Beloved congregation, today we embarked on a journey through the valleys of doubt and the peaks of faith. We delved into the heart of the gospel, the good news that is so sweet because the bad news is so dire. We are all sinners, fallen short of the glory of God. Yet, in His infinite grace, God sent His son, Jesus, to be the perfect sacrifice, to die for our sins and rise again, conquering death and offering us redemption.
We explored the raw reality of doubt, the kind that can grip even the most faithful among us. I shared my own struggle, standing on the precipice of preaching, overwhelmed by doubt, questioning the very reality of God. But in that moment of vulnerability, I was reminded of the transformative power of Jesus in my life, the undeniable change that faith has wrought in me.
We talked about the disciples, those who walked with Jesus, saw His miracles, and yet some doubted even in the presence of the resurrected Christ. This gives us comfort, knowing that doubt is not the antithesis of faith, but rather a part of the journey of faith. We looked at Thomas, often dubbed 'Doubting Thomas,' and we sought to dignify his doubts. His questions did not disqualify his faith; they made his faith real, tangible, and relatable.
We addressed the fears of parents whose children may question their inherited faith. We encouraged openness, understanding that these questions are not a rebellion but a search for personal conviction and truth. The church and home must be safe havens for these inquiries, for it is through wrestling with doubt that faith is often strengthened.
Finally, we invited everyone, in the midst of doubt or certainty, to come to Jesus. To bring their questions, their fears, their brokenness, and lay them at the feet of the one who gives grace without conviction. We celebrated those who made the spiritual decision to step away from the old life and embrace the new life in Christ.
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