StoneBridge Community Church
Senior Pastor Jon Saur
In this series, we will examine Jesus' interactions with different characters in the Gospel of John, so that we can see how Jesus interacts with us and learn how we can interact with others.
John 20:24-29 NRSV
Quotes On Doubt
Here are some quotes related to Faith and Doubt:
"The beginning of wisdom is found in doubting; by doubting we come to the question, and by seeking we may come upon the truth." - Peter Abelard
"Faith and Doubt go hand in hand, they are complementaries. One who never doubts will never truly believe." - Herman Hesse
"If you would be a real seeker after truth, it is necessary that at least once in your life you doubt, as far as possible, all things." - Renee Descartes
Thomas' Confession
In the Gospel of John, Thomas is the first person to explicitly make the confession that Jesus is God, when Thomas says "My Lord and my God" in John 20:28. Many had called Jesus "Lord," but explicitly referring to Jesus as "God" is reserved for Thomas.
It's interesting that Thomas is more known for his doubts than for being the first person in John to acknowledge Jesus' divine identity. Perhaps the fear of doubting led the church to emphasize his doubts as a perceived negative?
Regardless of how Thomas' doubts took center stage for his story, we can reflect on his story at a deeper level and recognize that Thomas' doubts helped bring about his understanding and confession that Jesus was God. Thomas' initial doubts set the stage for his amazement at Jesus' appearance, which brought him to his confession of Jesus as God.
GROWTH GROUP / PERSONAL REFLECTION QUESTIONS
1. How do you respond to the doubts of others?
2. How do you respond to your own doubts?
3. How might Jesus use your doubts to deepen your faith and understanding? How might Jesus use the doubts of others to deepen your understanding of him as "Lord and God?"
4. This sermon discussed Jesus' response to Thomas' doubts. Can you think of other stories about Jesus where he interacts with people who doubt who he is? How does he respond?
5. Is there someone in your life who is doubting to whom you can reach out? If you are in a period of doubting, is there someone you can reach out to?
QUESTIONS FOR FAMILIES WITH CHILDREN
1. What kinds of doubts do you have about faith?
2. Do your doubts make you uncomfortable or worried?
3. It's okay to doubt. Everyone has doubts. Jesus can handle whatever doubts we have. How can you give your doubts to Jesus?
NEXT STEPS
Take some time to reflect on the doubts you have about faith, or reflect on someone you know whose faith is wavering.
- Pray for yourself, that Jesus would help you to not run from doubts, but to hand them to Jesus and to trust that your faith will be stronger because of your doubts.
- Pray for the person who is struggling, that he or she would become comfortable with doubts and would learn that faith can exist with doubts.
