Faith and Doubt: Embracing the Journey Together
Summary
In my sermon, I addressed the complex relationship between faith and doubt, emphasizing that having doubts does not invalidate one's faith. I began by discussing the nature of faith, arguing that it is not a blind leap but a reasoned trust based on evidence. I highlighted that faith is not merely an intellectual exercise but involves committing one's entire being to God. I referenced the story of doubting Thomas, who upon seeing the resurrected Jesus, proclaimed Him as "my Lord and my God," illustrating that even those closest to Jesus experienced doubt.
I then shared the story of Rosalind Picard, an MIT professor and former atheist whose encounter with the Bible transformed her into a devoted follower of Christ. This story served to demonstrate that faith can take root in even the most skeptical minds when they are open to examining the evidence for Christianity.
I also addressed the common misconception that faith and doubt are opposites, clarifying that the true opposite of faith is unbelief, a willful decision not to believe despite evidence. I explained that doubt is a natural part of the human experience and that even the disciples doubted when they first encountered the risen Christ. I encouraged the congregation to see doubt not as a failure but as an opportunity to seek deeper understanding and to strengthen their faith.
I then delved into the historical reliability of the resurrection, comparing the evidence for Jesus' resurrection to other historical events like the assassination of Julius Caesar. I outlined four practices used by historians to determine the accuracy of historical events and applied these to the resurrection narrative, demonstrating that the evidence for Jesus' resurrection is robust and compelling.
Finally, I encouraged the congregation to get to know Jesus personally, beyond the intellectual pursuit. I emphasized that a personal relationship with Jesus is the most profound way to overcome doubts and to experience the reality of His presence in our lives.
Key Takeaways:
1. Faith is not a blind leap into the dark but a reasoned trust based on evidence. It involves the whole person—heart, soul, mind, and strength—and is not inherited from family or friends but must be personally embraced. ([01:01:08])
2. Doubt is not the opposite of faith; unbelief is. Doubt can coexist with a vibrant faith, and Jesus' own disciples experienced doubt even in His physical presence. This should encourage us to be patient with ourselves and others who doubt. ([32:54])
3. The historical method, as opposed to the scientific method, is a valid way to investigate the claims of Christianity. The resurrection of Jesus is a historical claim that stands up to rigorous scrutiny when examined using the principles of historical investigation. ([49:33])
4. The evidence for the resurrection is compelling when considering the short interval between the events and the writing of the New Testament, the abundance of manuscript evidence, and the willingness of the early disciples to die for their testimony. ([53:46])
5. A personal relationship with Jesus is the ultimate way to address doubts. It is through knowing Him intimately that we can experience His goodness and find assurance in our faith journey. ([01:02:48])
Study Guide
### Bible Study Discussion Guide
#### Bible Reading
1. Matthew 28:16-20 - The Great Commission and the disciples' doubt.
2. John 20:24-29 - The story of doubting Thomas.
3. Psalm 34:8 - "Taste and see that the Lord is good; blessed is the one who takes refuge in him."
#### Observation Questions
1. In Matthew 28:16-20, what was the reaction of some of the disciples when they saw the resurrected Jesus? How did Jesus respond to their reaction? ([40:06])
2. According to John 20:24-29, what did Thomas require to believe in Jesus' resurrection, and how did Jesus address his doubts?
3. What does Psalm 34:8 encourage believers to do, and what promise does it offer?
#### Interpretation Questions
1. How does the reaction of the disciples in Matthew 28:16-20 challenge the common misconception that faith and doubt cannot coexist? ([41:37])
2. In John 20:24-29, what does Thomas' declaration "My Lord and my God" signify about his faith after his doubts were addressed?
