WEBVTT

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 I've got to be honest, I've always felt quite sorry for Thomas.

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 And the reason I felt sorry for Thomas is that he's gone down in history as doubting Thomas.

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 It seems like from one episode that might not have been his finest hour,

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 that he's now become synonymous with the concept of doubt.

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 I mean, any one of us can have a not-so-good episode,

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 and would we want to be remembered forever on the basis of that one episode?

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 But when we look at Thomas, we see somebody whose story doesn't actually end with doubt.

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 It actually ends with belief.

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 And I think that's actually really, really important there,

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 because his story tells us something really important that I think we can probably connect with

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 in terms of our own experience, namely, what does it actually mean to ask questions,

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 to have a sense of doubt?

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 Because the way that doubt is processed can actually form a really positive and healthy part of belief.

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 And there is a huge difference.

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 There's a huge difference between doubt in a healthy kind of question-asking kind of way,

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 in a searching authentically after truth kind of way.

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 There's all the difference between that and unbelief.

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 See, doubt is not necessarily the opposite of faith.

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 Properly understood, a certain type of doubt can actually be quite a healthy part of a healthy kind of faith

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 that is growing and that is earthed.

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 It was in 1887 that the preacher Henry Drummond preached a sermon called Dealing with Doubt,

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 and he said this,

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 Christ never failed to distinguish between doubt and unbelief.

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 Doubt is can't believe, whereas unbelief is won't believe.

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 Doubt is honest, whereas unbelief is obstinacy.

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 Doubt is looking for light.

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 Unbelief is content with darkness.

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 Now, loving darkness rather than the light,

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 that is what Christ attacked and attacked unsparingly.

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 But for the questioning of Thomas,

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 Philip,

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 Nicodemus,

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 and many others who came to him

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 to have their great problems solved,

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 Jesus was respectful, generous,

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 and tolerant.

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 So what I want to suggest is that

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 it's worth asking the question,

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 what can we learn from Thomas

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 and how he handled that experience of doubt,

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 in terms of what can it tell us about how to believe?

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 Because Thomas effectively really ought to be remembered as believing Thomas,

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 because that's how he ended up,

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 not as doubting Thomas.

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 I want to suggest there are two things.

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 The first thing,

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 quite simply, is this.

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 Thomas refused

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 to say that he believed

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 when deep down inside he knew he didn't.

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 See, it's not that Thomas didn't want to believe,

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 of course he wanted to believe,

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 it's just that he couldn't.

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 And he was honest enough

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 and he had that integrity about him

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 to stay with those questions,

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 to be real with them

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 and to lay them out there

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 and say, look,

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 I just can't accept this at the moment.

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 It's not that I don't want to,

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 I just can't.

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 And he had that concern

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 for honesty and for integrity.

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 And when we look at Thomas,

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 we see somebody actually who was,

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 someone who had both feet on the ground.

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 When Lazarus died,

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 Lazarus, who was subsequently raised from the dead,

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 incidentally,

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 we don't quite know exactly what happened to Lazarus,

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 but we can presume that he eventually died.

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 His resurrection was a sign

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 pointing towards the ultimate resurrection,

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 the resurrection we see in Jesus.

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 And what we see,

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 just like everyone else

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 that was healed within the New Testament,

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 was a temporary healing,

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 but a healing that highlights the power of Jesus.

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 But Lazarus died,

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 and before he was raised,

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 before Jesus and his friends went to see him,

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 when the news broke that Lazarus had died,

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 it's Thomas who actually says to Jesus

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 and to the other disciples with him,

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 he says, let's go then.

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 So before Lazarus has even died,

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 when he was,

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 when he is sick,

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 it's Thomas that says,

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 let's go and die with Lazarus.

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 It's also Thomas when,

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 in John chapter 14,

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 with that conversation between Jesus

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 and his disciples,

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 and Jesus is saying to his disciples

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 about the promises of eternal life

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 and telling them that how he is the way

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 and the truth and the life.

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 It's Thomas who says to Jesus,

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 Lord, we do not know where you are going,

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 so how can we know the way?

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 So there was a real honesty

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 and an openness about Thomas.

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 There was an earthness,

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 a groundedness about him.

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 I think that's really important.

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 And it tells us something really vital

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 and relevant about the way he responded

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 when he heard everybody else saying,

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 well, you know, Jesus is alive.

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 And he said, well, come on.

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 Really?

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 Really?

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 I'd love to think that is true.

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 It's not out of skepticism or cynicism.

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 He longs for this to be true,

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 but he just cannot bring himself

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 to say that he agrees,

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 that he believes in something

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 when deep down inside,

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 he knows that he hasn't satisfied that thing.

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 And that's really important.

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 It's really important

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 because it is too easy

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 to just go along with the crowd.

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 Now, I can remember,

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 growing up as a young person

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 in a youth group,

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 I can also remember as a student

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 involved with student missions,

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 seeing people who would come to faith

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 at big events, big gatherings,

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 would come to,

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 would respond to a call

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 that might have been made,

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 a big gathering,

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 a Christian message was presented,

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 and seeing people come forward

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 in their droves

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 to make a commitment to Christ.

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 And then it wasn't actually

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 that long afterwards

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 where they were saying,

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 actually, you know,

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 I'm not really sure I believe this,

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 and just dropped off.

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 And the problem with that

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 is that the danger can be

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 that if we make it go along

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 with the crowd,

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 commitment in a way

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 that actually doesn't engage

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 with all of those deep,

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 deep questions that we have,

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 is that sooner or later,

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 what is effectively something

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 of a brittle faith will snap.

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 It can have the outward appearance

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 of something that's strong,

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 but it doesn't take a lot of pressure

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 to snap.

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 And if that's been our journey,

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 then, in fact,

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 we can then come out of that

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 and say, well, you know,

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 Christian faith,

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 to be honest,

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 it's not for me.

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 It just doesn't work.

