CPCOG Bloomington, IL April 12: Jesus Reigns: Thomas

Devotional

Day 1: God’s Mercies Renewed Each Morning

Even in life’s darkest valleys, God’s faithfulness remains constant. His mercies are not exhausted by our struggles or limited by our failures. Each sunrise whispers a fresh invitation to trust His unchanging character. When grief or uncertainty clouds our vision, His compassion shines through like dawn after the longest night. We need only wait expectantly, for His goodness sustains those who anchor their hope in Him. [24:06]

“The steadfast love of the Lord never ceases; his mercies never come to an end; they are new every morning; great is your faithfulness.” (Lamentations 3:22-23, ESV)

Reflection: What current struggle feels overwhelming, and how might intentionally acknowledging God’s daily mercies shift your perspective?

Day 2: From Doubt to Unshakable Faith

Doubt often arises not from a lack of faith, but from a heart wrestling with unmet expectations. Thomas’ story reminds us that honest questions can lead to deeper conviction when brought to Christ. Though seasons of uncertainty may pause our confidence, they need not define our journey. God patiently meets us in our hesitations, transforming fragile faith into unshakable devotion through His gracious revelation. [38:07]

“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.’ Thomas answered him, ‘My Lord and my God!’” (John 20:27-28, ESV)

Reflection: Where do you feel your faith wavering, and what practical step could you take this week to actively seek Jesus in that area?

Day 3: God’s Purpose in Life’s Pauses

What we perceive as interruptions often become divine appointments. Thomas’ season of doubt became a catalyst for eternal impact as God reshaped his story. Our moments of waiting and confusion are not wasted—they’re woven into a greater narrative of redemption. Even when life seems paused, God works relentlessly to align our brokenness with His healing purposes. [39:18]

“And we know that for those who love God all things work together for good, for those who are called according to his purpose.” (Romans 8:28, ESV)

Reflection: Recall a past season of difficulty. How might God be using that experience to shape your ability to trust Him in current challenges?

Day 4: Jesus Meets Us in Our Doubts

Christ’s response to Thomas reveals a Savior who draws near rather than withdraws. He invites our honest questions, offering not condemnation but compassionate proof of His presence. Our doubts become sacred ground when we bring them to Jesus—not as accusations, but as requests for deeper revelation. In His kindness, He meets our need for assurance. [54:12]

“Jesus said to him, ‘Have you believed because you have seen me? Blessed are those who have not seen and yet have believed.’” (John 20:29, ESV)

Reflection: How might you approach Jesus with your doubts this week, not as final statements but as invitations for Him to reveal Himself anew?

Day 5: Seeking Truth in Seasons of Uncertainty

Thomas’ bold questions led to one of Scripture’s clearest declarations of Christ’s divinity. When we bring our uncertainties to God, He transforms them into opportunities for revelation. The path to deeper faith often winds through valleys of questioning, where we discover Christ not as a distant figure but as the living Way. Every seeking heart finds its answer in Him. [57:54]

“Thomas said to him, ‘Lord, we do not know where you are going. How can we know the way?’ Jesus said to him, ‘I am the way, and the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.’” (John 14:5-6, ESV)

Reflection: What specific question about God’s character or purposes are you wrestling with, and how could intentionally seeking His truth in Scripture bring clarity?

Sermon Summary

Lamentations 3:22–24 anchors the message in the assurance of God’s unfailing love and mercies that renew each morning. The text urges hope in the Lord as portion and strength, and prayer and worship become responses to that steadfastness. Stories of personal loss and medical crises frame the need for surrender and trust, while the narrative of Thomas in John’s gospel illustrates a movement from pause and despair to bold, lived conviction. Thomas’s bitter refusal to accept the resurrection at first—“Unless I see…”—becomes a focal point for exploring grief’s power to freeze perception and for showing how doubt can mark, but not define, a life.

John’s Gospel presents a fuller portrait of Thomas: a devoted follower who once declared willingness to die with Jesus and later confessed “My Lord and my God.” Those moments reveal leadership, candid questioning, and deep attachment rather than mere skepticism. The gospel writer uses Thomas to dramatize the doubt present across the disciples, and shows how Jesus meets that doubt—not with condemnation—but with invitation, tenderness, and evidence. Jesus invites Thomas to touch the wounds, offers peace to the fearful group, and pronounces blessing on those who believe without seeing, thereby reframing the encounter as one of patient revelation rather than rebuke.

The narrative extends into practical pastoral counsel for seasons of pain and spiritual “pause.” Engagement with Scripture, bringing questions openly to God, practicing awareness of God’s unseen presence, maintaining regular short prayers during daily tasks, and staying connected to the faith community all function as spiritual habits that reset perception and cultivate resilience. The resurrection’s consequence—the indwelling Spirit—becomes the resource that enables sight and hearing beyond present despair. Finally, the message calls for steady engagement and service despite doubt, encouraging persistence in faith practices so that God can press the “power” button and bring a new beginning. The overall thrust insists that God reigns over loss and that doubt can open the way to deeper confession, sustained discipleship, and ultimate witness even unto sacrifice.

