MORE OR LESS?

JOHN 20:19-25

Pastor Rick Jackson

Everybody says they want more out of life- but do they? They choice of getting more out of life is largely up to us, as the disciple Thomas found out the week after the first Easter.

I. A WEEK WITH LESS [v. 19-25]

1. Less Joy & Peace than Others [v. 19-21a]

2. Less Direction & Knowledge than Others [v. 21b-23]

3. Less Assurance & Faith than Others [v. 24-25]

II. AN EVENING WITH MORE [v. 26]

1. With a Primary Pattern [v. 26a, Acts 20:7]

And upon the first day of the week, when the disciples came together to break bread, Paul preached unto them… and continued his speech until midnight.
1 Corinthians 16:2 Upon the first day of the week let every one of you lay by him in store, as God hath prospered him, that there be no gatherings when I come.

2. With a Promised Presence [v. 26b, Mt. 18:20]

3. With a Powerful Peace [v. 26c, John 14:27]

Peace I leave with you, my peace I give unto you: not as the world giveth, give I unto you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid.

III. A LIFE WITH ABUNDANCE [v. 27-31]

John 10:10 The thief cometh not, but for to steal, and to kill, and to destroy: I am come that they might have life, and that they might have it more abundantly.

1. You can have Faith in God [v. 27, Mark 11:22]

And Jesus answering saith unto them, Have faith in God.

Acts 1:3 To whom also he shewed himself alive after his passion by many infallible proofs, being seen of them 40 days, and speaking of the things pertaining to the kingdom of God.
2. You can Worship God [v. 28, Jn. 4:23-24]

But the hour cometh, and now is, when the true worshippers shall worship the Father in spirit and in truth: for the Father seeketh such to worship him. God is a Spirit: and they that worship him must worship him in spirit and in truth.

3. You can be Blessed of God [v. 29-31]

Psalm 1

1 Blessed is the man that walketh not in the counsel of the ungodly, nor standeth in the way of sinners, nor sitteth in the seat of the scornful.
2 But his delight is in the law of the LORD; and in his law doth he meditate day and night.
3 And he shall be like a tree planted by the rivers of water, that bringeth forth his fruit in his season; his leaf also shall not wither; and whatsoever he doeth shall prosper.
4 The ungodly are not so: but are like the chaff which the wind driveth away.
5 Therefore the ungodly shall not stand in the judgment, nor sinners in the congregation of the righteous.
6 For the LORD knoweth the way of the righteous: but the way of the ungodly shall perish.