1. 2 nd Sunday of Easter April 5, 2015 Acts 4:32-35 1 John 1:1 – 2:2 John 20: 19-31 Adoniram Judson Prophetic Witness & Evangelist 1788 - 1850 St. John’s Episcopal Church, Centreville VA Adult Lectionary Forum 2015

2. Biographic Sketch: Adoniram Judson Jr. As North America’s first protestant missionary to preach in Burma, Adoniram Judson, evangelized almost four decades there, translated the Bible into Burmese & established numerous Baptist churches in Burma. He is remembered as one of the very first American missionaries to witness abroad. The son of a Congregationalist minister, Judson graduated as Brown University class valedictorian at 19 & was also ordained after attending Andover Theological Seminary. At the seminary he joined a group of mission-minded students known as "the Brethren." Passionately eager to serve abroad, & convinced Asia was the place to do so, they convinced the Congregational Church's General Association to form an "American Board of Commissioners for Foreign Missions." Initially, Judson went to Calcutta. Within the year, though, the War of 1812 had begun, so the British East India Company expelled him from India. Relocating to Rangoon, Judson spent the next four years mastering Burmese before daring to hold his first semi-public service. He baptized his first local convert in 1819. Judson’s flock numbered only 18 converts by 1823, but that year he had also finished his first draft translation of the New Testament into Burmese. Eleven years later he had translated the entire Bible, publishing its first edition in 1835. During the Anglo-Burmese War of 1824-1826 he was wrongly detained and tortured for 20 months as a British spy. When hostilities ended, though, he widened his outreach beyond Rangoon & became the first missionary to make contact with the Karen people when he ransomed and freed a debt-slave, Ko Tha Byu, from one of his early converts. Shortly after his 60 th birthday, Judson developed a serious lung disease for which doctors prescribed a sea voyage. On 12 April 1850, while cruising the Bay of Bengal, he died aboard ship and was buried at sea, having spent 37 years in missionary service abroad. Adoniram Judson Jr. (9 Aug 1788 – 12 Apr 1850) “The future is as bright as the promises of God.” Piper, John. Filling Up the Afflictions of Christ. Wheaton:Crossway 2009 Judson, Edward. The Life of Adoniram Judson. New York: Anson D F Randolph & Co 1883

3. Collect for Easter B Almighty and everlasting God, who in the Paschal mystery established the new covenant of reconciliation: Grant that all who have been reborn into the fellowship of Christ's Body may show forth in their lives what they profess by their faith; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Amen. Collect for Easter B Almighty and everlasting God, who in the Paschal mystery established the new covenant of reconciliation: Grant that all who have been reborn into the fellowship of Christ's Body may show forth in their lives what they profess by their faith; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Amen. St. John’s Episcopal Church, Centreville VA -- Adult Lectionary Forum 2015 Prayer for Easter B [Pandita Ramabai] Eternal God, we thank you for the ministry of Adoniram Judson, who out of love for you and your people translated the Scriptures into Burmese. Move us, inspired by his example, to support the presentation of your Good News in every language, for the glory of Jesus Christ; who with you and the Holy Spirit lives and reigns, one God, for ever and ever. Amen. Prayer for Easter B [Pandita Ramabai] Eternal God, we thank you for the ministry of Adoniram Judson, who out of love for you and your people translated the Scriptures into Burmese. Move us, inspired by his example, to support the presentation of your Good News in every language, for the glory of Jesus Christ; who with you and the Holy Spirit lives and reigns, one God, for ever and ever. Amen.

