How to Deal with Doubt John 20:24-29 ~~~~~~John 20:24–29 (ESV) — 24 Now Thomas, one of the twelve, called the Twin, was not with them when Jesus came. 25 So the other disciples told him, “We have seen the Lord.” But he said to them, “Unless I see in his hands the mark of the nails, and place my finger into the mark of the nails, and place my hand into his side, I will never believe.” 26 Eight days later, his disciples were inside again, and Thomas was with them. Although the doors were locked, Jesus came and stood among them and said, “Peace be with you.” 27 Then he said to Thomas, “Put your finger here, and see my hands; and put out your hand, and place it in my side. Do not disbelieve, but believe.” 28 Thomas answered him, “My Lord and my God!” 29 Jesus said to him, “Have you believed because you have seen me? Blessed are those who have not seen and yet have believed.”

Doubtful information Why Do Many Reasonable People Doubt Science? We live in an age when all manner of scientific knowledge—from climate change to vaccinations—faces furious opposition. Some even have doubts about the moon landing.— Source-National Geographic Climate Change? Evolution ~~~Why Do Many Reasonable People Doubt Science? ~~~We live in an age when all manner of scientific knowledge—from climate change to vaccinations—faces furious opposition. ~~~Some even have doubts about the moon landing.— ~~Source-National Geographic ~~~Climate Change? Read In 1925 in Dayton, Tennessee, where John Scopes was standing trial for teaching evolution in high school, a creationist bookseller hawked his wares. Modern biology makes no sense without the concept of evolution, but religious activists in the United States continue to demand that creationism be taught as an alternative in biology class. When science conflicts with a person’s core beliefs, it usually loses. ~~~~~~~~~~~Evolution

What you believe? “people tend to use scientific knowledge to reinforce beliefs that have already been shaped by their worldview.” The “science communication problem,” as it’s blandly called by the scientists who study it, has yielded abundant new research into how people decide what to believe—and why they so often don’t accept the scientific consensus. It’s not that they can’t grasp it, according to Dan Kahan of Yale University. In one study he asked 1,540 Americans, a representative sample, to rate the threat of climate change on a scale of zero to ten. Then he correlated that with the subjects’ science literacy. He found that higher literacy was associated with stronger views—at both ends of the spectrum. Science literacy promoted polarization on climate, not consensus. According to Kahan, that’s because ~~~~~~~~~people tend to use scientific knowledge to reinforce beliefs that have already been shaped by their worldview.

Doubt defined-a feeling of uncertainty or lack of conviction What makes you doubt? What is your worldview? How can you over come doubt when a story is true? Thomas was not at the first meeting with Jesus Disciples did not believe Mary nor Peter nor John ~~~What makes you doubt? What is your worldview? ~~~How can you over come doubt when a story is true? ~~~Thomas was not at the first meeting with Jesus ~~~~~~~~~Disciples did not believe Mary nor Peter nor John

Disciples steps to belief for the disciples Told by the women Peter and John ran to the Tomb John seeing the clothing believed Peter went away wondering ~~~Told by the women ~~~Peter and John ran to the Tomb ~~~John seeing the clothing believed ~~~~~~~Peter went away wondering

Disciples did not believe the women Must have been a strange combination Women knew the truth Men refused to believe Disciples did not believe John and Peter was not convincing ~~~Must have been a strange combination ~~~women knew the truth ~~~Men refused to believe ~~~~~~~~~Disciples did not believe John and Peter was not convincing

Thomas loyal and pessimistic John 20:24-26 Jesus did not rebuke Thomas failure 2 Timothy 2:13 (ESV) if we are faithless, he remains faithful— for he cannot deny himself. Never, I will not believe not every believe UNLESS Have to see proof Jesus compassionately offered him proof Jesus lovingly met him at the point of his weakness ~~~Jesus did not rebuke Thomas failure ~~~2 Timothy 2:13 (ESV) if we are faithless, he remains faithful— for he cannot deny himself. ~~~Never, I will not believe not every believe UNLESS ~~~Have to see proof ~~~Jesus compassionately offered him proof ~~~~~~~Jesus lovingly met him at the point of his weakness

