Doubt It (Part 1): When God Doesn't Exist Anymore

TO START

This Sunday, we jumped into a new four part series called Doubt It. If you have ever found yourself in a place of having doubts about faith in God, you resonate with the sentiment of deconstructing your faith, you’ve found yourself discouraged about the Christian faith, or your lack of engagement with faith, this series and these discussions are meant to be a tool to process and to help speak into these wrestlings. To start, unpack this question together: 

  • In what areas of your faith (who God is, your relationship with God, etc.), do you wrestle with doubt?

This week we are inviting your group to choose questions from the multiple options below.  Our hope is that these questions might help you to lead your discussion in a way that makes sense for your group this week as y’all “talk it out” and “live it out”.

TALK IT OUT AFTER READING ACTS 17:22-29

STUDY

  • Why do you think the Athenians had an altar to the “Unknown God”?

  • How did Paul use the culture around him to make a bridge to the Gospel? 

  • What characteristics of God does Paul point to throughout his conversation at the Areopagus?

PROCESS

  • Is there anyone in your circle of work, hobbies, school, etc. that has never believed or no longer believes in the existence of God? What is your relationship like with them? Do you ever discuss your faith with them? Why or why not?

  • “Worldliness is what any particular culture does to make sin seem normal and righteousness seem strange” How have you seen this in your own life?

LIVE IT OUT 

PRACTICE

  • How often do you spend time trying to understand the concerns and cares of those who have reservations about coming home to God? 

  • Have you found yourself continuing to rely on other things (idolatry) to deliver you? What area do you see this the most (parenting, work, romance, social influence, body image, technology, a hobby, politics, etc.)? What would it look like for you to see God as your sole sustainer instead? 

PRAY

  • Create space for folks to name out loud or silently, one reason they may find themselves discouraged about God, the current state of Christianity OR their own engagement with faith...Pray for the beauty of Jesus to remind each of us what God has done and is continuing to do in Jesus for us.

Matt DeLano