3. How does Psalm 34:8's invitation to "taste and see" relate to the sermon's emphasis on experiencing a personal relationship with Jesus to overcome doubts? ([01:02:48])
#### Application Questions
1. Reflect on a time when you experienced doubt in your faith. How did you address it, and what was the outcome? ([31:18])
2. The sermon mentioned that faith is a reasoned trust based on evidence. What evidence has strengthened your faith, and how can you share this with others who are struggling with doubt? ([28:31])
3. How can you support someone in your small group or community who is experiencing doubt? What practical steps can you take to walk alongside them? ([44:56])
4. The story of Rosalind Picard shows that even the most skeptical minds can come to faith. How can you create an environment that encourages open examination of evidence and honest questions about Christianity? ([01:04:14])
5. Jesus' response to Thomas' doubt was gentle and understanding. How can you emulate this approach when discussing faith with others who have doubts? ([46:29])
6. Psalm 34:8 invites us to "taste and see that the Lord is good." What specific actions can you take this week to deepen your personal relationship with Jesus and experience His goodness? ([01:02:48])
7. The sermon emphasized the importance of a personal relationship with Jesus to overcome doubts. What steps can you take to cultivate a more intimate relationship with Him in your daily life? ([01:01:08])
Devotional
Day 1: Reasoned Trust Anchors Faith
Faith is often misconstrued as a blind leap into the unknown, yet it is more accurately described as a reasoned trust grounded in evidence. This trust is not solely an intellectual assent but a holistic commitment that engages the heart, soul, mind, and strength. It is a personal journey that one must undertake, not a legacy passed down from family or friends. Faith is built upon a foundation of experiences, historical truths, and personal encounters that collectively point towards a reality greater than ourselves. It is in this reasoned trust that one finds the courage to step forward in faith, even amidst the uncertainties of life. [01:01:08]
Hebrews 11:1-3 ESV
"Now faith is the assurance of things hoped for, the conviction of things not seen. For by it the people of old received their commendation. By faith we understand that the universe was created by the word of God, so that what is seen was not made out of things that are visible."
Reflection: How does understanding faith as reasoned trust change your perspective on any doubts you may have?
Day 2: Doubt as a Pathway to Deeper Faith
Doubt is not the nemesis of faith; rather, it is a companion that can lead to a more profound understanding and a stronger belief. The disciples themselves, even in the presence of Jesus, grappled with doubt, which serves as a reminder that faith is not a static state but a dynamic journey. Doubt invites believers to ask questions, to seek answers, and to grow in their knowledge of the divine. It is an opportunity to explore the depths of one's beliefs and to emerge with a faith that is not only affirmed but also resilient and vibrant. [32:54]
Mark 9:23-24 ESV
"And Jesus said to him, 'If you can! All things are possible for one who believes.' Immediately the father of the child cried out and said, 'I believe; help my unbelief!'"
Reflection: What doubt are you currently wrestling with, and how can you use it as an opportunity to deepen your faith?
Day 3: Historical Inquiry Validates Faith Claims
The historical method is a legitimate tool for examining the claims of Christianity, particularly the resurrection of Jesus. This approach applies the same rigorous standards used to verify other historical events, thereby affirming the credibility of the resurrection narrative. By understanding the principles of historical investigation, believers can confidently assert that the resurrection is not a myth or a legend but a well-substantiated event with profound implications for faith and life. [49:33]
1 Corinthians 15:3-6 ESV
"For I delivered to you as of first importance what I also received: that Christ died for our sins in accordance with the Scriptures, that he was buried, that he was raised on the third day in accordance with the Scriptures, and that he appeared to Cephas, then to the twelve."
Reflection: How can the application of historical methods to the resurrection narrative strengthen your confidence in the truth of Christianity?
Day 4: Resurrection Evidence Demands a Response
The evidence supporting Jesus' resurrection is compelling, considering the short time span between the events and the documentation in the New Testament, the extensive manuscript evidence, and the disciples' willingness to die for their testimony. This evidence invites a response from those who encounter it, challenging them to consider the implications of the resurrection for their own lives and beliefs. The historical veracity of the resurrection is a cornerstone of Christian faith, providing a solid foundation upon which to build a life of discipleship. [53:46]
Acts 17:30-31 ESV
"The times of ignorance God overlooked, but now he commands all people everywhere to repent, because he has fixed a day on which he will judge the world in righteousness by a man whom he has appointed; and of this he has given assurance to all by raising him from the dead."
