April 3, 2016
Acts 5:27–32
Ps. 118:14–29 or
Ps. 150
Rev. 1:4–8
John 20:19–31
Second Sunday of Easter
Empowered to Witness
Goal for
the Session
Encountering how Thomas and other disciples responded to
the risen Lord, adults will experience ways Jesus empowers
them to witness.
n P R E P A R I N G
F O R
T H E
S E S S I O N
Focus on John 20:19–31
WHAT is important to know?
— From “Exegetical Perspective,” Gregory A. Robbins
With Jesus’ appearance to the ten, the intended “sign” would be the fulfillment of promises made earlier.
Darkness again prevails; it is “evening.” The disciples are sequestered, “locked up,” for “fear of the Jews.”
Apparently, the persecution Jesus had predicted (15:18–24; 16:1–4) has come to pass. By “coming” and
“standing” among them, Jesus fulfills the very oaths proffered in the Farewell Discourse (chaps. 14–17): that
after he had gone away he would return (14:18–19, 28); that his “peace” would indeed perdure (14:27; 16:33);
that their pain would “turn to joy” and that it would be “complete” (16:20–24); that the Spirit would be
bestowed upon them (14:16–17, 25–26; 15:26; 16:13–14); and that they would be empowered to “testify,” to
“bear witness” on Jesus’ behalf.
WHERE is God in these words?
— From “Theological Perspective,” Martin E. Marty
The key element for the speaker is the word, the spoken word wherever possible, something to be tested and
confirmed. When things line up right and match, there can be a response, such as “My Lord and my God!”
After that is spoken, heard, and exchanged, believers can go about their work, their Sabbath rest, their finding
opportunity to relate to others and to do the works of love in such a way that they will be exemplifying that the
lives of believers, “empirically” or visibly, are and are to be tested as they are asked whether they embody the
new life that comes with Christ’s resurrection.
SO WHAT does this mean for our lives?
— From “Pastoral Perspective,” John K. Stendahl
Perhaps we may agree that it would be an impoverishing shame to make Jesus’ actions here paradigmatic only
for priests and preachers to “receive the Holy Spirit” (v. 22). Our ministry is emblematic of the purposes for
which others are to use their resurrection breath, speaking and doing the gospel of mercy and justice. May
Jesus breathe in our words, but also let our hearers speak in kind. Perhaps we will be among those who need
their speaking.
NOW WHAT is God’s word calling us to do?
— From “Homiletical Perspective,” Nancy Claire Pittman
It is Thomas’s community-shattering doubt that the Gospel of John rejects. For at some point, if our churches
are to be faithful to the risen Christ, we must stop distrusting our friends in Christ. At the very least, we must
stop questioning motives, doubting dedication, and thinking the worst of our companions when they state a
different opinion or offer a contradictory version. We must learn to believe not simply in the goodness of the
Lord, but in the goodness of one another—even when they deliver the strangest news, “We have seen the Lord.”
© 2016 Westminster John Knox Press
Spring 2016 Adult
1
Empowered to Witness
Focus on Your Teaching
FOCUS SCRIPTURE
John 20:19–31
“Seeing is believing” is an article of faith in our rational, scientific age. What we can see—
or touch, taste, or smell—presents verifiable data. Yet our technological advances present
new problems: digital photographs can be altered, and artificial, chemically induced odors
or flavors can mimic the real. Hard evidence, it seems, can be falsified. Those yearning to
“prove” the resurrection may find it a frustrating, doubt-engendering enigma. Others may be
affirmed, not by data proving or disproving resurrection from the dead, but by experiencing
the resurrected Christ, encountering him through the power of the words he spoke.
Holy God, guide my planning and open me to fresh insights that bring
new life. Amen.
YOU WILL NEED
❏ Bibles
n L E A D I N G
T H E
S E S S I O N
❏ Resource Sheet 2
❏ copies of Resource
Sheet 1
❏ copies of Resource
Sheet 1 for April 17,
2016
For Responding
❏ option 2: large sheet
of newsprint or poster
board, markers,
glue, front pages
of newspapers or
downloaded pages
from Internet news
sites
❏ option 3: newsprint,
marker
GATHERING
Before the session, for option 2 in Responding, title a newsprint sheet or poster board with
the words, Touch the Wounds of the World.
Welcome participants with the Easter greeting, “Christ is risen!” and encourage the
response, “He is risen indeed!” If participants wrote a letter to the editor or posted on a
social media platform as suggested in Responding option 1 in the last session, invite them
to report on responses.
Invite participants to think about a powerful experience they have had that made a lasting
impression on their life. Ask a few volunteers to report. Discuss:
P What did you hear in the telling of these persons’ experiences that made a strong
impression? Why?
Tell participants that in this session they will explore the powerful spoken word in the
encounters disciples had with Jesus after his resurrection.
