Sermon Based Group Homework

For the message on April 15, 2018
Passage: John 20:24-29

QUICK REVIEW:  Looking back at your notes from this week’s message, was there anything you heard for the first time or that caught your attention, challenged, or confused you?

GETTING TO KNOW YOU

1. When have you become a believer in something only after having seen it or experienced it in person?

 

2. Have you ever struggled with doubts concerning your currently held beliefs? How did you work through those doubts?

 

LET’S GO DEEPER

1. In the message this past Sunday, we saw that, even in his doubts, Thomas was still seeking the truth as he gathered together with the other disciples. Thomas would come to be rewarded for his seeking heart. According to the following passages, how does God respond to those who are sincere seekers of truth?

Hebrews 11:6 (ESV)
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.

Matthew 7:7-8 (ESV)
“Ask, and it will be given to you; seek, and you will find; knock, and it will be opened to you.   For everyone who asks receives, and the one who seeks finds, and to the one who knocks it will be opened.

Acts 8:29-36 (ESV)
²⁹  And the Spirit said to Philip, “Go over and join this chariot.” ³⁰  So Philip ran to him and heard him reading Isaiah the prophet and asked, “Do you understand what you are reading?” ³¹  And he said, “How can I, unless someone guides me?” And he invited Philip to come up and sit with him. ³²  Now the passage of the Scripture that he was reading was this: “Like a sheep he was led to the slaughter and like a lamb before its shearer is silent, so he opens not his mouth. ³³  In his humiliation justice was denied him. Who can describe his generation? For his life is taken away from the earth.” ³⁴  And the eunuch said to Philip, “About whom, I ask you, does the prophet say this, about himself or about someone else?” ³⁵  Then Philip opened his mouth, and beginning with this Scripture he told him the good news about Jesus. ³⁶  And as they were going along the road they came to some water, and the eunuch said, “See, here is water! What prevents me from being baptized?” ³⁸  And he commanded the chariot to stop, and they both went down into the water, Philip and the eunuch, and he baptized him. ³⁹  And when they came up out of the water, the Spirit of the Lord carried Philip away, and the eunuch saw him no more, and went on his way rejoicing.

• Why do you think most unbelievers don’t want to sincerely seek answers regarding their doubts about God, Jesus, and the Bible? See John 3:20 for help.

 

• Has anything happened recently that has shaken your faith? If so, what have you done to dispel any doubts that have tried to creep in to your life because of it?

 

2.  God’s desire is to convince us of the truth about Jesus and His plan to save us. According to the following passages, what is God doing to help unbelievers come to a knowledge of the truth?

John 6:44 (ESV)
No one can come to me unless the Father who sent me draws him. And I will raise him up on the last day.

Acts 16:14 (ESV)
One who heard us was a woman named Lydia, from the city of Thyatira, a seller of purple goods, who was a worshiper of God. The Lord opened her heart to pay attention to what was said by Paul.

Romans 10:14-17 (ESV)
¹⁴  How then will they call on him in whom they have not believed? And how are they to believe in him of whom they have never heard? And how are they to hear without someone preaching? ¹⁵  And how are they to preach unless they are sent? As it is written, “How beautiful are the feet of those who preach the good news!” ¹⁶  But they have not all obeyed the gospel. For Isaiah says, “Lord, who has believed what he has heard from us?” ¹⁷  So faith comes from hearing, and hearing through the word of Christ.

• How can these verses give a Christian more confidence when telling an unbeliever about the good news of Jesus?

 

• Has God ever answered your prayer for the salvation of a lost person that you were burdened about?

 

3. Thomas’ beliefs were more than facts in his head. He allowed his belief in Jesus to become personal when he said to Jesus, “My Lord and my God.” What do the following verses tell us about God’s desires to relate to us personally?

Psalm 23:1-6 (ESV)
¹  The LORD is my shepherd; I shall not want. ²  He makes me lie down in green pastures. He leads me beside still waters. ³  He restores my soul. He leads me in paths of righteousness for his name’s sake. ⁴  Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil, for you are with me; your rod and your staff, they comfort me. ⁵  You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies; you anoint my head with oil; my cup overflows. ⁶  Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life, and I shall dwell in the house of the LORD forever.

Galatians 4:6-7 (ESV)
⁶  And because you are sons, God has sent the Spirit of his Son into our hearts, crying, “Abba! Father!” ⁷  So you are no longer a slave, but a son, and if a son, then an heir through God.

Revelation 3:20 (ESV)
²⁰  Behold, I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears my voice and opens the door, I will come in to him and eat with him, and he with me.

• What steps have you taken in your daily routine to relate to God in a personal way?

 

• When did you come to realize for the first time that Jesus died for you and was raised from the dead? How has your life changed since that time?

 

TAKE IT HOME

1. In what area of your life do you need more faith? How can this group pray for you specifically as it relates to this area?
2. Do you have any other prayer requests for your group?

 

Prayer Requests: