I'm going to flesh out my sermon for this weekend. I am so excited to be standing in for Professor Bridges.
God Loves Skeptics part 1
Scripture: John 20:24-29
We are all children of God and he loves us in ways that we can never truly understand. He accepts us when we stray. He listens when we call for Him. He delights in each of us. He is a devoted Father. And like a father He has to be confident enough to handle questions from His children. That's why I know that God loves the skeptic.
Take a look at Thomas here, he gets a special mention in the bible as well as a unique visit from Jesus. > 24 Now Thomas (called Didymus), one of the Twelve, was not with the disciples when Jesus came. 25So the other disciples told him, "We have seen the Lord!"
But he said to them, "Unless I see the nail marks in his hands and put my finger where the nails were, and put my hand into his side, I will not believe it."
26 A week later his disciples were in the house again, and Thomas was with them. Though the doors were locked, Jesus came and stood among them and said, "Peace be with you!" 27 Then he said to Thomas, "Put your finger here; see my hands. Reach out your hand and put it into my side. Stop doubting and believe."
28 Thomas said to him, "My Lord and my God!"
29 Then Jesus told him, "Because you have seen me, you have believed; blessed are those who have not seen and yet have believed."
Earlier in this chapter Jesus had already met with the disciples to comfort them in the confusion after the crucifixion. John 20:19-23 `> 19 On the evening of that first day of the week, when the disciples were together, with the doors locked for fear of the Jews, Jesus came and stood among them and said, "Peace be with you!" 20 After he said this, he showed them his hands and side. The disciples were overjoyed when they saw the Lord.
21 Again Jesus said, "Peace be with you! As the Father has sent me, I am sending you." 22 And with that he breathed on them and said, "Receive the Holy Spirit. 23 If you forgive anyone his sins, they are forgiven; if you do not forgive them, they are not forgiven." Jesus had already brought comfort to His disciples but He made a second visit to the disciples specifically for Thomas.