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 It's just,

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 it's got too many holes in it.

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 But the problem is not with faith,

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 it's just that we haven't

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 really engaged seriously with it.

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 Too many people

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 come to faith

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 at a very surface level

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 and give up too soon

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 because they have not stayed

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 with those questions.

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 Genuine Christian faith

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 is unafraid to ask questions.

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 Genuine Christian faith

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 recognises

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 that the reality of God,

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 the reality of the claims of Christ

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 are far bigger and greater

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 and deeper and wider

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 than the questions

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 that we have about those things.

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 And therefore,

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 it is right

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 to hold those questions

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 and to stay with those questions.

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 You know,

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 we live in a world

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 that will just tell us

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 that there is no God.

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 And it's very easy

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 to be picked up

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 by those voices,

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 to be picked up

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 by that cultural move.

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 And there's nothing new

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 about it, of course.

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 But it's very easy

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 for us to be swept along

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 with the narrative

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 that, well,

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 nobody believes in God.

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 Nobody really takes that seriously.

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 You know,

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 my experience has been

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 that so many people

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 who would claim

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 to be atheists,

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 when you get into a conversation,

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 it doesn't take very long

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 to expose the fact

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 that, in fact,

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 it's never really been thought through

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 in an awful lot of depth.

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 But even among those

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 who have thought it through

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 in a lot of depth,

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 actually,

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 we need to be very,

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 very wary of...

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 You know,

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 I remember when I was

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 a student,

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 a theology student,

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 we had a particular tutor,

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 a philosophy tutor,

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 who was an atheist.

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 And I remember,

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 forget,

00:08:51.400 --> 00:08:52.720
 he started off

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 beginning of one term.

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 He walked into this lecture room

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 and he said,

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 inhale deeply.

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 And he said to this whole group

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 of students,

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 inhale deeply.

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 And he took a deep breath.

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 And he got everyone

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 to do the same.

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 And he looked around the room

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 and he said,

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 can't you smell it?

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 It's a stench in the room.

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 He really knew

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 how to draw people in.

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 He said,

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 it's the smell of God.

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 He said,

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 it's the decomposing smell

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 of the God who is dead.

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 And then for the next term,

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 he took us through

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 this series of lectures

00:09:31.240 --> 00:09:31.899
 telling us

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 how God is dead.

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 And it's not credible

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 to believe

00:09:35.960 --> 00:09:37.340
 in a living God

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 in any size,

00:09:38.279 --> 00:09:38.960
 shape or form.

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 He quoted a number

00:09:41.659 --> 00:09:43.980
 of contemporary

00:09:43.980 --> 00:09:44.940
 atheist thinkers.

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 One of them

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 at the time

00:09:46.779 --> 00:09:48.080
 he subsequently died,

00:09:48.200 --> 00:09:48.720
 but somebody

00:09:48.720 --> 00:09:50.019
 called Professor

00:09:50.019 --> 00:09:51.000
 Anthony Flew.

00:09:51.519 --> 00:09:52.259
 And Anthony Flew

00:09:52.259 --> 00:09:53.220
 was one of the leading

00:09:53.220 --> 00:09:54.320
 atheist philosophers

00:09:54.320 --> 00:09:55.379
 from as early

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 as the 1950s.

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 And I knew

00:10:02.279 --> 00:10:03.220
 of so many people

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 that actually

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 were swept along

00:10:05.720 --> 00:10:08.340
 with the mood

00:10:08.340 --> 00:10:09.200
 of those lectures

00:10:09.200 --> 00:10:11.519
 and lost their faith

00:10:11.519 --> 00:10:12.759
 in God.

00:10:13.420 --> 00:10:13.620
 Of course,

00:10:13.639 --> 00:10:14.399
 you never lose your faith

00:10:14.399 --> 00:10:14.840
 because you always have

00:10:14.840 --> 00:10:15.560
 faith in something.

00:10:16.160 --> 00:10:16.800
 If it's not in God,

00:10:16.860 --> 00:10:17.759
 it would be in something else.

00:10:18.540 --> 00:10:19.259
 In this case,

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 it was putting faith

00:10:20.519 --> 00:10:21.920
 in Anthony Flew's teaching.

00:10:22.960 --> 00:10:23.360
 Now,

00:10:23.399 --> 00:10:25.019
 this was in the early 1990s.

00:10:25.019 --> 00:10:27.319
 2003,

00:10:27.500 --> 00:10:28.039
 Anthony Flew,

00:10:28.179 --> 00:10:28.379
 again,

00:10:28.480 --> 00:10:29.139
 very prominent

00:10:29.139 --> 00:10:31.179
 atheist philosopher,

00:10:31.340 --> 00:10:32.379
 was one of the signatories,

00:10:32.899 --> 00:10:35.439
 big humanist manifesto

00:10:35.439 --> 00:10:36.059
 that was published.

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 The following year,

00:10:37.759 --> 00:10:38.620
 2004,

00:10:40.179 --> 00:10:40.500
 Flew,

00:10:40.620 --> 00:10:41.579
 along with another writer,

00:10:41.699 --> 00:10:42.600
 published a book together

00:10:42.600 --> 00:10:43.539
 actually announcing

00:10:43.539 --> 00:10:44.220
 that he'd changed

00:10:44.220 --> 00:10:44.720
 his mind.

00:10:46.399 --> 00:10:47.139
 And in fact,

00:10:47.199 --> 00:10:47.659
 he decided

00:10:47.659 --> 00:10:48.579
 that he did believe

00:10:48.579 --> 00:10:48.939
 in God.

00:10:49.980 --> 00:10:50.639
 He said this,

00:10:51.279 --> 00:10:51.480
 he said,

00:10:51.480 --> 00:10:52.000
 I had to go

00:10:52.000 --> 00:10:53.299
 where the evidence leads.

