Bible Study – Second Sunday of Easter – “Doubting Thomas”
Share: Your highs (something that made you happy) and lows (something that made you sad) this week with others around you or write them down.
"Christ has died. Christ is risen. Christ will come again." An astounding discovery! The Easter news was spread to all who would listen. The disciples told people, who in turn, told people, and to this day, we hear the message — a message of weeping and then of joy that comes with the morning of a new day. We too like the disciples weep AND then delight in the joy bursting forth in us. We, too, are called to bring this message with our lives, and, if necessary, with words, to those who have not yet heard it.
The women brought an account the men could not grasp. That evening, the exhausted band of men and women who followed Jesus, huddled in the locked room. They were terrified that they would be killed next. To their amazement, Jesus was right there in their midst proclaiming the Peace he had been teaching them to trust. Breath sweeping over the earth brought life in the beginning; now Jesus was breathing new life in the Holy Spirit.
Theme: Hear what the Spirit is saying to the Church
Opening Prayer: Thank you, God, for the amazing gift of Easter and for this entire season to help us unpack its wonder and its call on our lives. Amen
Please open your Bibles to John 20:19-31 and read or read the scriptures below.
John 20:19-31
Jesus Appears to His Disciples
19 On the evening of that first day of the week, when the disciples were together, with the doors locked for fear of the Jewish leaders, Jesus came and stood among them and said, “Peace be with you!” 20 After he said this, he showed them his hands and side. The disciples were overjoyed when they saw the Lord.
21 Again Jesus said, “Peace be with you! As the Father has sent me, I am sending you.” 22 And with that he breathed on them and said, “Receive the Holy Spirit. 23 If you forgive anyone’s sins, their sins are forgiven; if you do not forgive them, they are not forgiven.”
Jesus Appears to Thomas
24 Now Thomas (also known as Didymus[a]), one of the Twelve, was not with the disciples when Jesus came. 25 So the other disciples told him, “We have seen the Lord!”
But he said to them, “Unless I see the nail marks in his hands and put my finger where the nails were, and put my hand into his side, I will not believe.”
26 A week later his disciples were in the house again, and Thomas was with them. Though the doors were locked, Jesus came and stood among them and said, “Peace be with you!” 27 Then he said to Thomas, “Put your finger here; see my hands. Reach out your hand and put it into my side. Stop doubting and believe.”
28 Thomas said to him, “My Lord and my God!”
29 Then Jesus told him, “Because you have seen me, you have believed; blessed are those who have not seen and yet have believed.”
The Purpose of John’s Gospel
30 Jesus performed many other signs in the presence of his disciples, which are not recorded in this book. 31 But these are written that you may believe[b] that Jesus is the Messiah, the Son of God, and that by believing you may have life in his name.
Process: Holy Conversation In a "holy conversation" we are looking for a dialog, finding meaning and not just a discussion of facts. Listen to the word and the hearing of the word. As you read passage, listen with pencil and paper, note words and phrases that stand out for you. We wonder and we ask "What if?"
Invite someone to read the passage, possibly a different translation, while you listen, make notes about what you hear with pencil and paper. If you get stuck, you could ask these questions:
- We've had 2000 years to reflect on these events, the disciples had less than a day, how does that help us identify with their state of mind?
- Notice the patience Jesus displayed with his disciples in verses 19b through 23. What is the sequence of Jesus' approach?
- Notice the sequence of Thomas' ability to believe (verses 24-28).
- Which came first, for each of us, believing or belonging to a group that believed?
Bible Memory Verse: John 20:29 - Then Jesus told him, “Because you have seen me, you have believed; blessed are those who have not seen and yet have believed.”
Click here for the young learner’s lesson.
Videos (Click on url)
John 20 Easter Story: Doubting Thomas Animated Bible Story for Kids - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pDC9SGGpn1U
Gospel of John Summary: A Complete Animated Overview Part 2 – https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RUfh_wOsauk
Song: Only Believe – https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_DlNZAD2ky0
Activities:
Seeing is Believing Picture: Draw a picture on white paper using a white crayon, then paint over it with darker paint to reveal the hidden image, symbolizing how faith can be built through evidence and experience.
Peace Stones: You will need smooth stones and permanent markers (red, black, purple and green are good. Sharpies with the ultra tip or bruch tip works well. Read the Bible story and identify symbols associated to peace. You can even write the Bible verse: “Peace be with you!”, “Receive the Holy Spirit” or John 20:28b, 29b. You can also draw a dove.
Believe It Or Not - Crossword: https://sermons4kids.com/activities/believe-it-or-not-2
Believe It Or Not – Word Match: https://sermons4kids.com/activities/believe-it-or-not-3
Believe It Or Not – Multiple Choice: https://sermons4kids.com/activities/believe-it-or-not-4
Believe It Or Not - Word Search: https://sermons4kids.com/activities/believe-it-or-not-6
Believe It Or Not – Jumble: https://sermons4kids.com/activities/believe-it-or-not-5
Prayer: Thank you, God, for the patience of Jesus, calling us to believe and standing with us as we live into belief. Amen.
