• • • **Scripture Reading: John 20:24-27
    • **INTRO: Turn to John 20 while I tell you about Voltaire:  https://schooloftherock.com/html/who_was_voltaire_and_why_does_.html 
    • “When a man like him announces that he has brought the dead back to life, we have to believe him”

• • • **WELCOME: Happy 2 weeks after Easter  and welcome to Central Church of Christ, a people called out by God to Show His Love, Tell His Story, and Be His Family. Today we hit the third of a message series from the Bible called, “Celebrate Jesus.” In this series we will walk each Sunday from Easter (Apr 4) to Pentecost (May 23) through an exciting Bible timeline of the appearances of Jesus to the church.

• • •  “Unless I see in his hands the mark of the nails, and place my finger into the mark of the nails, and place my hand into his side, I will never believe.” From that day on, Thomas has always been referred to as “Doubting Thomas.” In fact, if someone is known to doubt things that they’re told, they’re often referred to as “Doubting Thomases.”

• • • John 14
    • “Do not let your hearts be troubled. Trust in God; trust also in me. In my Father’s house are many rooms; if it were not so, I would have told you. I am going there to prepare a place for you. And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come back and take you to be with me that you also may be where I am. You know the way to the place where I am going.” And Thomas said to him, John 14:5 “Lord, we don’t know where you are going, so how can we know the way?” To which Jesus replies “I am the way the truth and the life, no one comes unto the Father except through me.” (John 14:6)

• • • Thomas says “Let us also go, that we may die with him.” John 11:16

• • • **Doubt. People do struggle with doubt once in awhile. In fact, Jude tells us “… have mercy on those who doubt” Jude 1:22

Someone once noted: “Those who doubt most, and yet strive to overcome their doubts, turn out to be some of Christ’s strongest disciples.” – Selwyn Hughes

https://libquotes.com/selwyn-hughes/quote/lbt1a4i

**When Jesus confronted Thomas, He gave Thomas the evidence he asked for. Then He said: “Do NOT disbelieve, but believe.” (John 20:27)

“Blessed is the man who doesn’t walk in the counsel of the ungodly, or stand in the path of sinners, or sit in the seat of the scornful.” Psalm 1:1

“Jews were more noble than those in Thessalonica; they received the word with all eagerness, EXAMINING THE SCRIPTURES DAILY to see if these things were so.” (Acts 17:11)

“Unless I see in his hands the mark of the nails, and place my finger into the mark of the nails, and place my hand into his side, I will never believe.” (John 20:25)

Eight days later, his disciples were inside again, and Thomas was with them. Although the doors were locked, Jesus came and stood among them and said, “Peace be with you.” 27 Then he said to Thomas, “Put your finger here, and see my hands; and put out your hand, and place it in my side. Do not disbelieve, but believe.” 28 Thomas answered him, “My Lord and my God!” 29 Jesus said to him, “Have you believed because you have seen me? Blessed are those who have not seen and yet have believed.” John 20:26-29

• • • CLOSE:  Iacocca & Bezos – 
      https://jonathangifford.com/be-decisive-great-leadership-idea-no-62/