00:10:53.299 --> 00:10:55.819
 DNA research

00:10:55.819 --> 00:10:57.219
 and other scientific evidence

00:10:57.219 --> 00:10:57.859
 has shown

00:10:57.859 --> 00:10:58.599
 by the almost

00:10:58.599 --> 00:11:00.059
 unbelievable complexity

00:11:00.059 --> 00:11:01.240
 of the arrangements

00:11:01.240 --> 00:11:02.459
 which we needed

00:11:02.459 --> 00:11:03.079
 to produce,

00:11:03.259 --> 00:11:03.879
 which are needed

00:11:03.879 --> 00:11:04.779
 to produce life,

00:11:05.219 --> 00:11:06.059
 that intelligence

00:11:06.059 --> 00:11:07.819
 must have been involved.

00:11:09.399 --> 00:11:09.659
 Now,

00:11:09.699 --> 00:11:10.879
 he didn't go quite so far

00:11:10.879 --> 00:11:11.859
 as to say

00:11:11.859 --> 00:11:12.639
 that he had become

00:11:12.639 --> 00:11:13.639
 a Christian believer,

00:11:14.939 --> 00:11:17.079
 but he did go so far

00:11:17.079 --> 00:11:17.559
 as to say

00:11:17.559 --> 00:11:19.979
 that after decades

00:11:19.979 --> 00:11:22.259
 of not only

00:11:22.259 --> 00:11:23.659
 believing

00:11:23.659 --> 00:11:24.379
 that there could

00:11:24.379 --> 00:11:25.120
 not be a God

00:11:25.120 --> 00:11:26.759
 and persuading

00:11:26.759 --> 00:11:28.059
 others with passion

00:11:28.059 --> 00:11:29.600
 and with intellectual

00:11:29.600 --> 00:11:29.919
 rigor

00:11:29.919 --> 00:11:31.200
 that it was impossible

00:11:31.200 --> 00:11:32.340
 with any credibility

00:11:32.340 --> 00:11:33.200
 to believe in God,

00:11:33.439 --> 00:11:33.980
 that actually

00:11:33.980 --> 00:11:35.819
 it made sense

00:11:35.819 --> 00:11:36.580
 to believe in God.

00:11:38.319 --> 00:11:39.299
 A point I'm making

00:11:39.299 --> 00:11:39.779
 is this,

00:11:40.419 --> 00:11:41.080
 we can hear

00:11:41.080 --> 00:11:41.879
 all sorts of

00:11:41.879 --> 00:11:43.600
 very persuasive voices

00:11:43.600 --> 00:11:45.039
 within our culture,

00:11:45.200 --> 00:11:45.899
 within our world,

00:11:46.159 --> 00:11:46.939
 within the workplace,

00:11:46.939 --> 00:11:47.819
 within the home

00:11:47.819 --> 00:11:48.399
 that says,

00:11:48.500 --> 00:11:49.319
 what are you doing

00:11:49.319 --> 00:11:50.679
 believing in Jesus Christ?

00:11:50.679 --> 00:11:51.739
 it makes no sense.

00:11:54.039 --> 00:11:54.539
 Now,

00:11:54.620 --> 00:11:55.819
 it's worth engaging

00:11:55.819 --> 00:11:56.659
 with those questions.

00:11:57.519 --> 00:11:58.419
 An authentic faith

00:11:58.419 --> 00:11:59.659
 does engage

00:11:59.659 --> 00:12:00.699
 with such questions.

00:12:03.500 --> 00:12:05.000
 But not at surface level.

00:12:06.379 --> 00:12:06.979
 Let's beware

00:12:06.979 --> 00:12:07.479
 that danger

00:12:07.479 --> 00:12:08.039
 of just being

00:12:08.039 --> 00:12:09.199
 swept along

00:12:09.199 --> 00:12:10.659
 by the cultural

00:12:10.659 --> 00:12:11.879
 currents around us.

00:12:13.299 --> 00:12:14.459
 Thomas didn't do that.

00:12:15.659 --> 00:12:16.579
 Thomas refused

00:12:16.579 --> 00:12:17.839
 to go along

00:12:17.840 --> 00:12:19.080
 with what everybody

00:12:19.080 --> 00:12:19.879
 else was saying

00:12:19.879 --> 00:12:20.420
 was true

00:12:20.420 --> 00:12:21.360
 as long as he had

00:12:21.360 --> 00:12:22.399
 this deep sense

00:12:22.399 --> 00:12:23.139
 inside him

00:12:23.139 --> 00:12:23.480
 that said,

00:12:23.580 --> 00:12:24.220
 but I just find

00:12:24.220 --> 00:12:25.259
 that so hard to believe.

00:12:26.120 --> 00:12:27.259
 But he stayed with it

00:12:27.259 --> 00:12:28.460
 and he stayed with it

00:12:28.460 --> 00:12:29.080
 in a sense

00:12:29.080 --> 00:12:29.960
 that was longing

00:12:29.960 --> 00:12:31.340
 and had an authenticity

00:12:31.340 --> 00:12:32.540
 and an integrity

00:12:32.540 --> 00:12:33.440
 about it.

00:12:35.340 --> 00:12:36.460
 And because he did,

00:12:37.519 --> 00:12:38.920
 he stayed there.

00:12:39.700 --> 00:12:40.940
 It wasn't that long

00:12:40.940 --> 00:12:43.420
 before he met himself

00:12:43.420 --> 00:12:44.420
 with a risen Jesus.

00:12:44.419 --> 00:12:48.299
 The second thing

00:12:48.299 --> 00:12:49.979
 that Thomas teaches us

00:12:49.979 --> 00:12:51.620
 through his experience

00:12:51.620 --> 00:12:52.899
 of processing doubt

00:12:52.899 --> 00:12:54.279
 and coming to belief

00:12:54.279 --> 00:12:55.219
 is that

00:12:55.219 --> 00:12:56.279
 when he

00:12:56.279 --> 00:12:57.899
 when he did

00:12:57.899 --> 00:12:58.699
 come to belief

00:12:58.699 --> 00:13:00.799
 he really came

00:13:00.799 --> 00:13:01.259
 to believe.

