April 12, 2026 - Thomas (John 20:24-29 - Brian Allison)

Devotional

Day 1: Jesus Comes to Those Who Have Honest Questions

In the quiet moments of our lives, when fear and uncertainty seem to overwhelm, it can feel difficult to approach God. Yet, the invitation remains open, not just for those with perfect faith, but especially for those wrestling with questions. God is not intimidated by our struggles or our need for reassurance. He meets us in our doubt, just as He met His most committed followers when they needed Him most. He welcomes our honest inquiries and desires to provide the comfort and answers we seek. [42:11]

Luke 7:18-20 (ESV)
The disciples of John reported all these things to him. And John, calling two of his disciples to him, sent them to the Lord, saying, “Are you the one who is to come, or shall we look for another?”

Reflection: Consider an area in your life where you are currently seeking reassurance from God. What is the honest, perhaps difficult, question you would ask Him if you knew you would be met with grace and not judgment?

Day 2: Doubt Comes in Many Different Forms

Doubt is not a singular experience; it wears many faces and arises from countless situations. It can be an intellectual struggle with a specific doctrine or a personal struggle born from pain, like a fractured relationship or a prayer that seems unanswered. Sometimes doubt is a quiet, persistent whisper in the back of the mind, and other times it is a loud, disruptive force. Recognizing the unique shape of your own doubt is the first step toward bringing it into the light. God is not surprised by any of its forms. [46:28]

John 20:24-25 (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 not believe.”

Reflection: What specific circumstance, past hurt, or unanswered question is most closely connected to the doubt you are currently facing?

Day 3: Jesus Confronts Our Doubts with Compassion

God’s desire is not for us to remain stuck in our uncertainty, but to move through it into deeper belief. He confronts our doubts not with condemnation, but with compassionate evidence of His faithfulness and truth. He provides what we need to believe, inviting us to examine His character and His work in our lives and in the world. This confrontation is an act of love, meant to solidify our faith and free us from the paralysis of skepticism. [45:42]

John 20:27 (ESV)
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.”

Reflection: Where have you seen evidence of God’s faithfulness in your past that you can hold onto as a foundation when current doubts feel overwhelming?

Day 4: Transformation Happens When We Encounter Jesus

A genuine encounter with the living Christ has the power to radically change a heart of unbelief into a heart of worship. This transformation isn't about mustering up more willpower; it is about seeing Jesus for who He truly is and responding to that revelation. The same man who once declared his unbelief was later able to declare his full allegiance, a change that empowered a lifetime of faithful service. An encounter with Jesus reorients our entire perspective. [50:20]

John 20:28 (ESV)
Thomas answered him, “My Lord and my God!”

Reflection: What would it look like for you to move from simply questioning to actively worshipping, even in the midst of your unanswered questions?

Day 5: We Can Bring Our Doubts to a Trustworthy God

The journey with doubt does not end with us; it is meant to be shared within a community of faith. We are called to create safe spaces where honest questions can be voiced without fear of judgment, and where we can help one another find the resources and support needed to seek answers. This reflects the heart of Jesus, who cares for doubters and calls His church to do the same. We are invited to both receive and extend this grace. [56:54]

Hebrews 10:24-25 (ESV)
And let us consider how to stir up one another to love and good works, not neglecting to meet together, as is the habit of some, but encouraging one another, and all the more as you see the Day drawing near.

Reflection: Who is one person in your life you can trust with your doubts, and how can you take a step this week to vulnerably share your struggle with them?

Sermon Summary

The service opens with a deliberate pause for prayer and personal reflection, inviting people to name fears, needs, and doubts before God. The reading from John 20 focuses on the resurrection appearance: Jesus enters a locked room, shows his wounds, breathes the Spirit on the disciples, and later meets Thomas—who refuses to believe unless he can touch the nail marks and Jesus’ side. Thomas moves from refusal to confession—“My Lord and my God”—after seeing and touching the risen Lord. The account affirms that honest questions and deep skepticism are not condemned; rather, Jesus welcomes the doubter, provides tangible evidence, and extends grace to transform unbelief into faith.

The teaching places Thomas within a broader cultural moment of information overload and unsettled certainties, noting that many forces work against faith and that doubt takes varied forms: intellectual questions, wounded trust from fallen leaders, family heartbreak, and personal fear. The narrative insists that Jesus does not scold honest inquiry but confronts it with clarity and care—offering proof where possible and calling people to transformed trust where full answers are not yet clear. The tension between wanting fully resolved answers and learning to trust the one who holds those answers becomes a central pastoral concern.

