Jesus And Me, Part 7: Jesus and My Doubt

Brian Behrends, Creative Pastor

John 20:24–29
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.”

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.”

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.”

“If you have never wrestled with God,
you have never known Him deeply.”
A. W. Tozer

3 Categories of Doubt

1. Logical
2. Emotional
3. Social

Mark 9:24 (Evangelical Heritage Version)
The child’s father immediately cried out and said with tears, “I do believe. Help me with my unbelief!”

Matthew 28:17–20
¹⁷ When they saw him, they worshiped him; but some doubted.

¹⁸ Then Jesus came to them and said, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. ¹⁹ Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, ²⁰ and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.”

Small Group Questions

1. When something doesn’t make sense to you, do you tend to lean in or pull back?
2. In your experience, is doubt something Christians talk about openly, or something people tend to hide? Why do you think that is?
3. When you have doubts, what do you typically do with them? Push them away, sit with them, talk to someone, or ignore them?
4. Read John 20:24-29. What stands out to you most about Thomas in this story? What does this story teach us about what Jesus is like when we bring him our doubts?
5. What does it look like practically to bring your doubts to God? What are different ways we can do that?
6. If God is not afraid of your doubts, what might he be inviting you into right now?
7. How can we pray for you right now and throughout the week?