Over the next 4 weeks we are going to be looking at faith and doubt.  Our series will be based around a book of the same title by a man called John Ortberg.  He lives in the USA and pastors a large

Church in California. He is the author of quite a few books including, “If you want to walk on water then you have to get out of the boat” and “Everybody is normal ‘til you get to know them’.

Now on many levels you might be able to understand why a Christian community would spend time looking and learning about faith.  It is something that is talked about throughout the bible.  In many of the stories told about Jesus faith plays a part and often an important role.  Some people took a risk of faith to see their much loved daughter healed (Matt 11;23) or even a daughter brought back ti life (matt 9;21).. Even the blind when they came in contact with Jesus are healed because of their faith. (Mk 10).

Jesus urges his Disciples to have faith, telling them if they had faith the size of a mustard seed they would eb able to move a mountain.. (Matt 11;20).  Most of us at this point choose to believe that Jesus was only speaking figuratively and that we could do nothing of the sort.  The followers of Jesus, his Disciples, are reprimanded for not having faith  at all (Mark 4), they are also put into situations by Jesus where Jesus wants to stretch their faith like it is a piece of elastic.  (John 6)

When it comes to the people who Christians often look up it is those who were full of faith.  Those, who, despite circumstances, the odds, the seemingly impossible, kept the faith, somehow, and came through – with a faith that had grown larger.

Our problem often is a little bit more like this.

Can you identify with Mr Bean?

Turn and talk to a neighbour about what you might have in common with Mr Bean.

Let me tell you a secret.  Many of you will perhaps struggle to understand this to be true, but….I have doubts.

I grew up in a Christian family, My dad was the Pastor of a church. I have always been a part of Church.  My wife is a Christian, I have been to Bible College and have a degree in theology,  but I have doubts.

You see I am like Mr Bean, full of bravado whilst at the bottom of the steps of the high diving board, but it all looks very different at the top looking down.  I don’t mind the dark, but I do not like not being able to see

I have doubts.

Don’t get me wrong I have faith too, sometimes it is smaller than a mustard seed and will just get me through the day. At others times I, often along with other people, have had faith the size of a mustard seed and we have seen mountains move.

And I still doubt.

Why is that some people faced with life circumstances will find that their faith is brought into severe question so much so that eventually they walk away from God.  Faith has left  them and they see no reason to carry on believing.  And other people will look at them and say “I wonder what happened to their faith.”

Why is that some people faced with life circumstances will find that their faith is brought into severe question so much so that eventually their faith grows and they begin mature and other people look at them and say “I wish I had their faith

Why is it that tragedy destroys faith in some people whilst in others faith is born anew and refreshed.  There is a mystery here to faith, that we cannot fully understand.

But faith and doubt have always been a part of my life.  There have been times when it has been too difficult to pray because I was not even sure that God would listen. There have been times when doubt in my life has forced me to grow up and mature in my faith. Doubt has forced me to go back to the Bible, to read books, to pray, to talk with trusted wiser friend, to wrestle with what I believe and why.

But I think there is a partner to faith and doubt that we have not mentioned.  I think their partner or even their friend is honesty.  When you live in relationship with Jesus it has to be based on honesty.  Look at the story of Israel from the OT and it is their dis-honesty, their unreality that got them into trouble.

It is Ok to say that I am not sure that I have enough faith to see this through in an open honest relationship with Jesus.  It is when we start to kid ourselves that everything is going to be OK and I can see this through when I think problems begin arise and we are in danger of becoming self-sufficient.

The other side of that coin is that we do not believe that God is big enough to pull through.  We make God too small and we don’t tell him that we think he is too small and that he cannot help.

The situations are different but it might just be the lack of honesty with Jesus and our loving Heavenly Father that drains faith and doubt begins to figure too large in our thinking.

I was chatting with some one this week, he is a good friend who I see failry reguraly. I am accountable to him.  I had putlined some of the things that are going in life and he said you might never have the chance to faith them again in the next 10 years.  What is God tryng to teach you?  You might never get this chance again don’t miss it, grab it with both hands.,  As we chatted and shared a drink he helped my faith to grow.

Those of us who are strong and able in the faith need to step in and lend a hand to those who falter, and not just do what is most convenient for us. Strength is for service, not status. 2Each one of us needs to look after the good of the people around us, asking ourselves, “How can I help?”

Romans 15; 1-2 the Message

Billy Graham was once asked when he was near 90, if he beloved that after he died he will hear God say to him, “Well done, good an faithful servant,”  He paused before answering, almost struggling to articulate what he believed and said “I hope so”