Practical next steps follow: dig deeper into specific doubts, seek resources and relationships that offer listening and honest engagement, and refuse the temptation to hide questions for fear of judgment. The closing exhortation urges people to “shout” their doubts—bring them honestly to Jesus and to compassionate community—and then to “douse” those doubts by accepting the answers God gives and moving forward in faith. The resurrection account of Thomas becomes an invitation: bring questions, risk honesty, receive pastoral care, and let transformative encounter with the risen Christ reshape doubt into committed belief.

Key Takeaways

1. Bring honest questions to Jesus Asking clear, frank questions signals engagement, not failure. Honest inquiry locates the seeker within the story rather than outside it; it keeps faith from calcifying into denial or brittle certainty. Approaching Jesus with doubts invites clarifying encounters rather than condemnation, opening space for growth and honesty. [40:05]
2. Jesus confronts doubts with evidence Where doubt arises, tangible signs address the heart’s resistance without cheapening mystery. Evidence in the narrative—wounds shown, an invitation to touch—meets skepticism at its point of demand, not by punishing the questioner. This approach models patience: truth can be presented lovingly and directly to overcome reasonable resistance. [36:38]
3. Faith grows through transformed trust Ultimate stability comes less from having every answer than from anchoring trust in the one who does. Transformation occurs when questions are held in healthy tension with reliance on God’s character and promises. That reorientation allows belief to persist amid ongoing uncertainties. [49:36]
4. Shout doubt, then douse it Declare fears aloud and seek help, but refuse to let questions become permanent excuses. Vocalizing doubt invites pastoral care, study, and community; dousing doubt means accepting discerned answers and moving forward in obedience. This rhythm prevents stagnation and cultivates resilient, active faith. [58:16]

Youtube Chapters

[00:00] - Welcome
[26:57] - Call to Prayer
[27:45] - Silent Reflection
[31:22] - Prayer for Needs
[32:38] - Reading: John 20
[34:18] - Jesus Appears to Disciples
[36:18] - Thomas’s Doubt Declared
[36:38] - Jesus Invites Thomas
[40:05] - Big Idea: Come With Doubt
[45:42] - Jesus Confronts Doubts
[50:44] - Jesus Cares for Doubters
[57:47] - Next Steps: Shout and Douse
[60:15] - Closing Prayer and Send-Off

Bible Study Guide

Bible reading: John 20:19-29 (ESV)

Observation questions

What was the emotional state of the disciples when Jesus first appeared to them, and what was their reaction to seeing his wounds?
What specific evidence did Thomas require before he would believe the other disciples' testimony about Jesus' resurrection?
How did Jesus respond directly to Thomas's stated conditions for belief? [36:38]
What are some of the different forms that doubt can take, as mentioned in the sermon? [46:08]

Interpretation questions

Why do you think Jesus chose to show his wounds to the disciples as his first act after greeting them with peace?
Jesus waited a full week before appearing to Thomas. What might this delay suggest about how Jesus sometimes deals with our periods of doubt and questioning?
The sermon mentions that "there are more factors working against your faith than there are working in favor of it." [41:47] What are some of those factors in our current culture, and why do they make faith a constant, active choice rather than a passive state?
How does the story of John the Baptist in Luke 7:18-23, who also had questions from a place of suffering, change our perspective on what it means to have a "strong" faith? [42:11]

Application questions

What is one specific, honest question or doubt you have been hesitant to bring to God for fear of being judged? What would it look like to "shout" that doubt to Him this week? [57:47]
The sermon encouraged "digging deeper" into doubt by seeking out resources or relationships for help. [56:07] Is there a specific doubt you need to actively research or a trusted person you need to talk to for guidance?
The idea of "dousing" doubt means accepting the answers God gives and moving forward. [58:16] Is there an area where you have received an answer or seen evidence of God's faithfulness, but you are still holding onto the doubt as an excuse not to move forward in obedience?
How can we, as a community, better "drop the judgment" and create a safer environment for people to be honest about their struggles with faith, family, or personal fears? [56:54]
The sermon suggests that we don't need God to answer every question, but to "transform our faith so that we can believe even though we don't have the answer." [48:48] What is one area in your life where you need to shift your trust from having all the answers to trusting the character of the One who holds them?

