Doubting Thomas?
You may not get OVER some doubts,
But you can get THROUGH them with the help of Jesus.
Doubting Thomas?
Q: What do you think of?
Do you give “Doubt” center stage?
Where do you give “Doubt” center stage?
You will have “Doubts”,
Just don’t let them be “Dead ends”.
“Devoted” Thomas
Doubts seem always to have the component of some kind of
“Fear of loss”.
A Look at “Devoted” Thomas
A man named Lazarus was sick. He was from Bethany, the village of Mary and her sister Martha… 3 So the sisters sent word to Jesus, “Lord, the one you love is sick.” 4 When he heard this, Jesus said, “This sickness will not end in death. No, it is for God’s glory…
He stayed where he was two more days,7 and then he said to his disciples, “Let us go back to Judea.” 8 “But Rabbi,” they said, “a short while ago the Jews there tried to stone you, and yet you are going back?” Jesus told them plainly, “Lazarus is dead, 15 and for your sake I am glad I was not there, so that you may believe. But let us go to him.”
16 Then Thomas… said to the rest of the disciples,
“Let us also go, that we may die WITH him.”
-John 11:1-16
THOMAS SHOWS COMMITMENT
1. He wanted to be WITH Jesus
“Let us also go, that we may die WITH him.”
Who can you faithfully count on to be WITH YOU?
…in everyday life?
…in a crisis?
THOMAS SHOWS COMMITMENT
2. He was “All IN”, even to the extent of DYING.
“Let us also go, that we may DIE with him.”
TWO KINDS OF COURAGE
“Optimistic Courage”
“Pessimistic Courage”
“Optimistic Courage”
Expects a Positive outcome.
“Pessimistic Courage”
Even though they expect the WORST, they follow through anyway.
THOMAS SHOWS GREAT LEADERSHIP
“Let us also go, that we may die with him.”
John 14 “Do not let your hearts be troubled. I am going there to prepare a place for you? … 4 You know the way to the place where I am going.” Thomas said to him, “Lord, we don’t know where you are going, so how can we know the way?”
6 Jesus answered, “I am the way…”
John 20:24+ Thomas… was not with the disciples when Jesus came… 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.”
[Visual Demonstration of Doubt]
Talking to those who are Pessimistic or depressed can be very hard…
“I’ve got to see it to believe it”
“My Lord and my God.”
* Jesus does not blame people for doubting
or wanting to be more confident.
* Confidence often comes from being
around other believers.
“Faith is being SURE of what we hope for,
and CERTAIN of what we do not see.”
- Hebrews 11:1
What is getting in the way of your SURENESS and CERTAINTY?
Fear of losing a person?
Lack of leadership?
Lack of trust?
Lack of Optimistic Courage?
Is Pessimistic Courage too hard?
TRUST
Trust Jesus who has taken away; your sins and the greatest fear [missing heaven].
“It is by grace that you have been saved.” -Ephesians 2:8
“Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways submit to him, and he will make your paths straight.”
- Proverbs 3:5,6
Do NOT give doubt center stage!
FAITH is not the absence of Doubt.
It is the means to OVERCOME it.
You will have “Doubts”,
Just don’t let them be “Dead ends”.