00:13:02.579 --> 00:13:03.679
 When he encountered

00:13:03.679 --> 00:13:05.599
 the risen Jesus

00:13:05.599 --> 00:13:07.500
 the conversation

00:13:07.500 --> 00:13:09.219
 didn't kind of go

00:13:09.219 --> 00:13:10.399
 something like this.

00:13:10.399 --> 00:13:14.240
 Hi Thomas,

00:13:14.480 --> 00:13:15.819
 I know that you

00:13:15.819 --> 00:13:17.019
 didn't actually

00:13:17.019 --> 00:13:18.000
 find it that easy

00:13:18.000 --> 00:13:18.480
 to believe

00:13:18.480 --> 00:13:19.019
 that I'm alive

00:13:19.019 --> 00:13:20.639
 but I'm here.

00:13:23.500 --> 00:13:24.319
 Oh, right, yeah,

00:13:24.459 --> 00:13:25.120
 okay, well I suppose

00:13:25.120 --> 00:13:25.620
 I probably

00:13:25.620 --> 00:13:26.500
 sort of might

00:13:26.500 --> 00:13:27.199
 think about

00:13:27.199 --> 00:13:28.840
 believing in you then.

00:13:29.659 --> 00:13:30.799
 That's not what happened.

00:13:32.240 --> 00:13:33.120
 Jesus appeared,

00:13:33.379 --> 00:13:34.779
 showed him his scars

00:13:34.779 --> 00:13:35.720
 on his hands

00:13:35.720 --> 00:13:36.439
 and his feet

00:13:36.439 --> 00:13:37.399
 and in his side

00:13:37.399 --> 00:13:38.679
 where he had been crucified,

00:13:39.139 --> 00:13:39.720
 showed him

00:13:39.720 --> 00:13:40.680
 that he was alive

00:13:40.680 --> 00:13:41.980
 and still

00:13:41.980 --> 00:13:43.220
 I'm quite sure

00:13:43.220 --> 00:13:43.960
 with this sense

00:13:43.960 --> 00:13:45.660
 of absolute shock

00:13:45.660 --> 00:13:47.279
 and not quite sure

00:13:47.279 --> 00:13:48.440
 how this could be true

00:13:48.440 --> 00:13:50.840
 but Thomas' response

00:13:50.840 --> 00:13:52.820
 is one where he says

00:13:52.820 --> 00:13:54.500
 my Lord

00:13:54.500 --> 00:13:56.600
 and my God.

00:13:59.800 --> 00:14:01.019
 That's what happens

00:14:01.019 --> 00:14:02.440
 when we come to believe.

00:14:03.860 --> 00:14:04.120
 You see,

00:14:04.279 --> 00:14:05.060
 becoming a Christian

00:14:05.060 --> 00:14:05.720
 is not just

00:14:05.720 --> 00:14:07.379
 giving intellectual

00:14:07.379 --> 00:14:07.920
 assent

00:14:07.919 --> 00:14:08.599
 to a set

00:14:08.599 --> 00:14:09.399
 of philosophical

00:14:09.399 --> 00:14:10.360
 propositions

00:14:10.360 --> 00:14:11.699
 that God exists.

00:14:13.120 --> 00:14:13.979
 It is about

00:14:13.979 --> 00:14:15.099
 a living encounter

00:14:15.099 --> 00:14:15.899
 with the living

00:14:15.899 --> 00:14:17.179
 Lord Jesus Christ

00:14:17.179 --> 00:14:18.479
 in a way

00:14:18.479 --> 00:14:19.959
 that transforms us.

00:14:24.539 --> 00:14:25.120
 You know,

00:14:25.179 --> 00:14:25.939
 we tend to make

00:14:25.939 --> 00:14:26.659
 a separation

00:14:26.659 --> 00:14:27.379
 between

00:14:27.379 --> 00:14:29.059
 our head belief

00:14:29.059 --> 00:14:31.199
 and our heart feelings.

00:14:31.200 --> 00:14:33.720
 we might call

00:14:33.720 --> 00:14:34.580
 one belief

00:14:34.580 --> 00:14:35.420
 and the other

00:14:35.420 --> 00:14:36.040
 faith.

00:14:37.080 --> 00:14:38.379
 But in the New Testament

00:14:38.379 --> 00:14:39.540
 there is no such

00:14:39.540 --> 00:14:40.080
 divorce.

00:14:41.080 --> 00:14:42.080
 The one word

00:14:42.080 --> 00:14:43.300
 is always used

00:14:43.300 --> 00:14:43.879
 to describe

00:14:43.879 --> 00:14:44.460
 both faith

00:14:44.460 --> 00:14:45.160
 and belief.

00:14:45.879 --> 00:14:46.740
 It's a holistic

00:14:46.740 --> 00:14:47.480
 reality.

00:14:47.680 --> 00:14:48.060
 It's something

00:14:48.060 --> 00:14:48.520
 that we do

00:14:48.520 --> 00:14:49.140
 with our hearts

00:14:49.140 --> 00:14:50.280
 and with our minds.

00:14:51.879 --> 00:14:52.540
 And that is

00:14:52.540 --> 00:14:53.460
 what we find

00:14:53.460 --> 00:14:54.220
 with Thomas.

00:14:54.540 --> 00:14:55.640
 And as he does

00:14:55.640 --> 00:14:56.000
 so,

00:14:56.140 --> 00:14:57.040
 it exposes

00:14:57.040 --> 00:14:57.940
 the reality

00:14:57.940 --> 00:14:59.259
 that all the while

00:14:59.259 --> 00:15:00.960
 he was doubting

00:15:00.960 --> 00:15:01.740
 and asking

00:15:01.740 --> 00:15:02.580
 those questions,

00:15:02.759 --> 00:15:03.480
 it was not

00:15:03.480 --> 00:15:04.240
 because he had

00:15:04.240 --> 00:15:05.319
 closed himself off

00:15:05.319 --> 00:15:06.139
 that he was cynical

00:15:06.139 --> 00:15:07.019
 and that he didn't

00:15:07.019 --> 00:15:07.600
 want anything

00:15:07.600 --> 00:15:08.399
 to do with it.

