Dealing with Doubts

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Dealing with Doubts

• March 29

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Think About It

• What do you do while youre waiting in a line?
• John the Baptist didnt have to wait in line he
  had to wait in prison he worried, he doubted
  about what was happening.
• ? Today we look at Jesus response to John the
  Baptists doubts.

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Listen for specifically what John was worried
about.

• Matthew 111-6 (NIV) After Jesus had finished
  instructing his twelve disciples, he went on from
  there to teach and preach in the towns of
  Galilee. 2 When John heard in prison what
  Christ was doing, he sent his disciples 3 to
  ask him, "Are you the one who was to come, or
  should we expect someone else?"

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Listen for specifically what John was worried
about.

• 4 Jesus replied, "Go back and report to John
  what you hear and see 5 The blind receive
  sight, the lame walk, those who have leprosy are
  cured, the deaf hear, the dead are raised, and
  the good news is preached to the poor. 6
  Blessed is the man who does not fall away on
  account of me."

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Jesus Shows Who He Really Is

• What message or question did John the Baptist
  send to Christ from prison?
• Note the nature of the prison
• Located in rugged, mountainous area
• Hard to get to, harder to escape from
• Ruins show a large dungeon area
• Johns region of ministry visible from this
  location

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Jesus Shows Who He Really Is

• If you faithfully lived for God and were thrown
  in jail, how do you think you might react?
• How does all of this explain Johns difficulty in
  accepting Jesus as the Messiah?
• What kind of proof did Jesus offer to establish
  His claim to be the Messiah?
• Based on this passage, how do you think Jesus
  reacts when we have moments of weakness and
  doubts about our faith?

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Jesus Shows Who He Really Is
Spiritual doubts are always a negative thing.

• Agree or Disagree?
• How can/should you personally handle doubts when
  they come?

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Listen for how Jesus praises John the Baptist.

• Matthew 117-15 (NIV) As John's disciples were
  leaving, Jesus began to speak to the crowd about
  John "What did you go out into the desert to
  see? A reed swayed by the wind? 8 If not, what
  did you go out to see? A man dressed in fine
  clothes? No, those who wear fine clothes are in
  kings' palaces. 9 Then what did you go out to
  see? A prophet? Yes, I tell you, and more than a
  prophet.

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Listen for how Jesus praises John the Baptist.

• 10 This is the one about whom it is written "
  'I will send my messenger ahead of you, who will
  prepare your way before you.' 11 I tell you the
  truth Among those born of women there has not
  risen anyone greater than John the Baptist yet
  he who is least in the kingdom of heaven is
  greater than he.

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Listen for how Jesus praises John the Baptist.

• 12 From the days of John the Baptist until now,
  the kingdom of heaven has been forcefully
  advancing, and forceful men lay hold of it. 13
  For all the Prophets and the Law prophesied until
  John. 14 And if you are willing to accept it,
  he is the Elijah who was to come. 15 He who has
  ears, let him hear.

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Jesus Encourages Faithful Followers

• What things did Jesus say John the Baptist was
  not?
• According to Jesus, what was Johns role?
• What other complements does he pay John?
• ? Note that Jesus did not reproach John for
  doubting
• in fact He encouraged John.
• He praised Johns ministry

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Jesus Encourages Faithful Followers

• In what ways could the work of God be advancing
  (as described of John) in your life or in your
  circle of influence?
• What have you seen and heard about Jesus that you
  could tell others?
• ? When we allow Gods Spirit to rule in our
  lives, to empower our lives
• then we will be advancing the Kingdom of Heaven
  as did John

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Jesus Rebukes the Doubting World

• Why can the appearances of Gods servants affect
  how they are received?
• Listen for how Jesus rebukes people who make an
  unfair value judgment based on appearance.

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Listen for how Jesus rebukes people

• Matthew 1116-19 (NIV) "To what can I compare
  this generation? They are like children sitting
  in the marketplaces and calling out to others
  17 " 'We played the flute for you, and you did
  not dance we sang a dirge, and you did not
  mourn.' 18 For John came neither eating nor
  drinking, and they say, 'He has a demon.' 19
  The Son of Man came eating and drinking, and they
  say, 'Here is a glutton and a drunkard, a friend
  of tax collectors and "sinners." 'But wisdom is
  proved right by her actions."

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Jesus Rebukes the Doubting World

• Jesus makes a comparison between the play of
  children and the religious habits of adults.
  What kinds of childrens games were pointed out?
• How did Jesus use this to show rejection of the
  ministries of both John and Jesus?

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Jesus Rebukes the Doubting World

• Why can Jesus actions, Jesus message strengthen
  the faith of some people while causing others
  more doubts?
• How can a person learn to be more open to Gods
  Truth?

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Application

• Consider levels of doubt which you might have
• Level 1 you reflect on them occasionally but
  decide youll never figure them out
• Level 2 issues you wonder about now and again
  but usually do not struggle with
• Level 3 doubts that wake you up at night, you
  really worry about them
• ? As a devotional exercise, list at least one
  doubt in each category seek Gods guidance for
  your doubts

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Application

• Realize that God is working in your life, even
  when you have doubts
• Ask God to help you to focus more on the
  advancement of His Kingdom
• Look for ways to be involved in outreach
  ministries
• Encourage others who share their doubts with you

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Application

• Be aware of the doubts of unbelievers around you
• Seek for opportunities to share what God has done
  in your life
• Ask God for strength to demonstrate a life of
  faith
• Look for ways to encourage faith in the loves of
  others

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Dealing with Doubts

• March 29