04:49,300 --> 00:04:52,200 And I just started to say all types of crazy things 122 00:04:52,200 --> 00:04:54,080 to the point where he just had to shut me off 123 00:04:54,080 --> 00:04:57,760 as if Jesus could only forgive this many sin today. 124 00:04:57,760 --> 00:05:01,940 And so he then took the sin, and he went before the Lord, 125 00:05:01,940 --> 00:05:04,360 and I guess the Lord forgave me. 126 00:05:04,360 --> 00:05:06,760 Do you know that you do not have to go to a priest? 127 00:05:06,760 --> 00:05:09,220 You can go directly to the Lord yourself. 128 00:05:09,220 --> 00:05:11,120 You do not have to go through an agency. 129 00:05:11,120 --> 00:05:12,680 You do not have to go through a person. 130 00:05:12,680 --> 00:05:16,440 You have access to the God who breathes stars. 131 00:05:16,440 --> 00:05:19,960 You have access to the God who set the planets in motion. 132 00:05:19,960 --> 00:05:21,500 You have access to the God who knows 133 00:05:21,500 --> 00:05:23,000 the number of hairs on your head. 134 00:05:23,000 --> 00:05:26,040 He is alive and real today, and you have access to him. 135 00:05:26,040 --> 00:05:27,600 What are you doing with your access? 136 00:05:27,600 --> 00:05:30,720 What are you doing with your access? 137 00:05:30,720 --> 00:05:32,760 And so we're going to get into the scripture today. 138 00:05:32,760 --> 00:05:35,640 We are looking at Jesus's resurrection. 139 00:05:35,640 --> 00:05:39,440 So Jesus was resurrected from the grave three days later. 140 00:05:39,440 --> 00:05:43,620 The tomb was rolled away, and John and Peter run 141 00:05:43,620 --> 00:05:45,360 after the ladies had gotten there. 142 00:05:45,360 --> 00:05:47,120 And guess what? 143 00:05:47,120 --> 00:05:48,440 Jesus wasn't there. 144 00:05:48,440 --> 00:05:50,240 He wasn't inside the tomb. 145 00:05:50,240 --> 00:05:55,240 And so they get there, and Jesus appears to Mary Magdalene. 146 00:05:55,240 --> 00:05:58,840 Guys, what it would have been to be Mary, 147 00:05:58,840 --> 00:06:01,220 what it would have been to be Mary Magdalene 148 00:06:01,220 --> 00:06:03,240 and be the first one who sees Jesus. 149 00:06:03,240 --> 00:06:07,080 And Jesus says to Mary, "I want you to go," 150 00:06:07,080 --> 00:06:08,960 and I'm paraphrasing, "I want you to go 151 00:06:08,960 --> 00:06:11,220 "and tell the good news to your brothers." 152 00:06:11,220 --> 00:06:15,180 Do you know that the woman Mary was the first preacher 153 00:06:15,180 --> 00:06:18,180 on the planet, the first one to deliver the good news, 154 00:06:18,180 --> 00:06:20,140 rather, the first one to give the good news 155 00:06:20,140 --> 00:06:23,120 was Mary Magdalene, what it would have been to be Mary 156 00:06:23,120 --> 00:06:25,980 and be in the position of delivering the good news. 157 00:06:25,980 --> 00:06:28,060 And so she goes back and she tells them, 158 00:06:28,060 --> 00:06:30,060 "The Lord, I've seen the Lord." 159 00:06:30,060 --> 00:06:32,860 And we're gonna pick up on in John chapter 20, 160 00:06:32,860 --> 00:06:36,840 where Jesus is gonna reveal himself to the disciples, 161 00:06:36,840 --> 00:06:39,720 save one, stand with me, let's read together. 162 00:06:43,180 --> 00:06:46,940 There's a typo, it should be peace be with you 163 00:06:46,940 --> 00:06:48,480 instead of peace with with you. 164 00:06:48,480 --> 00:06:51,320 That was a little bit of a lisp there, huh? 165 00:06:51,320 --> 00:06:54,620 All right, on the evening of that first day of the week, 166 00:06:54,620 --> 00:06:57,980 when the disciples were together with the doors locked 167 00:06:57,980 --> 00:07:00,160 for fear of the Jewish leaders, 168 00:07:00,160 --> 00:07:03,200 Jesus came and stood among them and said, 169 00:07:03,200 --> 00:07:05,320 "Peace be with you." 170 00:07:05,320 --> 00:07:10,000 As he said this, he showed them his hands inside. 171 00:07:10,000 --> 00:07:14,060 The disciples were overjoyed when they saw the Lord. 172 00:07:14,060 --> 00:07:16,580 Now Thomas, one of the 12, 173 00:07:16,580 --> 00:07:19,960 was not with the disciples when Jesus came. 174 00:07:19,960 --> 00:07:24,400 So the other disciples told him, "We have seen the Lord." 175 00:07:24,400 --> 00:07:28,080 But he said to them, "Unless I see the nail marks 176 00:07:28,080 --> 00:07:32,080 in his hands and put my finger where the nails were 177 00:07:32,080 --> 00:07:37,080 and put my hand into his side, I will not believe." 178 00:07:37,080 --> 00:07:40,840 A week later, his disciples were in the house again 179 00:07:40,840 --> 00:07:43,060 and Thomas was with them. 180 00:07:43,060 --> 00:07:44,980 Though the doors were locked, 181 00:07:44,980 --> 00:07:48,200 Jesus came and stood among them and said, 182 00:07:48,200 --> 00:07:50,140 "Peace be with you." 183 00:07:50,140 --> 00:07:53,920 Then he said to Thomas, "Put your finger here, 184 00:07:53,920 --> 00:07:58,920 see my hands, reach out your hand and put it into my side." 185 00:07:58,920 --> 00:08:03,960 Stop doubting and believe, Thomas said to him, 186 00:08:03,960 --> 00:08:06,320 "My Lord and my God." 187 00:08:06,320 --> 00:08:09,880 Then Jesus told them, "Because you have seen me, 188 00:08:09,880 --> 00:08:11,440 you have believed. 189 00:08:11,440 --> 00:08:15,740 Blessed are those who have not seen and yet have believed." 190 00:08:15,740 --> 00:08:17,200 Father, I thank you for your word 191 00:08:17,200 --> 00:08:18,960 and I thank you that it's transformative. 192 00:08:18,960 --> 00:08:22,340 I pray, Lord, that it would change our lives today. 193 00:08:22,340 --> 00:08:24,200 We love you in Jesus' name, amen. 194 00:08:24,200 --> 00:08:25,180 You may be seated. 195 00:08:25,180 --> 00:08:30,860 Couple of weeks ago, before I was coming to church, 196 00:08:30,860 --> 00:08:32,880 it was around six o'clock in the morning. 197 00:08:32,880 --> 00:08:36,280 And I got downstairs and it was a little bit later 198 00:08:36,280 --> 00:08:38,040 for me, I usually get here a little earlier than that, 199 00:08:38,040 --> 00:08:40,600 but I was going downstairs and my third daughter 200 00:08:40,600 --> 00:08:43,140 was actually awake already and dressed. 