Discipleship: Doubt in the Ministry

Discipleship: Doubt in the Ministry
a sermon by Teaching Elder, Dr. Robert E. Griffin Jr

I. REALITY OF DOUBT
Matthew 11:1 “When Jesus had finished instructing His twelve disciples, He went on from there to teach and preach in their cities.”
A. WORKING
     1. Ministry of Jesus
     2. Ministry of Disciples
     3. Ministry of John the Baptist
B. WONDERING
     1. Setting the Stage
     2. Seeing Reality

II. REASONS FOR DOUBT
A. UNSETTLED
Matthew 11:2-3 Now while John was in prison, having heard about the deeds of the Christ, he sent word by his disciples and said to Him, “Are you the One who is coming, or are we to be looking for another?”
     1. Physical Troubles cause us to doubt
     2. Circumstances cause us to doubt
     3. Pain/Suffering cause us to doubt
B. UNRELIABLE
Matthew 11:2-3 Now while John was in prison, having heard about the deeds of the Christ, he sent word by his disciples and said to Him, “Are you the one who is coming, or are we to be looking for another?”
     1. Second hand reports cause us to doubt
     2. Second hand faith causes us to doubt
C. UNDECIDED
Matthew 11:2-3 Now while John was in prison, having heard about the deeds of the Christ, he sent word by his disciples and said to Him, “Are you the one who is coming, or are we to be looking for another?”
     1. Lack of preparation/understanding causes us to doubt
     2. Lack of conviction causes us to doubt
D. UNCONVINCED
Matthew 11:2-3 Now while John was in prison, having heard about the deeds of the Christ, he sent word by his disciples and said to Him, “Are you the One who is coming, or are we to be looking for another?”
     1. Misunderstanding God’s plan causes us to doubt
     2. Unfulfilled expectation causes us to doubt
     3. Disappointment causes us to doubt
E. UNCERTAIN
Matthew 11:2-3 Now while John was in prison, having heard about the deeds of the Christ, he sent word by his disciples and said to Him, “Are you the one who is coming, or are we to be looking for another?”
     1. Questioning God causes us to doubt
     2. Loss of perspective cause us to doubt

III. REACTION TO DOUBT
A. CONFIDENCE
Matthew 11:4-5 And Jesus answering them said, “Go and report to John what you hear and see: blind receive sight and lame walk; lepers are cleansed and deaf hear; dead are raised and the poor evangelized.”
     1. Responding to Doubt from Tough Circumstances (“Rejoice in the Lord always: and again I say, Rejoice.”)
     2. Responding to Doubt from Second-Hand Information (We need to go to the Lord and ask Him to quell the doubts, anxieties and fears)
     3. Responding to Doubt from Others turning Away from God (John making sure his disciples would follow Jesus)
     4. Responding to Doubt from Questioning (Don’t be swayed by would you “think” or “feel”)
     5. Responding to Doubt from Worry/Uncertainty (Have I made the right choice?)
B. CONTENTMENT
Matthew 11:6 “And blessed is the one who is not offended by Me.”
     1. Jesus did NOT relieve John’s physical pain/suffering; He relieved his doubts, which is far more important
     2. Command: Do not Doubt – it is a trap, a “scandal” to trip us up, to stop believing and instead doubt God

Tags : circumstances, confidence, Disciples, doubt, evangelism, John the Baptist, uncertain, unconvinced, undecided, unreliable, unsettled