A Sunday School Lesson On Doubt

Here is a Sunday School lesson or Bible study on the subject of doubt.

Fear and Faith

Matthew 14:31 “Jesus immediately reached out his hand and took hold of him, saying to him, “O you of little faith, why did you doubt?”

This verse took place during a fierce windstorm in the middle of the night while the boat was being wind-beaten and “the disciples saw [Jesus] walking on the sea, they were terrified, and said, “It is a ghost!” and they cried out in fear. But immediately Jesus spoke to them, saying, “Take heart; it is I. Do not be afraid” (Matt 14:26-27). Peter, being emboldened by seeing Jesus walking on water, said “Lord, if it is you, command me to come to you on the water.” He said, “Come.” So Peter got out of the boat and walked on the water and came to Jesus” (Matt 14:28-29) but when Peter “saw the wind, he was afraid, and beginning to sink he cried out, “Lord, save me.” Jesus immediately reached out his hand and took hold of him, saying to him, “O you of little faith, why did you doubt” (Matt 14:30-31) showing that we must keep our eyes on Jesus during the storms of life and if we don’t, we might sink even further down into the storm seas of life.

Why did they think Jesus was a ghost?

Did Peter show some doubt by saying “Lord, if it is you?”

Why wasn’t Peter certain it was Jesus?

Was it because of the pitch black of night and the wind and the waves that Peter didn’t recognize Him?

Doubting and Death

Luke 24:38 “And he said to them, “Why are you troubled, and why do doubts arise in your hearts?”

This verse is written in the context of Jesus scourging, crucifixion, death, and burial and so they were startled to see that Jesus suddenly “stood among them” (Luke 24:36) indicating that He could pass through solid objects such as walls but He still retained His physical body because Jesus asked, “Have you anything here to eat?” They gave him a piece of broiled fish, and he took it and ate before them” (Luke 24:41b-43). Jesus knew they were still somewhat stunned and so said “Why are you troubled, and why do doubts arise in your hearts? See my hands and my feet, that it is I myself. Touch me, and see. For a spirit does not have flesh and bones as you see that I have” (Luke 24:38-39). Jesus reminded them that “These are my words that I spoke to you while I was still with you, that everything written about me in the Law of Moses and the Prophets and the Psalms must be fulfilled” (Luke 24:44) “that the Christ should suffer and on the third day rise from the dead” (Luke 24:46b) so then “he opened their minds to understand the Scriptures” (Luke 24:45).

When did God open your mind to the fact of Jesus’ resurrection?

Why did Jesus ask for something to eat?

Did Jesus’ sudden appearance mean that He passed through the walls?

Do you ever have doubts?

Doubt and Conviction

Romans 14:23 “But whoever has doubts is condemned if he eats, because the eating is not from faith. For whatever does not proceed from faith is sin.”

The “doubts” that Paul was writing about could be about the conviction of the Holy Spirit and if someone is not only eating something but doing something else where their conscience troubles them, perhaps it is best to not do it. For to them it is sin if it feels like it. If they have doubts, their hearts are condemned because they are not sure if it’s sin or not. Sin is so deceitful. We can rationalize it away saying, “Well if he is doing it, it must not be sin” and for him, that might be true, but for others, it may be, thus “whatever does not proceed from faith is sin.”

Are doubt and conviction the same thing?

Have you had doubts before about doing something?

Did you do it anyway or decide against it?

Doubt and Faith

James 1:6 “But let him ask in faith, with no doubting, for the one who doubts is like a wave of the sea that is driven and tossed by the wind.”

James is giving an earthly example of how unstable someone might be if they ask for something in prayer but are filled with doubt. Anyone with doubts, James writes, is like a person being driven by the wind like the waves on the sea; they go anywhere the wind drives them, their doubts taking control out of their own hands. Doubt disables our prayers because we’re praying for something that we already believe won’t happen.

Do you have times of doubt in prayer?

Does it ever feel like you have doubt while you pray?

What makes us doubt God?

Doubt and Mercy

Jude 1:22-23 “And have mercy on those who doubt; save others by snatching them out of the fire; to others show mercy with fear, hating even the garment stained by the flesh.”

I know a few Christians who have had seasons of doubt in their lives. They might have experienced a job loss, a divorce, or even a death in the family. Jude writes to a severely persecuted church who were experiencing all three and more of these; loss of job, loss of possessions, separation from family, and some loss of life. To have mercy on those who doubt is to help them by showing them mercy and being patient with them. For others, it may take the gospel to reveal whether they’ve ever truly repented and believed so you can “save others by snatching them out of [hell] fire” by telling them of God’s wrath against sin and disbelief in the Son of God (John 3:36b). If someone doesn’t hate having a “garment stained by the flesh” then I can see why they might have doubts.

What does “snatching them out of the fire” mean to you?

Why is Jude so concerned that they hate “the garment stained by the flesh?”

What does “the garment stained by the flesh” represent?

Conclusion

I urge you in your study to look at all of the Bible verses and read them aloud in the class so that you can get the most out of these lessons because there will be a time when we all face doubt. It might be doubt about the future, doubt about our children and grandchildren, doubt about our job, doubt about our finances, doubt about our relationships, or doubts about our salvation. Let there be no doubt about this: “Whoever believes in the Son has eternal life; whoever does not obey the Son shall not see life, but the wrath of God remains on him” (John 3:36). Of that statement, there is absolutely no doubt.

Article by Jack Wellman

Jack Wellman is Pastor of the Mulvane Brethren Church in Mulvane Kansas. Jack is also the Senior Writer at What Christians Want To Know whose mission is to equip, encourage, and energize Christians and to address questions about the believer’s daily walk with God and the Bible. You can follow Jack on Google Plus or check out his book Teaching Children the Gospel available on Amazon.