Sermon Clips

And so, in this era of uncertainty, where do we go? To settle our doubts, to settle our fears? Is there anything or anyone that we can depend on, I mean, wholeheartedly depend on, that we can lean into without reservation? And this morning, I want us to see from the story of Thomas, who we unfortunately have dubbed the doubter. We see from his story our big idea. Don't be afraid to come to Jesus with your questions and doubts. Don't be afraid to come to Jesus with your questions and doubts because leading right into our first point here, Jesus comes to doubters. [00:39:25] (44 seconds) #ComeToJesusWithDoubts

The title of the message this morning was shout your doubt. I think it's okay to do that. Don't be afraid to talk to Jesus about what's going on in your life. Don't be afraid to tell him about your fears and your concerns. Don't be afraid to find help for those things. But once you shout that doubt, find help in the one who can actually solve it for you. When you're finished at a campground, what are you supposed to do before you leave with your campfire? Take a bucket of water or sand and douse the fire. Right? And just like you douse a campfire, yes, shout your doubt, but then douse your doubt. Let Jesus douse it. Let Jesus put it out. [00:57:35] (48 seconds) #ShoutYourDoubtThenDouseIt

You see, doubt comes in a lot of different forms. A lot of times, it's accompanied by fear, but we all face it. It comes in a lot of forms. And I'm grateful that I have a savior, I have a God that knows how to face each of those fears. You see, what I don't need, this is gonna sound crazy, but what I don't need is for God to answer the question. That sounds crazy, but I don't need God to answer the question. What I need is for God to transform my faith so that I can believe even though I don't have the answer. [00:48:19] (44 seconds) #FaithOverAnswers

You see, I learned a long time ago, this helped me a ton because I've I'm a doubter. You tell me, Brian, did you hear about the thing that happened? I'm immediately assuming I'm being lied to, you know. Did you hear on the news that blah blah blah? Yeah. It's probably not true. You I'm we're probably being lied to. That's just my assumption. I'm sorry. That's just the way I am. I'm a doubter. But when it comes to this stuff, years ago, I came to realize I don't have to have all the answers as long as I hold to the one who does have the answers. As long as I've hitched my wagon to the right train, so to speak, as long as I've grabbed onto the right object of my faith, I'm okay. [00:49:03] (44 seconds) #HitchYourFaithToJesus

Jesus' reaction to John's question is not, what's your problem? Who do you think you are to question me? John, I thought you were in this for real. No. That wasn't his reaction. It was, it's okay. It's okay. Let's answer the question. Let's help John with this. And then he grabs all the people on the side who are listening who might be thinking that, and he says, look, all you people, don't look down on John because of this. Don't think less of John because he had an honest question. By the way, we as believers, those of you in this room that know Christ and have known him for a while, that's us. [00:44:40] (38 seconds) #DontJudgeQuestioners

And Jesus, a week later, not that afternoon, but a week later, he's in no big rush. He comes to the same room, the disciples are all gathered together. This time, Thomas is in the room, doors are locked, he appears in the room, gotcha. You know, that kinda I sort of I I don't I don't think Jesus did this, but I just kinda imagine like, ta da, you know, that kinda thing. Here I am, guys. And they're all, wow, Jesus, it's you. And Jesus turns away from them and he looks at Thomas and he says, do you wanna see the holes in my hands? Do you wanna put your hand in my side? And I just kind of imagine that like, you know, Thomas is in this chair and Jesus is in his face. He's like, would you like to touch him? [00:52:13] (45 seconds) #TouchAndBelieve

And tradition tells us that Thomas went to a place that's very hard to go, by the way. It's still hard to win people in India. Went to one of the hardest places in that part of the world to reach people for Jesus and gave his life, trying to reach people for Jesus Christ. The end of the story is that Thomas angered a king, and the king imprisoned him, and four guards led him out and stabbed him with spears. And we don't know for sure, but the accounts of Thomas's death say that his faith held to the end. He was looking forward to seeing Jesus. Man, here's a guy who said, I will never believe. And at the end of the life at the end of his life, he goes from being a doubter to a martyr. Only Jesus' love could do that. [00:53:45] (56 seconds) #DoubterToMartyr

Don't just be that person who hangs on to things, hangs on to things, hangs on to things. Ask the questions, but when the answer is given, accept it and move forward. And I promise you, you will not find him to fail. You will not find him lacking. Again, you don't have to have all the answers to the questions perfectly as long as you and I have the one who does have the answer to the questions. [00:58:23] (30 seconds) #AcceptAndMoveForward

Ask a question about this sermon

Chatbot

How should Christians bring doubts to Jesus?

What does believing without seeing require?

How can a church lovingly address doubters?

April 12, 2026 - Thomas (John 20:24-29 - Brian Allison)

Devotional

Day 1: Jesus Comes to Those Who Have Honest Questions

Day 2: Doubt Comes in Many Different Forms

Day 3: Jesus Confronts Our Doubts with Compassion

Day 4: Transformation Happens When We Encounter Jesus

Day 5: We Can Bring Our Doubts to a Trustworthy God

Sermon Summary

Key Takeaways

Youtube Chapters

Bible Study Guide

Sermon Clips

Chatbot

April 12, 2026 - Thomas (John 20:24-29 - Brian Allison)

Share