Sermon Tone Analysis
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Introduction
Pastor Bryan Wilkerson tells this story
When I was a student at Harvard Divinity School, I learned preaching from Dr. Gardner Taylor, a pastor in New York City.
I'll never forget those lectures.
I remember him telling us a story from when he was preaching in Louisiana during the Depression.
Electricity was just coming into that part of the country, and he was out in a small church that had just one little light bulb hanging down from the ceiling to light up the whole sanctuary.
He was preaching away, and in the middle of his sermon, all of a sudden, the electricity went out.
The building went pitch black, and Dr. Taylor didn't know what to say, being a young preacher.
He stumbled around until one of the elderly deacons sitting in the back of the church cried out, "Preach on, preacher!
We can still see Jesus in the dark!"
Sometimes that's the only time we can see him—in the dark.
And the good news of the gospel is that whether we can see him in the dark or not, he can see us in the dark.
Sometimes that's the only time we can see him—in the dark.
And the good news of the gospel is that he can see us in the dark.
TRANSITION
Tonight I want to talk to you about overcoming doubt
Doubt is the darkness we live in sometimes
Faith is the confidence that we can see Jesus even in the dark
Doubt vs. Unbelief
So what is doubt
Some people think that doubt and unbelief are the same thing, but they are not.
There is a difference between doubt and unbelief
I do not believe anyone here doubts the existence of God
But we all have doubts
For example:
I believe God can do miracles, but I doubt if he will do a miracle for me
I believe that God answers prayers, but I doubt that He hears my prayers
I believe that God loves, but I doubt if he can love me
I believe that God has a voice, but I doubt if He will speak to me?
And the list goes on and on
Does God care?
Does God speak to me?
Does God have a plan for my life?
Does God know how I feel?
Biblical Examples
If you have doubt you in your faith, you are not alone
Matthew
There are many examples in the Bible of great men and women of God who had doubts
Abraham and Sarah doubted God’s promise
Genesis 17:15-22
Gideon doubted God’s call
Judges
Zechariah doubted the birth of John the Baptist
John the Baptist doubt the identity of the Messiah
The Apostles
In verse 17 we read that the eleven disciples went to Galilee to meet with Jesus on a mountain, and the Bible tells us that they worshiped.
They were able to worship God openly because God had helped them overcome their doubts.
Consider where these eleven men had been in the last 3 years before this moment.
They had walked with Jesus through his earthly ministry.
They had heard him teach, they had seen him perform miracles, and they fully believed that he was the Son of God.
Then something tragic happened.
They watched as Jesus was crucified.
We can only imagine how devastated they must have been to see the one they were following as the Son of God die without ushering in the Kingdom of God.
Consider where these eleven men had been in the last 3 years before this moment.
They had walked with Jesus through his earthly ministry.
They had heard him teach, they had seen him perform miracles, and they fully believed that he was the Son of God.
Then something tragic happened.
They watched as Jesus was crucified.
We can only imagine how devastated they must have been to see the one they were following as the Son of God die without ushering in the Kingdom of God.
The Jewish community in the first century had no concept of a Messiah with two comings.
In their understanding, he was supposed to come one time and establish the Kingdom of God with great authority and power.
He was not supposed to die, but he did.
The Jewish community in the first century had no concept of a Messiah with two comings.
In their understanding, he was supposed to come one time and establish the Kingdom of God with great authority and power.
He was not supposed to die, but he did.
It is only natural that they had doubts later when God raised Jesus from the dead.
And they did have doubts.
But this was the 8th time that Jesus had appeared to them after the resurrection.
He gave them time to accept the truth.
He presented many undeniable proofs to them, and he helped them past their unbelief.
That was very important because once they understood that Jesus had died for them, and that God raised him from the dead – they would never again have to question or doubt one of God’s promises.
In the ultimate test, God had proven that His word was true.
Now the disciples were ready for God to turn the page and show them what was next.
It is only natural that they had doubts later when God raised Jesus from the dead.
And they did have doubts.
But this was the 8th time that Jesus had appeared to them after the resurrection.
He gave them time to accept the truth.
He presented many undeniable proofs to them, and he helped them past their unbelief.
That was very important because once they understood that Jesus had died for them, and that God raised him from the dead – they would never again have to question or doubt one of God’s promises.
In the ultimate test, God had proven that His word was true.
Now the disciples were ready for God to turn the page and show them what was next.
Thomas Doubted the Resurrection
TRANSITION
The point is that we all have doubts
We are never going to arrive to that magical place where nothing is putting pressure on our lives
Example: Parents
Parents imagine that once their new babies start to sleep at night, then their lives will be normal again
The truth is that there are new challenges in every stage of life…no matter what their age
We cannot have this idea that one day if say enough prayers and read enough Bible verses that we will reach a place that we no longer have to face and overcome doubts
OVERCOME YOUR DOUBTS
Doubt is not a sin, but it interrupts your faith
It is a weapon that the devil uses to enter into your life
We have to recognize it in our lives, but we cannot allow the devil to
This is what James says about doubt in our lives
Doubt is a weapon that the devil is used
The one who doubts is like a wave on the sea
We have to stop this cycle from happening
Because we attach what God does to our good works
Actually God works through faith not your perfection
Even if you have not done everything right, you can still come to me
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