All of us doubt. The question is what we do with it.
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Pistis and Vinegar
What did the authors of the New Testament mean when they used the words "faith" and "doubt" - and what do they say in the face of violence, racism, and injustice?
To download the sermon, right click on the word download above, and click on "save link as..." - you can also download using a podcast app.
Having Faith
Leanne Friesen shares some excellent faith stories she has encountered over her long and steady faith journey. Why is Thomas titled as the "doubter"? Why aren't our faith experiences as drastic or dramatic as those we see in scriptures, or those we hear from friends or family for that matter? Blessed are those who have not seen, and yet have believed!
Doubt
2015.04.12 - Matt Willard - The Church Calendar
Doubt
John 20:19-31
Click here to listen (right click and “save link as…” to download)
After the resurrection Jesus appeared to his disciples… except Thomas was out running errands or something.
So Thomas, naturally, doubts what they are saying.
What is the role of doubt in our relationship with God? How does God use our doubt to grow and shape us?
The text:
John 20:19-31
When it was evening on that day, the first day of the week, and the doors of the house where the disciples had met were locked for fear of the Jews, Jesus came and stood among them and said, “Peace be with you.” After he said this, he showed them his hands and his side. Then the disciples rejoiced when they saw the Lord. Jesus said to them again, “Peace be with you. As the Father has sent me, so I send you.” When he had said this, he breathed on them and said to them, “Receive the Holy Spirit. If you forgive the sins of any, they are forgiven them; if you retain the sins of any, they are retained.” But Thomas (who was called the Twin), one of the twelve, was not with them when Jesus came. So the other disciples told him, “We have seen the Lord.” But he said to them, “Unless I see the mark of the nails in his hands, and put my finger in the mark of the nails and my hand in his side, I will not believe.”
A week later his disciples were again in the house, and Thomas was with them. Although the doors were shut, Jesus came and stood among them and said, “Peace be with you.” Then he said to Thomas, “Put your finger here and see my hands. Reach out your hand and put it in my side. Do not doubt but believe.” Thomas answered him, “My Lord and my God!” Jesus said to him, “Have you believed because you have seen me? Blessed are those who have not seen and yet have come to believe.” Now Jesus did many other signs in the presence of his disciples, which are not written in this book. But these are written so that you may come to believe that Jesus is the Messiah, the Son of God, and that through believing you may have life in his name.
Come and See
2015.01.18 - Justin Eisinga - The Church Calendar
Click here to listen (right click and “save link as…” to download)
Justin tells the story of Jesus calling the disciples, and how he meets them in the midst of their skepticism!
Also, this sermon resulted in a bunch of people from our congregation telling stories of how God has made himself known in the most unexpected places. It’s really good.
The text:
John 1:43-51 43
The next day Jesus decided to go to Galilee. He found Philip and said to him, “Follow me.” 44 Now Philip was from Bethsaida, the city of Andrew and Peter. 45 Philip found Nathanael and said to him, “We have found him about whom Moses in the law and also the prophets wrote, Jesus son of Joseph from Nazareth.” 46 Nathanael said to him, “Can anything good come out of Nazareth?” Philip said to him, “Come and see.”
47 When Jesus saw Nathanael coming toward him, he said of him, “Here is truly an Israelite in whom there is no deceit!” 48 Nathanael asked him, “Where did you get to know me?” Jesus answered, “I saw you under the fig tree before Philip called you.” 49 Nathanael replied, “Rabbi, you are the Son of God! You are the King of Israel!” 50 Jesus answered, “Do you believe because I told you that I saw you under the fig tree? You will see greater things than these.” 51 And he said to him, “Very truly, I tell you, you will see heaven opened and the angels of God ascending and descending upon the Son of Man.”
Suffering, the Holy Spirit, and Waiting on Words
Suffering, the Holy Spirit, and Waiting on Words
Acts 2, Romans 8
“Today I have a hard time believing all things work out for the good of those who love Him and are called according to His purpose. Today I have doubt.”
What should we do when we suffering or when we grieve? How do we speak when we lack the words?
Music led by Joel Cumby and Dave Hamilton - starts 25 minutes in.
Easter Epilogue 2013 - What The Resurrection Means To Me
2013.04.24 - David Barker - Easter Epilogue 2013
What The Resurrection Means To Me
Dr. David Barker from Heritage Seminary takes us through his personal story looking at what the resurrection has meant to him, and how it confronts the way we view the world and the way we interact with God.
There is also a brilliant little section about doubt and faith, and how they work so well together.
Audio recording is medium quality, but you should be able to listen along just fine.
A joyful, gospel sing-a-long ruckus is led by Jared Both - starts 42 minutes in.
This Isn't Easy - The Light
2012.11.04 - Kevin Makins - This Isn’t Easy
John 3, Matthew 7, Psalm 32
When you see the words “confession,” “repentance” and “accountability,” what sorts of things come to mind?
If I had to guess, for most of us these words are associated with guilt, shame and judgement.
But what if they were actually meant to be gifts? What if they were chains to bind us, but keys to freedom? What if they were light instead of darkness?
(Forgive the poor audio quality, bit of a sketchy recording!)
This Isn't Easy - The Narrow Path
2012.10.28 - Kevin Makins - This Isn’t Easy
Luke 16, James 2, Matthew 7
Why doesn’t God just prove himself beyond a shadow of a doubt?
Music starts 32 minutes in.