High Voltage Outline - Nov 12, 2006

Weekend Overview:
Attendance: Average
Lesson Topic: Week 5 - Ordinary Heroes... Thomas/Dealing with Doubt
'Fun Factor': Average
Volunteer Involvement: Average
Music: N/A
Student Involvement in Music: N/A
Lesson Quality: above average
Length of Lesson: 40 minutes
Student Response: above average
Overall Night Rating (scale of 1(not good) to 10(awesome)): 6

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Ordinary Heroes
Week 5 – Thomas
High Voltage – November 12, 2006 – Jim Clark
He appointed twelve—designating them apostles—that they might be with him and that he might send them out to preach and to have authority to drive out demons. Mark 3:14-15

What is doubt?
A feeling of uncertainty or a lack of total belief.

God isn’t afraid of doubt or questions.
When they saw him, they worshiped him; but some doubted. Matthew 28:17
Now Thomas (called Didymus), one of the Twelve, was not with the disciples when Jesus came. So the other disciples told him, "We have seen the Lord!" But he said to them, "Unless I see the nail marks in his hands and put my finger where the nails were, and put my hand into his side, I will not believe it." A week later his disciples were in the house again, and Thomas was with them. Though the doors were locked, Jesus came and stood among them and said, "Peace be with you!" Then he said to Thomas, "Put your finger here; see my hands. Reach out your hand and put it into my side. Stop doubting and believe." Thomas said to him, "My Lord and my God!" John 20:24-28

Doubt won’t go away on its own. You got to figure out where it comes from:
-Intellectual (Go to the Bible)
Test everything. Hold on to the good. 1 Thessalonians 5:21
Now the Bereans were of more noble character than the Thessalonians, for they received the message with great eagerness and examined the Scriptures every day to see if what Paul said was true. Acts 17:11

-Emotional (Go for honesty)
Taste and see that the LORD is good; blessed is the man who takes refuge in him. Psalm 34:8

-Moral (Go for wisdom)
Do not conform any longer to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God's will is—his good, pleasing and perfect will. Romans 12:2

Doubt can lead to some good things.
-Deeper Understanding
For the LORD gives wisdom, and from his mouth come knowledge and understanding. Proverbs 2:6

-Stronger Faith
Jesus replied, "I tell you the truth, if you have faith and do not doubt, not only can you do what was done to the fig tree, but also you can say to this mountain, 'Go, throw yourself into the sea,' and it will be done. If you believe, you will receive whatever you ask for in prayer." Matthew 21:21-22

-Honesty and Integrity
Righteousness guards the man of integrity, but wickedness overthrows the sinner. Proverbs 13:6

Action Steps for Thomases:
1. Ask someone you trust for help.

2. Be honest with yourself.

3. Consider it a chance to grow.

4. Do the hard work of dealing with what you find.

Now we see but a poor reflection as in a mirror; then we shall see face to face. Now I know in part; then I shall know fully, even as I am fully known. 1 Corinthians 13:12
The Bottom Line: Dealing with doubt will lead you deeper in your relationship with God.


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Discussion questions based on tonight's lesson:
1. Is there a particular area of your relationship with God where you experience doubt? What is it?
2. Are your doubts more intellectual, emotional or moral? Explain.
3. Which do you do more often: Deal with your doubt or bury it in hopes of it going away?
4. If you were to write your own personal action step for tonight’s topic, what would it be?
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Tonight was a good night. Attendance was good... although I never know how good until I start breaking down the numbers on Monday morning. But overall, the night had a good feel to it. A couple of students brought some new friends; that's always encouraging.

Overall... a good night.


JC