CELL NOTES 20/4/09

ICE BREAKER

Have you ever gone and locked yourself in your room, or done something similar? Why?

THEME

Doubt

Reading; John 20 : 19 – 31

SERMON OUTLINE

1) The reading starts with fear and finishes with joyful belief. Central is Thomas, known to history as “Doubting Thomas.”

2) The events

            The fearful disciples gathered together in a locked room.

            Jesus appeared and spoke peace.

            Thomas was missing , and when told reacted as in v25.

3) Our culture tends to regard doubt/scepticism as a virtue. E.g. There are many factors about the Bible and its history which support its authenticity and reliability – yet we may be easily influenced to disregard this in favour of a casual negative comment, or unfounded claims in the media.

4) Doubt can be of various types

            Genuine intellectual questions e.g. about the existence of God, the after-life etc.

            More personal questions about why suffering, can God be real for me, is my Christian experience real?

            Questions raised as a defence mechanism to deflect the challenge to our lives that responding to Jesus would involve.

5) Kruschev story demonstrating how hard it can be to go against the flow of accepted opinion.

6) Jesus had room for doubters – as illustrated by Thomas and Mat 28 : 17.

7) Faith is not having all the answers, but following Jesus as opposed to other approaches to life ( we will all have some value or philosophy that we follow) – as Thomas chose to in v28.

8) The example of the Celtic cross.

9) Where are you? Hiding for fear, questioning, standing with Thomas – choosing to believe without having all the answers?

10) Example of A N Wilson.

11) Following Jesus does not mean having all the answers, or that we all think the same about everything. It is coming to the risen Jesus, with the questions and issues that we have, and asking Him to mould our lives, as we follow Him and find life. ( v31)

QUESTIONS OF APPLICATION

Read the passage. What did God say to you on Sunday, and what hits you most now as you read the passage? Is there an example to follow, or a specific lesson for life you can take hold of?

1) Why do you think Thomas did not accept the other disciples’ account of Jesus appearance? What is your reaction to the testimonies of others?

2) What doubts or questions about God or your Christian life are you struggling with at the moment?

3) Jesus speaks peace three times in the reading ( vv 19, 21, 26). Where could you use His peace at the moment? – in a relationship, some inner fear, at work, somewhere else?

4) How easily do you find it to speak of your faith, when you fear others around you will be negative in their response?