Jesus Changes Everything: "Jesus Changes our Doubts"

Jesus Changes Everything: “Jesus Changes Our Doubts”        

John 20:24-29

Isaiah 40:31 - “Those who have confidence in the LORD will renew their strength. They will soar on wings like eagles; they will run and not grow weary, they will walk and not be faint.”

I. The Characteristics of Belief.  (John 20:24-25) 

~Commitment to trust and follow Jesus.    

John 11:16 -  “So Thomas, called the Twin,said to his fellow disciples, ‘Let us also go, that we may die with him.’”

~Honest about disappointments and doubts.      

John 14:5 - “Thomas said to him, ‘Lord, we do not know where you are going. How can we know the way?’”

 1. Factual Doubt (Gary Habermas)

Questioning the truthfulness of Christianity while desiring to see Christianity to be true, reasonable and rational.  

1 Peter 3:15 - “…in your hearts honor Christ the Lord as holy, always being prepared to make a defense to anyone who asks you for a reason for the hope that is in you; yet do it with gentleness and respect.”

2. Emotional Doubt

More subjective in nature. It emerges from one’s own anxiety, cultural peer pressure and often from heartbreaking circumstance in life.

Proverbs 20:5 - “The purpose in a man’s heart is like deep water, but a man of understanding will draw it out.”

3. Willful Doubt

An unwillingness to follow and obey the Lord Jesus due to hardness of heart and self-reliance.

Acts 28:24 - “Some were being persuaded by the things spoken, but others would not believe.”

Acts 16:14 - “A woman named Lydia…was listening...the Lord opened her heart to respond to the things spoken by Paul.”

II. The Command to Believe.  (John 20:26-27)

III. The Confession of Belief.  (John 20:28-29)

1. Tell someone about my faith.

Mark 5:19 - “Jesus said, ‘…go home to your family, and tell them everything the Lord has done for you and how merciful he has been.’”

2. Be baptized as a believer.

Acts 2:41 - ^“Those who received his word were baptized…”

Acts 10:48 - “(Peter) commanded them to be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ…”

3. Take communion.

1 Corinthians 11:24-26 – “(Jesus) said, ‘This is my body… Do this in remembrance of me… This cup is the new covenant in my blood… drink it, in remembrance of me… you proclaim the Lord's death until he comes.’”

4. Share my faith with other believers.

Ephesians 4:25 - “Each one of you speak the truth with his neighbor, for we are members one of another.”

5. Give a public testimony.

Psalm 22:22 - “I will praise you to all my brothers; I will stand up before the congregation and testify of the wonderful things you have done.”

 Faith Sheet: Going Deeper This Week

1. Would you say that you are more trusting or more skeptical by nature? Why? How can there be dangers in both?

2. Why is it important to distinguish between different facets of doubt?

3. Why is it important for people to see that the gospel story is not only true, but also attractive and that it works?

4. How would you explain or define faithin Christ to a seven-year-old who asks you what it means? What analogies or illustrations would you use to help a child understand biblical faith?

5. What can we learn from Jesus’ response to Thomas about how to respond to doubters—both those who are already believers in Jesus and those who are not?

6. Review the five ways to profess your faith and discuss with someone where you are in your continual confessing of Christ.

7. How is your C group’s faith being shown to others in the community? Pray for someone.