00:15:08.740 --> 00:15:09.559
 But precisely

00:15:09.559 --> 00:15:10.200
 the opposite.

00:15:10.659 --> 00:15:11.600
 It was precisely

00:15:11.600 --> 00:15:12.799
 because deep

00:15:12.799 --> 00:15:13.279
 within his

00:15:13.279 --> 00:15:13.700
 questioning

00:15:13.700 --> 00:15:14.860
 was a longing,

00:15:15.240 --> 00:15:15.919
 a longing

00:15:15.919 --> 00:15:16.580
 to know

00:15:16.580 --> 00:15:17.139
 the truth

00:15:17.139 --> 00:15:18.139
 and a longing

00:15:18.139 --> 00:15:18.799
 to know

00:15:18.799 --> 00:15:19.759
 the reality

00:15:19.759 --> 00:15:20.559
 of God.

00:15:21.319 --> 00:15:21.939
 That when he

00:15:21.939 --> 00:15:23.419
 was exposed

00:15:23.419 --> 00:15:24.439
 to that reality,

00:15:25.439 --> 00:15:26.799
 he accepted

00:15:26.799 --> 00:15:27.719
 that relationship

00:15:27.719 --> 00:15:28.859
 which is what

00:15:28.859 --> 00:15:29.479
 faith is all

00:15:29.479 --> 00:15:29.839
 about.

00:15:32.359 --> 00:15:33.099
 My hope

00:15:33.099 --> 00:15:33.779
 and my prayer

00:15:33.779 --> 00:15:35.259
 is that we

00:15:35.259 --> 00:15:36.279
 would doubt

00:15:36.279 --> 00:15:37.199
 like Thomas

00:15:37.199 --> 00:15:38.559
 so that we

00:15:38.559 --> 00:15:39.059
 can believe

00:15:39.059 --> 00:15:39.779
 like Thomas.

00:15:41.939 --> 00:15:42.559
 Do you know

00:15:42.559 --> 00:15:43.179
 there is one

00:15:43.179 --> 00:15:44.659
 thing that

00:15:44.659 --> 00:15:45.079
 stands out

00:15:45.079 --> 00:15:45.719
 in this story

00:15:45.719 --> 00:15:46.959
 that I think

00:15:46.959 --> 00:15:47.679
 Thomas did

00:15:47.679 --> 00:15:48.240
 get wrong

00:15:48.240 --> 00:15:49.219
 and it's a

00:15:49.219 --> 00:15:50.539
 helpful wake

00:15:50.539 --> 00:15:51.079
 up call

00:15:51.079 --> 00:15:52.039
 to every

00:15:52.039 --> 00:15:53.319
 single one

00:15:53.319 --> 00:15:53.819
 of us.

00:15:53.820 --> 00:15:57.720
 putting it

00:15:57.720 --> 00:15:58.200
 bluntly,

00:15:59.520 --> 00:16:00.700
 he wasn't

00:16:00.700 --> 00:16:01.540
 around when

00:16:01.540 --> 00:16:02.300
 Jesus showed

00:16:02.300 --> 00:16:03.100
 up the first

00:16:03.100 --> 00:16:03.440
 time.

00:16:04.879 --> 00:16:05.360
 Now we're not

00:16:05.360 --> 00:16:05.980
 told why he

00:16:05.980 --> 00:16:06.400
 wasn't there,

00:16:06.480 --> 00:16:06.700
 we're just

00:16:06.700 --> 00:16:07.360
 told that he

00:16:07.360 --> 00:16:07.980
 wasn't there.

00:16:09.800 --> 00:16:10.780
 If he had

00:16:10.780 --> 00:16:11.460
 been there

00:16:11.460 --> 00:16:12.240
 with the other

00:16:12.240 --> 00:16:12.800
 disciples,

00:16:13.060 --> 00:16:13.520
 he would have

00:16:13.520 --> 00:16:14.280
 encountered the

00:16:14.280 --> 00:16:14.860
 risen Jesus

00:16:14.860 --> 00:16:15.460
 at the same

00:16:15.460 --> 00:16:15.780
 time,

00:16:15.860 --> 00:16:16.320
 but he didn't.

00:16:17.080 --> 00:16:17.580
 Now he did

00:16:17.580 --> 00:16:18.040
 eventually,

00:16:19.240 --> 00:16:20.400
 but it wasn't

00:16:20.400 --> 00:16:21.020
 until he was

00:16:21.020 --> 00:16:21.620
 with the others.

00:16:23.820 --> 00:16:25.940
 That's really

00:16:25.940 --> 00:16:26.840
 important because

00:16:26.840 --> 00:16:27.700
 it reminds us

00:16:27.700 --> 00:16:28.420
 in no uncertain

00:16:28.420 --> 00:16:30.720
 terms that if

00:16:30.720 --> 00:16:31.080
 we want to

00:16:31.080 --> 00:16:31.520
 meet with the

00:16:31.520 --> 00:16:32.140
 risen Jesus,

00:16:32.820 --> 00:16:34.740
 we need to

00:16:34.740 --> 00:16:35.360
 be with others.

00:16:37.160 --> 00:16:37.940
 That's not to

00:16:37.940 --> 00:16:38.640
 say you can't

00:16:38.640 --> 00:16:39.400
 have an experience

00:16:39.400 --> 00:16:40.400
 of God on your

00:16:40.400 --> 00:16:40.940
 own, of course

00:16:40.940 --> 00:16:41.420
 you can.

