A New Vision

 A New Vision

Presented to Trinity United Methodist Church

April 12, 2026

https://youtu.be/rv3CpJrsoCs

John 20:19-31
19 When it was evening on that day, the first day of the week, and the doors of the house where the disciples had met were locked for fear of the Jews, Jesus came and stood among them and said, "Peace be with you."
20 After he said this, he showed them his hands and his side. Then the disciples rejoiced when they saw the Lord.
21 Jesus said to them again, "Peace be with you. As the Father has sent me, so I send you."
22 When he had said this, he breathed on them and said to them, "Receive the Holy Spirit.
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 (who was called the Twin, one of the twelve, 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, and put my finger in the mark of the nails and my hand in his side, I will not believe."
26 A week later his disciples were again in the house, and Thomas was with them. Although the doors were shut, Jesus came and stood among them and said, "Peace be with you."
27 Then he said to Thomas, "Put your finger here and see my hands. Reach out your hand and put it in my side. Do not doubt but believe."
28 Thomas answered him, "My Lord and my God!"
29 Jesus said to him, "Have you believed because you have seen me? Blessed are those who have not seen and yet have come to believe."
30 Now Jesus did many other signs in the presence of his disciples, which are not written in this book.
31 But these are written so that you may come to believe that Jesus is the Messiah, the Son of God, and that through believing you may have life in his name.

Imagine the scene as if it were a staged play.  The upper room of the house where Jesus had gathered his disciples for their last meal together.  It must have been a large room with a big table, or a collection of tables pushed together to feed a crowd. DaVinci’s classic painting may shape how you see the room, but I see it with a round or oval table so that they were face-to-face as Jesus shared the bread and wine and spoke with them one last time. 

Now, In today’s scene, just 48 hours later, his disciples are gathered in this room again. They have been through the harrowing hours of Jesus’ arrest, trial, crucifixion and burial. At daybreak this morning Mary Magdalene and the other women found his tomb empty, and somehow, miraculously, Jesus had appeared to the women and sent word by them. The disciples had locked themselves in this room, afraid that the authorities were after them, waiting but not knowing what they were waiting for, talking among themselves, probably with little appetite for the food and drink the women had prepared, wondering if it could really be true that Jesus had indeed risen from the grave and was still alive.  Surely, they must be filled with doubt as well as fear. 

And then, suddenly, Jesus is standing among them. He shows them his wounds. He gives them words of reassurance and forgiveness and empowers them with the Holy Spirit to offer forgiveness to others.

But someone is missing. Thomas is not with them. Have you ever wondered why he was out and about while the others were hiding? When he returns, he can hardly believe what they are telling him.  Do you blame him? He wanted to see for himself.  Because of his skepticism, he has been given the name “Doubting Thomas,” but I call him Bold Thomas, because he was willing to speak up, say what was on his mind. 

John’s gospel relates two other instances when Thomas spoke up. In Chapter 11, after news came of Lazarus’s death, the disciples were debating about whether they should go to Judea with Jesus because the authorities were looking to arrest them.  Thomas spoke up boldly, "Let us also go, that we may die with him.” His courageous leadership strengthened the others, and so they all went.  Then again, in Chapter 14, around the table of that final meal, Jesus was teaching them, saying that he would be going away and would prepare a place for them and they would know the way. Of course Jesus was speaking about his death but the disciples were still stuck in literal thinking.  Thomas spoke up, again giving voice to what they all must have been thinking, when he said, “Lord, we don’t know where you are going, so how can we know the way?”

Fast forward a week, same room, but this time Thomas is present when Jesus appears. After seeing Jesus, touching his wounds, hearing his voice, Thomas, declares, "My Lord and my God!”  He suddenly understands what Jesus meant when he said “I am the way, the truth and the life.”

Thomas carried his faith to far away places.  Tradition has it that Thomas carried the good news of Jesus to the East, establishing Christian churches in Turkey, Syria, Middle East, India, perhaps as far as Southeast Asia, China and Indonesia. These Christian communities were known as Saint Thomas Christians.  

I hope that Thomas’s story of bold love, joyful service and courageous leadership can provide a background for talking about discipleship and a new vision, because that what this message is really about. Thomas’ journey of discipleship is one that we also must make as we grow as disciples of Jesus. I believe that a person who has never wrestled with doubt and fear does not own their faith, but has merely borrowed it. Every person who seeks to follow the Way of Jesus has experienced times of doubt and discouragement. Jesus did not condemn Thomas for his questioning, but rather embraced and reassured him. And then Jesus blesses all his future disciples who will not see Him in the flesh, yet still believe. That means you and me. Our challenge as disciples of Jesus, as seekers of the Way, is to believe the unbelievable, yes, but moreover to put that belief into action that shapes our lives.

