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From Inherited Faith to Personal Conviction

3 min read

  1. We talked about staying firm in faith.
  2. Learned why faith matters.
  3. Today we talk about the process from Inherited Faith to Personal Conviction

I have doubts,
you may have doubts sometimes,
and even Jesus’s followers struggled with doubts and faith.

Doubt is Normal

Doubting Thomas

24 One of the twelve disciples, Thomas (nicknamed the Twin), was not with the others when Jesus came. 25 They told him, “We have seen the Lord!” But he replied, “I won’t believe it unless I see the nail wounds in his hands, put my fingers into them, and place my hand into the wound in his side.” 26 Eight days later the disciples were together again, and this time Thomas was with them. The doors were locked; but suddenly, as before, Jesus was standing among them. “Peace be with you,” he said. 27 Then he said to Thomas, “Put your finger here, and look at my hands. Put your hand into the wound in my side. Don’t be faithless any longer. Believe!” 28 “My Lord and my God!” Thomas exclaimed. 29 Then Jesus told him, “You believe because you have seen me. Blessed are those who believe without seeing me.” John 20:24-29 NLT

  • (1)
    • Jesus didn’t reject Thomas - He met him where he was
    • Thomas wasn’t kicked out, other disciples didn’t shame him
    • Jesus specifically came back to address Thomas’s doubt
    • Jesus provided what Thomas needed to believe
  • (2)
    • Wrestling with faith leads to deeper conviction, not loss of faith
    • Personal struggle with God is necessary for genuine faith ownership

Faith is Required to Please God

And without faith it is impossible to please him, for whoever would draw near to God must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who seek him. - Hebrews 11:6 ESV

  • (1)
    • Emphasis on “sincerely” - not just because parents pressure you
    • Your faith started as inherited faith, but you have to decide for yourself
  • (2)
    • James 2:14-17 - Faith without deeds is dead
    • Faith without deeds is dead - real faith produces action

Joy in Trials Grows Faith

2 Dear brothers and sisters, when troubles of any kind come your way, consider it an opportunity for great joy. 3 For you know that when your faith is tested, your endurance has a chance to grow. 4 So let it grow, for when your endurance is fully developed, you will be perfect and complete, needing nothing. 5 If you need wisdom, ask our generous God, and he will give it to you. He will not rebuke you for asking. 6 But when you ask him, be sure that your faith is in God alone. Do not waver, for a person with divided loyalty is as unsettled as a wave of the sea that is blown and tossed by the wind. - James 1:2-6 NLT

  • (1) Er meint es Gut:

    • Trials as God’s classroom - chances to know Him better
    • Just like good parents don’t give us everything we want

  • (2) It’s a matter of perspective:

    • Hebrews 12:5-6 (hier zitiert er Proverbs 3:11-12)
    • From “Why me?” to “What can I learn?”. It’s a matter of perspective.
  1. Am I honest about my doubts?
    • Instead of hiding doubts, bring them to God like Thomas did
  2. Is my faith really mine?
    • Do I following God because I choose to, or just because it’s expected of me by others?
  3. What is God teaching me right now?
    • In my current struggles, am I asking “Why me?” or “What can I learn?”

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