In the previous post, we met a new character in the Gospel of John. The powerful and respected Nicodemus, who is both a Pharisee and a member of the Jewish Ruling Council. As we continue studying John 3:1-21, we read in verse 2 that Nicodemus visits Jesus at night. We are giving no context toContinue reading “Did Jesus really do miracles? – John 3:1-21, Part 2”
Tag Archives: doubt
Wrestle: Voice Your Doubt – Psalm 77, Part 2
This week I welcome guest blogger, Clint Watkins, as he shares with us how his personal experience of loss and pain led him to learn how to seize hope through lament. If you want to learn more about Clint, please visit his website. In the previous post, we learned how lament starts with weeping, inContinue reading “Wrestle: Voice Your Doubt – Psalm 77, Part 2”
Are you feeling frustrated waiting on God? – Ezekiel 12, Part 3
Does it seem like God is not keeping his promises? Maybe you wonder, for example, if Jesus is going to return, like he said he would. Or maybe you wonder when Jesus is going to return. Why is he taking so long? There are many teachings or promises in the Bible that we can wonderContinue reading “Are you feeling frustrated waiting on God? – Ezekiel 12, Part 3”
Are you experiencing the dark night of the soul? – Ezekiel 1, Preview
Does God seem distant to you? Ethereal? Maybe even a mirage or a fiction? Many people feel that way and wonder if something is wrong with them. Many feel guilt or shame when they have doubts about God. They wish they had a closer relationship with God. They wish their experience of God was moreContinue reading “Are you experiencing the dark night of the soul? – Ezekiel 1, Preview”
Is your view of life upside-down? – Characters: David & Goliath, Part 3
Have you ever been in a situation where you were convinced you were right, but ultimately found out you were wrong? It can be shocking when that happens. We tend to go about life trusting our intuition, our viewpoint, and when we are believing something we think is so obvious, only to discover that weContinue reading “Is your view of life upside-down? – Characters: David & Goliath, Part 3”
Mercy for those who doubt – Jude 17-25, Part 5
“Be merciful to those who doubt.” Interesting phrase, isn’t it? So often we conceive of doubt as a negative thing to be avoided, and the result can be that people who doubt are considered to be sinful or strange. But is doubt wrong? As we conclude our two-week study through the letter of Jude, weContinue reading “Mercy for those who doubt – Jude 17-25, Part 5”
God wants me to be happy, not angry, and never to doubt? [False ideas Christians believe about…God’s desires for Christians. Part 4]
In 1 Timothy 3:12 we read that “all those who want to live a godly life in Christ Jesus will be persecuted.” Woah. Maybe God doesn’t want us to be happy, and only cares about us becoming godly or holy, even if it takes us being persecuted? How are we to understand this? Does GodContinue reading “God wants me to be happy, not angry, and never to doubt? [False ideas Christians believe about…God’s desires for Christians. Part 4]”
Does God require faith that is 100% without doubt?
Faith Church. That’s the name of our church. Back in 1968, when they got this church started, why would people choose to name a new church, Faith Church? I wonder what they were thinking. What is faith? Most often we think faith is belief. And for good reason. Faith does mean belief. It means that inContinue reading “Does God require faith that is 100% without doubt?”
Questioning Jesus – Luke 7:18-35
In our study of Luke’s Gospel, our next story reintroduces us to a guy who was feeling confused about who Jesus is. He is doubting Jesus. Jesus used to be very real to him. But now it seems that Jesus has gone away. That doubting guy? You’ve met him before. Maybe you know him quiteContinue reading “Questioning Jesus – Luke 7:18-35”