00:16:43.280 --> 00:16:44.180
 It's not to

00:16:44.180 --> 00:16:45.040
 say that you

00:16:45.040 --> 00:16:45.720
 can't be a

00:16:45.720 --> 00:16:46.640
 Christian unless

00:16:46.640 --> 00:16:47.379
 you come to

00:16:47.379 --> 00:16:47.780
 church.

00:16:50.140 --> 00:16:51.220
 But it is a

00:16:51.220 --> 00:16:53.500
 reminder that if

00:16:53.500 --> 00:16:54.059
 we are really

00:16:54.059 --> 00:16:55.860
 to grow as

00:16:55.860 --> 00:16:57.419
 Christians, if

00:16:57.419 --> 00:16:57.879
 we are to

00:16:57.879 --> 00:16:58.860
 keep on meeting

00:16:58.860 --> 00:16:59.860
 with Jesus and

00:16:59.860 --> 00:17:00.740
 to grow in

00:17:00.740 --> 00:17:03.120
 Jesus, we

00:17:03.120 --> 00:17:03.480
 need to be

00:17:03.480 --> 00:17:04.099
 with others.

00:17:06.240 --> 00:17:07.099
 That's important

00:17:07.099 --> 00:17:07.779
 because we live

00:17:07.779 --> 00:17:08.400
 in a highly,

00:17:08.539 --> 00:17:10.579
 highly individualistic

00:17:10.579 --> 00:17:12.099
 world in the

00:17:12.099 --> 00:17:12.400
 West.

00:17:13.859 --> 00:17:14.579
 There was a

00:17:14.579 --> 00:17:15.099
 story a few

00:17:15.099 --> 00:17:15.720
 years ago about

00:17:15.720 --> 00:17:16.140
 a famous

00:17:16.140 --> 00:17:17.200
 actress, I

00:17:17.200 --> 00:17:17.500
 can't remember

00:17:17.500 --> 00:17:18.000
 her name now,

00:17:18.559 --> 00:17:19.500
 she was known

00:17:19.500 --> 00:17:21.220
 for lying about

00:17:21.220 --> 00:17:22.460
 her age and

00:17:22.460 --> 00:17:23.059
 in an interview

00:17:23.059 --> 00:17:24.619
 she once said

00:17:24.619 --> 00:17:25.779
 to somebody at

00:17:25.779 --> 00:17:26.159
 some sort of

00:17:26.159 --> 00:17:28.099
 gathering, her

00:17:28.099 --> 00:17:29.159
 son was at the

00:17:29.159 --> 00:17:30.179
 same event and

00:17:30.179 --> 00:17:31.059
 the interviewer

00:17:31.059 --> 00:17:31.679
 asked how old

00:17:31.679 --> 00:17:32.059
 she was, she

00:17:32.059 --> 00:17:32.460
 said, well I'm

00:17:32.460 --> 00:17:32.940
 68.

00:17:33.679 --> 00:17:34.099
 He said, well I

00:17:34.099 --> 00:17:34.539
 was just talking

00:17:34.539 --> 00:17:35.179
 to your son over

00:17:35.179 --> 00:17:35.839
 there and he

00:17:35.839 --> 00:17:37.000
 says he's 60.

00:17:38.859 --> 00:17:39.720
 She said, well

00:17:39.720 --> 00:17:41.079
 he lives his

00:17:41.079 --> 00:17:41.619
 life and I

00:17:41.619 --> 00:17:42.119
 leave mine.

00:17:44.259 --> 00:17:44.960
 But we do

00:17:44.960 --> 00:17:45.539
 live in that

00:17:45.539 --> 00:17:46.759
 deeply, deeply

00:17:46.759 --> 00:17:48.119
 compartmentalised,

00:17:48.460 --> 00:17:49.799
 highly individualistic

00:17:49.799 --> 00:17:51.819
 world, in

00:17:51.819 --> 00:17:52.799
 isolation from

00:17:52.799 --> 00:17:53.399
 one another.

00:17:55.779 --> 00:17:56.379
 Now there are

00:17:56.379 --> 00:17:57.200
 times when we

00:17:57.200 --> 00:17:57.740
 need to be on

00:17:57.740 --> 00:17:58.159
 our own, of

00:17:58.159 --> 00:17:58.579
 course we do,

00:17:58.680 --> 00:17:59.259
 especially those

00:17:59.259 --> 00:17:59.799
 of us that are

00:17:59.799 --> 00:18:00.659
 extroverts that

00:18:00.659 --> 00:18:01.599
 struggle and find

00:18:01.599 --> 00:18:03.200
 big crowds, hard

00:18:03.200 --> 00:18:04.200
 work, we need

00:18:04.200 --> 00:18:05.619
 time and space on

00:18:05.619 --> 00:18:06.159
 our own.

00:18:06.960 --> 00:18:07.799
 Some of us will

00:18:07.799 --> 00:18:08.440
 need that more

00:18:08.440 --> 00:18:09.059
 than others.

00:18:11.559 --> 00:18:12.299
 There's no getting

00:18:12.299 --> 00:18:12.859
 away from the

00:18:12.859 --> 00:18:13.779
 fact that we're

00:18:13.779 --> 00:18:15.079
 wired to connect

00:18:15.079 --> 00:18:15.759
 with others, not

00:18:15.759 --> 00:18:16.379
 necessarily big

00:18:16.379 --> 00:18:17.319
 crowds but with

00:18:17.319 --> 00:18:19.099
 small numbers.

00:18:22.119 --> 00:18:22.839
 If we really

00:18:22.839 --> 00:18:25.079
 want to grow and

00:18:25.079 --> 00:18:25.939
 keep on growing,

00:18:26.839 --> 00:18:27.639
 and keep on

00:18:27.639 --> 00:18:28.240
 growing, which is

00:18:28.240 --> 00:18:29.000
 what God wants of

00:18:29.000 --> 00:18:30.139
 us as long as we

00:18:30.139 --> 00:18:30.980
 are in this world,

00:18:31.879 --> 00:18:33.679
 we need to

00:18:33.679 --> 00:18:34.079
 connect with

00:18:34.079 --> 00:18:34.419
 others.

