LAST SUNDAY'S SERMON NOTES
Read Peter's preaching notes....
“Stay with Us”
Luke 24:13-32
4/21/19
No one likes to be alone: esp when going through difficult times
esp when person you want to be w/ you can make a difference
part of why church fellowship so important
no matter what family you have or don’t have
no matter how many friends you have or don’t have
no matter what kind of a scoundrel or lunatic you may be
always a place for you, always included, never have to be alone
Also why Jesus’ death on Good Friday such a shock & heartbreak
Jesus had left them alone
could even say abandoned them: chose his fate that led to cross & tomb
had certainly proven himself to be One who can make a difference
healed sick, cast out demons, calmed storms, even brought back to life
and now, disciples certainly going through difficult time
known as followers of man convicted & executed for treason
no great leap of imagination to assume guards coming after them next
have to face it w/out the one who had brought peace & hope & courage
Natural at times to feel as though Jesus has left us alone, too
face struggle or tragedy, wonder what did to deserve
can cry out to God, but heaven above seems empty
heart w/in echoes with emptiness
hymns of praise & words of comfort fall on harsh, barren ground in our souls
God is nowhere to be found
sure, Jesus walked earth 2,000 yrs ago: but that’s literally ancient history
sure, know great heroes of the faith & people w/ intimate relationship w/ God
but not me: where is God when I’m hurting? when I’m angry? when I’m crushed?
how can I know & exp, actual reality of X’s presence in my life right now?
if ever ask question like this, take heart from today’s story
how X became present & real to pair of disciples
on road to Emmaus Easter afternoon
First, need to be clear: they were disciples: that’s how Luke describes them
doesn’t mean were two of twelve apostles: many more disciples than them
Bible may focus on Twelve, but explains there were many more: men & women
means that they had followed him throughout ministry
heard his preaching w/ own ears, saw miracles w/ own eyes
cheered for him on Palm Sunday, wept for him on Good Friday
and now: now it was all over: Jesus was gone
time to go back to life they had known before Jesus had come to them
As walked to Emmaus, commiserated w/ each other about events of past days
“downcast:” hopes had been shattered: Jesus taken from them, alone
as walking, stranger approaches and begins to walk w/ them
we know it’s Jesus, but they don’t: were prevented from recognizing
told him how had hoped Jesus would be their redeemer: instead had been killed
reports of empty tomb & angel saying he was alive, but didn’t know what to think
How does stranger respond? sympathetic ear, consoling words? grief of his own?
no! “How foolish you are!”
“And how slow to believe all that the prophets have spoken!”
went on to explain how everything in Law & Prophets had pointed to this
described exactly why and how the messiah, the redeemer, would suffer like this
have to admit: would like to have copy of notes from this walking Bible study!
to have X himself explain meaning of Scripture: how it reveals him to us
Look at it from Jesus’ perspective: they were pretty foolish & slow to believe
what more could he have done to help them understand his rez?
testimony of Law & Prophets from past generations
his own words: at least three times told them exactly what had happened
then on Easter morning, two sets of witnesses to see the empty tomb
and as cherry on top, sent angel to tell them he is alive
not sure what else he could have done to get message across
Have to admit that we can be foolish & slow to believe as well
Jesus is alive: has given us plenty or reasons to know that he is
and yet we can go through life as downcast as travelers to Emmaus
just as blind to fact that Jesus is walking alongside of us as well
just as unable to comprehend all that God is trying to teach us
We want to say to Jesus what the two travelers did when reached Emmaus:
“Stay w/ us:” want Jesus, be alive & present in our lives, here & now
don’t even realize that he already is
Living, powerful, Lord present in our midst: present and alive w/ us
rez is not history: still happening
three examples
1. look around you: we are the church: his body: find him fellowship we share
consider how Jesus revealed himself to the travelers
2. Scripture: comes to life through his Spirit: “Were not our hearts burning within us
while he talked with us on the road and opened the Scriptures to us?”
