Doubting Thomas? Series

I’ve told some of you that it was for a solid two years AFTER coming to faith that I waffled, I kind of hovered around a rock-solid commitment to Jesus. I did that because I wasn’t yet absolutely sure.

I did that until I had my questions answered well and my doubts put to rest. Then I knew the ground of the Christian faith was solid, then I knew it was safe to land, so to speak because I knew that I knew that I knew that had found my permanent ‘home’ in Christ.

To ones like this I would say, ‘doubt well’. Let your doubts be open-hearted questions to the Saviour, and honestly seek, honestly ask your questions of those whose faith you respect.

Doubt can be the servant of faith, in that faith is deepened by good answers to the questions posed by those who seek to know.

Just don’t be content to ask the same questions over and over again, never being satisfied by good answers.

There are those who get stuck thinking that faith, even mature faith is in the unresolved questions and doubts. The truth is, rather, that there are excellent answers to any and all questions you may have about God and the Christian life, for the person who has a heart for God.

There are some here today who do not yet believe, and if that’s you I want to say something very clearly to you…YOU ARE WELCOME HERE. You belong here. This church is for you.

To those who might fall in the first two categories I mentioned, let me say something to you. Church, they…those who do not yet believe…are watching us. They are watching you and me to discover if all that we sing about and celebrate is true.

They are looking at our lives, the testimony of our experience of Jesus, to discover if there is anything to this ‘Christian faith’. Do people who name the name of Jesus live like Him, do they love like Him, do they care like Him?

Many people. Many different mental and spiritual places, all in the same room. Cool, eh? Let’s each of us bring, right now, all that we are to the Eucharist table.

In a moment Pastor Ronda will lead us in Communion. Bread will be served, the body of Jesus. The cup will be offered, both real wine for those who wish and also grape juice for those who wish.

I would ask you to bring with you, to the table, your thoughts, your fears, your questions, your doubts, your confident faith.

Bring everything you are and everything you desire to be to this table. And remember. Remember the central message of the gospel: Jesus died to reconcile you to God.

So remember Him. Remember, and trust. Remember and offer yourself afresh to God, to love Him and serve Him forever. Remember that you are not alone.

Let’s pray. Jesus, thank you for Thomas, whose love for you was complete, whose devotion to you was absolute, whose questions, once answered, liberated him to live his whole life free in Christ, and free to live to glorify God. Teach us to ask questions with sincere and open hearts. Grow in each of us the kind of faith that will not be shaken, that we might stand firm in you, no matter what may come our way. In Jesus name we pray. Amen.