Rev. Franke's Theme Thoughts

The Third Sunday of Easter, Series A May 8, 2011

Lessons for the Third Sunday of Easter
Acts 2:14a, 36–41 ~ Peter urged his hearers to repent and be baptized for the forgiveness of sins!
Psalm 116:1–14 (ant. v. 5)
1 Peter 1:17–25 ~ You were redeemed with the precious blood of Jesus.
Luke 24:13–35 ~ The two disciples on the way to Emmaus met Jesus.

GATHERING THE TEXTS: In the Breaking of the Bread
The body of Christ, broken on the cross for the redemption of the whole world, is still broken and distributed among the members of his Body, the Church, in the elements of bread and wine. Over 3000 people, their consciences broken by the accusation of their guilt and then healed by God’s word of forgiveness, were joined to Christ’s Body to live for Him in this world. It was in the breaking of bread that Jesus made himself known to Cleopas and his companion. He still shows himself present to us in the broken bread of the holy Eucharist. It is in the Body of Christ broken for the healing of this world's ills, that the people of the world must see Christ present among His people.

PRAYER BEFORE THE SERVICE: Christ, my Lord and Savior, you gave your life to be broken on the cross, and you still give your body, broken in the sacrament, for the healing of all life's shattering forces. When my life is restored and made whole again, allow me to use it in service to my neighbors in this hurting and fear-filled world. Amen.

STEWARDSHIP THOUGHT - Brothers and sisters in Christ are a gift from God. This is why it matters how we treat and respect on another, how we steward our relationships within the Body of Christ and how we use our time to work with God’s people.

OFFERING PRAYER: Christ, my Lord and Savior, You gave Your life for me.
Your body broken on the cross, has set my conscience free.
Gifts we bring to You, dear Lord, may stop the flowing tears
Of those who haven’t known the hope that drives away our fears.

CONVICTION AND COMFORT: What we need is a new start – a new beginning! This human sinful state that we have inherited from our first parents is as corruptible and perishable as the fragile grass of the field. We may place our hopes in mighty men and powerful prophets, but in the end we have to say, “We had hoped . . .” There is one, however, who has the good news, the righteous Word of God from the beginning, who gives us a new generation, a new birth from the imperishable seed of the God Himself, in whom we have an abiding hope of life beyond the grave.