201 00:08:43,140 --> 00:08:44,920 And when I went downstairs, 202 00:08:44,920 --> 00:08:47,000 I found her in a peculiar position. 203 00:08:47,000 --> 00:08:50,640 I found her on top the counter near the microwave 204 00:08:50,640 --> 00:08:54,880 with the door flung open with a bag of popcorn in her hand. 205 00:08:54,880 --> 00:08:57,440 And so I looked at her astonished and I said, 206 00:08:57,440 --> 00:09:00,720 "Ruby, what are you doing?" 207 00:09:00,720 --> 00:09:03,480 And she said, "I'm popping popcorn." 208 00:09:04,640 --> 00:09:08,640 And I said, "Ruby, we don't eat popcorn for breakfast." 209 00:09:08,640 --> 00:09:12,080 To which she replied, "Daddy, I don't know what we do, 210 00:09:12,080 --> 00:09:13,880 but I eat popcorn in the morning." 211 00:09:13,880 --> 00:09:17,220 (congregation laughing) 212 00:09:17,220 --> 00:09:21,860 Then I took off my belt, no. 213 00:09:21,860 --> 00:09:28,300 Now that story is true and you laughed at it. 214 00:09:28,300 --> 00:09:31,120 I'm glad you laughed at it because it's a funny story. 215 00:09:31,120 --> 00:09:34,960 But what makes it true right now is my word. 216 00:09:34,960 --> 00:09:37,560 The only thing you have to hold onto about that story 217 00:09:37,560 --> 00:09:41,460 is my word, unless I gave you proof like this, 218 00:09:41,460 --> 00:09:43,060 that the story really happened. 219 00:09:43,060 --> 00:09:46,020 (congregation laughing) 220 00:09:46,020 --> 00:09:48,120 Ruby caught in action. 221 00:09:48,120 --> 00:09:55,680 In Jesus's time, words held gravity. 222 00:09:55,680 --> 00:09:59,800 Whenever you were an eyewitness of something, 223 00:09:59,800 --> 00:10:01,880 whenever you were to tell a story, 224 00:10:01,880 --> 00:10:04,340 when you were in a place 225 00:10:04,340 --> 00:10:07,000 where you were to render information, 226 00:10:07,000 --> 00:10:10,160 the words coming out of your mouth held gravity 227 00:10:10,160 --> 00:10:11,400 and were very important. 228 00:10:11,400 --> 00:10:15,240 And so if you were an eyewitness to an event, 229 00:10:15,240 --> 00:10:16,800 it was important. 230 00:10:16,800 --> 00:10:19,140 The details that are recorded in scripture, 231 00:10:19,140 --> 00:10:22,920 most of them come from eyewitness activity. 232 00:10:22,920 --> 00:10:24,040 Eyewitness activity. 233 00:10:24,040 --> 00:10:25,800 They didn't have cell phones back then. 234 00:10:25,800 --> 00:10:27,200 They didn't have cameras back then. 235 00:10:27,200 --> 00:10:31,700 They weren't taking pictures and drawing these things out. 236 00:10:31,700 --> 00:10:35,920 So you really had to trust and lean on the word 237 00:10:35,920 --> 00:10:38,480 of multiple witnesses. 238 00:10:38,480 --> 00:10:43,000 And so the disciples are gathered together in a room 239 00:10:43,000 --> 00:10:45,680 and the word tells us that the disciples are gathered 240 00:10:45,680 --> 00:10:47,960 and the only one we're told that's not there is Thomas. 241 00:10:47,960 --> 00:10:50,900 So the disciples, multiple, plural, disciples, 242 00:10:50,900 --> 00:10:53,980 were gathered in a room after the resurrection 243 00:10:53,980 --> 00:10:57,540 and Jesus appears to the disciples and says, 244 00:10:57,540 --> 00:10:59,900 "Peace be with you." 245 00:10:59,900 --> 00:11:02,400 Now that's kind of like whenever an angel appears 246 00:11:02,400 --> 00:11:04,380 and says, "Don't be afraid," you know? 247 00:11:04,380 --> 00:11:07,160 And you're like, "Too late," you know? 248 00:11:07,160 --> 00:11:10,480 Jesus appears and he's like, "Peace be with you." 249 00:11:10,480 --> 00:11:14,820 And he appears to the disciples and it is a glorious moment 250 00:11:14,820 --> 00:11:17,580 because everything that Jesus had taught them, 251 00:11:17,580 --> 00:11:19,220 everything he talked about, 252 00:11:19,220 --> 00:11:22,900 about going to the grave and raising again, 253 00:11:22,900 --> 00:11:25,240 all came to fruition in that moment 254 00:11:25,240 --> 00:11:28,560 when he revealed himself to the disciples 255 00:11:28,560 --> 00:11:31,920 and they were all there, save Thomas. 256 00:11:31,920 --> 00:11:34,900 Now Thomas, he was not there and scripture does not tell us 257 00:11:34,900 --> 00:11:38,900 why Thomas was not there with the disciples. 258 00:11:38,900 --> 00:11:40,200 I don't know what Thomas was doing. 259 00:11:40,200 --> 00:11:42,900 Maybe he was working, maybe he was in hiding, 260 00:11:42,900 --> 00:11:44,960 maybe he was upset that Jesus had died. 261 00:11:44,960 --> 00:11:48,360 I don't know, it doesn't tell us why he was not there, 262 00:11:48,360 --> 00:11:50,840 but Thomas was a disciple 263 00:11:50,840 --> 00:11:53,120 who really loved the Lord Jesus Christ. 264 00:11:53,120 --> 00:11:56,620 And Thomas really gets a bad rap in scripture 265 00:11:56,620 --> 00:12:00,460 being dubbed and being labeled as doubting Thomas. 266 00:12:00,460 --> 00:12:03,520 And this is because whenever he came to the disciples, 267 00:12:03,520 --> 00:12:05,040 he said, "I'm not going to believe it 268 00:12:05,040 --> 00:12:07,240 "unless I see it with my own eyes 269 00:12:07,240 --> 00:12:10,500 "and I touch his hands and touch his feet." 270 00:12:10,500 --> 00:12:12,920 But I wanna talk a little bit about Thomas 271 00:12:12,920 --> 00:12:14,140 for just a moment because, 272 00:12:14,140 --> 00:12:16,780 and maybe perhaps give you a different perspective 273 00:12:16,780 --> 00:12:18,340 on Thomas this morning. 274 00:12:18,340 --> 00:12:20,820 When we look in scripture, Thomas is mentioned 275 00:12:20,820 --> 00:12:22,180 a few times in scripture, 276 00:12:22,180 --> 00:12:24,220 but two primary times in the book of John, 277 00:12:24,220 --> 00:12:25,220 he is referenced. 278 00:12:25,220 --> 00:12:28,880 And back whenever Jesus was going to raise Lazarus 279 00:12:28,880 --> 00:12:31,300 from the dead, when he was going to raise Lazarus, 280 00:12:31,300 --> 00:12:35,060 this was a point in time when Jesus was really in trouble. 281 00:12:35,060 --> 00:12:36,600 What do I mean by that? 282 00:12:36,600 --> 00:12:38,140 It was a point in time when Jesus, 283 00:12:38,140 --> 00:12:40,620 the Jewish leaders were looking to stone Jesus. 