God Can Handle Your Doubts

SMALL GROUP QUESTIONS:

Understanding the "Why" of Doubt

1. The sermon notes that while many young people are committing to Jesus, others are "deconstructing." When you hear the word "deconstruction," what is your initial reaction—fear, concern, curiosity, or perhaps defensiveness?

2. Which of the four "Reasons for Doubt" mentioned (Intellectual, Theological, Pain/Suffering, or Moral Failure) do you think is the most common hurdle for people in our community today? Have you had any experience with any of these areas of doubt?

3. Have you ever felt "pressure to be past doubting" because of your role in the church or your history as a Christian? What does that pressure do to your relationship with God? Or your relationship with other Christians?

Biblical Perspectives on Wavering

4. In the story of Peter walking on the water (Matthew 14), Jesus uses the word Distazo, meaning "to stand in two ways." Can you describe a time in your life when you felt like you were standing between two ways—wanting to believe but feeling pulled by fear or logic?

5. The sermon describes Jesus' "rebuke" of Peter as tender. How does it change your perspective to think of Jesus’ corrections as an invitation rather than an accusation?

6. Looking at the "Pattern of Grace" (Thomas, John the Baptist, Martha), what do these stories tell us about God’s "patience threshold" for people who have questions? (John 20, Matt 28, Matt 11, John 11)

Healthy vs. Destructive Deconstruction

7. C.S. Lewis argues that if you are on the wrong road, the most "progressive" thing you can do is turn around. Can you share an example of a time when "going backward" or admitting a mistake actually helped you move forward faster?

8. The sermon defines healthy deconstruction as "letting go of what is untrue to build on what is true." What is the danger of deconstructing without the goal of rebuilding?

9. "Everything you believe about God may not be true of God." How does that statement sit with you? Does it feel liberating or unsettling?

The Role of the Church

10. The speaker mentions the "spiritual gift of weird"—the unhelpful, shaming responses Christians sometimes give to doubters. Why do we often respond with "Bible-shaming" instead of empathy when someone shares a doubt?

11. How can we as a church community better "take responsibility" for those who have been hurt by the faith, rather than simply arguing with them?

The "New Peter Principle" & Application

12. Peter’s greatest moment of leadership (Pentecost) happened after his greatest moments of doubt and denial. How does this "New Peter Principle" provide hope for your own failures or for loved ones who have walked away?

13. If someone is overwhelmed by complex theology or "YouTube theology," the sermon suggests "interpreting through love" by returning to the Gospels. Why is the person of Jesus a better foundation than the complexities of systematic theology?

14. The "Letting Go" Exercise: Is there one specific thing you were taught about God (e.g., "God is waiting for you to mess up") that you realized doesn't align with the character of Jesus? What would it look like to "unbelieve" that this week?

15. What is one practical way you can "reach out your hand" to someone you know who is currently in a "sink-hole" of doubt or confusion?