Doubting Thomas

Doubting Thomas | Sermon | John 20:19–31 What if doubt isn't the opposite of faith—but part of the journey toward it? In this sermon on the story of Thomas in John 20:19–31, we look again at a disciple often remembered only for his doubt. But Thomas isn't asking for anything the others didn't receive—he's asking a deeper question about trust. We are often taught to think of belief and doubt as opposites. But in reality, both are shaped by uncertainty, and both require something more: trust. And trust, by its very nature, makes us vulnerable. In this message, we explore: The relationship between belief, doubt, and trust Why doubt can be a faithful and necessary response What Thomas was really asking when he said, "Show me the wounds" How the wounds of Christ reveal a God who fully enters human suffering What it means to trust a God who meets us in our deepest pain Rather than rebuking Thomas, Jesus meets him with gentleness and grace—offering not certainty, but presence. "Look at my hands… see my side… you are not alone." This is the kind of God we are invited to trust. Preached at First Presbyterian Church of Charlotte on April 12, 2026.