Are you struggling with questions about your faith? You’re not alone. Pastor Jeremy DeWeerdt examines the story of Thomas, the most well-known doubter in the Bible. Discover how Jesus met Thomas in his doubts and how He can meet us in ours, leading to a deeper and more meaningful faith.
Notes 📓✏️:
Walking Through Walls of Doubt – Pastor Jeremy DeWeerdt
Dr. A.J. Swoboda, PhD: “To struggle with one’s faith is often the surest sign we actually have one.”
Constructive Deconstruction
John 20:1-2 (NLT): “Early on Sunday morning, while it was still dark, Mary Magdalene came to the tomb and found that the stone had been rolled away from the entrance. She ran and found Simon Peter and the other disciple, the one whom Jesus loved. She said, “They have taken the Lord’s body out of the tomb, and we don’t know where they have put him!”
John 20:19-20 (NLT): “That Sunday evening, the disciples were meeting behind locked doors because they were afraid of the Jewish leaders. Suddenly, Jesus was standing there among them! “Peace be with you,” he said. As he spoke, he showed them the wounds in his hands and his side. They were filled with joy when they saw the Lord!”
John 20:24-29 (NLT) “One of the twelve disciples, Thomas (nicknamed the Twin), was not with the others when Jesus came. 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.”
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. 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!” “My Lord and my God!” Thomas exclaimed. Then Jesus told him, “You believe because you have seen me. Blessed are those who believe without seeing me.”
Thomas is hurt, frustrated, and does not want to be tricked into blindly believing what others have told him about Jesus.
Can we ask questions of our faith in a way that leads us to greater understanding of God instead of cynicism and a wholesale rejection of truth?
Acts 17:10-12 (NLT) “That very night the believers sent Paul and Silas to Berea. When they arrived there, they went to the Jewish synagogue. And the people of Berea were more open-minded than those in Thessalonica, and they listened eagerly to Paul’s message. They searched the Scriptures day after day to see if Paul and Silas were teaching the truth. As a result, many Jews believed, as did many of the prominent Greek women and men.”
Notice the connection…the deeper they searched the more they believed.
As long as you keep bringing your questions back to Jesus, you’re going to be ok.
Truth: A faith that’s not tested is not faith at all.
Five Types of Doubters:
1) The world is filled with “Natural Doubters.”
2) There are “Intellectual Doubters.”
3) There are “Wounded Doubters.”
4) There are “Rebellious Doubters.”
5) There are “Disappointed Doubters.”
Thomas was not weak or easily persuaded.
Thomas did not accept easy answers.
His doubts come from devotion to Jesus.
He was not unwilling to believe, but unable to for the moment.
He said, “Put your finger here; see my hands. Reach out your hand and put it into my side. Stop doubting and believe” (John 20:27).
Jesus didn’t reject Thomas, and He won’t reject you either.
The greatest doubters often become the strongest believers.
Jeremiah 29:13 (NLT) “If you look for me wholeheartedly, you will find me.”
Healthy Next Steps:
1. Keep coming to City First Church
2. Freedom Groups
3. “After Doubt” by Dr. AJ Swoboda
Discussion Questions đź“ťâť“:
- How can doubts in our faith be a sign that we have faith?
- Why is it important to process our doubts and difficult questions in a safe and loving environment
- How did Jesus respond to Thomas’ doubts about his resurrection
- How can the three miracles shared in the sermon help strengthen our faith in difficult times