00:18:37.359 --> 00:18:38.460
 My challenge to

00:18:38.460 --> 00:18:38.980
 each and every

00:18:38.980 --> 00:18:39.720
 one of us is

00:18:39.720 --> 00:18:40.639
 that wherever we

00:18:40.639 --> 00:18:41.740
 are at in our

00:18:41.740 --> 00:18:43.359
 own spiritual

00:18:43.359 --> 00:18:45.819
 lives right now,

00:18:45.819 --> 00:18:48.220
 what might we

00:18:48.220 --> 00:18:48.919
 do to take

00:18:48.919 --> 00:18:50.240
 just one more

00:18:50.240 --> 00:18:54.439
 step now to

00:18:54.439 --> 00:18:55.299
 reconnect a little

00:18:55.299 --> 00:18:55.879
 bit more with

00:18:55.879 --> 00:18:56.259
 others?

00:18:58.139 --> 00:18:58.919
 Maybe you're

00:18:58.919 --> 00:18:59.700
 listening to this

00:18:59.700 --> 00:19:01.819
 online and for

00:19:01.819 --> 00:19:02.579
 whatever reason

00:19:02.579 --> 00:19:03.220
 it's been really

00:19:03.220 --> 00:19:04.259
 really difficult for

00:19:04.259 --> 00:19:05.539
 you to actually

00:19:05.539 --> 00:19:06.740
 get to a physical

00:19:06.740 --> 00:19:07.639
 place of worship.

00:19:07.759 --> 00:19:08.179
 And I want to

00:19:08.179 --> 00:19:09.960
 say to you, I

00:19:09.960 --> 00:19:10.539
 want to challenge

00:19:10.539 --> 00:19:11.039
 you with that

00:19:11.039 --> 00:19:11.919
 question, why

00:19:11.919 --> 00:19:12.240
 not?

00:19:13.319 --> 00:19:14.379
 What might you

00:19:14.380 --> 00:19:15.360
 be able to do?

00:19:15.720 --> 00:19:16.320
 Even if you

00:19:16.320 --> 00:19:17.200
 cannot physically

00:19:17.200 --> 00:19:18.500
 be in a place

00:19:18.500 --> 00:19:19.300
 of worship on a

00:19:19.300 --> 00:19:20.460
 Sunday, might you

00:19:20.460 --> 00:19:21.000
 be able to

00:19:21.000 --> 00:19:21.840
 connect with

00:19:21.840 --> 00:19:23.920
 somebody else in

00:19:23.920 --> 00:19:25.380
 some way to

00:19:25.380 --> 00:19:26.760
 talk with, to

00:19:26.760 --> 00:19:27.360
 pray with?

00:19:28.620 --> 00:19:29.140
 But you know,

00:19:29.320 --> 00:19:30.180
 even if we are,

00:19:30.240 --> 00:19:30.700
 let's take the

00:19:30.700 --> 00:19:31.340
 other extreme,

00:19:31.720 --> 00:19:32.580
 let's say that we

00:19:32.580 --> 00:19:33.540
 do come, we're

00:19:33.540 --> 00:19:34.480
 gathered, we're

00:19:34.480 --> 00:19:37.600
 part of a local

00:19:37.600 --> 00:19:40.420
 church, and that

00:19:40.420 --> 00:19:40.880
 means an awful

00:19:40.880 --> 00:19:41.340
 lot to us.

00:19:41.460 --> 00:19:42.420
 What might we do

00:19:42.420 --> 00:19:43.259
 to connect that

00:19:43.259 --> 00:19:44.140
 little bit more?

00:19:45.200 --> 00:19:45.960
 If we're not in

00:19:45.960 --> 00:19:46.539
 a home group,

00:19:47.120 --> 00:19:48.539
 consider joining a

00:19:48.539 --> 00:19:49.039
 home group.

00:19:50.960 --> 00:19:52.120
 Maybe there might

00:19:52.120 --> 00:19:53.840
 be an area of

00:19:53.840 --> 00:19:55.300
 ministry in which

00:19:55.300 --> 00:19:56.300
 as a local church

00:19:56.300 --> 00:19:57.120
 you're really

00:19:57.120 --> 00:19:58.240
 needed and you

00:19:58.240 --> 00:19:59.039
 have gifts and

00:19:59.039 --> 00:19:59.519
 skills and

00:19:59.519 --> 00:20:00.580
 abilities that you

00:20:00.580 --> 00:20:01.600
 could offer that

00:20:01.600 --> 00:20:02.460
 you could actually

00:20:02.460 --> 00:20:03.700
 connect in more

00:20:03.700 --> 00:20:04.120
 deeply.

00:20:05.460 --> 00:20:06.220
 Maybe it's with

00:20:06.220 --> 00:20:06.720
 our youth and

00:20:06.720 --> 00:20:07.539
 children's work.

00:20:08.500 --> 00:20:09.380
 Maybe it's music.

00:20:10.240 --> 00:20:11.000
 Maybe it's joining

00:20:11.000 --> 00:20:11.799
 a host team.

00:20:12.660 --> 00:20:13.299
 Maybe it's helping

00:20:13.299 --> 00:20:14.119
 with administration.

00:20:14.779 --> 00:20:15.500
 Maybe it's helping

00:20:15.500 --> 00:20:16.140
 with driving.

00:20:16.500 --> 00:20:17.700
 Maybe there are so

00:20:17.700 --> 00:20:18.400
 many different things

00:20:18.400 --> 00:20:19.059
 that you could do,

00:20:19.220 --> 00:20:20.640
 but I want to

00:20:20.640 --> 00:20:21.420
 challenge each of us

00:20:21.420 --> 00:20:22.299
 with that question.

