Opening the Way: Open Hearts

SERMON TITLE:   “Opening the Way:  Open Hearts”
SERMON TEXT:    Luke 24:13-35
PREACHER:           Rev. Kim James
OCCASION:           April 11, 2021, at First UMC
 
 
INTRODUCTION
 
                Over the past weeks, the crocus, hyacinths, daffodils, narcissus, and tulips in the church flower beds have been opening up their lovely faces to the sun.  A few days ago, I noticed white blossoms in some of the trees in the church yard.  Likewise, yellow flowers have just opened up on some bushes.  And, if you look closely out there, you can see that the blossoms on the flowering crab trees are just on the verge of opening up.  One-by-one and batch-by-batch, yellow, purple, blue, red, white, and pink buds have been opening into full flower, flamboyantly and whole-heartedly declaring that God’s resurrection of new life has begun. 
                Last Sunday, I started a sermon series I’m calling “Opening the Way.”  The first sermon in the series was about “God’s Grand Opening” of the tomb on Easter morning.  That opened tomb showed the women that God had raised Jesus from the dead.  It made it possible for those early disciples to believe, and it opened up resurrection faith to all kinds of people across the centuries since then.  This morning, I’m continuing this “Opening the Way” series.  As we reflect on our scripture reading from Luke 24, let’s consider how God is opening the way for us to have “open hearts.” 

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