FAITHFULNESS - Champions by the Fruit of the SpiritSample

Faithfulness vs Doubt

Bible story: Jesus appears to Thomas John 20:24-31

Theme Verse: John 20:29

Faith is confidence or trust in a person or thing. It is a belief in something or someone that we cannot see. For Christians, faith in God is confidence and trust in Him, even though we cannot see Him. Our match fight this week is a doubt against faithfulness. Doubt is an uncertainty or lack of conviction. If we are to have the fruit of the Spirit, “Faithfulness,” in our lives, it includes that we be full of faith, and we will have to fight against doubt on occasion in our hearts.

Today’s Bible story is about Thomas. He was a disciple of Jesus and lived and walked on the earth when Jesus did. He followed Jesus and heard all His stories and sermons firsthand. But then Jesus was arrested and put on trial. They condemned Him and hung Jesus on a cross. Jesus had told all His disciples that he would be rising from the dead on the third day, but none of them remembered. Maybe they just couldn’t believe it would be possible since they saw Him die on the cross with their own eyes.

Then Jesus amazed them and rose from the dead, just as He had promised. He appeared to the disciples one day when Thomas was not with them. (John 20:25) ‘So the other disciples told him, “We have seen the Lord!” But Thomas 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.”’ A week later, Jesus came again to the disciples, and this time, Thomas was with them. Jesus specifically went to Thomas and showed him the scars on his hands and side.

Thomas was caught doubting Jesus and wanted to see Him to believe. However, Jesus asks you and me to believe Him even though we cannot see Him. Will you fight the doubt in your heart so that you can have a strong faith? There is no need to be discouraged, if we also have doubt. Jesus will have patience with us, just as He did with Thomas!

Questions:

Why doesn’t everyone just believe in Jesus?

Is there anything that God cannot do?

Are we in trouble when we have doubts?

Life Application

Choose to believe God this week on something that He promised you that seems impossible. Tell God that you are willing to wait until He completes His promise. To demonstrate your willingness to wait, go stand in any line, one where you do not need to be! Write down how many minutes you waited in the line.

Want more?

This reading plan is taken from Equip & Grow's children’s curriculum, looking at being a champion by putting into practice the Fruits of the Spirit. Enjoy this plan at home, and then do the full curriculum at church with student books, games, crafts, songs, decorations, and more!

https://www.childrenareimportant.com/champions/index.php