Sermon Outline on Thomas's Unbelief

Bibliaon Team

Created and reviewed by our editors

Thomas was the disciple who struggled with doubt in his faith. When confronted with the risen Jesus, he required physical proof. Unlike Thomas, however, we are called to trust in God's Word!

Text: John 20:24–29

Purpose of the Sermon: To lead listeners to strengthen their confidence in the Word of God so that they may experience true peace.

Theme: Trust in the Truthfulness of God's Word

Introduction

1. The Previous Context: John 20:19–23

Twice, the Lord greeted the disciples with peace (John 20:19, 21).
One week later, He again greeted the disciples with His peace (John 20:26).

2. Main Ideas

The Lord truly desires for us to have His peace.
One everyday thing that robs us of peace is doubt.
Consider Thomas's reaction when the other disciples told him they had seen the Lord Jesus alive (John 20:25).
Jesus had repeatedly told His disciples that He would die and rise again on the third day.
Thomas was a sincere person (see John 11:16 and John 14:5).
Nevertheless, his heart was filled with doubt.
Doubt does not come from faith.

3. Parallel Passage

But whoever has doubts is condemned if they eat, because their eating is not from faith; and everything that does not come from faith is sin.
- Romans 14:23

4. Main Statement

Confidence in the truthfulness of God's Word is essential for recognizing God's greatness in the details of our lives. In this way, we can experience the peace that the Lord desires for us to have.

5. Transition Statement

Let us now consider some important lessons from Thomas's experience that teach us how to move from doubt to a deeper and more confident faith in God's Word.

Attitudes That Strengthen Confidence in the Truthfulness of God's Word

From this account of Thomas, we can identify four attitudes that help strengthen our confidence in the truthfulness of God's Word.

1. Maintain Fellowship with the Body of Christ

Now Thomas (also known as Didymus), one of the Twelve, was not with the disciples when Jesus came.
- John 20:24

The appearance of Jesus that Thomas missed was the first time Jesus appeared to all the disciples together.

However, according to the biblical accounts, before this appearance Jesus had already appeared on at least four other occasions after His resurrection:

First, Jesus appeared to Mary Magdalene (Mark 16:9–18).
Then He appeared to the other women who had gone to the tomb with Mary Magdalene (Matthew 28:9–10).
Jesus also appeared to the two disciples on the road to Emmaus (Mark 16:12–13; Luke 24:13–32).
He had already appeared to Peter before this first appearance to the disciples (Luke 24:34; 1 Corinthians 15:5).

If news of these appearances was already spreading, where was Thomas during such an important moment?

Was it the unbelief expressed in verse 25 that had separated him from the other disciples?

What could have been more important than being with the other followers of Christ?

Perhaps he was unaware of the reports. Even so, we must remember that these were difficult days. The disciples had locked themselves indoors because they feared the Jewish authorities (John 20:19).

That was all the more reason for Thomas to be there with them.

Why was he absent?

If he had been there, he would have seen the risen Christ.

Lesson: Isolation often strengthens doubt, while fellowship strengthens faith. Staying connected to the body of Christ helps us remain encouraged and grounded in God's truth.

2. Recognize the Invisible Nature of God's Kingdom

So the other disciples told him, ‘We have seen the Lord!’ But he said to them, ‘Unless I see the nail marks in his hands and put my finger where the nails were, and put my hand into his side, I will never believe.’
- John 20:25

Blessed are those who have not seen and yet have believed.
- John 20:29b

Consider these passages that emphasize the invisible nature of God's Kingdom:

The kingdom of God does not come with observation; nor will people say, ‘Here it is,’ or ‘There it is,’ because the kingdom of God is among you.
- Luke 17:20–21

Now to the King eternal, immortal, invisible, the only God, be honor and glory forever and ever. Amen.
- 1 Timothy 1:17

The Son is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn over all creation.
- Colossians 1:15

Now faith is confidence in what we hope for and assurance about what we do not see.
- Hebrews 11:1

By faith we understand that the universe was formed at God’s command, so that what is seen was not made out of what was visible.
- Hebrews 11:3

So we fix our eyes not on what is seen, but on what is unseen, since what is seen is temporary, but what is unseen is eternal.
- 2 Corinthians 4:18

Thomas needed to see in order to believe (John 20:25).
In the Kingdom of God, faith comes first.
We must believe before we see.
Jesus declares that those who have not seen and yet have believed are blessed (John 20:29b).

3. Depend on the Merciful Intervention of Jesus

A week later his disciples were in the house again, and Thomas was with them. Though the doors were locked, Jesus came and stood among them and said, “Peace be with you!”
- John 20:26

Eight days later, Jesus appeared again.
This would have been the following Sunday.
This time, Thomas was present.
Once again, Jesus blessed them with His peace.
It almost seems as though Jesus returned the following Sunday especially for Thomas.
This was an act of the Lord’s grace and mercy.
Jesus came, in His mercy, to rescue Thomas from the depths of his unbelief.
When doubt and unbelief begin to take hold of our hearts, we need to cry out for the Lord’s mercy.
He will certainly come to our aid.

4. Accept the Lord's Correction in Our Lives

Then he said to Thomas, “Put your finger here; see my hands. Reach out your hand and put it into my side. Stop doubting and believe.” Thomas said to him, “My Lord and my God!” Then Jesus told him, “Because you have seen me, you have believed; blessed are those who have not seen and yet have believed.”
- John 20:27–29a

When Jesus appeared for the second time, He immediately addressed Thomas.
Jesus rebuked and warned Thomas because of his unbelief (v. 27).
Thomas acknowledged his error by making a remarkable confession: My Lord and my God!” (v. 28)
This statement is one of the strongest affirmations of Jesus' divinity in the New Testament.
Yet Jesus continued to challenge him: “Because you have seen Me, you have believed?” (v. 29a)
Recognizing our mistakes is essential for spiritual growth.
Unbelief is often associated with stubbornness and hardness of heart.
God frequently uses difficult circumstances to strengthen our faith.

Conclusion

1. Main Argument

Everyone wants peace.
True peace is found only through faith.
Faith comes through hearing the Word of Christ.

2. Supporting Passage

But not all the Israelites accepted the good news. For Isaiah says, “Lord, who has believed our message?” Consequently, faith comes from hearing the message, and the message is heard through the word about Christ.
- Romans 10:16–17

3. Main Statement

Confidence in the truthfulness of God's Word is essential if we are to recognize God's greatness in the small details of our lives and, as a result, experience the peace that the Lord desires for us to have.