Reflection: What impact does the historical evidence for the resurrection have on your personal faith and the way you live out that faith?
Day 5: Personal Encounter with Jesus Overcomes Doubt
A personal relationship with Jesus is the most effective way to confront and overcome doubts. It is through an intimate knowledge of Him that believers experience His goodness and find assurance in their faith journey. This relationship goes beyond intellectual understanding to a heartfelt connection that transforms lives. Knowing Jesus personally means experiencing His love, grace, and truth in a way that is real and life-changing. [01:02:48]
Philippians 3:8-10 ESV
"Indeed, I count everything as loss because of the surpassing worth of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord. For his sake I have suffered the loss of all things and count them as rubbish, in order that I may gain Christ and be found in him, not having a righteousness of my own that comes from the law, but that which comes through faith in Christ, the righteousness from God that depends on faith—that I may know him and the power of his resurrection, and may share his sufferings, becoming like him in his death."
Reflection: In what practical ways can you cultivate a deeper personal relationship with Jesus to address your doubts?
Quotes
1) "But Jesus said, love the Lord your God with all your heart and soul and mind and strength. He's basically saying, I want you to commit everything that you are to me. In other words, you can't rely on the faith of grandma. You can't rely on the faith of a friend or a spouse. You have to determine for yourself what this records. Do I really believe this? Is this intellectually credible? And if it is, it demands my life and my allegiance, right?" [01:01:08]
2) "I started reading the Bible and it started to change me. I started to read the Bible and it started to change me. And today, she's a devotee. I'm a devoted follower of Jesus Christ. Friends, it can happen for any one of us. The most unlikely people. It's not just sometimes we go, well, people who need a crutch or their life has dealt them a bad hand and that's the only place they have to turn." [01:04:14]
3) "How do we deal with doubts that may come our way? More important than that, how does Jesus respond to our doubt? I want to do two things today. I want to show, first of all, that you can absolutely have a genuine faith, a vibrant, spiritual life, even if you have doubts. We're going to look at one of the most incredible and most doubted events in all of history." [32:54]
4) "Some doubted, which means this. When you doubt, you're in some pretty good company, right? Like the other 11 disciples, closest followers of Jesus, some doubted. So the question then remains, what do you do with the doubts? What do you do with the doubts? Well, for starters, from the example of how Jesus responded, Hans, to his first followers, we can say this, it's okay to have doubts." [40:06]
5) "The opposite of faith is not doubt. The opposite of faith is unbelief. Unbelief. That's two very different things. Unbelief refers to our will. It refers to, like, I choose not to believe the evidence, or I don't even want to look at the evidence, because even before you show me, I've already made a decision. I'm not going to believe that." [41:37]
6) "But we would say that if God is God, that he can do whatever he pleases in his universe, right? I like how Travis Dickinson puts it in his book, Wandering Toward God, Finding Faith Amid Doubts and Big Questions. He gives this example. Anybody who's flown in an airplane. I think you'll be able to relate to this. He says, Most of us are willing to get in an airplane, even though we may not be able to explain how the plane functions." [52:18]
7) "So, Plutarch wrote in his book about the assassination of Caesar, he wrote in the 2nd century AD, about 160 years after the assassination. So, couldn't have talked to an eyewitness, right? They were long gone. So, who was Plutarch's source? Well, as a sort of a member of the high society of, you know, Rome, he had access, no doubt, to documents, to, you know, oral traditions that are lost to us." [53:46]
8) "Why would they do that? Why would they do that? Why would they do that? Why would they do that? Only you would say if they were telling the truth, right? Bateman makes this comment in his article. He says, while many people might die for something they think is true, who dies for what they know to be false? If the early disciples knew in their hearts, like, well, we actually really never saw Jesus and whatever." [58:07]
9) "These are issues far too important, right, to just let go. But even when we have doubts, here's what we can know. Jesus himself is patient with our doubts, right? He's humble, and he's gentle. So acknowledge your doubts, pinpoint them, and do your research. But they're issues too important to ignore. Let's talk about one more step and then wrap up." [59:28]
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