Series: Tension
Topic: Part 2 — Faith and Doubt
Speaker: Scotty Priest, Lead Pastor
Date: November 13, 2022
Some things aren’t problems to be solved…they are tensions to be managed.
Read through the verses below, and keep in mind that Thomas and John the Baptist lived during the time of Jesus.
Ecclesiastes 1:1-2
The words of the Teacher, son of David, king in Jerusalem: “Meaningless! Meaningless!” says the Teacher. “Utterly meaningless! Everything is meaningless.”
John 20:24-25
“Now Thomas, one of the Twelve, was not with the disciples when Jesus came. So the other disciples told him, “We have seen the Lord!” But he said to them, “Unless I see the nail marks in his hands and put my finger where the nails were, and put my hand into his side, I will not believe.”
Matthew 11:2-3
When John, who was in prison, heard about the deeds of the Messiah, he sent his disciples to ask him, “Are you the one who is to come, or should we expect someone else?”
Matthew 28:16
Then the eleven disciples went to Galilee, to the mountain where Jesus had told them to go. When they saw him, they WORSHIPED him; but some doubted.
- The tension between faith and doubt is normal, everyone doubts and there are different reasons and phases throughout life that can bring up this tension. It can be easy to have guilt or feel bad for “questioning your faith”, but in the verses above we see that even these men had questions. What are some common reasons that lead to doubts in your life, or what currently is causing doubt?
- Thomas wanted to see the nail marks in Jesus’ hands, he would only believe if he had visible proof. In Matthew, John the Baptist wanted the disciples to fact check and when they saw Jesus, some of them worshiped and some doubted. How do you respond to your own doubt and questions when they come up?
- Let your doubts push you to God, face them by doubting your doubts. John 6:68-69 says, Simon Peter answered him, “Lord, to whom shall we go? You have the words of eternal life. We have come to believe and to know that you are the Holy One of God.” God has the words of eternal life! How has God answered your questions in the past, or what questions do you have now? If you have hurt or challenging questions, take time to seek out wise counsel within your group, in the church and in scripture.