284 00:12:40,620 --> 00:12:42,780 And Jesus said, "My time has not come." 285 00:12:42,780 --> 00:12:47,660 And so he was kind of going incognito around the area 286 00:12:47,660 --> 00:12:50,740 to be in hiding, but also preach the gospel 287 00:12:50,740 --> 00:12:53,540 because his time had not come. 288 00:12:53,540 --> 00:12:56,900 Well, when Lazarus, when the thing with Lazarus happened 289 00:12:56,900 --> 00:13:00,620 and he died, Jesus wanted to go back to where Lazarus was 290 00:13:00,620 --> 00:13:02,620 so that he could raise Lazarus from the dead. 291 00:13:02,620 --> 00:13:05,820 He told the disciples plainly, "Lazarus is dead. 292 00:13:05,820 --> 00:13:07,560 "We're gonna go wake him up." 293 00:13:07,560 --> 00:13:10,420 Well, it was a dangerous journey for Jesus 294 00:13:10,420 --> 00:13:13,340 to go from where he was and travel over to Lazarus. 295 00:13:13,340 --> 00:13:17,620 But Thomas pipes up and says, "If you go, we're gonna go." 296 00:13:17,620 --> 00:13:20,400 He tells the disciples, "Hey, if Jesus, if you're gonna go, 297 00:13:20,400 --> 00:13:23,220 "we're gonna go and we're gonna die with you." 298 00:13:23,220 --> 00:13:26,700 That tells me something about the loyalty of Thomas. 299 00:13:26,700 --> 00:13:27,880 Have you ever had somebody in your life 300 00:13:27,880 --> 00:13:29,940 that'd be willing to die for you? 301 00:13:29,940 --> 00:13:32,280 That's a loyal, man, that's a loyal companion. 302 00:13:32,280 --> 00:13:33,220 That's a loyal friend. 303 00:13:33,220 --> 00:13:38,200 That speaks volumes of Thomas's character. 304 00:13:38,200 --> 00:13:40,620 Then two chapters later in John 14, 305 00:13:40,620 --> 00:13:43,580 we read another little interesting bit about Thomas. 306 00:13:43,580 --> 00:13:47,060 Jesus is talking about how he's going to have to ascend 307 00:13:47,060 --> 00:13:50,700 to the Father and how he's going to have to leave the earth 308 00:13:50,700 --> 00:13:51,540 and come back. 309 00:13:51,540 --> 00:13:55,500 And though they didn't quite understand what that meant, 310 00:13:55,500 --> 00:13:58,500 Thomas pipes up and asks a very important question 311 00:13:58,500 --> 00:14:00,500 that all believers should ask. 312 00:14:00,500 --> 00:14:04,400 And he says, "Lord, we don't know where you are going. 313 00:14:04,400 --> 00:14:06,900 "So how can we know the way? 314 00:14:06,900 --> 00:14:08,900 "How can we know the way?" 315 00:14:08,900 --> 00:14:12,320 That should be a question that every one of us asked. 316 00:14:12,320 --> 00:14:14,580 How can we know the way? 317 00:14:14,580 --> 00:14:19,580 And Jesus responds very plainly to Thomas, to the disciples. 318 00:14:19,580 --> 00:14:21,820 One of the most famous scriptures we have, 319 00:14:21,820 --> 00:14:26,480 he says, "I am the way, the truth, and the life. 320 00:14:26,480 --> 00:14:29,980 "No one comes to the Father except through me." 321 00:14:29,980 --> 00:14:34,500 It is here that we realize that Jesus is not just a way, 322 00:14:34,500 --> 00:14:36,480 but he is the way. 323 00:14:36,480 --> 00:14:39,900 Jesus is not a truth that can be changed. 324 00:14:39,900 --> 00:14:40,900 He is the truth. 325 00:14:40,900 --> 00:14:44,020 And for anybody who's looking to find life, 326 00:14:44,020 --> 00:14:45,620 Jesus is the life. 327 00:14:45,620 --> 00:14:50,120 And Jesus conveys this truth in response 328 00:14:50,120 --> 00:14:54,020 to Thomas's question about where are you going? 329 00:14:54,020 --> 00:14:56,800 So we know that Thomas is loyal. 330 00:14:56,800 --> 00:14:59,580 We can assume that Thomas loves Jesus. 331 00:14:59,580 --> 00:15:03,620 Thomas witnesses Jesus raise Lazarus from the dead, 332 00:15:03,620 --> 00:15:05,760 and he's being told that Jesus is the way, 333 00:15:05,760 --> 00:15:07,120 the truth, and the life. 334 00:15:07,120 --> 00:15:09,900 Something tells me that Thomas, 335 00:15:09,900 --> 00:15:13,300 though he is dubbed as doubting in the moment, 336 00:15:13,300 --> 00:15:16,500 I believe something different is going on with Thomas. 337 00:15:16,500 --> 00:15:18,460 And here's what I think it is. 338 00:15:18,460 --> 00:15:22,020 Have you ever been in a situation where you felt left out 339 00:15:22,020 --> 00:15:23,380 because you didn't show up? 340 00:15:23,380 --> 00:15:28,960 Have you ever been in a situation where everyone else 341 00:15:28,960 --> 00:15:32,220 has been privy to something, but you were not there, 342 00:15:32,220 --> 00:15:33,640 and you were not privy to it, 343 00:15:33,640 --> 00:15:37,180 and so it causes an emotional reaction out of you? 344 00:15:37,180 --> 00:15:40,540 Some of you might call it FOMO, fear of missing out. 345 00:15:40,540 --> 00:15:42,140 You know what, I like to replace that 346 00:15:42,140 --> 00:15:45,220 and suggest that we replace that of fear of missing God. 347 00:15:45,220 --> 00:15:48,380 We need to be more afraid of missing God than missing out. 348 00:15:48,380 --> 00:15:51,620 But sometimes when we miss out, we miss God. 349 00:15:51,620 --> 00:15:55,280 Sometimes when we miss out, we miss God. 350 00:15:55,280 --> 00:15:59,860 But Thomas has missed a significant moment. 351 00:15:59,860 --> 00:16:03,100 He's missed a moment where everything Jesus 352 00:16:03,100 --> 00:16:06,220 was talking about came to fruition. 353 00:16:06,220 --> 00:16:10,340 It came, and it was his, he was with his friends 354 00:16:10,340 --> 00:16:12,580 when he approached them and Jesus had gone, 355 00:16:12,580 --> 00:16:16,620 he was with his friends who had an eyewitness account. 356 00:16:16,620 --> 00:16:18,680 Remember, I was telling you, eyewitness, 357 00:16:18,680 --> 00:16:20,400 these weren't strangers. 358 00:16:20,400 --> 00:16:23,440 These were people that Thomas rubbed shoulders with, 359 00:16:23,440 --> 00:16:27,620 spent time with, these were his friends. 360 00:16:27,620 --> 00:16:30,900 So why wouldn't Thomas believe what they said? 361 00:16:30,900 --> 00:16:35,340 I believe Thomas had an emotional reaction 362 00:16:35,340 --> 00:16:39,660 to missing out on something so spectacular, 363 00:16:39,660 --> 00:16:42,020 and he so wanted to see it for himself 364 00:16:42,020 --> 00:16:43,400 that he said, "I'm not gonna believe it. 365 00:16:43,400 --> 00:16:45,000 "I'm gonna choose not to believe it 366 00:16:45,000 --> 00:16:48,220 "until I see it for myself." 