Embracing God's Love: From Doubt to Faith
Summary
### Summary
In today's sermon, we delved into the profound and lavish love of God as illustrated through the parables in Luke 15, particularly focusing on the parable of the prodigal son. This parable reveals the extravagant, almost reckless love of God that surpasses human understanding. The prodigal son squandered his inheritance in reckless living, yet the father's response was one of overwhelming love and forgiveness. This mirrors God's love for us, which is lavish and unending, even when we stray far from Him. God's love is proactive; He seeks us out, leaves the 99 to find the one lost sheep, and sweeps the house diligently to find the lost coin. This love is not just historical but is poured out on us today through the Holy Spirit.
We also explored the life of the Apostle Thomas, often dubbed "Doubting Thomas," to understand the nature of faith and doubt. Thomas's story is a testament to the fact that doubt does not disqualify us from God's love or from being used mightily by Him. Thomas's initial doubt led to one of the most profound declarations of faith when he encountered the risen Christ and proclaimed, "My Lord and my God." His life shows that doubt can coexist with deep devotion and that asking questions can lead to a stronger, more personal faith.
Thomas's journey from doubt to faith also underscores the importance of personal encounters with Jesus. Just as Thomas needed to see and touch Jesus to believe, we too are invited to bring our doubts and questions to God, trusting that He will meet us where we are. This personal faith is not just for our benefit but equips us to be agents of God's love and grace to the world.
### Key Takeaways
1. God's Prodigal Love: The parable of the prodigal son illustrates God's extravagant love, which is lavish and seemingly reckless. This love is proactive, seeking us out even when we have squandered our lives. It is a love that forgives and restores, demonstrating that no matter how far we stray, God's love is always ready to welcome us back. [30:56]
2. The Role of Doubt in Faith: Thomas's story shows that doubt is not the opposite of faith but can be a part of the journey towards a deeper belief. His doubts led him to a personal encounter with the risen Christ, resulting in a profound declaration of faith. This teaches us that our doubts can lead to greater understanding and stronger faith if we bring them to Jesus. [51:26]
3. Personal Encounters with Jesus: Thomas needed a personal encounter with Jesus to move from doubt to faith. This highlights the importance of seeking a personal relationship with Christ, where our faith is not just based on second-hand accounts but on our own experiences with Him. This personal faith is crucial for a resilient and enduring belief. [01:16:27]
4. The Courage to Ask Questions: Thomas's willingness to ask questions led to one of the most significant revelations in the New Testament: Jesus as the way, the truth, and the life. This encourages us to ask our own questions and seek deeper understanding, knowing that God welcomes our inquiries and uses them to deepen our faith. [01:09:46]
5. Faith in Action: Thomas's life after his encounter with the risen Christ shows that true faith leads to action. He went on to spread the gospel far and wide, even to India, where he ultimately gave his life for his faith. This challenges us to let our faith move us to action, sharing God's love and grace with the world, even at great personal cost. [01:19:23]
### YouTube Chapters
[0:00] - Welcome
[29:44] - The Prodigal Son's Recklessness
[30:24] - God's Lavish Love
[30:56] - God's Love Finds Us
[32:10] - Jesus Calls Us in Our Sin
[32:53] - Experiencing God's Love Today
[33:36] - God's Love Overcomes Condemnation
[34:09] - Transition to Pass the Peace
[44:38] - Introduction to Doubting Thomas
[45:56] - Thomas's Dying Devotion
[47:08] - Thomas's Courageous Pessimism
[51:26] - Thomas's Valid Questions
[01:02:30] - Jesus as the Way, Truth, and Life
[01:11:12] - Thomas's Personal Encounter with Jesus
[01:16:27] - The Importance of Personal Faith
[01:19:23] - Thomas's Martyrdom and Legacy
[01:27:53] - Communion and Confession
[01:33:36] - Final Thoughts and Benediction
Study Guide
### Bible Study Discussion Guide
#### Bible Reading
1. Luke 15:1-7 - The Parable of the Lost Sheep
2. Luke 15:8-10 - The Parable of the Lost Coin
3. Luke 15:11-32 - The Parable of the Prodigal Son
4. John 20:24-29 - Jesus Appears to Thomas
#### Observation Questions
1. In the parable of the prodigal son, what was the father's reaction when his son returned? How does this illustrate God's love? [30:56]
