24 One of the twelve disciples, Thomas (nicknamed the Twin), was not with the others when Jesus came. 25 They told him, “We have seen the Lord!” But he replied, “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.” 26 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. “Peace be with you,” he said. 27 Then he said to Thomas, “Put your finger here, and look at my hands. Put your hand into the wound in my side. Don’t be faithless any longer. Believe!” 28 “My Lord and my God!” Thomas exclaimed. 29 Then Jesus told him, “You believe because you have seen me. Blessed are those who believe without seeing me.”

1. God removed the reason for doubt when he revealed the reason for hope.

2. God revealed His love for us when Christ removed our sin through his death, burial, and resurrection.

3. Our doubts will not derail our hope when it is firmly anchored to Jesus.

Have each person share a high and low from this past week.

Hope is built on what a person believes, not on based on what a person sees. Doubt will not derail hope that is firmly anchored to the death, burial, and resurrection of Jesus.

Have you ever believed in something that others may not have believed in – like the Loch Ness Monster?

- Did Mary Magdalene not recognize Jesus because he didn’t look the same or because she wasn’t expecting him?

- How did Jesus respond to Thomas’s doubt? How does he respond to our doubts?

- Read John 20:19-30. What did Jesus say three times? What significance does that have for us today?

- How does it make you feel to hear that Jesus said, “Blessed are those who believe without seeing me”?

- We started “The Reason for Our Hope” series with a question about the level of your hope on a scale of 1-10. Did that number rise? If so, how? If not, how can you move forward?

Spend 1-2 minutes in silence with these questions then share your thoughts.

Pastor Matt talked about how hope is an anchor for our souls. Ask God for a word picture for your hope to hold you in your current situation.

In John 20:21 Jesus said, “Just as the Father has sent me, I am now sending you.” Take a moment and ask God if there is anyone specific he is sending you to.