367 00:16:48,220 --> 00:16:52,340 I don't know about you, but there are times in my life 368 00:16:52,340 --> 00:16:54,860 where I react out of my flesh 369 00:16:54,860 --> 00:16:57,920 when somebody else has gotten something 370 00:16:57,920 --> 00:17:00,660 or is exposed to something that I wish that I had 371 00:17:00,660 --> 00:17:02,280 or I had been exposed to. 372 00:17:02,280 --> 00:17:05,900 You miss out when you don't show up. 373 00:17:06,980 --> 00:17:10,460 You miss out when you don't show up. 374 00:17:10,460 --> 00:17:15,280 You know, I find it ironic, more than ironic, I guess, 375 00:17:15,280 --> 00:17:17,360 that people who don't frequent church 376 00:17:17,360 --> 00:17:21,340 and don't come regularly kinda sometimes end up 377 00:17:21,340 --> 00:17:24,100 in situations that are depressing, 378 00:17:24,100 --> 00:17:26,680 sometimes end up in friend circles 379 00:17:26,680 --> 00:17:29,980 that are just not really the right friend groups. 380 00:17:29,980 --> 00:17:32,380 And I don't mean to just be like, 381 00:17:32,380 --> 00:17:34,860 "Come to this church," or whatnot, 382 00:17:34,860 --> 00:17:37,480 but when we gather together like this, 383 00:17:37,480 --> 00:17:39,840 this is a time to praise the Lord. 384 00:17:39,840 --> 00:17:43,620 We enthrone the Lord on the praises of his people, 385 00:17:43,620 --> 00:17:47,820 but also this is an opportunity for you to rub shoulders 386 00:17:47,820 --> 00:17:50,820 and earn friendships and gain friendships of people 387 00:17:50,820 --> 00:17:53,060 who are looking at the Lord, 388 00:17:53,060 --> 00:17:55,540 to be encouraged, to be lifted up, 389 00:17:55,540 --> 00:17:59,260 and you miss out when you don't show up. 390 00:17:59,260 --> 00:18:01,420 I miss out when I don't show up. 391 00:18:01,420 --> 00:18:04,220 My wife and I often plan vacations and things to do. 392 00:18:04,220 --> 00:18:05,180 I won't miss a Sunday. 393 00:18:05,180 --> 00:18:07,820 I do not like not being here on Sunday, 394 00:18:07,820 --> 00:18:08,660 because guess what? 395 00:18:08,660 --> 00:18:11,100 I need Calvin's encouragement. 396 00:18:11,100 --> 00:18:14,320 I need to come when Rob is ready to speak into my life, 397 00:18:14,320 --> 00:18:16,580 or Charlotte is gonna come in and encourage me 398 00:18:16,580 --> 00:18:18,460 and hug my neck, or when Allen has a word. 399 00:18:18,460 --> 00:18:22,940 I miss out when I don't show up. 400 00:18:22,940 --> 00:18:25,620 And so when things are happening and I'm apart from it, 401 00:18:25,620 --> 00:18:28,380 then I make up excuses and I come up with all types 402 00:18:28,380 --> 00:18:32,940 of things that are of my flesh, but might not be true. 403 00:18:32,940 --> 00:18:35,140 We miss out on relationships. 404 00:18:35,140 --> 00:18:40,140 We miss out on what God is doing when we don't show up. 405 00:18:40,140 --> 00:18:42,340 But here's what I want us to understand. 406 00:18:42,340 --> 00:18:45,060 The invitation is for everyone. 407 00:18:45,060 --> 00:18:50,820 Your invitation to come to the table and to come to Christ 408 00:18:50,820 --> 00:18:53,500 is for absolutely everyone. 409 00:18:53,500 --> 00:18:56,600 I remember my sixth grade year of school, 410 00:18:56,600 --> 00:19:00,880 and I was in sixth grade and we were going to PE class 411 00:19:00,880 --> 00:19:04,160 that first week, and I remember going to PE class 412 00:19:04,160 --> 00:19:08,320 and the game was basketball, and they selected two captains 413 00:19:08,320 --> 00:19:10,500 and they started to pick people to be a part of the teams. 414 00:19:10,500 --> 00:19:11,860 The captains did. 415 00:19:11,860 --> 00:19:13,700 Well, I want you. 416 00:19:13,700 --> 00:19:14,720 I want you on my team. 417 00:19:14,720 --> 00:19:15,600 I want you on my team. 418 00:19:15,600 --> 00:19:16,440 I want you on my team. 419 00:19:16,440 --> 00:19:19,720 Guess who was left as the very last chosen one? 420 00:19:19,720 --> 00:19:21,060 It was me. 421 00:19:21,060 --> 00:19:21,900 It was me. 422 00:19:21,900 --> 00:19:23,780 That felt great. 423 00:19:23,780 --> 00:19:30,020 Have you ever felt left out or like you didn't belong? 424 00:19:30,020 --> 00:19:32,780 I was invited to do something about three months ago. 425 00:19:32,780 --> 00:19:35,180 I was invited to go do something about three months ago. 426 00:19:35,180 --> 00:19:37,480 I showed up and there wasn't enough room. 427 00:19:37,480 --> 00:19:40,400 And now because of rejection issues I have in my life, 428 00:19:40,400 --> 00:19:42,260 I'm the first to say, hey, I advocate my role 429 00:19:42,260 --> 00:19:44,580 because I don't want to have to contend with 430 00:19:44,580 --> 00:19:46,020 there's not a spot for you. 431 00:19:46,020 --> 00:19:51,140 Has anybody had to contend with there's not a spot for you? 432 00:19:51,140 --> 00:19:56,020 All of us have faced some type of rejection in life. 433 00:19:56,020 --> 00:19:58,760 All of us have felt at times like we are the ones 434 00:19:58,760 --> 00:20:00,440 on the outside looking in. 435 00:20:00,440 --> 00:20:01,660 The ones that are rejected, 436 00:20:01,660 --> 00:20:04,780 the ones that don't have the inside track. 437 00:20:04,780 --> 00:20:07,140 This is what Thomas was experiencing. 438 00:20:07,140 --> 00:20:10,580 He did not have the inside track though he was loyal, 439 00:20:10,580 --> 00:20:11,780 though he loved the Lord, 440 00:20:11,780 --> 00:20:12,700 though he was right there 441 00:20:12,700 --> 00:20:15,180 when he raised Lazarus from the dead. 442 00:20:15,180 --> 00:20:18,740 Thomas didn't have the inside track. 443 00:20:18,740 --> 00:20:20,980 Here's the truth. 444 00:20:20,980 --> 00:20:23,020 The invitation being for everyone 445 00:20:23,020 --> 00:20:25,820 is that even though you're left out 446 00:20:25,820 --> 00:20:28,780 and it may cause you to react in a way 447 00:20:28,780 --> 00:20:30,720 that you're not proud of, 448 00:20:30,720 --> 00:20:33,160 you cannot badge your way out 449 00:20:33,160 --> 00:20:35,140 and you can't good your way in 450 00:20:35,140 --> 00:20:37,120 when it comes to the kingdom. 