2. What actions did the shepherd take when he realized one sheep was missing in Luke 15:1-7?
3. How did Thomas respond when he first heard about Jesus' resurrection from the other disciples? [01:12:45]
4. What did Jesus say to Thomas when He appeared to him after the resurrection? [01:11:12]
#### Interpretation Questions
1. How does the father's reaction to the prodigal son challenge our understanding of forgiveness and grace? [30:56]
2. What does the parable of the lost coin teach us about the value God places on each individual? [30:56]
3. How can Thomas's journey from doubt to faith encourage us in our own moments of doubt? [01:12:45]
4. What does Jesus' statement, "Blessed are those who have not seen and yet have believed," mean for us today? [01:15:57]
#### Application Questions
1. Reflect on a time when you felt far from God. How did you experience His love and forgiveness during that period? [30:56]
2. In what ways can you be more proactive in seeking out those who are lost or struggling in your community, similar to the shepherd and the woman in the parables? [30:56]
3. How do you handle your own doubts about faith? What steps can you take to bring those doubts to Jesus, as Thomas did? [01:12:45]
4. Think about a personal encounter with Jesus that strengthened your faith. How can you share that experience with others to encourage them? [01:16:27]
5. Are there questions or doubts you have about your faith that you have been hesitant to ask? How can you create a safe space for yourself and others to explore these questions? [01:09:46]
6. How can you demonstrate the same kind of courageous devotion that Thomas showed, even in the face of uncertainty or danger? [52:59]
7. Identify one person in your life who might be struggling with doubt. How can you support them in their journey towards a deeper faith? [01:12:45]
Devotional
Day 1: God's Prodigal Love
God's love is extravagant, proactive, and forgiving, as illustrated in the parable of the prodigal son. This love is not just a passive feeling but an active pursuit. The father in the parable did not wait for his son to come crawling back; he ran to meet him, embraced him, and restored him to his place in the family. This mirrors God's love for us, which is always ready to welcome us back, no matter how far we have strayed. God's love is not limited by our mistakes or failures; it is a love that forgives and restores.
This love is also proactive. Just as the shepherd leaves the 99 sheep to find the one that is lost, and the woman sweeps the house diligently to find the lost coin, God actively seeks us out. He does not wait for us to find our way back to Him; He comes looking for us. This is a love that is always reaching out, always seeking to bring us back into a relationship with Him. [30:56]
Luke 15:4-6 (ESV): "What man of you, having a hundred sheep, if he has lost one of them, does not leave the ninety-nine in the open country, and go after the one that is lost, until he finds it? And when he has found it, he lays it on his shoulders, rejoicing. And when he comes home, he calls together his friends and his neighbors, saying to them, ‘Rejoice with me, for I have found my sheep that was lost.’"
Reflection: Think of a time when you felt far from God. How did you experience His love seeking you out and welcoming you back? How can you extend this same proactive love to someone in your life today?
Day 2: The Role of Doubt in Faith
Doubt is often seen as the opposite of faith, but the story of Thomas shows us that doubt can be a part of the journey towards a deeper belief. Thomas's doubts did not disqualify him from God's love or from being used mightily by Him. Instead, his doubts led him to a personal encounter with the risen Christ, resulting in one of the most profound declarations of faith: "My Lord and my God."
This teaches us that our doubts can lead to greater understanding and stronger faith if we bring them to Jesus. Doubt is not something to be ashamed of or to hide; it is an opportunity to seek a deeper relationship with God. When we bring our doubts and questions to Him, He meets us where we are and helps us to grow in our faith. [51:26]
John 20:27-28 (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.' Thomas answered him, 'My Lord and my God!'"
Reflection: What doubts or questions do you have about your faith? How can you bring these to Jesus and seek a deeper understanding and relationship with Him?
Day 3: Personal Encounters with Jesus
Thomas needed a personal encounter with Jesus to move from doubt to faith. This highlights the importance of seeking a personal relationship with Christ, where our faith is not just based on second-hand accounts but on our own experiences with Him. Personal faith is crucial for a resilient and enduring belief.
Just as Thomas's encounter with Jesus transformed his doubt into a profound declaration of faith, our personal encounters with Jesus can transform our lives. These encounters can happen in many ways: through prayer, reading the Bible, worship, or even in the midst of our daily lives. The key is to seek Him and be open to experiencing His presence in our lives. [01:16:27]
Jeremiah 29:13 (ESV): "You will seek me and find me, when you seek me with all your heart."
Reflection: How can you seek a personal encounter with Jesus today? What steps can you take to make your faith more personal and experiential?
Day 4: The Courage to Ask Questions
Thomas's willingness to ask questions led to one of the most significant revelations in the New Testament: Jesus as the way, the truth, and the life. This encourages us to ask our own questions and seek deeper understanding, knowing that God welcomes our inquiries and uses them to deepen our faith.
