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<DIV><FONT size=4>In reality, it was the post-resurrection appearances of Jesus
that turned skeptics into believers. Easter Resurrection continued for
days and to hundreds of people. There's something about death that is so
final. It's not the story that convinces people in the New Testament, it's
the encounter with a living Savior that changes hearts.</FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT size=4><></FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT size=4>Jesus was patient with all of them and He shared the same
peace with Thomas.</FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT size=4><FONT size=4></FONT></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT size=4><A
href="http://www.predigten.uni-goettingen.de/predigt.php?id=163&kennung=20070415en">http://www.predigten.uni-goettingen.de/predigt.php?id=163&kennung=20070415en</A></FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT size=4></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT size=4>James Mueller, 2007</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT size=4><FONT size=4>- - - - -</FONT></FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT size=4></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT size=4>Jesus came to them, and especially, Thomas, to chase away
doubt and to restore faith.</FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT size=4><FONT size=4></FONT></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT size=4><FONT size=4><A
href="http://www.predigten.uni-goettingen.de/archiv-8/060423-6-e.html">http://www.predigten.uni-goettingen.de/archiv-8/060423-6-e.html</A></FONT></FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT size=4></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT size=4>David Andrus</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT size=4>- - - - -</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT size=4></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT size=2><FONT size=4>Trusting something or someone outside ourselves
is not always easy. Physicians tell us that if a child doesn't bond with a
parent or guardian in the early months of its life, it will have difficulty
trusting others as it develops. And, in fact, if trust is not established early
in the development stages, a fracture may occur in the child's spirit and affect
its personality for life.</FONT> </FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT size=4><FONT size=4></FONT></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT size=4><FONT size=4><FONT size=4><A
href="http://www.csec.org/csec/sermon/bullock_4912.htm">http://www.csec.org/csec/sermon/bullock_4912.htm</A></FONT></FONT></FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT size=4></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT size=4>Wyvetta Bullock, 2006 </FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT size=4><FONT size=4>- - - - -</FONT></FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT size=4><FONT size=4></FONT></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT size=4>Jesus says something even more shocking. He says, “if you
forgive people, their sins are forgiven, and if you don’t forgive them, their
sins are not forgiven.” What could it possibly mean to retain—or not to forgive
sins! The church, in its need to be control taking, has often messed this all
up. The concept of excommunication comes from this statement. If someone sins
and does not repent, you can remove them from the Christian community.
Historically, both the Eastern Church and the Western Church often held this
threat over people’s heads, from popes to kings to reformers to lowly rebellious
types. However, Jesus, the one who held no grudges and who hired even those who
denied him to follow him again, this Jesus seems never to have withheld or
retained sins. And why would we, who have been forgiven so generously, even
consider such a thing? If we refuse to forgive someone, of course we haven’t
forgiven them-- but why would we entertain such a thought!</FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT size=4><FONT size=4><FONT size=4><FONT
size=4></FONT></FONT></FONT></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT size=4><FONT size=4><FONT size=4><A
href="http://www.predigten.uni-goettingen.de/archiv-7/050515-9-e.html">http://www.predigten.uni-goettingen.de/archiv-7/050515-9-e.html</A></FONT></FONT></FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT size=4></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT size=4>David Zersen, 2005</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT size=4>- - - - -</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT size=4></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT size=4>You've probably heard the phrase “Caesar's breath.” It is
science's way of reminding us that energy never dies or disappears. The
molecules of Caesar's breath, 2,000 years ago, are still in our atmosphere
today. They have scattered around the globe and we are breathing them with every
breath we take. Christ's breath is still alive too. The breath he breathed into
the disciples that day in the upper room – the spirit and power of God – is
still circulating. And it is far more powerful than Caesar's breath. It's the
reminder that God, whose spirit hovered over the face of the deep at creation,
was still making the world through Christ and is still working on it
today.<BR></FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT size=4><FONT size=4><A
href="http://www.csec.org/csec/sermon/killinger_4803.htm">http://www.csec.org/csec/sermon/killinger_4803.htm</A></FONT></FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT size=4><FONT size=4></FONT></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT size=2><FONT size=4>John Killinger, 2004</FONT> </FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT size=4><FONT size=4><FONT size=4><STRONG>- - - -
-</STRONG></FONT></FONT></FONT></DIV>
<DIV><STRONG><FONT size=4></FONT></STRONG> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT size=4>It was in China that I experienced that trust. On a mission
team I shared with members of a congregation in Beijing, an elderly gentleman
told his story of faith that included his congregation. When the Red Guard had
taken power, the churches were closed and the pastors sent into the countryside
to work in factories. The church buildings were used as warehouses. He and other
members of their congregation had made an agreement to study the Scriptures in
private and tithe during their forced absence from corporate worship. He said
sadly, "We did not realize it would be 13 years of exile from worship." He said
after those years of Bible study and fear, the churches reopened and on that
first Sunday of worship, the people returned to the altar to pray and brought
their tithes and offerings-all 13 years' worth. Indeed, blessed are those that
have not seen and believed.</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT size=4><STRONG><FONT size=4></FONT></STRONG></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT size=4><FONT size=4><A
href="http://day1.org/467-can_i_get_a_witness">http://day1.org/467-can_i_get_a_witness</A></FONT></FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT size=4><FONT size=4><FONT size=4></FONT></FONT></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT size=4>Jonathan Holston, 2004</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT size=4><FONT size=4><FONT size=4><FONT size=4><FONT size=4><FONT
size=4><FONT size=4><FONT size=4>- - - -
-</FONT></FONT></FONT></FONT></FONT></FONT></FONT></FONT></DIV>
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