Doubting Thomas

Sermon Notes

Doubt can either UNDERMINE our faith or DEFINE our faith.

[John 20:24-29] One of the twelve disciples, Thomas (nicknamed the Twin), was not with the others when Jesus came. [25] They told him, "We have seen the Lord!" But he replied, "I won't believe it unless I see the nail wounds in his hands, put my fingers into them, and place my hand into the wound in his side." [26] Eight days later the disciples were together again, and this time Thomas was with them. The doors were locked; but suddenly, as before, Jesus was standing among them. "Peace be with you," he said. [27] Then he said to Thomas, "Put your finger here, and look at my hands. Put your hand into the wound in my side. Don't be faithless any longer. Believe!" [28] "My Lord and my God!" Thomas exclaimed. [29] Then Jesus told him, "You believe because you have seen me. Blessed are those who believe without seeing me."

There's nothing wrong with looking for EVIDENCE.

[John 14:1-6] "Don't let your hearts be troubled. Trust in God, and trust also in me. [2] There is more than enough room in my Father's home. If this were not so, would I have told you that I am going to prepare a place for you? [3] When everything is ready, I will come and get you, so that you will always be with me where I am. [4] And you know the way to where I am going." [5] "No, we don't know, Lord," Thomas said. "We have no idea where you are going, so how can we know the way?" [6] Jesus told him, "I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one can come to the Father except through me.

God invites us to bring our QUESTIONS to Him.

[John 11:7-16] Finally, he said to his disciples, "Let's go back to Judea." [8] But his disciples objected. "Rabbi," they said, "only a few days ago the people in Judea were trying to stone you. Are you going there again?" [9] Jesus replied, "There are twelve hours of daylight every day. During the day people can walk safely. They can see because they have the light of this world. [10] But at night there is danger of stumbling because they have no light." [11] Then he said, "Our friend Lazarus has fallen asleep, but now I will go and wake him up." [12] The disciples said, "Lord, if he is sleeping, he will soon get better!" [13] They thought Jesus meant Lazarus was simply sleeping, but Jesus meant Lazarus had died. [14] So he told them plainly, "Lazarus is dead. [15] And for your sakes, I'm glad I wasn't there, for now you will really believe. Come, let's go see him." [16] Thomas, nicknamed the Twin, said to his fellow disciples, "Let's go, too--and die with Jesus."

Jesus MEETS us in our DOUBTS and questions.

Doubt doesn't have to DEFINE your life.