July 15, 2024
July 21 Study | She Displayed Love
Esther took the bold step of going to the king uninvited . . .
Articles for tag: Doubt
February 19, 2024
Feb. 25 | Discovery Questions
These Discovery Questions are for use with this week’s Lookout Bible Lesson, “Seeing and Believing” (John 20:19-31), by Mark Scott.
April 3, 2023
April 9 | Application (‘But Some Doubted’)
"All four Gospels mention there were doubters after Jesus rose from the dead," David Faust writes. "Still today, when we gather on Easter to celebrate the resurrection, doubters mingle with the worshipers. . . ."
October 24, 2022
What to Wear?
(We first ran this Communion meditation in January 2014.) By Ronald G. Davis “What to wear? What to wear?” Millions of Americans echo that question, as seasons change, as holidays and holy days loom. “Should it be the floral print?” “Perhaps little Susie would look good in pink?” “Is it a white shirt and tie day or maybe just a striped henley?” Whatever the answer, for many that is a significant issue. Christians need not ask the question. We have other, more significant truth to ponder and celebrate. Long ago, God answered the question through the pen of Isaiah. Isaiah
December 23, 2021
This Wasn’t in the Script
"It’s the late 1990s, and I’m sitting in the audience of the annual Christmas production at my suburban megachurch when something happens that’s obviously not in the script (or the Scriptures, for that matter)," writes Austin Gohn, lead pastor with Bellevue Christian Church in Pittsburgh.
December 31, 2020
‘Have We Plans for 1921?’
"All the Standard asks is the opportunity to serve, and it yearns to render in 1921 the greatest, finest, and best service of its history. . . ."
December 9, 2018
When God Doesn’t Feel Like ‘Immanuel’
By Michael C. Mack What do you do when everyone around you is singing about joy and glad tidings and peace on earth . . . but your life reflects none of it? How do you get through “the most wonderful time of year” when your season is anything but merry and bright? And let me ask leaders, how do you lead others to experience Immanuel, God with us, when God feels far away this Christmas? Let’s face it, we are surrounded by people who are experiencing sadness, depression, sorrow, discouragement, and pain this December. Perhaps you are among them.
May 1, 2018
A Divine Springtime
By Rick Chromey Spring is a beautiful time of year. Flowers bloom. Trees bud. Babies are everywhere. Daylight saving time provides an extra hour of sun nightly. Barbecues, backyards, and baseball are back. Springtime is a testimony to God’s redemption. As temperatures warm, the snow and ice melt, the days lengthen, and a new world emerges from winter hibernation. What was dead now has life. What was brown now is green. What was dark now is light. It’s no wonder God used the spring of the year to release his final redemptive act to mankind. The Easter story is perfectly
August 21, 2017
The Urgency of Sledgehammering Strongholds
(This is a sidebar to “LOVEtheLOU: Demonstrating and Declaring the Gospel in North St. Louis.”) By Walt Wilcoxson It”s not a tree you would pick to help beautify your yard. The bark on much of the trunk is gone, carved away, no doubt, by knives of North St. Louis neighborhood kids as a way to mourn the loss of a friend shot down in the street. On the bare wood are carved the initials of the victim of violence on Enright Avenue. After the shooting, the tree became a makeshift memorial, a place to remember. But over time, the gathering
February 16, 2017
Helping the Skeptical See God
By Richard A. Knopp Making Sense of God: An Invitation to the Skeptical Timothy Keller New York: Viking, 2016 Tim Keller writes, “If you think Christianity doesn’t hold much promise of making sense to a thinking person, then this book is for you.” I would add: If you even have contact with anyone who thinks Christianity doesn’t hold much promise of making sense, then Making Sense of God is for you. Whether you are a strong skeptic, a Christian scholar, a sermonizer, a church shepherd, or a concerned saint, this book is worth your time (and your dime). Keller’s numerous
February 14, 2017
Reasonable Doubt
By Mark A. Taylor Confronted with doubters, some Christians display one of two unfortunate reactions. Some look away. They prefer not to think about serious skeptics. Isolated inside the church with no real relationships outside it, they are comfortable with a faith they themselves may never have questioned. They ignore the skeptic. But others attack. They can”t pretend doubters don”t exist. They”ve heard the cynical sneers about Christianity from public critics, and the arguments make them angry. They view disbelievers as the enemy, and their instinct is to defend the faith with sarcasm, condemnation, or insult. Those in either group
February 12, 2017
Seeds of Doubt
