Talk

Blessed to Believe

Brad Jones
September 10, 2023

Brad Jones leads listeners by pointing to the life of Thomas – oftentimes referred to as “Doubting Thomas.”

While this may be his nickname among people who do not know his full story, we can be confident that Jesus welcomed Thomas as a skeptic who would come to believe and die for his faith.

Key Takeaway

Keep Showing Up. Make Room. Quit Hiding Your Mistakes.

Jesus told Thomas...

  1. "Peace be with you."

  2. "See my hands."

  3. "Do not disbelieve, but believe."

“
"Jesus did not express frustration at Thomas' doubts, He expressed love."
”
Brad Jones

Discussion Questions

  1. How was your Sabbath? What did you do over the time away? Were you encouraged by another church?
  2. What can we learn about skepticism from Jesus?
  3. Do you have any major questions or frustrations about the faith that you continue to wrestle with?
  4. What title have you held over your life, like Thomas?
  5. How is John 20:28 a supporting text for the divinity of Christ?
  6. Who does Jesus say is “Blessed” in this story?
  7. What do critics call the group of people that Jesus calls “Blessed
  8. If you have a question about Christianity, how do you investigate the answer?
  9. What is significant about Thomas being present one week after missing Jesus?
  10. What do you think Jesus and Thomas were doing for the week that came between Jesus’ two entrances into the room where the disciples were residing?

Scripture References

19On the evening of that first day of the week, when the disciples were together, with the doors locked for fear of the Jewish leaders, Jesus came and stood among them and said,
“Peace be with you!”
20After he said this, he showed them his hands and side. The disciples were overjoyed when they saw the Lord.
21Again Jesus said,
“Peace be with you! As the Father has sent me, I am sending you.”
22And with that he breathed on them and said,
“Receive the Holy Spirit.
23
If you forgive anyone’s sins, their sins are forgiven; if you do not forgive them, they are not forgiven.”
24Now Thomas (also known as 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.”

26A 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!”
27Then 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.”
28Thomas said to him, “My Lord and my God!”
Brad Jones
Brad Jones
Passion City Church Atlanta is pastored by Brad Jones. Together, he and his wife Brittany have been a part of the Passion Movement for over a decade helping carry the heartbeat of Passion Conference and Passion City Church. They live in Atlanta with their two children, Caleb and Addy.