SUNDAY 23RD APRIL 2017
THEME: JESUS SHOWED HIMSELF TO HIS DISCIPLES
Psalm 115:1-10, 1 Corinthians 15:12-19, John 20:26-29 (NIV)
Psalm 115:1-10
1 Not to us, Lord, not to us
but to your name be the glory,
because of your love and faithfulness.
2 Why do the nations say,
“Where is their God?”
3 Our God is in heaven;
he does whatever pleases him.
4 But their idols are silver and gold,
made by human hands.
5 They have mouths, but cannot speak,
eyes, but cannot see.
6 They have ears, but cannot hear,
noses, but cannot smell.
7 They have hands, but cannot feel,
feet, but cannot walk,
nor can they utter a sound with their throats.
8 Those who make them will be like them,
and so will all who trust in them.
9 All you Israelites, trust in the Lord—
he is their help and shield.
10 House of Aaron, trust in the Lord—
he is their help and shield.
1 Corinthians 15:12-19New International Version (NIV)
The Resurrection of the Dead
12 But if it is preached that Christ has been raised from the dead, how can some of you say that there is no resurrection of the dead? 13 If there is no resurrection of the dead, then not even Christ has been raised.14 And if Christ has not been raised, our preaching is useless and so is your faith. 15 More than that, we are then found to be false witnesses about God, for we have testified about God that he raised Christ from the dead. But he did not raise him if in fact the dead are not raised.16 For if the dead are not raised, then Christ has not been raised either.17 And if Christ has not been raised, your faith is futile; you are still in your sins. 18 Then those also who have fallen asleep in Christ are lost.19 If only for this life we have hope in Christ, we are of all people most to be pitied.
John 20:26-29New International Version (NIV)
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.”
Thomas was not with the other Apostles when Jesus appeared to them on the evening of Easter Sunday. They had told Thomas about what happened but he refused to believe. He wanted to see and to touch Jesus. In the end seeing Jesus and hearing His voice, without touching was enough. He believed. Seeing is believing. But we believe what we have heard about Jesus from the Bible. We have not seen Him with our physical eyes but we believe. Jesus says we are blessed. Thank God for this blessing.
JUMAPILI TAREHE 23 APRILI 2017
WAZO KUU: YESU KRISTO AJIFUNUA KWA WANAFUNZI WAKE.
Zaburi 115:1-10, 1 Korintho 15:12-19, Yohana 20:26-29
Zaburi 115:1-10
1 Ee Bwana, kutukuza usitutukuze sisi, Bali ulitukuze jina lako, Kwa ajili ya fadhili zako, Kwa ajili ya uaminifu wako.
2 Kwa nini mataifa kusema, Yuko wapi Mungu wao?
3 Lakini Mungu wetu yuko mbinguni, Alitakalo lote amelitenda.
4 Sanamu zao ni fedha na dhahabu, Kazi ya mikono ya wanadamu.
5 Zina vinywa lakini hazisemi, Zina macho lakini hazioni,
6 Zina masikio lakini hazisikii, Zina pua lakini hazisikii harufu,
7 Mikono lakini hazishiki, miguu lakini haziendi, Wala hazitoi sauti kwa koo zake.
8 Wazifanyao watafanana nazo, Kila mmoja anayezitumainia.
9 Enyi Israeli, mtumainini Bwana; Yeye ni msaada wao na ngao yao.
10 Enyi mlango wa Haruni, mtumainini Bwana; Yeye ni msaada wao na ngao yao.
1 Korintho 15:12-19
12 Basi, ikiwa Kristo anahubiriwa ya kwamba amefufuka katika wafu, mbona baadhi yenu husema kwamba hakuna kiyama ya wafu?
13 Lakini kama hakuna kiyama ya wafu, Kristo naye hakufufuka;
14 tena kama Kristo hakufufuka, basi, kuhubiri kwetu ni bure na imani yenu ni bure.
15 Naam, na sisi tumeonekana kuwa mashahidi wa uongo wa Mungu; kwa maana tulimshuhudia Mungu ya kuwa alimfufua Kristo, ambaye hakumfufua, ikiwa wafu hawafufuliwi.
16 Maana kama wafu hawafufuliwi, Kristo naye hakufufuka.
17 Na kama Kristo hakufufuka, imani yenu ni bure; mngalimo katika dhambi zenu.
18 Na hapo wao nao waliolala katika Kristo wamepotea.
19 Kama katika maisha haya tu tumemtumaini Kristo, sisi tu maskini kuliko watu wote.
Yohana 20:26-29
26 Basi, baada ya siku nane, wanafunzi wake walikuwamo ndani tena, na Tomaso pamoja nao. Akaja Yesu, na milango imefungwa, akasimama katikati, akasema, Amani iwe kwenu.
27 Kisha akamwambia Tomaso, Lete hapa kidole chako; uitazame mikono yangu; ulete na mkono wako uutie ubavuni mwangu, wala usiwe asiyeamini, bali aaminiye.
28 Tomaso akajibu, akamwambia, Bwana wangu na Mungu wangu!
29 Yesu akamwambia, Wewe, kwa kuwa umeniona, umesadiki; wa heri wale wasioona, wakasadiki.
Tomaso hakuwepo na mitume wengine wakati Yesu aliwatokea Siku ya Ufufuo jioni. Walimsimulia lakini Tomaso alikataa kuamini. Tomaso alitaka kumwona Yesu kwa macho yake na kumshika. Mwishoni baada ya kumwona na kusikia sauti yake bila kumpapasa ilitosha. Tomaso aliamini.
Sisi tunamwamini Yesu Kristo bila kumwona kwa macho ya binadamu. Tunaamini ushuhuda wa Biblia. Yesu anasema tu heri. Mshukuru Mungu kwa baraka hii.