Key Takeaways

1. God’s faithfulness renews each morning God’s mercies arrive fresh in the rhythms of life, refusing to be exhausted by human failure or grief. Anchoring identity in God’s portion redirects attention from transient losses to a steady source of hope. Choosing to hope becomes an act that orients the heart toward resurrection reality rather than present circumstance. [24:06]
2. Doubt can move toward resilient faith Thomas’s “pause” grew from crushed hopes and acute grief, yet that pause did not settle into finality; God used it to form enduring conviction. Doubt that is brought into the light of truth can catalyze deeper belief rather than destroy it. Recognizing doubt as a waypoint preserves the possibility of transformation and witness. [43:08]
3. Jesus meets questions with compassion Jesus responds to disbelief with invitation, showing wounds and offering touch rather than condemnation. That posture models divine patience: God does not exile sincere seekers but engages them where they are. Such encounters invite honest examination and a personal, relational assent. [54:12]
4. Practice presence through scripture and prayer Persistent engagement with Scripture, brief prayers woven through ordinary tasks, and honest questioning keep the soul connected to God during seasons of disorientation. These practices reorient perception, cultivate gratitude amid routine, and open eyes to the Spirit’s work. Community connection sustains and incarnates Christ’s presence in tangible ways. [58:46]

Youtube Chapters

[00:00] - Welcome
[24:06] - Lamentations: Faithful Love Renewed
[29:21] - Prayer, Loss, and Surrender
[35:50] - The Pause: When Doubt Freezes Hope
[38:07] - Thomas’s Defining Words
[45:23] - Thomas as Leader and Witness
[54:12] - Jesus’s Gentle Invitation to Believe
[58:46] - Practical Steps Through Doubt
[63:19] - Closing Exhortation and Blessing

Bible Study Guide

Bible Reading
Lamentations 3:22–24 (ESV)
The steadfast love of the Lord never ceases; his mercies never come to an end; they are new every morning; great is your faithfulness. “The Lord is my portion,” says my soul, “therefore I will hope in him.” The Lord is good to those who wait for him, to the soul who seeks him.

John 20:24–29 (ESV)
Now Thomas, one of the Twelve, called the Twin, was not with them when Jesus came. 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.” 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.” 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.” Thomas answered him, “My Lord and my God!” Jesus said to him, “Have you believed because you have seen me? Blessed are those who have not seen and yet have believed.”

Observation questions

What specific actions does Jesus take to address Thomas’s doubt in John 20:26–27?
According to Lamentations 3:22–24, what two qualities of God are emphasized as reasons for hope?
In the sermon, how does the story of Thomas’s later life (e.g., martyrdom) contrast with his initial doubt? [37:20]
What practical habits were suggested in the sermon to help believers stay connected to God during seasons of doubt? [58:46]

Interpretation questions

Why do you think John’s Gospel highlights Thomas’s doubt more prominently than the other disciples’ doubts (e.g., Matthew 28:17)?
How does Jesus’ response to Thomas in John 20:27–29 demonstrate His approach to doubters?
The sermon mentions that Thomas’s doubt “did not define him” but became a catalyst for deeper faith. How does this align with the idea that God uses our struggles for good (Romans 8:28)? [39:18]
Why might the daily renewal of God’s mercies in Lamentations 3:23 be especially meaningful for someone experiencing grief or doubt?

Application questions

What is one practical way you can intentionally remind yourself of God’s “new mercies” each morning this week? (Example: writing a verse on a sticky note, praying before getting out of bed.)
When have you experienced a “pause” in your faith (like Thomas), and how did God meet you in that season? [35:50]
The sermon encourages “short, quiet prayers throughout the day” to stay connected to God. What mundane task or routine moment could you use this week to practice this?
How can you support someone in your community who is wrestling with doubt, using Jesus’ example of gentleness and invitation? [54:12]
Thomas’s story shows doubt can lead to bold confession. What step could you take to share your faith more courageously, even if you still have questions?
The sermon warns against isolation during doubt ([01:01:54]). How will you prioritize staying connected to your church or small group this month?

Sermon Clips

49s

“``Why was Thomas filled with so much doubt about what the other 10 disciples were sharing? And the answer may be tied to the immense heartache Thomas was working through. I believe the crucifixion crushed Thomas. He was a true believer, a believer. Not being with his Lord caused Thomas to retreat from the group and probably go into a deep, sullen, dark place, overwhelmed with feelings, seeing the same thing over in his mind, hopes dashed, a political leader he was not going to be, and all of this was disappointing. It broke his heart. He was crushed, and he just couldn't get over it.”

45s

“All these things help us to have eyes that see and ears that hear and the ability to realize that we're living in the pause, and we need to press the power and have a reset. And the Lord will come as he did to Thomas, and he'll help. He'll strengthen, and he'll give you a new beginning. Isn't that neat? That's what we can expect. Just engage. Engage in his service despite the difficult seasons you go through. Even doubt, because Jesus reigns, even in doubt, he can move us towards faith. Amen? Amen. Amen.”

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