4. 2 nd Easter B: Spreading the Wealth [Acts 4:32-35 ] The disciples loved one another. This was the blessed fruit of Christ's dying precept to his disciples, and his dying prayer for them. Thus it was then, and it will be so again, when the Spirit shall be poured upon us from on high. -M. Henry Christian Communists? Early community of Christ- followers devotes itself to worship, instruction, fellowship & shared wealth Combination of … --Traditional Israeli sharing --Greek friendship --Philosophical ideals --Hospitality [ what’s mine is yours ] --Topped with God’s grace [ charis ] One heart, one soul --More monolithic --More generous across board --Receptive to Apostles’ teachings Est 5K male Christians in Jerusalem Compare Barnabas’ generosity [Acts 4:36-37] with Ananias’ & Sapphira’s hoarding [5: 1-11] Over time Church has swapped spiritual wealth for earthly riches Where poverty was once viewed as wealth, physical wealth has impoverished the Church’s soul “…And the rest is History!” 34 There was not a needy person among them, for as many as owned lands or houses sold them and brought the proceeds of what was sold. 35 They laid it at the apostles’ feet, and it was distributed to each as any had need. 32 Now the whole group of those who believed were of one heart and soul, and no one claimed private ownership of any possessions, but everything they owned was held in common. 33 With great power the apostles gave their testimony to the resurrection of the Lord Jesus, and great grace was upon them all. St. John’s Episcopal Church, Centreville VA Adult Lectionary Forum 2015

5. Time Stamp: c. 80 AD 1 John bears witness that 1 st century Christianity was a time of strife; cracks in a dogmatic monolith begin to develop; the writer wants to set the record straight. Christ’s Human Nature Dissenters split in disagreement over the natures of Jesus & Christian life --Denied Jesus was really human --Believed they followed model of a spiritual Christ --As Christ is heavenly, sinless, & wise, so they thought they were too Getting it Right Writer testifies to Incarnation Although he is talking about who (a person), he addresses what : --… was from the beginning --… we have heard --…we have seen with our eyes --… we saw & our hands felt, regarding the Word of Life --…we declare to you (Vv 1:1, 3b) Dissenters also denied being sinful, so 1 John reinforces reality of human sin, even for believers (1 John 1:8) 5 This is the message we have heard from him & proclaim to you, that God is light & in him there is no darkness at all. 6 If we say that we have fellowship with him while we are walking in darkness, we lie & do not do what is true; 7 but if we walk in the light as he himself is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, & the blood of Jesus his Son cleanses us from all sin. 2 nd Easter B: God is Light [1 John 1:1 – 2:2] St. John’s Episcopal Church, Centreville VA Adult Lectionary Forum 2015 8 If we say that we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us. 9 If we confess our sins, he who is faithful and just will forgive us our sins and cleanse us from all unrighteousness. 10 If we say that we have not sinned, we make him a liar, and his word is not in us.

6. 19 When it was evening on that day, the first day of the week, & the doors of the house where the disciples had met were locked for fear of the Jews, Jesus came and stood among them & said, “Peace be with you.” 20 After he said this, he showed them his hands & his side. Then the disciples rejoiced when they saw the Lord… 22 he breathed on & said to them, “Receive the Holy Spirit. Time Stamp: c. 30 AD Remember: Easter is a Season, not just a day! "We must resemble him in his life, if we would benefit from his death. ” Scorn Thomas?—He’s Normal! Thomas not alone wanting proof Recall Disciples’ reaction when Mary first announces “He’s gone!” If only we’d been there when… --Mary discovers a broken seal --Peter discovers an empty tomb --Cleopas is shocked when he learns who accompanies him to Emmaus --Disciples realize locks don’t stop Him --If only…if only…but we weren’t/aren’t Thomas was Luckiest Among Us Thomas validates for them/us that… --Jesus does what he says he will do --Jesus was/is who he said he was/is When it comes to resurrection faith, ours is not dispensation of sight Ours are eyes of faith; that continue in hope despite frustration & ambiguity Blessed are those who have not seen & yet have come to believe 2 nd Easter B: Must We See for Ourselves? [John 20: 19-31] St. John’s Episcopal Church, Centreville VA Adult Lectionary Forum 2015 23 If you forgive the sins of any, they are forgiven them; if you retain the sins of any, they are retained.” 24 But Thomas, one of the 12, was not with them when Jesus came. 25 So the other disciples told him, “We have seen the Lord.” But he said to them, “Unless I see the mark of the nails in his hands & put my finger in the mark of the nails & my hand in his side, I will not believe.”