Faith and Doubt
Gorilla Suits, Flyers, and Catchers
May 18, 2025
Chris Seidman, Teaching Minister, The Branch
Matthew 14:31 (NIV)
“You of little faith … why did you doubt?”
3 Layers of Convictions
- Public Convictions
- Private Convictions
- Core Convictions
James 2:14-18 (NIV)
What good is it, my brothers and sisters, if someone claims to have faith but has no deeds … faith by itself, if it is not accompanied by action, is dead … I will show you my faith by my deeds … As the body without the spirit is dead, so faith without deeds is dead.
We can discern our core beliefs by …
- how we respond to adversity.
Luke 8:25 (NIV)
“Where is your faith?”
Matthew 14:31 (NIV)
“You of little faith … why did you doubt?”
- how we respond to an “opportunity” or a “freedom.”
Our salvation rests on Jesus’ “Good Faith” more than our “Bad Faith.”
1 Peter 2:22 (NIV)
He committed no sin, and no deceit was found in his mouth.
Galatians 3:27 (NIV)
… for all of you who were baptized into Christ have clothed yourselves with Christ.
It’s possible over time to change “Mental Maps” through following Christ.
Believers
- being made new in the attitude of our minds (Ephesians 4:24)
- being transformed by the renewing of our minds (Romans 12:2)
- having the mind of Christ (1 Corinthians 2:16)
There’s putting your faith in Christ, but then there’s having the faith of Christ.
Acts 3:16 (NIV)
It is Jesus’ name and the faith that comes through him that has given this complete healing to him.
How does it happen?
- It happens through us being continually exposed to His mental map.
Romans 10:17 (NIV)
… faith comes from hearing the message and the message is heard through the word of Christ.
- It happens through me letting go of my mental map and living by His.
Communion
- Where are you on the “public to private to core” journey?
- What does it look like right now for you to “let go” and trust Him to catch you?
- Thank Him for His faithfulness while you are in process.