Dealing with Doubts

Dealing with Doubts
Following the Servant
Mark 6:14-29

Some stories in the Bible are so shocking and scandalous, it’s hard to believe they appear in the pages of God’s Word.  This is one of them.  John’s imprisonment was mentioned back in 1:14 when Jesus began his public ministry.  Now in chapter 6, the general population seem willing to call Jesus a prophet but not to acknowledge him as God the Son.  These 16 verses take us to a place we don’t really want to go – a place of seemingly no moral restraint – to observe the shameful inner court of Herod Antipas, the Son of Herod the Great, and the ruler of Galilee and Perea.  This is in the Bible because there are some very important lessons for us to learn about how to handle doubts.

1.    Herod’s fascination (vv. 14, 15)

These verses point ahead to the central event of Mark’s Gospel – the in Mark 8:27-30.

Malachi 4:5

2.   Herod’s fear (vv. 16-20)

The key word in verse 20 is the word “puzzled.”  The idea of the Greek word is to be “.”

3.   Herod’s madness (vv. 21-29)

Matthew 14:12

Some ways for us to handle our doubts:

·      See doubts as .

Herod had this window of opportunity to change his life, and he didn’t take it; and it’s a warning for us to not be like Herod.

“Be merciful to those who doubt.”  Jude 22

It’s not about our faith, it’s about the !

·      Doubts drive us to look

Just because someone has lived a righteous life, doesn’t mean they’ll be .

·      You have to

Hebrews 3:15

Jeremiah 17:9

How are we going to get the power to do the right thing?

We have to make sure we’re building our identity on the .

John 1:29

John 3:30

You are saved by Christ and not by the in Him.

Daily Meditations
 
Monday
Read  Mark 6.  Which is harder, dying for Jesus once or living radically sold out to Jesus
day after day, year after year?  Why?
 
 
 
What is the most recent example you have heard of a martyr for Christ? 
 
 
 
Tuesday
Read Mark 6.  What is the most recent example of persecution you heard of in the USA?
 
 
 
What reactions have you seen in today’s world that could be characterized as fear of
Christianity?
 
 
 
Why did Herod fear John, and why was he tormented after his death? 
 
 
 
Wednesday
Read Mark 6.  If you lived radically for Christ, who might fear you, and why?
 
 
 
What are the right reasons non-Christians should fear Christians? 
 
 
 
What are some bad ways some Christians cause fear and hatred in society?
 
 
 
Thursday
Read Mark 6.  What unbiblical practices in America are popular, so that if you spoke out against them, you would be persecuted?  Should you speak out anyway?
 
 
 
What other cases do you know of where someone has used sex and lust to manipulate a
leader? 
 
 
 
Friday
Read Mark 6.  How can a leader prepare his or her mind and heart to resist such manipulation?
 
 
 
Is there any person or leader you fear more than God? 
 
 
 
Are you tempted to protect your own reputation rather than honoring God? How should we respond?
 
 
 
Saturday
Read Mark 6.  How would you explain to a non-Christian why bad things happen to good people and good things happen to bad people? How would you explain it in a Sunday school class?
 
 
 
Who do you think of that, “even though he is dead, he still speaks through his faith”?