The Best Sermon on Doubt!
The Best Sermon on Doubt! – It Ain’t All Bad! How Doubt Works with Faith!
Today’s Question:
•Can you feel _strength_ when you experience doubt?
The question is NOT… “‘Are you going to doubt?’ As a follower of Christ, should you never doubt?'”
But, “Will you allow doubts to be a catalyst for spiritual growth?”
Misconceptions About Doubts:
1. Doubt is the opposite of _faith_.
- Unbelief is the opposite of faith.
- Unbelief refers to a willful refusal to believe.
- Doubt refers to an inner uncertainty.
2. Doubt is _unforgivable_.
- God is big enough to handle all our doubts, so He never condemns us when we question Him.
3. Doubt means we lack _any_ faith.
- Struggling WITH God is a sure sign we have faith.
- If we never struggle, our faith will never grow strong.
Three Examples of Believers Doubts And The Response.
1. A father’s doubt (We may doubt but Jesus _acts_)
-Mark 9:22-24
Faith intermingled with doubt, and yet, Jesus performs the miracle anyway.
Pastor’s Side-note:
•Evidently, mingled faith mattered more than doubt because Jesus doesn’t even rebuke him- He simply heals the boy.
2. A prophet’s doubt (We may doubt but Jesus _affirms_)
-Matthew 11:2–5
-Matthew 11:11
3. A disciple’s doubt (We may doubt but Jesus _accepts_)
“Doubting Thomas”
- He possessed enormous courage
-John 11:16
- He was an intentional follower of Jesus.
-John 14:5
He was a wounded believer- not unwilling but unable.
-John 20:27-28
“One who has never doubted has only half believed.”
Allow Jesus in your doubts to help you grow stronger in faith.
1. Admit your doubt and ask for _help_.
2. Recognize that faith is a _choice_, not a feeling.
3. Act on your _faith_, not your doubts.
4. Doubt your doubt, not your faith.
5. Don’t be afraid to _borrow_ some faith.
“Lord I believe. Help my unbelief.”