EASTER SUNDAY - April 10-11, 2004 FAITH QUEST! John 20:24-29; Selected

FAITH CHANGES EVERYTHING!

THE KEY TO CHANGING YOUR LIFE IS !

FAITH QUEST: FAITH EXPECTS ! – Hebrews 11:1

FAITH LETS GOD ! – Ephesians 3:20

*** 1 Corinthians 15:14-19 “If Christ has not been raised, then our preaching is worth nothing, and your faith is worth nothing. If Christ has not been raised, then… you are still guilty of your sins. And those in Christ who have already died are lost. If our hope in Christ is for this life only, we should be pitied more than anyone else in the world.” [New Century Version]

*** Philippians 3:10 “All I want is to know Christ and to experience the power of his resurrection….” [Today’s English Version]

John 20:19-29

YOUR LIFE CAN BE FOREVER CHANGED:

1. BY SEEING THE CAUSES FOR FAITHLESSNESS!

$ “IF YOU’RE A PESSIMIST, THE WORST YOU CAN BE IS RIGHT!”

*** John 11:16 “That's when Thomas, the one called the Twin, said to his companions, "Come along. We might as well die with him." [The Message]

A. DESPAIR!

B. DISAPPOINTMENT WITH GOD!

C. DISTANCE FROM THE ANSWERS!

*** Proverbs 14:12 “There is a path before each person that seems right, but it ends in death.” [NLT]

2. BY KNOWING THE CURE FOR FAITHLESSNESS!

*** John 20:26 “Eight days later the disciples were together again, and this time Thomas was with them.” [NLT]

THE CURE FOR FAITHLESSNESS COMES:

A. BY SEEKING THE TRUTH!

*** John 20:25 “I won't believe it unless I see the nail wounds in his hands, put my fingers into them, and place my hand into the wound in his side." [NLT]

*** John 20:26-27 “Eight days later the disciples were together again, and this time Thomas was with them. The doors were locked; but suddenly, as before, Jesus was standing among them. He said, "Peace be with you." Then he said to Thomas, "Put your finger here and see my hands. Put your hand into the wound in my side. Don't be faithless any longer. Believe!" [NLT]

& NEW EVIDENCE THAT DEMANDS A VERDICT by Josh McDowell, ISBN 0785243631

& MORE THAN A CARPENTER by Josh McDowell, ISBN 0842345523

& A CASE FOR CHRIST by Lee Strobel, ISBN 0310209307

& A CASE FOR FAITH by Lee Strobel, ISBN 0310220157

&LETTERS FROM A SKEPTIC by Gregory Boyd, ISBN 1564762440

B. BY SURRENDERING IN TRUST!

*** John 20:28 "My Lord and my God!" Thomas exclaimed.” [NLT]

$ GETTING ON B.A.S.E. WITH GOD!

BELIEVING! è ADMITTING! è SURRENDERING! è EXPRESSING!

3. BY ACCEPTING THE BLESSINGS OF FAITH!

*** John 20:29 “Then Jesus told him, "You believe because you have seen me. Blessed are those who haven't seen me and believe anyway." [NLT]

THREE BENEFITS OF FAITH:

A. A BRAND NEW BEGINNING!

*** 2 Cor. 5:17 “What this means is that those who become Christians become new persons. They are not the same anymore, for the old life is gone. A new life has begun!” [NLT]

B. A POWER-FILLED PRESENT!

*** Eph. 1:19-20 “I pray that you will begin to understand the incredible greatness of his power for us who believe him. This is the same mighty power that raised Christ from the dead….” [NLT]

C. A NEVER-ENDING FUTURE!

*** John 14:1-6 “Don't be troubled. You trust God, now trust in me. There are many rooms in my Father's home, and I am going to prepare a place for you. If this were not so, I would tell you plainly. When everything is ready, I will come and get you, so that you will always be with me where I am And you know where I am going and how to get there." "No, we don't know, Lord," Thomas said. "We haven't any idea where you are going, so how can we know the way?" Jesus told him, "I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one can come to the Father except through me.” [NLT]

*** 1 Peter 1:3 “Because Jesus was raised from the dead, we've been given a brand-new life and have everything to live for….” [The Message]

$ IF YOU WANT:

       YOUR PAST FORGIVEN!

         YOUR PRESENT POWERFUL!

              YOUR FUTURE HOPE-FILLED!

FIND A FAITH IN CHRIST THAT CHANGES EVERYTHING!