Have Your Doubts

Story comments: Doubting Thomas?

Is it a sin to doubt? Is it wrong to disbelieve? Is it such a bad thing to seeing it in order to believe it?

Doubting Thomas? Example of how doubting can be good if we use it to reassess and adapt

doubt can lead to a stronger faith

Sermon Intro: Facing a New Reality and it’s changing everyday

faced with new realities - children; new location;

pandemic new realities; telecommuting, distance education; kids all day; loss of job; mask; colleges (bankrupt, withdrawing, refund); far reaching affects; negative news

good: time to study; time with family; connect more with relatives

But I want to deal with this guy in the story - Thomas, who had to see

bad: bad habits; depression; distancing; spiritual: it’s understandable to have doubts; to have a shaky faith; to struggle

When we doubt there are 3 ways we can respond:

bewilderment, Denial, Reassess and Adapt

doubting can lead to a stronger faith

the early believers in the risen Christ were doubters before they believed

Bewilderment - (miracles, God acting) don’t know, can’t know; doesn’t matter; agnostic

confused; shocked; afraid; angry, and leave it there

Mark is the shortest account of Jesus, look at the ending:

Mark 16:8 NIV

Trembling and bewildered, the women went out and fled from the tomb. They said nothing to anyone, because they were afraid.

The first account of Jesus that was written

the first eyewitnesses were afraid and didn’t want to tell anyone

Mark tells us that the women fled. They didn't even tell anyone a single, blessed thing because, they were flat out "afraid." And that is the last word in the gospel

according to Mark: “afraid.” They could have stayed that way; shocked; amazed that such a possibility existed; give it no attention

requires no commitment; no change; result: not really sure about the resurrection, but I like Jesus; I’m okay with coming to church

our doubt can lead us to confusion, or indifferent (agnostic?) but...

doubting can lead to a stronger faith

Denial - concluding that God isn’t in control; isn’t concerned; skepticism;

allow our doubt to make us skepticism

stuck in permanent doubt; okay with church, but coming back from the dead is a real stretch

Luke 24:11 NIV

But they did not believe the women, because their words seemed to them like nonsense.

first disciples spent some time in denial; just like Thomas;

requires no commitment; no change; just cynicism; skepticism; or our....

doubting can lead to a stronger faith - how?

Reassess Life - using doubt to grow closer to God

not as good as simple faith - believing without seeing; God wants complete trust, but when (not if) doubts come, use the doubts to explore:

1. look for evidence - consider arguments for the resurrection, existence of God; that’s in the head

2. listen to testimonies - how has God helped others?

3. pray specifically: I want to believe, but I’m struggling. Can you show me?

Thomas? (relaible tradition among churches in India, say he planted churches there, China, Indonesia

doubt can lead us to a stronger faith

we see the doubting Thomas - weak faith, inferior to those who believe without

see it first? sometimes God will show us so that we can believe?

doubt: a real part of our relationship w/God; lead to fear; skepticism, or seekers

doubt can lead us to a stronger faith