451 00:20:37,120 --> 00:20:39,040 Jesus paid the ultimate price. 452 00:20:39,040 --> 00:20:40,640 He laid the foundation. 453 00:20:40,640 --> 00:20:41,800 He did the work. 454 00:20:41,800 --> 00:20:43,360 And I'm gonna tell you today, 455 00:20:43,360 --> 00:20:44,360 no matter where you are, 456 00:20:44,360 --> 00:20:47,000 no matter what you've done or said or been, 457 00:20:47,000 --> 00:20:49,460 no matter what shame you might be dealing with this morning, 458 00:20:49,460 --> 00:20:54,160 the invitation is to come and the invitation is for you. 459 00:20:54,160 --> 00:20:56,460 It's for every one of you. 460 00:20:56,460 --> 00:20:58,120 Now you may be sitting there this morning 461 00:20:58,120 --> 00:21:00,920 like I have been on a number of occasions 462 00:21:00,920 --> 00:21:03,760 thinking, okay, this sounds really great and wonderful. 463 00:21:03,760 --> 00:21:07,320 And it just seems too lawfully really to be true, 464 00:21:07,320 --> 00:21:09,480 but why me? 465 00:21:09,480 --> 00:21:11,880 Why would this Jesus die for me? 466 00:21:11,880 --> 00:21:13,320 And even those who are Christians, 467 00:21:13,320 --> 00:21:16,280 even those in this place who have taken a left turn 468 00:21:16,280 --> 00:21:18,980 and maybe you've engaged in some type of sin pattern 469 00:21:18,980 --> 00:21:20,420 or something in your life you're not proud of, 470 00:21:20,420 --> 00:21:23,040 you might ask the question of yourself sometimes, 471 00:21:23,040 --> 00:21:24,440 why me God? 472 00:21:24,440 --> 00:21:25,260 Why me? 473 00:21:25,260 --> 00:21:26,720 Especially when it comes to God 474 00:21:26,720 --> 00:21:28,400 choosing to use you for something 475 00:21:28,400 --> 00:21:31,560 and you know what your propensity in your mind is to be. 476 00:21:31,560 --> 00:21:32,760 Why me God? 477 00:21:32,760 --> 00:21:34,060 Why would you choose me? 478 00:21:34,060 --> 00:21:36,240 I don't matter. 479 00:21:36,240 --> 00:21:37,180 I don't matter. 480 00:21:37,180 --> 00:21:38,200 And can I just tell you, 481 00:21:38,200 --> 00:21:41,720 if you think you are too small to matter, 482 00:21:41,720 --> 00:21:43,920 try sleeping with a mosquito. 483 00:21:43,920 --> 00:21:47,600 (congregation laughing) 484 00:21:47,600 --> 00:21:50,680 Small things make big differences. 485 00:21:52,200 --> 00:21:55,180 And you are not too small in God's eyes. 486 00:21:55,180 --> 00:21:57,080 He knows you. 487 00:21:57,080 --> 00:21:58,000 He wants you. 488 00:21:58,000 --> 00:22:00,180 He has a plan and a purpose for your life. 489 00:22:00,180 --> 00:22:02,200 But I am so bad. 490 00:22:02,200 --> 00:22:05,400 I am so full of shame and pride. 491 00:22:05,400 --> 00:22:09,080 You know, there's the story I heard once told like this. 492 00:22:09,080 --> 00:22:11,020 You know, the thief on the cross 493 00:22:11,020 --> 00:22:13,200 had a small interaction with Jesus. 494 00:22:13,200 --> 00:22:14,520 He gets up to heaven. 495 00:22:14,520 --> 00:22:17,720 He's met at the gates by the angels 496 00:22:17,720 --> 00:22:20,460 and the angels like to the thief, how'd you get here? 497 00:22:20,460 --> 00:22:22,160 You didn't go to church. 498 00:22:22,160 --> 00:22:23,980 You didn't read your Bible. 499 00:22:23,980 --> 00:22:25,120 You didn't tithe. 500 00:22:25,120 --> 00:22:26,480 You didn't give your offering. 501 00:22:26,480 --> 00:22:27,860 You didn't wear the Christian school. 502 00:22:27,860 --> 00:22:29,620 Church, you didn't do any of the things. 503 00:22:29,620 --> 00:22:30,940 How did you get here? 504 00:22:30,940 --> 00:22:32,520 And the thief replies, 505 00:22:32,520 --> 00:22:34,480 the man next to me told me I could come. 506 00:22:34,480 --> 00:22:39,260 Nobody gets to dictate your entrance into the kingdom 507 00:22:39,260 --> 00:22:40,240 except for Jesus. 508 00:22:40,240 --> 00:22:43,760 And Jesus says, it's sealed and it's for sure. 509 00:22:43,760 --> 00:22:46,180 And you have access to this God. 510 00:22:46,180 --> 00:22:48,520 You have been invited to the table. 511 00:22:48,520 --> 00:22:51,540 When it comes to you and your mess, 512 00:22:51,540 --> 00:22:52,980 there's room at the table. 513 00:22:52,980 --> 00:22:54,760 He has never set forth the condition 514 00:22:54,760 --> 00:22:56,600 that you need to clean yourself up before you come. 515 00:22:56,600 --> 00:22:59,220 He just says, come, come and partake. 516 00:22:59,220 --> 00:23:01,480 I've done the work says the Lord. 517 00:23:01,480 --> 00:23:05,800 My blood has washed you white as snow. 518 00:23:05,800 --> 00:23:09,620 So what motivates Jesus's ability 519 00:23:09,620 --> 00:23:12,520 to allow us to have the seat at his table? 520 00:23:12,520 --> 00:23:15,340 One word, love. 521 00:23:15,340 --> 00:23:18,920 Love gives you the ability to say yes 522 00:23:18,920 --> 00:23:21,220 to extraordinary things. 523 00:23:21,220 --> 00:23:24,660 Love gives you the ability to say yes 524 00:23:24,660 --> 00:23:26,220 to extraordinary things. 525 00:23:26,220 --> 00:23:27,860 Have you ever had people in your life 526 00:23:27,860 --> 00:23:29,420 who love you unashamedly? 527 00:23:29,420 --> 00:23:31,680 I don't care what they think, I'm gonna love you anyway. 528 00:23:31,680 --> 00:23:34,020 I'm gonna put my love for you on display 529 00:23:34,020 --> 00:23:36,580 no matter what happens, I want you to know. 530 00:23:36,580 --> 00:23:38,660 Guys, when you get somebody in your life like that, 531 00:23:38,660 --> 00:23:39,840 that is a jewel, hold onto it. 532 00:23:39,840 --> 00:23:42,460 Let me tell you, Jesus is unwavering in that. 533 00:23:42,460 --> 00:23:44,900 Jesus is unwavering in his love for you. 534 00:23:44,900 --> 00:23:47,820 And it's love that motivated him to go to the cross. 535 00:23:47,820 --> 00:23:49,780 And when you hear something that says 536 00:23:49,780 --> 00:23:53,620 that your shame and your sin held him there, that is a lie. 537 00:23:53,620 --> 00:23:55,580 Love held him to the cross. 538 00:23:55,580 --> 00:23:56,900 Love is what held him there 539 00:23:56,900 --> 00:23:59,940 and love is what motivated him to do the whole kit 540 00:23:59,940 --> 00:24:01,500 and caboodle, the whole package. 