OUTLINE FOR OPEN CELLS

(Week of 1 /17 – 1/23, 2010)

Icky World 3

"The Skeptic and the Faithnic"

Subject - Skepticism abounds in our world. People are skeptical about government, advertising, the future and especially the many promises of different religions. The skeptic or doubter seeks proof positive concerning the claims made by anyone. Our difficult task is to turn the skeptic into a true seeker, rather than a wallflower in the dance of life. What are the tools at our disposal?

I. The skeptic and the nature of skepticism.

A. skeptic/a person who maintains a doubting attitude, as toward values, plans, statements, or the character of others

B. skepticism/disbelief, doubt, uncertainty

1. "I am of course a skeptic about the divinity of Christ and a scorner of the notion that there is a God who cares how we are or what we do." (Kurt Vonnegut) The general attitude of our age.

2. "Authority has every reason to fear the skeptic, for authority can rarely survive in the face of doubt." (Robert Lindner) This principle was clearly illustrated in Eden.

3. "A skeptic is a person who would ask God for His ID card." (Edgar A. Shoaff)

4. "Me a skeptic? I hope you have proof."

II. The enigma of faith. (Faith is a mystery. - 1 Tim. 3:9)

A. "But without faith it is impossible to please Him, for he who comes to God must believe that He is and that He is a rewarder of those who diligently seek Him." (Heb. 11:6)

B. "So we see that they (the Jewish people) could not enter in (to Canaan) because of their unbelief." (Heb. 3:19) In light of these two verses, we must possess a steadfast faith in order to inherit from God.

C. A modern version of the faith message has stated: "Those who doubt will do without." Does this mean then that faith is the absolute absence of all doubt and uncertainty, and that any amount of doubt will completely undermine faith? That depends upon our response to our uncertainty.

1. (Rom. 3:3-4) "For what if some did not believe? Will their unbelief make the faithfulness of God without effect? Certainly not! Indeed, let God be true but every man a liar."

D. Faith is not the absolute absence of doubt and uncertainty, but a higher kind of certainty. Faith is not mere denial of the facts. Faith without corresponding action is dead. It must be acted upon in order to be realized. Faith does not believe that God will do everything, but that he will give me the courage and wisdom to do what I must do.

III. Jesus, friend of sinners . . . . and skeptics.

A. (Matt. 17:17) "O faithless and perverse generation, how long shall I be with you? How long shall I bear with you? Bring him here to me."

1. skeptics/disciples (Mt. 28:16-20), John the Baptist, Nicodemus, Thomas, Phillip, Jesus . . .

B. "The wise skeptic does not teach doubt, but how to look for the permanent in the mutable and fleeting." (Ralph Waldo Emerson) Jesus certainly embodied this ability.

C. "The skeptic does not mean him who doubts, but him who investigates or researches, as opposed to him who asserts and thinks that he has found." (Miguel de Unamuno) A necessary attitude for us all.

D. How can we effectively share the faith we have found, even in the midst of personal uncertainties?

1. Let the communication of faith become effectual . . . (Philemon 1:6 NLT) "You are generous because of your faith. And I am praying that you will really put your generosity to work, for in so doing you will come to an understanding of all the good things we can do for Christ."