III. Thomas Saw the Lord (20:26–31) Jesus showing forgiving love to Thomas See my hands, touch them. See my side. Put your hand in it.  Next day—Lord’s day Meaning—belonging to the Lord for His honor and glory Thomas saw Jesus and forgot all about his demands for proof “My Lord and My God” ~~~Jesus showing forgiving love to Thomas ~~~See my hands, touch them. ~~~See my side. Put your hand in it.  ~~~Next day—Lord’s day ~~~Meaning—belonging to the Lord for His honor and glory ~~~Thomas saw Jesus and forgot all about his demands for proof ~~~~~~~~~My Lord and My God

You can have the same assurance 1 Corinthians 15:17 (ESV) And if Christ has not been raised, your faith is futile and you are still in your sins. 1 Corinthians 15:19 (ESV) If in Christ we have hope in this life only, we are of all people most to be pitied. ~~~1 Corinthians 15:17 (ESV) And if Christ has not been raised, your faith is futile and you are still in your sins. ~~~~~~~1 Corinthians 15:19 (ESV) If in Christ we have hope in this life only, we are of all people most to be pitied.

Steps for each of us. World is seeking reality and truth Know you are a Christian by your love John 13:35 (ESV) By this all people will know that you are my disciples, if you have love for one another.” ~~~World is seeking reality and truth ~~~Know you are a Christian by your love ~~~~~~~~John 13:35 (ESV) By this all people will know that you are my disciples, if you have love for one another.”

Holy Spirit draws people to Jesus

John 6:44 (ESV) No one can come to me unless the Father who sent me draws him. And I will raise him up on the last day. ~~~~~~~No one can come to me unless the Father who sent me draws him. And I will raise him up on the last day.

Titus 2:11–13 (ESV) 11 For the grace of God has appeared, bringing salvation for all people, 12 training us to renounce ungodliness and worldly passions, and to live self-controlled, upright, and godly lives in the present age, 13 waiting for our blessed hope, the appearing of the glory of our great God and Savior Jesus Christ, ~~~~~~~~11 For the grace of God has appeared, bringing salvation for all people, 12 training us to renounce ungodliness and worldly passions, and to live self-controlled, upright, and godly lives in the present age, 13 waiting for our blessed hope, the appearing of the glory of our great God and Savior Jesus Christ,

Ephesians 2:8–10 (ESV) 8 For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God, 9 not a result of works, so that no one may boast. 10 For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them. ~~~~~~~~~8 For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God, 9 not a result of works, so that no one may boast. 10 For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them.

Ways the Holy Spirit draws people to Jesus Love—Fruit of the Spirit is Love Peace that passes understanding-John 14:27 Fellowship of the Spirit—1 Cor 13:14 Believers caring for one another—Acts 4:13—Peter & John People’s sympathy, compassion and comfort 2 Cor 1:4 ~~~Love—Fruit of the Spirit is Love ~~~Peace that passes understanding-John 14:27 ~~~Fellowship of the Spirit—1 cor 13:14 ~~~Believers caring for one another—Acts 4:13—Peter & John ~~~~~~~~People’s sympathy, compassion and comfort 2 Cor 1:4

Ways the Holy Spirit draws people to Jesus Shows us strength, success, meaningfulness Proper view of family Shows people truth, justice and judgment Acts 5:3-6 Offers of Newness—2 Cor 5:17 Sense of power, importance and status in Christ Col 3:12 Sense of eternal security-1 Cor 15:55-57 ~~~Shows us strength, success, meaningfulness ~~~Proper view of family ~~~Shows people truth, justice and judgment Acts 5:3-6 ~~~Offers of Newness—2 Cor 5:17 ~~~Sense of power, importance and status in Christ Col 3:12 ~~~~~~~Sense of eternal security-1 Cor 15:55-57

Jesus is alive Disciples saw and believed You can believe by the Evidence also Hebrews 11:1 (ESV) — 1 Now faith is the assurance of things hoped for, the conviction of things not seen. Hebrews 11:6 (ESV) — 6 And without faith it is impossible to please him, for whoever would draw near to God must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who seek him. ~~~Disciples saw and believed ~~~You can believe by the Evidence also ~~~Hebrews 11:1 (ESV) — 1 Now faith is the assurance of things hoped for, the conviction of things not seen. ~~~~~~~~Hebrews 11:6 (ESV) — 6 And without faith it is impossible to please him, for whoever would draw near to God must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who seek him.

Examples of Faith Examples of Faith-Hebrews 11—Read through the chapter

Will you believe? It WILL make a difference in this life and for all eternity.