Can I Get a Witness?
Can I Get a Witness? by Rev. L. John Gable
April 16, 2023
It was just a week ago that we gathered to celebrate the Great Good News of the Easter day, “Christ is risen! He is risen, indeed.” This past week one of you told me a cute, and true, story that when she said to her neighbor, “Christ is risen!” he replied, “I KNOW!” He may not have known the appropriate liturgical response, but he knew the truth!
We gather in worship again today because, like him, and like her, “we know!”, and, like the first disciples, we have been called and commissioned to tell others that “we know!”
This morning we have invited three members of our Tab church family to share something of what “they know” with us. The questions we ask them to reflect on are these: What does it mean to you to say that Jesus is alive? And what difference does that make in the way you live your life?
We begin with Ruth Miller. VIDEO
Ruth speaks of her hope and trust in the goodness of God and reminds us that, at times, we simply need to “preach the Gospel to ourselves”. We need to be witnesses both in and out. Thank you for that good reminder, Ruth.
Listen now to the ways Caleb Goss feels called to live out his faith. VIDEO
While Caleb is intentional about listening to his grandfather’s good advice, “Be gentle, be kind, be faithful”, he realizes that he cannot do that alone, so is dependent on a faithful community of believers, this congregation, his church family, you and me, to help him draw closer to Jesus. He also reminds us that that which we have received is intended to be shared with others, so his faith is best lived out through acts of service. Thank you, Caleb!
Bernice Corley joins Ruth and Caleb as she shares what “Jesus is alive” means to her.
VIDEO
Bernice hears these words of Jesus, which are carved behind me on our chancel wall, “As you do it to the least of these you do it unto Me”, not just as a beautiful saying or a memorable quote, but as a life’s calling.
As she set out on her walk of faith Jesus met her along the way, as her guide, her friend, her defender and advocate. Now her work is her ministry and her ministry is her work.
Please join me in thanking Ruth and Caleb and Bernice for sharing their “witness” with us today.
And, the next time we hear someone say, “Christ is risen! may we, like they, say, “I KNOW!”
Rev. L. John Gable
Tabernacle Presbyterian Church
Indianapolis, IN