1. Dismantling Our Doubts Sunday, May 29, 2016 Pastor Rich Miller

2. Click on the YouVersion Bible App on your smart phone: Or type the following url into your browser: http://bible.com/events/41693

3. Defining Doubt Doubt comes from the root word we get our English word double “double-minded” (see Jam. 1:6-8) To doubt is not a sin To doubt is to seek more information, to pursue illumination, and recognize your limited knowledge “Doubt is the sincere question; unbelief is the unwillingness to hear the answer.”

4. John 20:24-29 (pg. 1075 of Sanctuary Bible) 24 Now Thomas (also known as Didymus), one of the Twelve, was not with the disciples when Jesus came. 25 So the other disciples told him, “We have seen the Lord!” But he said to them, “Unless I see the nail marks in his hands and put my finger where the nails were, and put my hand into his side, I will not believe.”

5. John 20:24-29 (pg. 1075 of Sanctuary Bible) 26 A week later his disciples were in the house again, and Thomas was with them. Though 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; see my hands. Reach out your hand and put it into my side. Stop doubting and believe.”

6. John 20:24-29 (pg. 1075 of Sanctuary Bible) 28 Thomas said to him, “My Lord and my God!” 29 Then Jesus told him, “Because you have seen me, you have believed; blessed are those who have not seen and yet have believed.”

7. Thomas the doubter 1. Willing to Die for Jesus: (see John 11:1-16) “Thomas could see nothing but danger ahead. He was convinced that Jesus was headed straight for a stoning. But if that is what the Lord was determined to do, Thomas grimly determined to go and die with Him.” (John McArthur) This was courageous leadership!

8. Thomas the doubter 2. Willing to Ask Tough ???: (see John 14:1-7) “A question implies that there are things I don’t know. So bringing questions and doubts are a form of respect for God.” (Rob Bell) “You will seek me and find me when you seek me with all your heart” (Jer. 29:13)

9. Thomas the doubter 3. Seeing Is Believing: (see John 20:24-29) Thomas Worships the Lord…  Thomas calls Jesus “my Lord” (“kyrios”): “I surrender to You completely. You are the Lord of my life. You are the leader of my heart.”  He calls Jesus “Theos” and “God”: Thomas, who we call the doubter, understood the resurrection better than all of the other disciples. Jesus is raised. He is Lord. He is God.

10. Points of Reflection (Living It Out) > Be honest about your faith. > Bring your doubts to God and sincerely seek answers (see Isa. 55:6). > Faith = Doubt + Belief (see Heb. 11:6). > Even when you do not see God or understand His plan, trust Him.