The Brookside Church Podcast

Is It Okay to Have Doubt?

John 20:24–31 [https://ref.ly/John%2020.24%E2%80%9331;niv?t=biblia] 24 Now Thomas (also known as Didymus), one of the Twelve, was not with the disciples when Jesus came. 25 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 not believe.”  A believer can be strong and utterly convinced one moment and deflated the next. 26 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!”  27 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.”  28 Thomas said to him, “My Lord and my God!”  29 Then Jesus told him, “Because you have seen me, you have believed; blessed are those who have not seen and yet have believed.”  Don’t let your doubts dictate your future. Let your doubts motivate your study.  30 Jesus performed many other signs in the presence of his disciples, which are not recorded in this book. 31 But these are written that you may believe that Jesus is the Messiah, the Son of God, and that by believing you may have life in his name.

How Do I Balance Serving God and Being With Him?

Luke 10:38–42 [https://ref.ly/Luke%2010.38%E2%80%9342;niv?t=biblia] 38 As Jesus and his disciples were on their way, he came to a village where a woman named Martha opened her home to him. 39 She had a sister called Mary, who sat at the Lord’s feet listening to what he said. Before she fell at his feet and before she anointed his feet, she sat at his feet. 40 But Martha was distracted by all the preparations that had to be made. She came to him and asked, “Lord, don’t you care that my sister has left me to do the work by myself? Tell her to help me!” This book is an exploration of a feeling. That caught-by-the-throat feeling so many mothers have today of always doing something wrong. And it’s about a conviction I have that this feeling—this widespread, choking cocktail of guilt and anxiety and resentment and regret—is poisoning motherhood for American women today. Lowering our horizons and limiting our minds. Sapping energy that we should have for ourselves and our children. And drowning out thoughts that might lead us, collectively, to formulate solutions. The feeling has many faces, but it doesn’t really have a name. It’s not depression. It’s not oppression. It’s a mix of things, a kind of too-muchness. An existential discomfort. A mess. (Warner, Perfect Madness, 3–4) 41 “Martha, Martha,” the Lord answered, “you are worried and upset about many things, 42 but few things are needed—or indeed only one. Mary has chosen what is better, and it will not be taken away from her.” Psalm 73:25-26 [https://ref.ly/Ps%2073.25-26;niv?t=biblia] “Who do I have in heaven but you? And I desire nothing on earth but you. My flesh and my heart may fail, but God is the strength of my heart, my portion forever.” Take it Home: 1. Repent of making serving him more important than being with him. 2. Create a “Stop-Doing” list. 3. Develop a Sabbath rhythm that facilitates presence while not neglecting performance.

How Do I Deal With Severed Relationships?

Acts 15:36–41 [https://ref.ly/Acts%2015.36%E2%80%9341;niv?t=biblia] 36 Some time later Paul said to Barnabas, “Let us go back and visit the believers in all the towns where we preached the word of the Lord and see how they are doing.” 37 Barnabas wanted to take Mark with them, 38 but Paul did not think it wise to take him, because he had deserted them in Pamphylia and had not continued with them in the work. 39 They had such a sharp disagreement that they parted company. Barnabas took Mark and sailed for Cyprus, 40 but Paul chose Silas and left, commended by the believers to the grace of the Lord. 41 He went through Syria and Cilicia, strengthening the churches. Colossians 4:10–15 [https://ref.ly/Col%204.10%E2%80%9315;niv?t=biblia] 10 My fellow prisoner Aristarchus sends you his greetings, as does Mark, the cousin of Barnabas. (You have received instructions about him; if he comes to you, welcome him.)11 Jesus, who is called Justus, also sends greetings. These are the only Jews among my co-workers for the kingdom of God, and they have proved a comfort to me. 12 Epaphras, who is one of you and a servant of Christ Jesus, sends greetings. He is always wrestling in prayer for you, that you may stand firm in all the will of God, mature and fully assured. 13 I vouch for him that he is working hard for you and for those at Laodicea and Hierapolis. 14 Our dear friend Luke, the doctor, and Demas send greetings. 15 Give my greetings to the brothers and sisters at Laodicea, and to Nympha and the church in her house. Philemon 23–24 [https://ref.ly/Philem%2023%E2%80%9324;niv?t=biblia] 23 Epaphras, my fellow prisoner in Christ Jesus, sends you greetings. 24 And so do Mark, Aristarchus, Demas and Luke, my fellow workers.2 Timothy 4:9–13 [https://ref.ly/2%20Tim%204.9%E2%80%9313;niv?t=biblia] 9 Do your best to come to me quickly, 10 for Demas, because he loved this world, has deserted me and has gone to Thessalonica. Crescens has gone to Galatia, and Titus to Dalmatia. 11 Only Luke is with me. Get Mark and bring him with you, because he is helpful to me in my ministry. 12 I sent Tychicus to Ephesus. 13 When you come, bring the cloak that I left with Carpus at Troas, and my scrolls, especially the parchments. Take it Home: 1. Pinpoint what caused the severed relationship. 2. Be willing to be transparent and accountable. 3. Develop and show new habits or attitudes.

Can I Lose My Higher Purpose?