The struggles with fear and doubt is not just on a personal level. Our beloved United Methodist Church has been through a trying period of doubt and fear and division. Many in our denomination may still have unanswered questions and unresolved doubt and fear of what will become of the church. We hope and pray that the struggle to find the Way, Jesus Way, will produce stronger disciples and a stronger church.  To move us, the church, forward, the leadership of the United Methodist Church, Council of Bishops, has created a new vision statement to guide all United Methodists. 

Here I am going to read from the statement released on May 1 last year: The Council of Bishops, in conjunction with the Connectional Table, is pleased to announce the unveiling of a new vision statement for The United Methodist Church. This vision reflects the Church's deep commitment to embodying God's dream for the world.

The vision states:
The United Methodist Church forms disciples of Jesus Christ who, empowered by the Holy Spirit, love boldly, serve joyfully, and lead courageously in local communities and worldwide connections.

This vision statement complements the Church's longstanding mission statement, inspired by Matthew 28:18-20: "The mission of The United Methodist Church is to make disciples of Jesus Christ for the transformation of the world."
The vision encourages United Methodists to embody the following principles:

Love Boldly: Passionately love God and, like Jesus, embrace and include people of every age, nation, race, gender and walk of life.

Serve Joyfully: With a Christ-like heart, journey alongside the most vulnerable, offering care and compassion with joy.

Lead Courageously: Follow Jesus’ example by resisting and dismantling all systems of evil, injustice, and oppression, striving for peace, justice and reconciliation.

When I first saw this vision statement I was excited! I am excited. That is why, when the teaching and worship series became available recently, I wanted to share it with you.  This morning, the New Vision class heard a video sermon from Bishop Hector Burgoz-Nunez.  For simplicity I will refer to him as Bishop Hector.  This was the sending forth sermon from last summer’s Holston Annual Conference.  Bishop Hector led our worship during the conference. He was inspiring and I was even more excited when I learned that he was the lead author of the teaching series. 

Bishop Hector challenges us to practice an adverbial faith.  For a long time we have understood that discipleship incorporate loving, serving and leading.  The new vision amplifies those verbs with passionate adverbs.  We are to love BOLDLY, serve JOYFULLY, and lead COURAGEOUSLY. 
Bishop Hector reminds us that vision and discipleship are inseparable. This adverbial vision challenges us to grow in our discipleship as individual United Methodists, and also to grow in our discipleship as a community of believers. As he says in the introduction, “this study invites us to pause, reflect and ask, “How can we bring this vision to life - intentionally, consistently, and together - in our daily lives, communities, and shared ministry as United Methodists.”

You are invited to join with the New Vision Class as we undertake a short-term study, about six weeks, to learn more about how we can live into this vision. If the Sunday School time is not right for you, you can follow the link in today’s bulletin or this month’s ECHO, and download the study materials for your personal use.  If you’re not able do that, I will be glad to provide you with a print copy. Just let me know.
If you came in through the ramp entrance, you may have noticed the new banner with the Vision Statement.  I hope the banner will keep the vision in our focus. 

Saint Thomas the Apostle, Doubting Thomas, embodied the life that our vision calls us to.  He loved boldly, boldly enough to declare “My Lord and My God.” He was bold and courageous enough to ask Jesus the hard questions when he didn’t understand. He led courageously when he declared to the others that he would go with Jesus to Jerusalem, even if it meant death. An he served joyfully as he spread the good news of Jesus the Christ throughout the Middle East and Asia. 

My friends, as I look around I see so many of you who are already walking the path of this vision, Loving boldly, serving joyfully (I especially see that) and leading courageously. I pray that we may continue to encourage one another and strengthen one another along our journey. And in doing so, we spread the good news outward into the community, so that our lives will bear witness to God’s infinite love for us and for all creation.

Please join with me as I close with Bishop Hector’s prayer for us:

Holy God, with your son our Lord Jesus, You are the foundation of our vision, the light that leads our steps, and the hope that strengthens our mission. As we move forward in faith, may Your Spirit guide us in unity with a shared purpose.  Help us to trust in Your wisdom, embrace Your calling, and boldly proclaim Your love to the world. May our church remain faithful to Your vision, sharing Christ’s love and seeking justice, mercy and transformation in all we do. In the name of Jesus, we pray. AMEN.

Benediction: 
I leave you with this call to action: Go Forth to Love Boldly, Serve Joyfully and Lead Courageously, Praying each day about where God is calling you on your discipleship journey and where our church is being called.