3. Sacrament: “He took bread, gave thanks, broke it and began to give it to them.
Then their eyes were opened and they recognized him.”
baptism & Lord’s Supper: Jesus’ presence that you can touch
as we break bread, and as we pour water, exp presence of Living Lord
When heart is downcast & mind is disturbed, don’t believe message they try to give
Jesus is alive, he is here, will never be alone
seek signs of him all around you: they are here, he is here
Luke 24:13-32
4/21/19
No one likes to be alone: esp when going through difficult times
esp when person you want to be w/ you can make a difference
part of why church fellowship so important
no matter what family you have or don’t have
no matter how many friends you have or don’t have
no matter what kind of a scoundrel or lunatic you may be
always a place for you, always included, never have to be alone
Also why Jesus’ death on Good Friday such a shock & heartbreak
Jesus had left them alone
could even say abandoned them: chose his fate that led to cross & tomb
had certainly proven himself to be One who can make a difference
healed sick, cast out demons, calmed storms, even brought back to life
and now, disciples certainly going through difficult time
known as followers of man convicted & executed for treason
no great leap of imagination to assume guards coming after them next
have to face it w/out the one who had brought peace & hope & courage
Natural at times to feel as though Jesus has left us alone, too
face struggle or tragedy, wonder what did to deserve
can cry out to God, but heaven above seems empty
heart w/in echoes with emptiness
hymns of praise & words of comfort fall on harsh, barren ground in our souls
God is nowhere to be found
sure, Jesus walked earth 2,000 yrs ago: but that’s literally ancient history
sure, know great heroes of the faith & people w/ intimate relationship w/ God
but not me: where is God when I’m hurting? when I’m angry? when I’m crushed?
how can I know & exp, actual reality of X’s presence in my life right now?
if ever ask question like this, take heart from today’s story
how X became present & real to pair of disciples
on road to Emmaus Easter afternoon
First, need to be clear: they were disciples: that’s how Luke describes them
doesn’t mean were two of twelve apostles: many more disciples than them
Bible may focus on Twelve, but explains there were many more: men & women
means that they had followed him throughout ministry
heard his preaching w/ own ears, saw miracles w/ own eyes
cheered for him on Palm Sunday, wept for him on Good Friday
and now: now it was all over: Jesus was gone
time to go back to life they had known before Jesus had come to them
As walked to Emmaus, commiserated w/ each other about events of past days
“downcast:” hopes had been shattered: Jesus taken from them, alone
as walking, stranger approaches and begins to walk w/ them
we know it’s Jesus, but they don’t: were prevented from recognizing
told him how had hoped Jesus would be their redeemer: instead had been killed
reports of empty tomb & angel saying he was alive, but didn’t know what to think
How does stranger respond? sympathetic ear, consoling words? grief of his own?
no! “How foolish you are!”
“And how slow to believe all that the prophets have spoken!”
went on to explain how everything in Law & Prophets had pointed to this
described exactly why and how the messiah, the redeemer, would suffer like this
have to admit: would like to have copy of notes from this walking Bible study!
to have X himself explain meaning of Scripture: how it reveals him to us
Look at it from Jesus’ perspective: they were pretty foolish & slow to believe
what more could he have done to help them understand his rez?
testimony of Law & Prophets from past generations
his own words: at least three times told them exactly what had happened
then on Easter morning, two sets of witnesses to see the empty tomb
and as cherry on top, sent angel to tell them he is alive
not sure what else he could have done to get message across
Have to admit that we can be foolish & slow to believe as well
Jesus is alive: has given us plenty or reasons to know that he is
and yet we can go through life as downcast as travelers to Emmaus
just as blind to fact that Jesus is walking alongside of us as well
just as unable to comprehend all that God is trying to teach us
We want to say to Jesus what the two travelers did when reached Emmaus:
“Stay w/ us:” want Jesus, be alive & present in our lives, here & now
don’t even realize that he already is
Living, powerful, Lord present in our midst: present and alive w/ us
rez is not history: still happening
three examples
1. look around you: we are the church: his body: find him fellowship we share
consider how Jesus revealed himself to the travelers
2. Scripture: comes to life through his Spirit: “Were not our hearts burning within us
while he talked with us on the road and opened the Scriptures to us?”
3. Sacrament: “He took bread, gave thanks, broke it and began to give it to them.
Then their eyes were opened and they recognized him.”
baptism & Lord’s Supper: Jesus’ presence that you can touch
as we break bread, and as we pour water, exp presence of Living Lord
When heart is downcast & mind is disturbed, don’t believe message they try to give
Jesus is alive, he is here, will never be alone
seek signs of him all around you: they are here, he is here
Old Union Presbyterian Church | 200 Union Church Road, Mars, PA 16046
724-538-8672 | OldUnionChurch@gmail.com
724-538-8672 | OldUnionChurch@gmail.com