00:20:25.200 --> 00:20:26.400
 Because very often,

00:20:27.160 --> 00:20:28.359
 if we feel that we're

00:20:28.359 --> 00:20:29.000
 in that place

00:20:29.000 --> 00:20:30.200
 spiritually where we

00:20:30.200 --> 00:20:31.460
 feel we're drying up,

00:20:31.819 --> 00:20:32.759
 where that sense of

00:20:32.759 --> 00:20:34.099
 encounter with Jesus

00:20:34.099 --> 00:20:35.799
 Christ is not as

00:20:35.799 --> 00:20:37.180
 strong or as bright

00:20:37.180 --> 00:20:38.259
 or as vivid as we

00:20:38.259 --> 00:20:39.539
 long for it to be,

00:20:39.539 --> 00:20:43.379
 maybe that is God's

00:20:43.379 --> 00:20:44.399
 invitation for us

00:20:44.399 --> 00:20:45.259
 just to step that

00:20:45.259 --> 00:20:46.099
 little bit further,

00:20:47.180 --> 00:20:48.039
 that little bit more

00:20:48.039 --> 00:20:49.799
 deeper into his

00:20:49.799 --> 00:20:51.299
 people and to

00:20:51.299 --> 00:20:51.960
 connect more with

00:20:51.960 --> 00:20:52.339
 others.

00:20:54.420 --> 00:20:56.079
 May we learn to

00:20:56.079 --> 00:20:57.099
 doubt and to

00:20:57.099 --> 00:20:58.259
 question and to

00:20:58.259 --> 00:21:00.680
 wrestle like

00:21:00.680 --> 00:21:03.159
 Thomas, that we

00:21:03.159 --> 00:21:03.899
 might come to

00:21:03.899 --> 00:21:05.159
 believe like

00:21:05.159 --> 00:21:05.599
 Thomas.

00:21:05.599 --> 00:21:07.939
 of the

00:21:07.939 --> 00:21:08.000
 Father.

00:21:08.000 --> 00:21:08.339
 Let's pray together

00:21:08.339 --> 00:21:08.659
 now.

00:21:16.000 --> 00:21:17.799
 Lord, we thank you

00:21:17.799 --> 00:21:24.240
 that you long for us

00:21:24.240 --> 00:21:27.419
 to grow and to go on

00:21:27.419 --> 00:21:27.779
 growing.

00:21:27.779 --> 00:21:39.319
 Lord we thank you that you don't call us to suspend all the questions that we're asking

00:21:39.319 --> 00:21:43.119
 but you invite us to bring those questions and to connect with you

00:21:43.119 --> 00:21:48.139
 to stay with those questions

00:21:48.139 --> 00:21:54.160
 that we might really wrestle and grow and go on growing in you

00:21:54.160 --> 00:21:56.619
 and know you more and more and more

00:21:56.619 --> 00:21:58.779
 as our living Lord

00:21:58.779 --> 00:22:02.659
 so Lord help us like Thomas

00:22:02.659 --> 00:22:07.919
 to stay with those questions and to bring them to you

00:22:07.919 --> 00:22:09.619
 that we might meet with you

00:22:09.619 --> 00:22:14.979
 Lord as we reflect on our own journey with you

00:22:14.979 --> 00:22:20.899
 help us now and over these coming days

00:22:20.899 --> 00:22:26.599
 to take that step closer to becoming more connected

00:22:26.619 --> 00:22:28.779
 with other Christians

00:22:28.779 --> 00:22:30.859
 whatever that looks like

00:22:30.859 --> 00:22:32.659
 whatever that means for us

00:22:32.659 --> 00:22:39.239
 Lord help us to be really open about this

00:22:39.239 --> 00:22:44.659
 maybe you might be calling us to serve you in a particular way

00:22:44.660 --> 00:22:47.820
 that we've been thinking about for a long time

00:22:47.820 --> 00:22:50.400
 and it's unsettling it makes us feel nervous

00:22:50.400 --> 00:22:52.800
 makes us feel quite vulnerable

00:22:52.800 --> 00:22:58.320
 Lord help us to be open and honest with you

00:22:58.319 --> 00:22:59.480
 and with ourselves

00:22:59.480 --> 00:23:02.859
 and whatever it may be

00:23:02.859 --> 00:23:06.480
 help us to take that one step closer

00:23:06.480 --> 00:23:10.339
 to connecting more with others

00:23:10.339 --> 00:23:18.759
 we can connect more closely with you

00:23:18.759 --> 00:23:22.159
 help us to do that this day

00:23:22.160 --> 00:23:25.279
 help us to do it every day

00:23:25.279 --> 00:23:27.820
 in Jesus name

00:23:27.820 --> 00:23:29.240
 Amen

00:23:29.240 --> 00:23:33.079
 Lord help us to brauch you

00:23:33.079 --> 00:23:33.759
 thank you

00:23:33.759 --> 00:23:36.380
 that way

00:23:40.400 --> 00:23:40.960
 for you

00:23:40.960 --> 00:23:42.140
 thank you

00:23:42.140 --> 00:23:43.980
 thank you

00:23:43.980 --> 00:23:44.099
 for doing

00:23:44.099 --> 00:23:48.599
 for us

00:23:48.680 --> 00:23:49.400
 thank you

00:23:49.400 --> 00:23:50.019
 thank you

00:23:50.039 --> 00:23:50.599
 thank you

00:23:50.720 --> 00:23:51.299
 for you

00:23:51.299 --> 00:23:51.920
 to take that day

00:23:51.920 --> 00:23:52.240
 thank you

00:23:52.599 --> 00:23:53.279
 thank you

00:23:53.279 --> 00:23:54.079
 and call you

00:23:54.079 --> 00:23:55.140
 to take that day

00:23:55.140 --> 00:23:55.660
 and call you

00:23:55.660 --> 00:23:55.920
 to talk about yourself

00:23:55.980 --> 00:23:56.180
 next time