Sermon Tone Analysis

Have you ever had doubts about what you believe to be true about God, Jesus, or faith?

Ask any believer if they have ever found themselves doubting...

Season of life — Moments of doubt — God/myself

Bad doubt — Can lead to cynicism, distrust, pessimism, contempt and lead the faithful way from God (Sin).

Tim Keller — College student/pastor — “Who are you sleeping with?”

Doubt when left unchecked, can reveal unsettled, underlying, struggles leading to deep seated separation that can keep us from living God’s best.

Good doubt sends us on a quest, seeking answers to questions that can cause us to doubt.

Doubt can lead to a deeper faith.

“Doubt is the beginning not the end of wisdom.”

Proverb 17:24

(S) — It certainly was for Thomas who made this proclamation after seeing Jesus Alive for himself.

John 20:28 “Thomas said to him, “My Lord and my God!””

Series — Jesus alive — Disciples — Thomas’ needs to see to believe

If you have ever been uncertain about something?

Your future — Job — Health — Church — Your faith?

Jesus is alive in our doubt.

He showed up for Thomas and does for us as well...

PRAY

(S-pic) — Ever find yourself in the messy middle?

What part is the worst of any difficult situation?

Like being a middle Child...

“The oldest child is more authoritarian and feels all-powerful due to the high expectations often set by the parents.The youngest child is treated like a spoiled baby and can never rise above the other siblings.The middle child has trouble fitting in, being sandwiched between the younger and older siblings.”

(Adler’s birth order theory)

The Messy middle is where the disciples find themselves in John’s gospel — Death/resurrection/appearance — Locked doors still

(S) — Thomas’ absence from Jesus’ first appearance —

24 “Now Thomas (also known as Didymus), one of the Twelve, was not with the disciples when Jesus came.”

John 20

Disciple (gospels) — His absence could explain his disposition at the time

When you have been in the middle of a messy situation, how did you feel at the time?

Anxiety — Lack of clarity — Tunnel vision — Hard to see the big picture

Isaiah 55:9 ““As the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways and my thoughts than your thoughts.”

Before we discount Thomas in his absence and his doubt — Thomas’s was no wimpy disciple

John 11:16 “Then Thomas said to the rest of the disciples, “Let us also go, that we may die with him.””

(S) — Maybe Thomas already learned that...

God NEVER abandons us in the middle!

His absence from the disciples may not be a failure of faith.

In his doubts he could have sought out answers to his questions

John 14:5 “Thomas said to him, “Lord, we don’t know where you are going, so how can we know the way?””

Jesus often went to quiet place to pray?

Is it possible that Thomas was doing the same thing?

As a follower of Jesus, where do you go when your in the messy middle?

God never abandons us in the middle…and he didn't Thomas either

(S) — Upon Thomas’ return, the disciples share the good news...

John 20:25 “We have seen the Lord!”

But he said to them, “Unless I see the nail marks in his hands and put my finger where the nails were, and put my hand into his side, I will not believe.””

The other disciples belief is evident because they saw jesus alive.

Thomas not so much.

Was Thomas questioning the validity of there witness?

Ever have someone tell you something you didn’t believe?

Had to see it for yourself?

Denny — Killed in front yard — Tracks in the yard

Was Thomas questioning his disciples?

Possibly.

Remember the disciples...For Thomas seeing was necessary to deepen his faith.

Believing in Jesus as lord, was contingent upon seeing the evidence of the physically resurrected Jesus.

There is a difference between having knowledge OF something and believing IN something.

Unless I see…(Juicy steak)

Case for Christ (Lee Strobel) — Atheist to believer — It took seeing for himself

(S) — The beautiful thing about being a follower of Jesus is becoming one who fully trust in jesus.

Matthew 7:7 ““Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you.”

Learning what it means to be a follower of Jesus, we will not find all the answers, but it can take us deeper...

I believe that in his doubt, Thomas is revealing a maturity in his faith — A desire to grow...

Ephesians 4:14 “Then we will no longer be infants, tossed back and forth by the waves, and blown here and there by every wind of teaching and by the cunning and craftiness of people in their deceitful scheming.”

Still Thomas makes a pretty bold condition — unless I see...

Easier to believe something we have seen

An astronauts perspective of earth —

Not only about faith, but assurance — Thomas’ calling becoming clearer after Jesus resurrection?

The disciple who went the furthest?

He travelled outside the Roman Empire to preach the Gospel, as far as the Tamilakam which is in Southern India

According to tradition in 72CE — Speared to death for his faith

(S) — If he was to do what he goes on to do, he would need it!

Recall Peter needed a sit down with Jesus on the shore...

“Doubt is not something to run from, but to press into…”

Thomas need to see Jesus alive for himself.

(S) — Jesus response to Thomas is an invitation to do just exactly that...

26 “A week later his disciples were in the house again, and Thomas was with them.

Though the doors were locked, Jesus came and stood among them and said, “Peace be with you!” John 20

27 Then he said to Thomas, “Put your finger here; see my hands.

Reach out your hand and put it into my side.

Stop doubting and believe.””

Jesus shows mercy to Thomas, acknowledges doubt by showing him his scars.

Here Thomas see for yourself!

Jude 1:22 “Be merciful to those who doubt;”

Problem is, Christians can walk around as if we have this unpenetrable faith…This doesn’t help in our witness to others about Jesus — Open about the times we have doubted...

Kids need to e parents who doubt — struggle with hard questions

Scars?

More like open wounds/Jesus suffering— Jesus’ humanity/evidence — Not yet ascended...

“Doubt is not the opposite of faith; it is one element of faith.”

Paul Tillich

Jesus alive is and invitation for us to see..

John 4:29 ““Come, see a man who told me everything I ever did.

Could this be the Messiah?””

(S) — Come and see not only the goodness of God, but the scars...

28 “Thomas said to him, “My Lord and my God!””

John the writer, refers to this event as one of many signs.

When Thomas moves from doubt to belief.

His moment of conversion.

The answer of Thomas is one of the great mountain crests of the Gospel of John: My Lord and my God.

“The discipline of self-questioning, followed by the revelation of tender compassion, enabled Thomas to rise to the loftiest view of the Lord given in the Gospels.”

Those five words encompassed the totality of his faith in Christ; they were not the words of a chronic doubter, but those of a believer with an ever-expanding faith; and they best expressed the faith which John himself came to know.