There’s a wonderful line from the great American evangelist Billy Graham , who once said, “I’ve read the last page of the Bible. It’s all going to turn out all right.” Some days, that sentence feels more real to us than others. Some days, we need to hear it with a little more conviction, a little more reassurance. Some days we don’t seem so concerned! T he readings we’ve heard this morning (John 14:1-14/ Acts 7:55-60/ 1 Peter 2:2-10) don’t take us to the very last page of the Bible, but they certainly point us toward hope. They point us toward God who steadies us when we’re worried or struggling , who prepares a place for us, who walks with us through every chapter of life - those we enjoy and those we just have to endure. In our gospel reading from John, Jesus says, “Do not let your hearts be troubled. Believe in God, believe also in me.” They’re powerful and comforting...
I want to think this morning of two of the readings we’ve heard today, and both of them offer us guidance, encouragement, and a picture of what Christian life can look like when it is lived with purpose and joy. And I particularly want to think of 3 things - two from our reading from Acts (2:42–47), and one from the Gospel according to John (10:1–10). The reading from Acts gives us a great insight into the life of the early church. We’re told that the followers of Jesus devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching, to fellowship, to the breaking of bread, and to the prayers. We’re told how they lived together, sharing what they had. And we’re told that they enjoyed “the goodwill of all the people,” and that “day by day the Lord added to their number those who were being saved.” When I was thinking about the reading, two things stood out for me. The first is the fellowship they shared. Now, I’m sure they had their disagreements, because whenever people spend time together, that’s ...