Sermon Cloud

From Doubt To Faith

April 19, 2009

1. Wrestling with Doubt.  (John 20:24-25
2. Confronted with Evidence. (John 20:26-27)
3. Choosing to Commit. (John 20:28-29)

Sermon Questions for John 20:24-29

If you have feedback, please let David Fuquay know at dfuquay@jacksonvillechapel.org. 

SPECIFIC PRAYER  (suggestions)

            Read over the serving ideas below; please spend time in prayer for them.

SCRIPTURE AND SHARING

Crawl:

Do you think Christianity in general has a positive influence on culture? Why or why not?  Does Jacksonville Chapel?

What is the church’s role in the community?  In broader culture?  (Niebuhr said Christ can stand against culture, Christ can be of (accommodate) culture, Christ above culture, Christ and Culture in paradox, Christ can transform culture)

Walk:

Read John 20:24-25

What do you do with those doubts? Do you stuff them? Do you pursue them? Do you have to get answers to all of them? Is it possible to have faith and doubt at the same time?

In what ways do you hold back from the Lord?  In what ways does your faith need to increase, so that you give yourself over fully?

Read John 11:6 and John 14:5.  Forgetting the third scene of Thomas’s life, what can you assume about Thomas?  What do these verses show of his personality?  (Thomas shows himself to be highly committed to Jesus, very courageous, and also very inquisitive—just really wanting to understand the teaching of Jesus.)

Do you think the hypocrisy of some Christians keep skeptics out of the church?  Why is this a bad thing for the skeptic?  Why is this bad for the church? How can we over come this?

Dave pointed out that people outside the church walls may see unforgiveness, intolerance, and greed, but what else negative could they see?  What positives SHOULD they be seeing from Christians? Without getting a marketing guru or PR firm, what can Christianity do to improve its voice in the culture?

Do you think its okay for someone to call themselves a follower or believer of Jesus, and reject the church?  How do you feel when someone says they love you but hate your spouse (Eph 5:27)?

Read John 20:26-29

Notice what Jesus did not do: Jesus didn’t say, “Thomas you big idiot! How can you possibly ask such a stupid question?” He didn’t say that! Instead, he invited Thomas to come and check out the evidence.  How do you think Jesus would respond to your doubts?

What is the proper response to overwhelming evidence?

Do you think we have enough evidence to believe in Jesus?  What more could you want? Which piece of evidence persuades you the most?  (As way of reminder, Dave listed 4: Creation. (Psalm 19), Something deep in us that longs for justice, the desire to help others,  and Jesus Christ.  The way he lived, and the way he taught, and the way he makes sense out of life. There’s simply no one like him.)

Ortberg says, “Sometimes…we will have to make a 100% commitment to something even though we do not have 100% certainty in our beliefs about it.”   How is that statement true in your life?

Is Jesus Christ worthy of your trust and worthy of your commitment?  Are you all in?  In what areas, if any, are you holding back?

Run:

Do you think it’s fair that Thomas is remembered as the doubter?  Do you think he deserves this sole moniker?  How ill you be remembered?

Doubt, when honest, should set us on a quest for that which is true, real, that for which we can give not only our intellectual assent but, even more, that to which we can entrust our very lives. Thomas's doubt led to this place.  Where will your doubt lead you?  How can this group help?

Key Words and Further Study:

The Greek word that’s translated “doubt” is a word that means to hesitate or hold back because of your uncertainty.

Mark Buchanan said it like this: “Sometimes doubting is not a lack of faith but rather an expression of it. Sometimes to doubt is merely to insist that God be taken seriously, not frivolously.” In other words, “If I’m gonna believe this, if I’m gonna commit my life to this, I need to truly embrace it.”

SERVICE (fodder for ideas)

Mothers Day” Service Project:  This year we are celebrating Motherhood in a new way. The Chapel partners with two crisis pregnancy centers: First Choice and Turning Point. We want to encourage new mothers who have chosen life by presenting them with a very practical Mother’s Day gift.  Join with us as we collect the following items: Diapers (size new born to one), wipes, newborn clothes (0-6months), sleepers/nightgowns, and new onsies. Toiletries (baby shampoo, lotion, powder) baby bottles and receiving blankets.  Look for the cribs in the Lobby starting April 19th through Mothers Day.

Helping Hands Ministry project: Join Helping Hands as we team up with Transformation Life Center (TLC) and provide a BBQ lunch for the TLC Fishing Derby held at Shepherd Lake. This is an awesome opportunity to come along side TLC and share the Good News of Jesus Christ!  When: May 9th, 2009, Where: Shepherd Lake, Ringwood NJ, Time: 10:00 am - 2:00 pm.  We need volunteers to help load, set up, BBQ, serve food and drinks, clean up and take down.  Please contact Chip Nelson at 973-784-4842 to volunteer or Kathy Petonak at the Chapel office 973-334-6657

Passaic Hospital Project: A Nurse on a committee that is of a small hospital in Passaic NJ has been asked to plan a picnic/fundraiser for the hospital around the middle of May to celebrate hospital week.  As you can imagine the staff needs a major pick me up and a break from the stress of uncertain employment and future.  The committee has been asked to reach out to anyone who may help.  We are open to pretty much anything, games? rides? food or $$$ We don't have a spacious campus and so even that is limited.  Your prayers for our hospital to continue to provide services to an under privileged community, is of course very much appreciated.  Please contact me, Yolando Caro @ my e-mail or cell 973 902 3490.