541 00:24:01,500 --> 00:24:03,780 And now he has risen from the grave 542 00:24:03,780 --> 00:24:07,040 and he lives and breathes at the right hand of Father God 543 00:24:07,040 --> 00:24:08,900 and he bids you to come. 544 00:24:08,900 --> 00:24:11,000 Love continues its work. 545 00:24:11,000 --> 00:24:12,660 It continues faithful. 546 00:24:12,660 --> 00:24:15,180 He continues to show himself, improve himself 547 00:24:15,180 --> 00:24:18,140 over and over and over again. 548 00:24:18,140 --> 00:24:23,140 And so if you think that your life is bad 549 00:24:23,140 --> 00:24:27,020 and you think you're so messed up 550 00:24:27,020 --> 00:24:29,340 and you think you're so full of shame and pride 551 00:24:29,340 --> 00:24:32,540 and all of those things and that Jesus doesn't want you, 552 00:24:32,540 --> 00:24:35,260 then I want you to know today 553 00:24:35,260 --> 00:24:38,820 that you are one of those extraordinary things 554 00:24:38,820 --> 00:24:40,300 that he said yes to. 555 00:24:40,300 --> 00:24:42,500 There's a big fat yes on your life. 556 00:24:42,500 --> 00:24:45,180 Don't let anybody, don't let the enemy especially tell you 557 00:24:45,180 --> 00:24:46,940 that there's a no ready for you. 558 00:24:46,940 --> 00:24:49,500 There is a yes for you and he's bidding you come. 559 00:24:49,500 --> 00:24:50,860 He's bidding you come. 560 00:24:50,860 --> 00:24:52,500 So we had a problem. 561 00:24:52,500 --> 00:24:54,340 Here's the foundation. 562 00:24:54,340 --> 00:24:55,760 We had a problem. 563 00:24:55,760 --> 00:24:57,560 Our problem was sin. 564 00:24:57,560 --> 00:24:59,720 It separated us from this love. 565 00:24:59,720 --> 00:25:00,780 God didn't like that. 566 00:25:00,780 --> 00:25:03,500 So he sent Jesus for God so loved the world 567 00:25:03,500 --> 00:25:06,000 that he gave his one and only son, 568 00:25:06,000 --> 00:25:07,700 that whoever believes, 569 00:25:07,700 --> 00:25:10,500 not if only a certain section of people believe, 570 00:25:10,500 --> 00:25:14,500 only those who look and sound and do this, 571 00:25:14,500 --> 00:25:16,900 whoever believes in him shall not perish 572 00:25:16,900 --> 00:25:18,780 but have eternal life. 573 00:25:18,780 --> 00:25:20,060 Romans 10 says this, 574 00:25:20,060 --> 00:25:23,460 everyone who calls upon the name of the Lord shall be saved. 575 00:25:23,460 --> 00:25:25,760 Everyone, everyone, do you know 576 00:25:25,760 --> 00:25:27,780 that you're a part of everyone? 577 00:25:27,780 --> 00:25:30,660 John chapter seven, Jesus says, 578 00:25:30,660 --> 00:25:32,380 on the last and greatest day of the festival, 579 00:25:32,380 --> 00:25:34,020 Jesus stood and said in a loud voice, 580 00:25:34,020 --> 00:25:37,940 let anyone who is thirsty come to me and drink. 581 00:25:37,940 --> 00:25:40,900 Whoever believes in me, as the scripture has said, 582 00:25:40,900 --> 00:25:44,660 rivers of living water will flow from within them. 583 00:25:44,660 --> 00:25:47,360 Guys, it is personal. 584 00:25:47,360 --> 00:25:49,220 It is you. 585 00:25:49,220 --> 00:25:51,300 He wants you. 586 00:25:51,300 --> 00:25:53,100 He wants you. 587 00:25:53,100 --> 00:25:54,660 He wants you. 588 00:25:54,660 --> 00:25:58,340 Guys, he knows your name. 589 00:25:58,340 --> 00:26:01,180 He knows your name. 590 00:26:01,180 --> 00:26:09,140 Man has put a shadow over Thomas's life 591 00:26:09,140 --> 00:26:11,740 by reading a story about this man 592 00:26:11,740 --> 00:26:13,900 and saying you questioned Jesus 593 00:26:13,900 --> 00:26:16,180 and so now you're a doubter. 594 00:26:16,180 --> 00:26:19,500 Can I just tell you that when Jesus looks at Thomas, 595 00:26:19,500 --> 00:26:21,060 today when Jesus looks at Thomas, 596 00:26:21,060 --> 00:26:23,300 he doesn't look at Thomas and say doubting Thomas, 597 00:26:23,300 --> 00:26:25,380 he looks at Thomas and says Thomas. 598 00:26:25,380 --> 00:26:28,900 When he looks at Kevin, he doesn't say prideful Kevin, 599 00:26:28,900 --> 00:26:30,780 he just looks and says Kevin. 600 00:26:30,780 --> 00:26:33,260 When he looks at Kevin, he doesn't say shameful Kevin, 601 00:26:33,260 --> 00:26:35,360 he just sees Kevin. 602 00:26:35,360 --> 00:26:38,020 When he looks at your life, he sees Jeremy, 603 00:26:38,020 --> 00:26:41,420 he sees Arwen, he sees Mary Sue, he sees James, 604 00:26:41,420 --> 00:26:44,020 he sees Dana, he sees Justin, he says Ted, 605 00:26:44,020 --> 00:26:47,980 he sees you as completed and perfected. 606 00:26:47,980 --> 00:26:49,300 Now you don't feel that way 607 00:26:49,300 --> 00:26:51,420 because of the muck and mire you've been in, 608 00:26:51,420 --> 00:26:54,940 but his blood covered that. 609 00:26:54,940 --> 00:26:58,000 And so when we come into a space like this, 610 00:26:58,000 --> 00:27:01,260 on a day where we celebrate his resurrection, 611 00:27:01,260 --> 00:27:03,200 guys, can you imagine what it was like 612 00:27:03,200 --> 00:27:05,340 when Jesus healed the blind man 613 00:27:05,340 --> 00:27:08,340 and he saw for the first time? 614 00:27:09,820 --> 00:27:12,100 I don't think the blind man at that moment 615 00:27:12,100 --> 00:27:14,140 was thinking about three days ago 616 00:27:14,140 --> 00:27:15,620 when somebody tripped over him 617 00:27:15,620 --> 00:27:18,100 or how he hadn't been able to have X, Y, and Z 618 00:27:18,100 --> 00:27:20,300 and all of this pain in the past. 619 00:27:20,300 --> 00:27:25,260 He was thinking about I once was blind, but now I can see. 620 00:27:25,260 --> 00:27:29,380 We get to celebrate and we should celebrate, 621 00:27:29,380 --> 00:27:32,860 not just on Easter Sunday, every day of the year, 622 00:27:32,860 --> 00:27:37,320 we should celebrate the resurrection of a living God 623 00:27:37,320 --> 00:27:41,700 because he has written your name in the Lamb's Book of Life. 624 00:27:41,700 --> 00:27:45,980 So you are no longer having to contend with death. 625 00:27:45,980 --> 00:27:49,140 And so every morning, what is the invitation? 626 00:27:49,140 --> 00:27:53,860 The invitation, friends, is to come every day. 627 00:27:53,860 --> 00:27:56,860 Guys, I'm thirsty every single morning and I need a drink. 