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Bible Study Feb. Week #1

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Why Do I Have Doubts?

SCRIPTURE

LUKE 7:18–23

BACKGROUND & CONTEXT

Herod the Tetrarch (a politician in the Roman Empire) imprisoned John the Baptist for confronting Herod about all the evil he was doing (Luke 3:19–20). For someone who lived outside in the wilderness (Luke1:80; Matt. 3:1), prison must be extremely discouraging.

This is when doubts seem to creep in the most, during difficult circumstances. Jesus referred to John the Baptist as the greatest (Luke 7:28), but in this passage, we see John struggling with doubt. This means that doubts happen to even the greatest of believers. But when John had doubts, he went to Jesus.

Our doubts should cause us to turn towards God, not away from him.

Read Luke 7:28 – 30 and discuss 1 – 2 of these questions:

• Without mentioning names, what's a situation where you trusted someone, and they let you down?

• When have you grown in confidence by pushing through doubts about yourself?

• What are the differences (as you understand them) between a thought about God, a feeling about God, and a truth about God?

Read Luke 7:18 – 20 and discuss 1 – 2 of these questions:

• In what ways can faith and doubt work together to strengthen your relationship with God?

• How have specific Bible passages or messages changed your life for the better, even if they were difficult to understand at first?

• How would you respond if someone said the Bible is old and irrelevant to culture today?

Read Luke 7:21 – 23 and discuss 1 – 2 of these questions:

• What can you do the next time you have doubts about your faith?

• Who is someone you can go to when you have questions or doubts about your faith?

CONNECTION

When it comes to growing and strengthening our faith, we do need to push ourselves into new spaces with new questions that might feel awkward or scary.

The catch is to do so with a "spotter" or two in your life—those who are more spiritually mature and grounded in their faith—who will help you “train” your faith.

Who in your life has played the most important role in shaping your faith? How can you be that person for someone else?

APPLY IT

When it comes to your faith in Jesus, what questions or doubts pop up the most for you?

How will you wrestle with and face them this week?

Be Specific:

What are you going to do?

When are you going to do it?

Is there someone who can keep you accountable?

PRAYER:

Take time to pray for each other’s applications in the upcoming weeks.

MEMORY VERSE:

Parent Disscussion Questions.:

*When have you grown in confidence by pushing through doubts about yourself?

*In what ways can faith and doubt work together to strengthen your relationship with God?

*Who is someone you can go to when you have questions or doubts about your faith?