By Steve Carr What I”ve learned, and what I”m still asking, after conversations with those who left the faith. “It was Santa Claus.” As Bill said it, he looked me straight in the eyes without blinking. I thought he was joking. “Are you being serious,” I asked. “Santa Claus pushed you toward atheism?” Bill nodded his head. “It sounds stupid, but that guy really did a number on me.” If you”re like me, it”s impossible to reminisce about childhood without talking about church. Faith was the priority of my family”s social life. After home and school, I spent the majority
February 11, 2017
After the ‘Hot Button’ Is Pushed (Strategies for Engaging Skeptics about the Faith)
By Chris Moon Imagine the following scenario: You are sitting in the bleachers at your child”s soccer game on a Saturday morning. It”s a beautiful day, and you strike up a conversation with another parent whom you have seen at several games. You find you have a lot of things in common””but not everything. When your new friend asks what you”ll be doing the following day, you casually explain that you”ll be at church in the morning. Then you remember your pastor”s encouragement, and you offer the invitation: “You are more than welcome to come with us. We could do
February 10, 2017
Reply from a Believer
Editor’s note: This piece was written as a response to another post at our sight, “Letter from a Skeptic.” The author’s insights will mean even more to the reader who has read that post first. By Dick Alexander Dear Friend, Thank you for writing. You have made a concise critique of Christianity””a large part of which I wholeheartedly agree with. And you”ve asked a serious question that deserves an equally serious response. Thank you for giving me an opportunity to do that. From your original question, “Can I be a Christian and be good?” a number of other questions followed.
February 9, 2017
Letter from a Skeptic
Editor’s note: We present the following essay as an example to Christians, showing us how many skeptics think about the faith we hold dear. The thoughts and arguments here are not unique, and Christians do well to listen to them. In a separate post, Dick Alexander answers this anonymous writer. You’ll want to read his piece after you’ve read this one. By Anonymous When asked why he did not embrace Christianity, Mahatma Gandhi replied with this widely known remark: “I like your Christ. I do not like your Christians. Your Christians are so unlike your Christ.” The sentiment resonates with
June 10, 2016
We”ve Waited All Week
By Chuck Sackett Edgar Nichols spent his final years serving in Boise, Idaho. He used to enchant his students at Boise Bible College with stories of crossing the Himalaya Mountains from Tibet to India, or induce tears telling of his family leaving him alone in India for months as he recovered from tuberculosis Having spent years as a missionary to the people of Tibet India, Ghana, and Hawaii, Nichols commanded a hearing every time he stood to speak. One Sunday morning at First Church of Christ in Boise, he stood tentatively at the Communion table. His then feeble voice was
December 22, 2015
Meditating on Joy: December 22
By Becky Ahlberg Tuesday, December 22 “We consider Christmas as the encounter, the great encounter, the historical encounter, the decisive encounter, between God and mankind. He who has faith knows this truly; let him rejoice.”””Pope Paul VI The incarnation is a moment in history, but it also is a moment (or moments) for each one of us when “God with us” becomes a personal encounter. Recognizing that encounter changes things. There”s a palpable “before and after” that may not be definable, but it is discernable. It may come over time or in a deep “aha!” moment, but its effects are
March 25, 2015
I Can”t Change the World
By Jim Tune Sometimes I feel overwhelmed by the needs of the world. I think the small part I play won”t make a difference. Mother Teresa nips this doubt in the bud, saying, “If you can”t feed a hundred people, then feed just one.” We can talk about love, preach sermons about love, quote Scriptures about love, and long to love. Still, I think the bottom line is something like this: The best way to learn the ways of love is to live it, try it, do it, and risk it””enter into another person”s life and let someone into ours.
December 3, 2014
Mary, Most Perplexed
Jim Tune, Mary, Luke 1, MMPI, Minnesota Multiphasic Personality Inventory, perplexity, doubt, authenticity, Abraham and Sarah, Elijah, Jezebel,
June 24, 2014
Room for Doubt””Reason for Hope
By Mark Mittelberg “Mom, Dad . . . I don”t want to hurt you, but you need to know that since moving away from home I”ve started to have a lot of doubts about spiritual stuff you taught me growing up. I”ve been thinking about it quite a bit and, well, the whole idea that there”s a supreme being who made everything and who hears all our prayers and is trying to guide our lives””I just can”t accept it any longer. . . .” I can”t tell you have many times I”ve heard words like these when I talk with