628 00:27:56,860 --> 00:28:00,100 I need to taste and see that my God is good. 629 00:28:00,100 --> 00:28:01,160 What about you? 630 00:28:01,160 --> 00:28:04,120 Do you need to taste and see that God is good this morning? 631 00:28:05,060 --> 00:28:07,400 I can't go off of yesterday's taste. 632 00:28:07,400 --> 00:28:09,400 I need a fresh taste today. 633 00:28:09,400 --> 00:28:10,560 And he's good today. 634 00:28:10,560 --> 00:28:12,500 And you know, he's gooder today than he was yesterday 635 00:28:12,500 --> 00:28:14,120 and he'll be gooder tomorrow than he is today. 636 00:28:14,120 --> 00:28:16,220 He'll just continue to get good and good and good. 637 00:28:16,220 --> 00:28:19,520 It's so rich and so powerful. 638 00:28:19,520 --> 00:28:22,800 Guys, he knows your name. 639 00:28:22,800 --> 00:28:25,820 Several months ago, I had my car stolen 640 00:28:25,820 --> 00:28:27,080 right out of my driveway. 641 00:28:27,080 --> 00:28:32,640 Months later, somebody calls and says, we found your truck. 642 00:28:32,640 --> 00:28:34,160 We took it to a towing place, 643 00:28:34,160 --> 00:28:35,720 or a towing place came and got it. 644 00:28:35,720 --> 00:28:37,400 Well, do you know the towing place name? 645 00:28:37,400 --> 00:28:38,540 No, we don't. 646 00:28:38,540 --> 00:28:41,280 Do you know how many towing places exist in Nashville? 647 00:28:41,280 --> 00:28:44,040 Hundreds. 648 00:28:44,040 --> 00:28:47,120 I spent a long time looking for my car 649 00:28:47,120 --> 00:28:48,520 because a name is important. 650 00:28:48,520 --> 00:28:53,040 A name is important. 651 00:28:53,040 --> 00:28:55,200 I remember the very first time 652 00:28:55,200 --> 00:28:58,760 talked about rejection issues as a child. 653 00:28:58,760 --> 00:29:03,560 I remember coming to Smyrna Assembly three weeks in, 654 00:29:03,560 --> 00:29:05,080 getting involved with a group of guys 655 00:29:05,080 --> 00:29:09,400 and I went over to my buddy Ryan Davis' house. 656 00:29:09,400 --> 00:29:11,600 And I go in there and I get there 657 00:29:11,600 --> 00:29:13,240 and I'm a little bit nervous. 658 00:29:13,240 --> 00:29:15,480 I'm the new kid, you know, and I'm walking in. 659 00:29:15,480 --> 00:29:17,400 All these guys are a little older than me. 660 00:29:17,400 --> 00:29:20,500 And I remember the feeling when I opened the door 661 00:29:20,500 --> 00:29:23,040 and I stepped foot in there and about 20 guys 662 00:29:23,040 --> 00:29:24,860 with a resounding sound said, 663 00:29:24,860 --> 00:29:28,500 Kevin, it's great to see you. 664 00:29:28,500 --> 00:29:31,920 You want to talk about shock waves 665 00:29:31,920 --> 00:29:35,360 of redemption and restoration in that moment. 666 00:29:35,360 --> 00:29:37,120 And you know why that happened? 667 00:29:37,120 --> 00:29:39,080 Because I showed up. 668 00:29:39,080 --> 00:29:42,760 I showed up and I wonder what it would be 669 00:29:42,760 --> 00:29:45,280 if you would make a commitment every day 670 00:29:45,280 --> 00:29:49,480 to show up and allow the Lord to reveal himself to you 671 00:29:49,480 --> 00:29:50,960 in tangible ways. 672 00:29:50,960 --> 00:29:52,960 Thomas, I'm here. 673 00:29:52,960 --> 00:29:54,720 Eight days later, I wonder what it was like. 674 00:29:54,720 --> 00:29:56,040 Thomas must have been fuming. 675 00:29:56,040 --> 00:29:57,320 He must have been upset. 676 00:29:57,320 --> 00:29:59,320 He must have been angry and anguished 677 00:29:59,320 --> 00:30:01,380 because it wasn't like Jesus, Jesus, listen, 678 00:30:01,380 --> 00:30:04,320 Jesus could have in that moment when Thomas was saying, 679 00:30:04,320 --> 00:30:05,240 I'm not gonna believe it. 680 00:30:05,240 --> 00:30:07,240 Jesus could have been like, here I am. 681 00:30:07,240 --> 00:30:09,320 But he chose to wait. 682 00:30:09,320 --> 00:30:12,180 Are you in your waiting season right now? 683 00:30:12,180 --> 00:30:15,060 Have you been asking the Lord to reveal himself to you 684 00:30:15,060 --> 00:30:17,080 and you just have put everything aside? 685 00:30:17,080 --> 00:30:18,320 You decided not to lean in 686 00:30:18,320 --> 00:30:21,020 because you just have rejected the idea of his reality 687 00:30:21,020 --> 00:30:22,840 because you've asked him to prove himself 688 00:30:22,840 --> 00:30:24,380 and he's not proven himself yet. 689 00:30:24,380 --> 00:30:26,060 Let me tell you something. 690 00:30:26,060 --> 00:30:28,840 There are testimonies all around you 691 00:30:28,840 --> 00:30:32,180 in the community of these believers 692 00:30:32,180 --> 00:30:36,260 that would prove Jesus Christ's reality in your life. 693 00:30:36,260 --> 00:30:39,380 And if you will just wait a little longer, 694 00:30:39,380 --> 00:30:42,060 Christ will reveal himself to you. 695 00:30:42,060 --> 00:30:46,220 Thomas, touch my hands, touch my feet. 696 00:30:46,220 --> 00:30:47,780 But let me tell you what's in store 697 00:30:47,780 --> 00:30:50,320 for those of you who are in the waiting season 698 00:30:50,320 --> 00:30:52,880 before you had the revelation. 699 00:30:52,880 --> 00:30:54,400 The word tells us, Jesus says, 700 00:30:54,400 --> 00:30:59,400 blessed are those who will believe without seeing. 701 00:30:59,400 --> 00:31:03,220 Can you get yourself to a place where you can believe 702 00:31:03,220 --> 00:31:05,920 without having to touch his hands and his feet? 703 00:31:05,920 --> 00:31:08,720 There's a blessing in store for you if you can. 704 00:31:08,720 --> 00:31:10,100 He is so faithful. 705 00:31:10,100 --> 00:31:14,180 He knows your name. 706 00:31:14,180 --> 00:31:15,900 There's an enemy out there. 707 00:31:15,900 --> 00:31:17,020 He wants to kill you. 708 00:31:17,020 --> 00:31:19,180 He wants to destroy you. 709 00:31:19,180 --> 00:31:21,220 He wants to take you out. 710 00:31:21,220 --> 00:31:24,800 The enemy knows your name but calls you by your sin. 711 00:31:24,800 --> 00:31:28,920 God knows your sin but he calls you by your name. 712 00:31:28,920 --> 00:31:31,620 He calls you by your name. 713 00:31:31,620 --> 00:31:37,660 And so guys, would you allow the blood of Christ 714 00:31:37,660 --> 00:31:40,900 to be sufficient for you this morning? 