Resources for Doubt

Faith and Doubt (Hardcover)

by John Ortberg

We all have doubts, even if we don't want people to know about them. It can be difficult to reconcile the evil we see in the world with a truly loving God. In "Faith & Doubt" author and pastor John Ortberg explores his own doubts and the observations of philosophers and theologians to discover when doubt becomes an obstacle to faith, and when it helps you grow. See how questions and uncertainty can lead you to deeper trust in Jesus.

(description from christianbook.com)

The Case for Faith: A Journalist Investigates the Toughest Objections to Christianity (Paperback)

by Lee Strobel

In his #1 bestseller The Case for Christ, Lee Strobel examined the claims of Christ, reaching the hard-won verdict that Jesus is God's unique son. In The Case for Faith, Strobel turns his skills to the most persistent emotional objections to belief - the eight "heart barriers" to faith. This Gold Medallion-winning book is for those who may be feeling attracted to Jesus but who are faced with difficult questions standing squarely in their path. For Christians, it will deepen their convictions and give them fresh confidence in discussing Christianity with even their most skeptical friends.

(description from christianbook.com)

The Reason for God: Belief in an Age of Skepticism (Hardcover)

by Timothy Keller

How could a loving God send people to hell? Why does he allow suffering? Can one religion be "right" and the others "wrong"? Responding to the questions of open skeptics and ardent believers, Keller draws from literature, philosophy, reason, and real-life conversations to explain how faith in a Christian God is a soundly rational belief. 

(description from christianbook.com)

A Place for Skeptics: A Spiritual Journey for Those Who May Have Given Up on Church But Not on God (Hardcover)

by Scott Larson & Chris Mitchell

If you, or someone you know, are reconsidering some of the larger questions of life, then this is the book for you. This 30-day spiritual journey examines questions about God, the Bible, faith and Jesus. A Place for Skeptics is written as a conversation, engaging Christian truth in a relevant, non-confrontational style. 

Modern questions and doubts intersect with ancient confessions of the Christian faith in this provocative book of reflections. What results is the opportunity to consider the validity of Christianity and what it may mean to nurture and grow a real faith. This is not a book of answers, how-tos or formulas but rather a book about asking good questions. And good questions honestly asked can lift us out of our everyday struggles to give us a glimpse of the bigger issues of life. Want a new perspective, a place to wrestle with your questions? You can use A Place for Skeptics as a tool on your journey with God. It might even be a tool God uses on His journey with you. 

For interested skeptics who are not yet ready to come to church but are considering it, as well as new believers looking for something to put them on the path of regular reflection and prayer experience community by finding that you're not the only one with questions about faith. 

(description from the publisher's website: regalbooks.com)

Life after Birth - A Parable

In Our Greatest Gift, Henri Nouwen tells a parable of faith and hope. He imagines twins–a brother and a sister–talking to each other in their mother's womb:

The sister said to the brother, "I believe there is life after birth." 

Her brother protested vehemently, "No, no, this is all there is. This is a dark and cozy place, and we have nothing else to do but to cling to the cord that feeds us." 

The little girl insisted, "There must be something more than this dark place. There must be something else, a place with light where there is freedom to move." Still, she could not convince her twin brother.

After some silence, the sister said hesitantly, "I have something else to say, and I'm afraid you won't believe that, either, but I think there is a mother." 

Her brother became furious. "A mother!" he shouted. "What are you talking about? I have never seen a mother, and neither have you. Who put that idea in your head? As I told you, this place is all we have. Why do you always want more? This is not such a bad place, after all. We have all we need, so let's be content."

The sister was quite overwhelmed by her brother's response and for a while didn't dare say anything more. But she couldn't let go of her thoughts, and since she had only her twin brother to speak to, she finally said, "Don't you feel these squeezes every once in a while? They're quite unpleasant and sometimes even painful." 

"Yes," he answered. "What's special about that?" 

"Well," the sister said, "I think that these squeezes are there to get us ready for another place, much more beautiful than this, where we will see our mother face-to-face. Don't you think that's exciting?"

The brother didn't answer. He was fed up with the foolish talk of his sister and felt that the best thing would be simply to ignore her and hope that she would leave him alone.

Henri Nouwen, Our Greatest Gift: A Meditation on Dying and Caring (Harper: SanFrancisco, 1994), pp. 19-20.

Message of Hope

Dear Friend:

Watching my kids swim the other day stirred some old memories of when they were really little and we would go swimming. At two or three years of age, they were fearless in a pool. I remember our oldest, Jon, standing on the edge of a hotel pool and simply shouting to me, “catch me daddy!” Wherever I was in the water he thought I could be there immediately to catch him as he said those words and took the plunge into the deep end.

Jon had no inhibitions about whether or not I would be there when he jumped or whether or not I would be physically coordinated enough to catch him. He assumed it. He had no doubt or reservation.

Over the years, as the various dangers and realities of such a jump began to settle into Jon’s perspective on the world, things would change. He would not always be so willing to jump with the expectation that I would be there. Fears would emerge about water dangers and doubts would develop about my physical strength and agility.

Some of us came to faith in Jesus through a skeptical search. Others may have initially had the simple, clear faith like the faith of a child from the start - uninhibited and free of any doubt. Then, over time, we may have found ourselves second-guessing such things as the existence of God, the authenticity of the Bible, the resurrection of Christ, the forgiveness of sins by grace through faith alone, or the presence of the Holy Spirit inside the believer.

Have you ever wondered if what you believe is actually true? Have you ever questioned whether or not you were really God’s child? Have you ever questioned why God allows some of the things he allows to happen? Have you gone through seasons of doubt in your spiritual journey? Have you stood back from the edge and reevaluated God and your relationship with Him? Maybe you are grappling with these uncertainties today.

My message this Sunday will address the “Benefit of the Doubt” that most of us deal with at some point or another. Uncertainty is always a part of faith and doubt can be a positive part of our growth in trusting God. I will talk about the difference between “good doubt” and “bad doubt” as we look at the visits of Jesus after the resurrection to the Upper Room where His followers were gathered. We will see how Jesus addressed the fears of the Bible’s most famous doubter – Thomas.

So if you have doubts or you have ever experienced lingering uncertainties regarding your faith in God, this message is for you!



Shawn Thornton
Senior Pastor

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That's My King! (Remix)

Here is the S.M. Lockridge's audio presentation of "That's My King!" with a video remix. Below it is the original video that is most familiar with the audio clip.

Original video presentation:

Hope - The Tomb is Empty!

That's My King!

One of my very favorite video clips (& audio clips) ever!

Jesus Wants the Rose

As Christ-followers, we often communicate our stand for morality and righteousness in a way that judges others with no attempt to point them to the grace of Jesus. In the 4+ minute clip below, Pastor Mark Chandler contrasts two different perspectives about what Jesus thinks about lives broken and left barren by sin. Great clip with challenging thoughts!

The Final Week of Jesus Earthly Ministry

To help you review and reflect on what the week between Jesus' triumphal entry and his resurrection involved, use this one page PDF resource: The Final Week.