Pray the following:
O God, guide us as we explore what it means to experience the power of
Easter. Amen.
EXPLORING
Recall that last session, participants considered how the testimony of the early witnesses
to the resurrection helps us to “see,” twenty centuries later. Also remind participants that
they briefly explored accounts of the resurrection. Ask them to quickly scan John 20:1–18.
Explain that unlike the other Gospel accounts, in the book of John, Mary Magdalene actually
sees the risen Christ, speaks to him and receives instructions directly from his own lips (v. 18).
© 2016 Westminster John Knox Press
Spring 2016 Adult
2
Empowered to Witness
Hearing the name of
the disciple Thomas,
many adults add the
adjective “doubting”
automatically. Exploring
all three episodes in this
session’s Scripture gives
adults an expanded
picture of how all the
disciples responded to
meeting the risen Christ.
A farewell discourse
was a literary form
common in the ancient
world. A distinguished
person told of his or
her impending death,
offering comfort,
predicting what was to
come and instructing
those left behind about
what they should do.
Invite adults to tell what they know about Thomas. Say that other than the listing of the disciples
in Matthew, Mark, and Luke, all we know about Thomas is found in John’s Gospel. Have half
the group read John 11:7–16 silently and the other half read John 14:1–7 silently. Ask:
P What do these passages tell you about the character and personality of Thomas?
Invite participants to put themselves in the Scripture. Using Resource Sheet 2 (Put Yourself
in the Closed Room), introduce and read aloud John 20:19–23. Following the reading, use
the discussion questions on the sheet.
Distribute Resource Sheet 1 (Focus on John 20:19–31) and ask the group to read the “What?”
excerpt silently. Give the information in the sidebar defining farewell discourses. Discuss:
P In this passage, what empowers the disciples to testify on behalf of the risen Christ?
Invite a volunteer to read aloud verses 24–25 and note that Thomas was absent from the
closed room where the other disciples encountered Jesus. Ask:
P What did Thomas miss seeing? Hearing? Receiving?
P In the light of what Thomas missed, how do you respond to his doubts about the risen
Christ?
Ask the group to read verses 24–29 silently. Ask two volunteers to take the parts of Thomas
and Jesus, with other participants assuming the role of the other disciples. Discuss:
P What does Thomas see? Hear?
Say that most adults, reading verse 27, picture Thomas actually touching Jesus’ wounds,
but the Scripture does not indicate that. Ask:
P If it was not by putting his hands on Jesus’ wounds, what do you think did elicit
Thomas’ statement of belief?
Ask participants to read the “Where?” excerpt. Ask:
P Why do you think hearing the word is emphasized as key to belief in the risen Christ?
P Where can the world find visible proof of the new life that comes from Christ’s
resurrection?
To transition to Responding, ask participants to read the “So What?” excerpt silently. Then
ask them to ponder the following:
P What is our resurrection breath, and how are we called to use it?
RESPONDING
EASY
PREP
© 2016 Westminster John Knox Press
Choose one or more of these activities depending on the length of your session:
1. Breath Prayer By using a breath prayer, adults can experience one way Jesus empowers
them to witness. Unlike the Pentecost account in Acts, John places the coming of the
Spirit on the disciples and their commissioning in the closed room on Easter night.
Invite the group to practice a breath prayer using two phrases from the hymn “Breathe
on Me, Breath of God.” Ask them to repeat each phrase silently as you say it aloud. Tell
Spring 2016 Adult
3
Empowered to Witness
them to repeat the first phrase as they inhale, the second as they exhale. Begin with
“Breathe on me” and then “breath of God.” Two additional phrases that can be used are
“Fill me” and “with life anew.”
Ask adults to use one or both of these breath prayers in the morning, repeating
throughout the day, in order to sharpen their awareness of places they might witness to
the living Christ. Suggest that they jot down opportunities that arise, not just to speak
words, but to engage in actions that embody new life.
2. Touch the World’s Wounds By identifying the wounds of the world, adults can bear
witness to the risen Christ through their actions. Remind adults that in both episodes
where Jesus appeared to his disciples, he showed them his wounded hands and side
before he commissioned them and breathed the Spirit on them. Distribute newspapers
or Internet news site pages. Ask participants to identify current situations that can
be called wounds of the world, and cut out headlines. Have them glue these to the
newsprint sheet or poster board. They can also create their own headlines and print
them on the poster. Discuss:
P Seeing these wounded places, what steps do you imagine Jesus is commissioning
you to take? What call can you hear him extending?
P What is one way you might move from simply identifying the wounded place to
touching the wound to extend new life?
Ask participants to commit to taking that healing step, keeping in mind that they have
been empowered by the Spirit.