715 00:31:40,900 --> 00:31:44,660 And would you allow yourself to engage in the celebration 716 00:31:44,660 --> 00:31:46,080 instead of standing like this 717 00:31:46,080 --> 00:31:47,840 when everyone around you is jumping up and down 718 00:31:47,840 --> 00:31:49,460 because there's a risen savior? 719 00:31:50,960 --> 00:31:54,460 I once was blind but now I can see. 720 00:31:54,460 --> 00:31:58,580 I once was sick but now I'm healed. 721 00:31:58,580 --> 00:32:02,220 I was a thief on the cross, destined to die, 722 00:32:02,220 --> 00:32:04,120 should have died. 723 00:32:04,120 --> 00:32:05,340 I didn't do anything right. 724 00:32:05,340 --> 00:32:07,420 Didn't even show up to church. 725 00:32:07,420 --> 00:32:09,740 I was a murderer of Christians 726 00:32:09,740 --> 00:32:12,840 but the Lord used me to write so many books in scripture. 727 00:32:12,840 --> 00:32:15,240 The stories are endless. 728 00:32:15,240 --> 00:32:19,900 Would you allow the blood to be sufficient in your life? 729 00:32:20,820 --> 00:32:23,660 And would you celebrate the risen savior 730 00:32:23,660 --> 00:32:28,520 because to do anything less doesn't honor him at all. 731 00:32:28,520 --> 00:32:31,100 Everything is about Christ. 732 00:32:31,100 --> 00:32:34,000 Everything is about centering on him. 733 00:32:34,000 --> 00:32:35,380 This is what Colossians says. 734 00:32:35,380 --> 00:32:38,540 Christ is the visible image of the invisible God. 735 00:32:38,540 --> 00:32:40,940 He existed before anything was created 736 00:32:40,940 --> 00:32:44,500 and is supreme over all creation. 737 00:32:44,500 --> 00:32:46,460 For through him, God created everything 738 00:32:46,460 --> 00:32:48,820 in the heavenly realms and on earth. 739 00:32:48,820 --> 00:32:50,100 He made the things we can see 740 00:32:50,100 --> 00:32:52,620 and the things we can't see such as thrones and kingdoms 741 00:32:52,620 --> 00:32:54,980 and rulers and authorities in the unseen world. 742 00:32:54,980 --> 00:32:57,980 Everything was created through him and for him. 743 00:32:57,980 --> 00:33:01,240 Guys, Thomas had a chance to believe in everything else, 744 00:33:01,240 --> 00:33:02,820 to put his trust in everything else. 745 00:33:02,820 --> 00:33:04,380 Can I tell you guys right now, 746 00:33:04,380 --> 00:33:07,700 I don't put my trust in the government. 747 00:33:07,700 --> 00:33:10,660 I don't put my trust in the stock market. 748 00:33:10,660 --> 00:33:12,900 I don't put my trust in my money. 749 00:33:12,900 --> 00:33:14,980 I don't put my trust in people. 750 00:33:14,980 --> 00:33:17,180 I don't put my trust in myself 751 00:33:17,180 --> 00:33:20,820 because when all of those things fail, 752 00:33:20,820 --> 00:33:23,620 my Lord Jesus Christ is gonna still be standing. 753 00:33:23,620 --> 00:33:26,340 The foundation that he's laid is still going to be firm. 754 00:33:26,340 --> 00:33:30,060 I put my trust in the Lord Jesus Christ. 755 00:33:30,060 --> 00:33:32,240 Where's your trust placed? 756 00:33:32,240 --> 00:33:35,700 Where is your trust placed? 757 00:33:35,700 --> 00:33:39,380 He is a good, good Father. 758 00:33:39,380 --> 00:33:41,740 Can I tell you that the story hasn't ended yet? 759 00:33:41,740 --> 00:33:45,100 Can I tell you that this same God 760 00:33:45,100 --> 00:33:47,240 who revealed himself to the disciples, 761 00:33:47,240 --> 00:33:50,300 revealed himself to Thomas and reveals himself to you, 762 00:33:50,300 --> 00:33:53,380 he is coming again. 763 00:33:53,380 --> 00:33:58,380 He is coming again and he has not forgotten us. 764 00:33:58,380 --> 00:34:03,460 And so as we center in on the truth that God is for us, 765 00:34:03,460 --> 00:34:06,860 that he knows us by name, he hasn't forgotten about us, 766 00:34:06,860 --> 00:34:09,580 he's coming again, we're gonna posture our hearts 767 00:34:09,580 --> 00:34:12,940 with gratitude this morning as we partake in holy communion 768 00:34:12,940 --> 00:34:15,400 with those who are going to serve the elements, 769 00:34:15,400 --> 00:34:16,740 please come forward. 770 00:34:16,740 --> 00:34:19,500 And this morning, as we come, 771 00:34:19,500 --> 00:34:21,880 we're gonna come in a posture of thanksgiving. 772 00:34:21,880 --> 00:34:23,300 Lord, thank you. 773 00:34:23,300 --> 00:34:27,480 Thank you, thank you, thank you, thank you for the story, 774 00:34:27,480 --> 00:34:30,320 for my name being written in the Lamb's Book of Life, 775 00:34:30,320 --> 00:34:31,760 though I don't deserve it. 776 00:34:31,760 --> 00:34:35,280 We're gonna remember him in his suffering, 777 00:34:35,280 --> 00:34:39,100 but we're gonna remember him in his resurrection today. 778 00:34:39,100 --> 00:34:40,300 Would you stand with me? 779 00:34:42,140 --> 00:34:45,140 It's a glorious day to celebrate the Lord. 780 00:34:45,140 --> 00:34:47,540 Every day is a glorious day to celebrate him. 781 00:34:47,540 --> 00:34:49,040 So here's what's gonna happen. 782 00:34:49,040 --> 00:34:52,840 We're gonna invite you to come take communion. 783 00:34:52,840 --> 00:34:57,060 And once everybody is partaken in communion, 784 00:34:57,060 --> 00:34:59,220 Springhouse Kids is gonna come back 785 00:34:59,220 --> 00:35:01,440 and we're gonna acknowledge where we see Jesus 786 00:35:01,440 --> 00:35:06,020 all through the course of history and in our lives today. 787 00:35:06,020 --> 00:35:08,600 And after that, the worship band is gonna kick back in 788 00:35:08,600 --> 00:35:11,440 and after that, you're released to enjoy the rest 789 00:35:11,440 --> 00:35:14,280 of this glorious Resurrection Sunday. 790 00:35:14,280 --> 00:35:17,340 Guys, I am so grateful that you came today. 791 00:35:17,340 --> 00:35:21,140 My heart is so full right now to see your faces 792 00:35:21,140 --> 00:35:22,940 and to know that there are so many 793 00:35:22,940 --> 00:35:26,320 under the sound of my voice who know Jesus Christ 794 00:35:26,320 --> 00:35:27,400 as their Lord and Savior. 795 00:35:27,400 --> 00:35:30,940 Let's acknowledge him unashamedly today 796 00:35:30,940 --> 00:35:34,200 as he loves us unashamedly too. 797 00:35:34,200 --> 00:35:35,040 Let's worship. 798 00:35:35,040 --> 00:35:37,620 (gentle music)