Faith, Doubt, and Community in Christ's Resurrection

Christ is risen! Today, we reflect on the profound lessons from Thomas Sunday, which the Church celebrates immediately after the Feast of the Resurrection. This timing is not accidental; it is for our benefit, to teach us about faith, doubt, and the essential role of the Church in our spiritual lives. When Thomas doubted the resurrection, the Lord did not appear to him privately, but waited until Thomas was with the other disciples. This reveals a deep truth: God chooses to reveal Himself within the body of Christ, the Church. Our personal relationship with God is vital, but it is within the community, in the liturgy, that we encounter the fullness of His presence and salvation.

The story of Thomas is not about rebuke, but about invitation. Christ did not shame Thomas for his doubt; instead, He welcomed it, showing His wounds and inviting Thomas to touch and believe. This teaches us that doubt, when brought honestly before God and the Church, becomes a path to deeper faith. The Church is not a gathering of perfect people, but of those who are weak, who doubt, who sometimes even betray. Among the twelve disciples, one denied, one doubted, and one betrayed. Yet, those who returned and revealed their weakness—like Peter and Thomas—were restored and became great saints. Only Judas, who hid his sin and did not seek help, was lost.

We must not let the failures or shortcomings of individuals in the Church drive us away from the body of Christ. Just as we would not abandon all doctors because of one bad experience, we should not abandon the Church because of the faults of a few. Instead, we are called to commit ourselves to the life of the Church: to attend liturgy every week, to pray daily, and to read the Bible daily. This is not a burden, but the cost of eternal life and the path to true communion with God.

Finally, it is crucial to reveal our doubts and weaknesses, whether to a spiritual father, a trusted mentor, or within the community. When we expose what is hidden, God intervenes, heals, and strengthens our faith. Let us purpose in our hearts to remain faithful to the Church and to be honest about our struggles, trusting that God will meet us there and lead us to resurrection life.

Key Takeaways

• 1. God Reveals Himself in the Church, Not in Isolation The Lord waited to appear to Thomas until he was with the other disciples, teaching us that God’s self-revelation is found within the body of Christ. Personal prayer is essential, but it is in the liturgy and the community of believers that we encounter the fullness of God’s presence and salvation. Disconnection from the Church leads to spiritual dryness and confusion, while commitment to the Church is crucial for our spiritual health. [01:44]
• 2. Commitment to the Liturgy is the Foundation of Spiritual Life Attending liturgy every week, praying daily, and reading the Bible daily are not optional extras, but the very foundation of a Christian life. This commitment may require sacrifice, as seen in the story of the family who drove hours each week to attend liturgy, but it is the cost of eternal life and the means by which we stay on the path of salvation. Such discipline shapes our hearts and keeps us rooted in Christ. [07:33]
• 3. The Church is a Community of the Weak, Not the Perfect Among Christ’s own disciples, there was denial, doubt, and betrayal—yet the Lord did not abandon His Church. The presence of weakness or even corruption among members does not invalidate the Church, but rather reveals our need for grace. We must not let the failures of a few drive us away, but instead pray for one another and remain steadfast in the community God has given us. [12:23]
• 4. Revealing Doubt and Weakness is the Path to Healing Thomas was restored because he openly confessed his doubt, while Judas was lost because he hid his sin. When we reveal our struggles—whether doubts, sins, or questions—God intervenes, heals, and strengthens us. Concealing our weaknesses allows them to fester and destroy, but humble honesty brings freedom and growth in faith. [15:02]
• 5. Doubt, When Revealed Humbly, Deepens Faith It is not wrong to have questions or doubts; what matters is bringing them into the light, seeking understanding with humility. The Church must be a place where questions are welcomed and explored, not silenced or shamed. When we reveal our doubts, God uses them to deposit deeper faith within us, leading us to a more authentic and resilient relationship with Him.
  
  ** [16:40]

Youtube Chapters

• [00:00] - Welcome
• [00:58] - Why Did Jesus Wait to Appear to Thomas?
• [01:44] - The Church as the Place of God’s Revelation
• [02:29] - Salvation is Only in the Church
• [03:14] - The Importance of Congregational Worship
• [05:04] - The Story of the Three Promises
• [05:49] - Lifelong Commitment to Liturgy, Prayer, and Scripture
• [06:38] - Sacrifice and Joy in Attending Liturgy
• [07:33] - The Cost and Commitment of Eternal Life
• [10:48] - Weakness Among the Disciples
• [11:17] - Denial, Doubt, and Betrayal in the Church
• [12:23] - Human Weakness and the Integrity of the Church
• [13:03] - Responding to Scandal and Disappointment
• [13:54] - The Difference Between Thomas and Judas
• [15:02] - The Power of Revealing Weakness
• [16:40] - Welcoming Questions and Doubts
• [19:23] - Final Exhortation: Faithfulness and Honesty in the Church

Bible Reading

John 20:24-29 — _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.”_

2. Hebrews 10:24-25
_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._

Observation Questions

1. When did Jesus choose to appear to Thomas, and who was present at that time? (John 20:26; [01:44])
2. What did Thomas say he needed in order to believe that Jesus had risen? (John 20:25; [00:58])
3. According to the sermon, what are the three commitments the bishop asked his Sunday School students to make for life? ([05:49])
4. What was the difference between how Thomas and Judas handled their doubts and weaknesses? ([13:54])

Interpretation Questions

1. Why do you think Jesus waited until Thomas was with the other disciples before appearing to him, instead of meeting him alone? What does this say about the role of community in faith? ([01:44])
2. The sermon says the Church is not a gathering of perfect people, but of those who are weak, who doubt, and who sometimes even betray. How does this perspective change the way we view the Church and our place in it? ([12:23])
3. The story of Thomas shows that Jesus did not rebuke him for his doubt, but invited him to touch and believe. What does this teach us about how God responds to our honest questions and struggles? ([13:54])
4. The sermon draws a contrast between revealing and hiding our doubts or sins. Why is it important to bring our struggles into the light, and what can happen if we keep them hidden? ([15:02])

Application Questions

1. The sermon challenges us to commit to attending liturgy every week, praying daily, and reading the Bible daily. Which of these is most challenging for you right now, and what practical step could you take this week to grow in that area? ([05:49])
2. Have you ever felt distant from God or spiritually dry after missing church or disconnecting from the community? What did you notice about your faith during that time? ([03:14])
3. The sermon compares leaving the Church because of the failures of a few to refusing to see any doctor because of one bad experience. Have you ever been tempted to give up on church because of someone’s actions? How did you respond, or how do you wish you had responded? ([13:03])
4. Is there a doubt, question, or weakness you have been hiding from others or from God? What would it look like to share it with a trusted spiritual mentor or within the group? ([15:02])
5. The story of the monk who was freed from troubling thoughts after confessing them shows the power of revealing what’s hidden. Is there something you need to bring into the light for healing? What’s holding you back? ([15:02])
6. The sermon says that doubts, when revealed humbly, can actually deepen our faith. Can you share a time when being honest about your doubts led to greater understanding or closeness with God? ([16:40])
7. How can our small group become a place where questions and doubts are welcomed, not silenced or shamed? What can each of us do to help create that environment? ([16:40])