3. Explore Means of Empowerment Adults can identify a variety of ways to make
themselves receptive to the Spirit’s empowerment in order to bear witness to the risen
Christ. Invite the group to name the ways they seek to develop a closer relationship
to Jesus Christ—prayer, worship, Bible study, and the like. List them on a newsprint
sheet. Form pairs, and assign one of these ways to each. Ask them to discuss how they
might use a particular way to be more receptive to receiving the gift of the Spirit’s
empowerment for action. For example, before worship, adults might jot down the
question, “What word am I hearing today from Jesus about what I am called to do and
be?” They would then be attentive to the Spirit’s leading in the service. Ask each pair to
report to the total group. Encourage adults to choose one or more of the suggestions,
asking the additional question, “In what ways am I called to testify to the risen Christ?”
bearing in mind that testimony is not limited to words.
CLOSING
Invite a volunteer to read aloud John 20:30–31. Pray the following:
We give thanks, O God, for your son Jesus. Open us to the empowerment
of your Spirit, that we may bear witness to new life. Amen.
© 2016 Westminster John Knox Press
Spring 2016 Adult
4
Adult
Resource Sheet 1
April 3, 2016
Empowered to Witness
Focus on John 20:19–31
WHAT is important to know?
— From “Exegetical Perspective,” Gregory A. Robbins
With Jesus’ appearance to the ten, the intended “sign” would be the fulfillment of promises
made earlier. Darkness again prevails; it is “evening.” The disciples are sequestered, “locked
up,” for “fear of the Jews.” Apparently, the persecution Jesus had predicted (15:18–24;
16:1–4) has come to pass. By “coming” and “standing” among them, Jesus fulfills the very
oaths proffered in the Farewell Discourse (chaps. 14–17): that after he had gone away he
would return (14:18–19, 28); that his “peace” would indeed perdure (14:27; 16:33); that
their pain would “turn to joy” and that it would be “complete” (16:20–24); that the Spirit
would be bestowed upon them (14:16–17, 25–26; 15:26; 16:13–14); and that they would be
empowered to “testify,” to “bear witness” on Jesus’ behalf.
WHERE is God in these words?
— From “Theological Perspective,” Martin E. Marty
The key element for the speaker is the word, the spoken word wherever possible, something
to be tested and confirmed. When things line up right and match, there can be a response,
such as “My Lord and my God!” After that is spoken, heard, and exchanged, believers can
go about their work, their Sabbath rest, their finding opportunity to relate to others and to
do the works of love in such a way that they will be exemplifying that the lives of believers,
“empirically” or visibly, are and are to be tested as they are asked whether they embody the
new life that comes with Christ’s resurrection.
SO WHAT does this mean for our lives?
— From “Pastoral Perspective,” John K. Stendahl
Perhaps we may agree that it would be an impoverishing shame to make Jesus’ actions here
paradigmatic only for priests and preachers to “receive the Holy Spirit” (v. 22). Our ministry
is emblematic of the purposes for which others are to use their resurrection breath, speaking
and doing the gospel of mercy and justice. May Jesus breathe in our words, but also let our
hearers speak in kind. Perhaps we will be among those who need their speaking.
NOW WHAT is God’s word calling us to do?
— From “Homiletical Perspective,”
Nancy Claire Pittman
It is Thomas’s community-shattering doubt that the Gospel of John rejects. For at some
point, if our churches are to be faithful to the risen Christ, we must stop distrusting our
friends in Christ. At the very least, we must stop questioning motives, doubting dedication,
and thinking the worst of our companions when they state a different opinion or offer a
contradictory version. We must learn to believe not simply in the goodness of the Lord, but
in the goodness of one another—even when they deliver the strangest news, “We have seen
the Lord.”
© 2016 Westminster John Knox Press
April 3, 2016
Empowered to Witness
Adult
Resource Sheet 2
Put Yourself in the Closed Room
Before reading the focus passage, give participants the following
introduction:
Imagine that you are one of the followers of Jesus. Perhaps you can
see yourself as one of the ten remaining disciples (excluding Thomas).
Maybe you are Mary Magdalene or one of the other women who
helped to support Jesus in his ministry and were present at the cross.
Or you could be another of Jesus’ closest friends and followers.
You have experienced a roller coaster of emotions over the past few
days—elation at Jesus’ reception in Jerusalem, followed closely by
shock at his arrest and trial and overwhelming grief at his crucifixion
and death. You have probably spent the Sabbath numbed by what
has transpired.
And then, you hear the news from Mary Magdalene that Jesus is alive!
You hardly know what to think of such news, and besides, now there
is the very real danger that you yourself may be in imminent danger.
Listen now to John’s account of what happens next. Read
John 20:19–23 aloud.
Discuss:
P Who did you imagine yourself to be, and where were you in the
room?
P What did you see?
P What did you hear?
P How are you feeling now?
© 2016 Westminster John Knox Press