November 10, 2024

Luke 7:18-35

Where Do I Take My Doubts?

Sunday Sermons

John the Baptist was the last and greatest prophet of the Old Covenant (Luke 7:28). He was given the unique honor of preparing the way for the coming Kingdom of the Messiah, Jesus Christ (Micah 3:1). John had publicly proclaimed that Jesus was the Son of God (John 1:34). He had witnessed the Holy Spirit falling upon Jesus and heard God the Father thunder, “This is my beloved Son, with whom I am well pleased.” (Matthew 3:16-17) John’s entire life and mission pointed people to Jesus, “…the Lamb of God who takes away the sins of the world” (John 1:29). Yet even the greatest of the prophets, in his darkest hour, began to doubt. Languishing in Herod’s prison, John asks an honest question of Jesus, “Are you the Expected One, or shall we look for another?” (Luke 7:19)

John the Baptist’s honest question reminds us that doubts are often a part of the Christian life. Join Pastor Tommy as we study the way Jesus responds to John’s question with mercy and the light of truth.

Speaker

Tommy Bailey

Series

The Gospel According to Luke

Go to Series

Scripture

Luke 7:18-35

Topics
Big Questions Doubt

Sermon Notes

Questions in the Bible:

  • Did God really say? (Genesis 3:1)
  • Where are you? (Genesis 3:9)
  • Who told you…? (Genesis 3:11)
  • Who do you say I am? (Luke 9:20)
  • How long, O Lord? (Psalm 13:1)
  • Why, O Lord, do you stand far away? (Psalm 10:1)

“Doubt is not always a sign that a man is wrong; it may be a sign that he is thinking.”
Oswald Chambers

1. Doubt in the Dark

“John expects the Coming One to come as Judge; Jesus replies that he must first come as Savior.”
Michael Wilcock

“Hold everything earthly with a loose hand; but grasp eternal things with a death-like grip.”
Charles Spurgeon

2. The Light of Truth

“Jesus binds himself to his people. No expiration date. No end of the road. Our side of the commitment will falter and stumble, but his never does.”
Dane Ortlund, Deeper

3. A Way Through

A Pathway Through Honest Doubt:

  • Cultivate a practice of prayer
  • Clarify your question
  • Continually return to the scriptures

“We should work things out in our minds as best we can, but our best arguments are meant to point us to Jesus Christ. Our arguments can only gesture to the deeper reality to which we must humbly open ourselves up by experience and practice.”
Joshua D. Chatraw and Jack Carson, Surprised by Doubt

“I shake, but my Rock moves not.”
Charles Spurgeon

Biblical Resources about Doubt

Discussion Questions

  • Have you wrestled with questions of faith or belief? Do you tend to find it difficult or easy to believe?
  • If you had the opportunity today to ask God a question, what would it be?
  • What can you do this week to be sure any questions are honest doubts and not willful unbelief?

Songs, Readings & Prayer

Songs:

“Come, Christians, Join to Sing“ by Christian H. Bateman, arr. Zach White
“Jesus, Firm Foundation“ by George Keith, R. Keen
“Holy Holy Holy“ by John Bacchus Dykes and Reginald Heber
“Hallelujah What A Savior“ by Philip Paul Bliss, alt. verse: Tommy Bailey
“Doxology” by Thomas Ken and Louis Bourgeois

All songs are used by Permission. CCLI License #200369

Call To Worship: We Bless You, God of All Mercies

All: We bless You, God of all mercies, for our creation, preservation, and all the blessings of this life;

Women: We praise You for Your boundless love revealed to us in Your son, our Lord, Jesus Christ; for the means of grace and for the hope of glory.

Men: Give us such an awareness of Your mercies, that with truly thankful hearts we may show forth Your praise,

Women: Not only with our lips but in our lives, by giving up ourselves to Your service, and by walking before You in holiness and righteousness all our days;

All: Through Jesus Christ our Redeemer, to whom, with You and the Holy Spirit, be all honor and glory now and forever. Amen! Amen! Amen!

Confession: The Apostles’ Creed

We believe in God, the Father Almighty, Maker of heaven and earth, and in Jesus Christ,His only Son, our Lord: Who was conceived of the Holy Spirit, born of the Virgin Mary, suffered under Pontius Pilate, was crucified, died, and was buried. He descended into hell. The third day He arose again from the dead. He ascended into heaven and sits at the right hand of God the Father Almighty, from there He shall come to judge the living and the dead. I believe in the Holy Spirit, the holy universal church, the communion of saints, the forgiveness of sins, the resurrection of the body, and life everlasting. Amen.

Classic Prayer: C.H. Spurgeon, 1834-1892

We would offer a prayer to Thee for those who are quite strange to the work of the Spirit of God…who have lived as if there were no God. Open their eyes that they may see God even though that sight should make them tremble. O! let none of us live without our God and Father. Take away the heart of stone, take away the frivolities, the levity, the giddiness of our youth, and give us in downright earnest to seek true happiness where alone it can be found, in reconciliation to God, and in conformity to His will. Lord, save the careless, and the sinful. The unholy and unjust men, the dishonest and false, renew them in their lives. May we believe God fully. May we never waiver, resting in the great surety and high Priest of the New Covenant. May we feel the peace of God which passeth all understanding.

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