2 Samuel 11:1 [https://ref.ly/2%20Sam%2011.1;niv?t=biblia] In the spring, at the time when kings go off to war, David sent Joab out with the king’s men and the whole Israelite army. They destroyed the Ammonites and besieged Rabbah. But David remained in Jerusalem. 2 Samuel 11:27 [https://ref.ly/2%20Sam%2011.27;niv?t=biblia] But the thing David had done displeased the Lord. 2 Samuel 12:1 [https://ref.ly/2%20Sam%2012.1;niv?t=biblia] The Lord sent Nathan to David.  2 Samuel 12:5–6 [https://ref.ly/2%20Sam%2012.5%E2%80%936;niv?t=biblia] 5 David burned with anger against the man and said to Nathan, “As surely as the Lord lives, the man who did this must die! 6 He must pay for that lamb four times over, because he did such a thing and had no pity.” 2 Samuel 12:7 [https://ref.ly/2%20Sam%2012.7;niv?t=biblia]  Then Nathan said to David, “You are the man!  2 Samuel 12:13–14 [https://ref.ly/2%20Sam%2012.13%E2%80%9314;niv?t=biblia] 13 Then David said to Nathan, “I have sinned against the Lord.” Nathan replied, “The Lord has taken away your sin. You are not going to die.  2 Samuel 12:10 [https://ref.ly/2%20Sam%2012.10;niv?t=biblia] Now, therefore, the sword will never depart from your house, because you despised me and took the wife of Uriah the Hittite to be your own. 2 Samuel 12:11 [https://ref.ly/2%20Sam%2012.11;niv?t=biblia] This is what the Lord says: ‘Out of your own household I am going to bring calamity on you. Before your very eyes I will take your wives and give them to one who is close to you, and he will sleep with your wives in broad daylight.’ 2 Samuel 12:14 [https://ref.ly/2%20Sam%2012.14;niv?t=biblia] But because by doing this you have shown utter contempt for the Lord, the son born to you will die. 2 Samuel 12:31 [https://ref.ly/2%20Sam%2012.31;niv?t=biblia] Then he and his entire army returned to Jerusalem. Psalm 51: 1-13 [https://ref.ly/Ps%2051.%201-13;niv?t=biblia] “Be gracious to me, God, according to your faithful love; according to your abundant compassion, blot out my rebellion.” “Wash away my guilt and cleanse me from my sin. For I am conscious of my rebellion, and my sin is always before me.” “Against you – you alone – I have sinned and done this evil in your sight. So you are right when you pass sentence; you are blameless when you judge.” “Indeed, I was guilty when I was born; I was sinful when my mother conceived me. Surely you desire integrity in the inner self, and you teach me wisdom deep within.”  “Purify me with hyssop, and I will be clean; wash me, and I will be whiter than snow. Let me hear joy and gladness; let the bones you have crushed rejoice.” “Turn your face away from my sins and blot out all my guilt. God, create a clean heart for me and renew a steadfast spirit within me. Do not banish me from your presence or take your Holy Spirit from me.” “Restore the joy of your salvation to me and give me a willing spirit. Then I will teach the rebellious your ways, and sinners will return to you.”

Easter Sunday

Genesis 1:2 [https://ref.ly/Gen%201.2;niv?t=biblia] 2 Now the earth was formless and empty, darkness was over the surface of the deep, and the Spirit of God was hovering over the waters. A dove came down! Moses was lifted up out of the water!  Israel is my beloved son!  Mark 1:9–11 [https://ref.ly/Mark%201.9%E2%80%9311;niv?t=biblia] 9 At that time Jesus came from Nazareth in Galilee and was baptized by John in the Jordan. 10 Just as Jesus was coming up out of the water, he saw heaven being torn open and the Spirit descending on him like a dove. 11 And a voice came from heaven: “You are my Son, whom I love; with you I am well pleased.” 1 Corinthians 10:1–2 1For I do not want you to be ignorant of the fact, brothers and sisters, that our ancestors were all under the cloud and that they all passed through the sea. 2 They were all baptized into Moses in the cloud and in the sea.  1 Peter 3:19–2 [https://ref.ly/1%20Pet%203.19%E2%80%932;niv?t=biblia]1 20…in the days of Noah while the ark was being built. In it only a few people, eight in all, were saved through water, 21 and this water symbolizes baptism that now saves you also—not the removal of dirt from the body but the pledge of a clear conscience toward God. It saves you by the resurrection of Jesus Christ…  Acts 2:38–41 38 Peter replied, “Repent and be baptized, every one of you, in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins. And you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit.41 Those who accepted his message were baptized, and about three thousand were added to their number that day. Acts 8:34–38 [https://ref.ly/Acts%208.34%E2%80%9338;niv?t=biblia] 34 The eunuch asked Philip, “Tell me, please, who is the prophet talking about, himself or someone else?” 35 Then Philip began with that very passage of Scripture and told him the good news about Jesus.  36 As they traveled along the road, they came to some water and the eunuch said, “Look, here is water. What can stand in the way of my being baptized?” [37] 38 And he gave orders to stop the chariot. Then both Philip and the eunuch went down into the water and Philip baptized him. Acts 18:8 [https://ref.ly/Acts%2018.8;niv?t=biblia] 8 Crispus, the synagogue leader, and his entire household believed in the Lord; and many of the Corinthians who heard Paul believed and were baptized.  Acts 10:4 [https://ref.ly/Acts%2010.4;niv?t=biblia]7–48 Then Peter said, 47 “Surely no one can stand in the way of their being baptized with water. They have received the Holy Spirit just as we have.” 48 So he ordered that they be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ.