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Fifth Sunday of Easter
Sunday, April 20, 2008
Gospel: John 14: 1-14 
(See the bottom of this page for the full text of this week's NRSV Revised Common Lectionary readings)

God's Map
Highlighted Verses: John 14:1-6 (NRSV)

“Do not let your hearts be troubled. Believe in God, believe also in me. 2In my Father’s house there are many dwelling places. If it were not so, would I have told you that I go to prepare a place for you? 3And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and will take you to myself, so that where I am, there you may be also.

And you know the way to the place where I am going.” 5Thomas said to him, “Lord, we do not know where you are going. How can we know the way?” 6Jesus said to him, “I am the way, and the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.  


Have you ever been lost? I have - and it can be awfully scary.

Not long ago I was driving to another part of the state and made a wrong turn. Before I knew it, I had no idea where I was.

Luckily I keep some maps - like this one - in my car. Maps show us roads and streets - and can help us get from one place to another, especially when we don't know the way.

Sometimes we can feel lost in life. Even when we know where we are, we can be confused by problems we face or choices we need to make. Not knowing the right thing to do can make us feel lost inside.

In our Gospel reading today, Jesus is telling his disciples that it is time for him to leave and go to heaven. He tells them he is going to prepare a special place for them there.

But Thomas, one of Jesus' disciples, gets worried. He tells Jesus he doesn't know the way to Heaven. So Jesus gives him a sort of map! He tells Thomas that he is the way to heaven.

Of course, Jesus isn't a roadmap like we use when driving. He means that following his directions - and living our lives in the way God wants - is the way to Heaven. He's telling Thomas to lead a good life and to follow God's rules.

Where can we learn more about God's rules? God's most special "map" for us is the Bible. That's the reason we use it each week to help us "learn the way." And that way is Jesus. Listen carefully today, and you'll hear him tell us so.

Will you pray with me?

Dear God,

Sometimes we can get lost in our lives. We are so thankful to have you as our guide. Help us to make good choices this week.

Amen.

Copyright 2008 - The Children's Sermon.Com
This Week's NRSV Lectionary Readings

Acts 7:55-60

But filled with the Holy Spirit, he gazed into heaven and saw the glory of God and Jesus standing at the right hand of God. 56“Look,” he said, “I see the heavens opened and the Son of Man standing at the right hand of God!” 57But they covered their ears, and with a loud shout all rushed together against him. 58Then they dragged him out of the city and began to stone him; and the witnesses laid their coats at the feet of a young man named Saul. 59While they were stoning Stephen, he prayed, “Lord Jesus, receive my spirit.” 60Then he knelt down and cried out in a loud voice, “Lord, do not hold this sin against them.” When he had said this, he died.

 

Psalm 31 1-5, 15-16

1In you, O Lord, I seek refuge; do not let me ever be put to shame; in your righteousness deliver me.
2Incline your ear to me; rescue me speedily. Be a rock of refuge for me, a strong fortress to save me.
3You are indeed my rock and my fortress; for your name’s sake lead me and guide me,
4take me out of the net that is hidden for me, for you are my refuge.
5Into your hand I commit my spirit; you have redeemed me, O Lord, faithful God.

 
15My times are in your hand; deliver me from the hand of my enemies and persecutors.
16Let your face shine upon your servant; save me in your steadfast love.

 

1 Peter 2:2-10

Like newborn infants, long for the pure, spiritual milk, so that by it you may grow into salvation— 3if indeed you have tasted that the Lord is good.

Come to him, a living stone, though rejected by mortals yet chosen and precious in God’s sight, and 5like living stones, let yourselves be built into a spiritual house, to be a holy priesthood, to offer spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ. 6For it stands in scripture: “See, I am laying in Zion a stone, a cornerstone chosen and precious; and whoever believes in him will not be put to shame.” 7To you then who believe, he is precious; but for those who do not believe, “The stone that the builders rejected has become the very head of the corner,” 8and “A stone that makes them stumble, and a rock that makes them fall.” They stumble because they disobey the word, as they were destined to do. 9But you are a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, God’s own people, in order that you may proclaim the mighty acts of him who called you out of darkness into his marvelous light. 10Once you were not a people, but now you are God’s people; once you had not received mercy, but now you have received mercy.


John 14:1-14

“Do not let your hearts be troubled. Believe in God, believe also in me. 2In my Father’s house there are many dwelling places. If it were not so, would I have told you that I go to prepare a place for you? 3And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and will take you to myself, so that where I am, there you may be also.

And you know the way to the place where I am going.” 5Thomas said to him, “Lord, we do not know where you are going. How can we know the way?” 6Jesus said to him, “I am the way, and the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me. 7If you know me, you will know my Father also. From now on you do know him and have seen him.” 8Philip said to him, “Lord, show us the Father, and we will be satisfied.” 9Jesus said to him, “Have I been with you all this time, Philip, and you still do not know me? Whoever has seen me has seen the Father. How can you say, ‘Show us the Father’? 10Do you not believe that I am in the Father and the Father is in me? The words that I say to you I do not speak on my own; but the Father who dwells in me does his works. 11Believe me that I am in the Father and the Father is in me; but if you do not, then believe me because of the works themselves.

Very truly, I tell you, the one who believes in me will also do the works that I do and, in fact, will do greater works than these, because I am going to the Father. 13I will do whatever you ask in my name, so that the Father may be glorified in the Son. 14If in my name you ask me for anything, I will do it.