Rev. Franke's Theme Thoughts

The Fourth Sunday of Easter, Series A May 15, 2011

Lessons for the Fourth Sunday of Easter

Acts 2:42-47 ~ The believers lived in unity, sharing their goods and their faith.
Psalm 23 ~ The Lord is my Shepherd.
1 Peter 2:19-25 ~ Christ, the Shepherd of our souls, gathered and healed us by his suffering.
John 10:1-10 ~ Jesus is the gate for his sheep; he came to give us abundant life.

GATHERING THE TEXTS: One Way and Only One
Jesus' claim to be the only Door to the abundant life, the only gate to heaven, is sometimes ridiculed in our world of democratic diversity and tolerance. In reality His promise turns hearts from despair to hope as it did for the first believers who lived in unity, sharing their faith and their food, praising God in their worship and prayers. Our Shepherd is the One who laid down His life for His sheep and who carried our sins in His body on the cross so that by His wounds our empty lives may be filled with hope and strength and love. The abundant life is one lived in fellowship with the Shepherd.

PRAYER BEFORE THE SERVICE: Lord Jesus, my good Shepherd, you call me to life, and I hear; you lead me through death, and I follow. As you have sought and found me, so help me trust your voice, and know your love, and share your grace with others. Amen.

STEWARDSHIP THOUGHT: We teach stewardship more by what we do than by what we say.

OFFERING PRAYER: O Lord, You prepare a table before us in the presence of our enemies.
You anoint our heads with oil; our cup overflows.
Surely Your goodness and love will follow us all the days of our lives.
O Lord, bless the use of these gifts to Your glory forevermore.

CONVICTION AND COMFORT: We are inclined to hold onto our abundance and avoid the suffering in our neighbors’ lives. Christ suffered for us so that we may be generous in sharing the sorrows of others. By his suffering and sacrifice, Jesus has gathered us into his fold and given us abundance in spiritual blessings and life eternal through the forgiveness of our sins. Experiencing his generosity moves us to share our goods and our faith with others as we help them bear the burdens of their sorrows.