Asking questions is not a sign of weak faith; it is a sign of a desire to grow and understand more deeply. God is not afraid of our questions, and He invites us to bring them to Him. When we do, we open ourselves up to greater revelations and a deeper relationship with Him. [01:09:46]
James 1:5 (ESV): "If any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask God, who gives generously to all without reproach, and it will be given him."
Reflection: What questions do you have about your faith or about God? How can you bring these questions to Him and seek His wisdom and understanding?
Day 5: Faith in Action
Thomas's life after his encounter with the risen Christ shows that true faith leads to action. He went on to spread the gospel far and wide, even to India, where he ultimately gave his life for his faith. This challenges us to let our faith move us to action, sharing God's love and grace with the world, even at great personal cost.
Faith is not just about belief; it is about living out that belief in our daily lives. It is about letting our faith shape our actions, our decisions, and our interactions with others. When we truly believe in the love and grace of God, it compels us to share that love and grace with others, no matter the cost. [01:19:23]
James 2:17 (ESV): "So also faith by itself, if it does not have works, is dead."
Reflection: How can you put your faith into action today? What is one specific way you can share God's love and grace with someone in your life?
Quotes
1. "God's love goes far beyond the recklessness that we live in, and it overcomes us in that recklessness, and his love wrecks us. Amen? His love comes to us, and finds us. He leaves the 99 for the one. He sweeps the house diligently at night until he finds us. And even after all that we've wasted and squandered, the Father runs to us and gives us a hug and a brace and a ring on our finger." [30:24] (26 seconds)
2. "The good news of the gospel is not only that Jesus died because he loves you and secured it for you, but also that he pours that love out on us, today, through the Holy Spirit. So I want to pray into that, that that love that we hear, we experience today in worship." [30:56] (15 seconds)
3. "If you're a follower of Jesus and still have questions, Thomas can relate, and so can many of us in the room. And sometimes we place doubts into the category of unbelief, but they're not synonymous, as we'll see in the life of Thomas. And so as we look at Thomas's life and look at doubt this morning, I pray that you experience grace in your space of doubt in your own life and see what God can still do in your life through your doubt." [51:26] (24 seconds)
4. "To believe with certainty, we must begin with doubting. Let me say that again. To believe with certainty, we must begin with doubting. We will unpack what this means and why in this brief sermon." [52:59] (15 seconds)
5. "The way is not a destination. The way is a person. The way is me. I am the way. I am the truth, and I am the life. The way you get to where I'm going is you believe in me. And point that back to what he said earlier. I'm going to come and get you and take you. Where I am. You don't need to know where I'm going, namely how to get to heaven. You just need to know Jesus, and he will take you there. He will come and bring you to himself." [01:05:11] (29 seconds)
6. "The key to wisdom is this, constant and frequent questioning. For by doubting, we are led to question, and by questioning, we arrive at the truth. The key to wisdom is this, let me say it again, constant and frequent questioning. For by doubting, we are led to question, and by questioning, we arrive at the truth." [01:09:46] (21 seconds)
7. "Thomas needed to experience it personally in his own life. And there's something commendable even about that because the very terms that he needed the questions that he really had God knows. And God knows your questions as well. Think of Philip under the fig tree we looked at him a while back where Jesus walked up to him and said I saw you under the fig tree when you were praying, right? Before we met I know exactly what you're asking and what you're seeking. I see you." [01:16:27] (36 seconds)
8. "This is not a Sunday, one hour a week church going kind of Christianity anymore. Amen. This is a faith that will die with and for Jesus and stand for him no matter the cost. That is the kind of faith that Thomas in the end has because he asked the questions, because he expressed the doubts, because he stood his ground and said, I won't be swept up until I'm sure that I'm sure that I'm sure. And when he was sure, he was willing to go to the ends of the earth, even India, for the sake of the gospel." [01:17:47] (30 seconds)
9. "Christianity includes suffering. And if your doubts include, why do we suffer? Thomas's life isn't going to fill in all the answers for you because he suffered too. But I will say, this about Jesus, he suffered to give meaning to our suffering. He rose from the dead to defeat sin and death for you. And if you're not sure of the way, because of Thomas's question, you can know for certain that Jesus Christ is the way, he is the truth, and he is the life." [01:19:23] (33 seconds)
10. "May as you ask the questions of why, with a childlike faith, encounter a father who loves you. In the name of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit, go in the love of God." [01:35:26] (12 seconds)
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