The Weekly Prayer Project - Struggling With Doubt
Welcome!
Our theme today: Struggling With Doubt
Ever catch yourself thinking: “I believe this... but I'm not sure?” We’re going to walk through what doubt really means, why it shows up, and how God meets us right in the middle of it.
Greeting and Announcements
Struggling With Doubt
Pastor: God is faithful. Even in our doubt, God promises:
All: “I will never leave you nor forsake you.”
(Hebrews 13:5)
Pastor: He calms our anxious, doubting hearts:
All: Jesus said, “Peace I leave with you; My peace I give you.”
(John 14:27)
Pastor: He is our light. He drives out the shadows of doubt:
All: “The Lord is my light and my salvation—whom shall I fear?”
(Psalm 27:1)
Pastor: God’s presence reassures us as we struggle with doubt:
All: “for I am with you… I will strengthen you and help you.”
(Isaiah 41:10)
Pastor: In our uncertainty, the Lord strengthens our faith:
All: Jesus said, “Do not let your hearts be troubled. Believe in God; believe also in Me.”
(John 14:1)
Pastor: Even though we doubt, Jesus entrusts His world‑changing mission to imperfect believers:
All: “When they saw him, they worshiped him; but some doubted.”
(Matthew 28:17)
Pastor: In every season – in certainty or in doubt, remember:
All: "God is our refuge and strength, an ever-present help in trouble.”
(Psalm 46:1)
Pastor: In your moments of doubt, put your trust in the Lord:
All: “But when I am afraid, I will put my trust in you.”
(Psalm 56:3)
Give Me Faith
I need You to soften my heart
And break me apart
I need You to open my eyes
To see that You're shaping my life
All I am I surrender
Give me faith
To trust what You say
That You're good
And Your love is great
I'm broken inside
I give You my life
I need You to soften my heart
And break me apart
I need You to pierce through the dark
And cleanse every part of me
All I am I surrender
Give me faith
To trust what You say
That You're good
And Your love is great
I'm broken inside
I give You my life
I may be weak
But Your Spirit's strong in me
My flesh may fail
My God You never will
I may be weak
But Your Spirit's strong in me
My flesh may fail
My God You never will
Give me faith
To trust what You say
That You're good
And Your love is great
I'm broken inside
I give You my life
I may be weak
But Your Spirit's strong in me
My flesh may fail
My God You never will
I may be weak
But Your Spirit's strong in me
My flesh may fail
My God You never will
Scripture Reading
John 20:19-29 (NIV) - On the evening of that first day of the week, when the disciples were together, with the doors locked for fear of the Jewish leaders, Jesus came and stood among them and said, "Peace be with you!" After he said this, he showed them his hands and side. The disciples were overjoyed when they saw the Lord. Again Jesus said, "Peace be with you! As the Father has sent me, I am sending you." And with that he breathed on them and said, "Receive the Holy Spirit. If you forgive the sins of anyone, their sins are forgiven; if you do not forgive them, they are not forgiven." Now Thomas (also known as Didymus ), one of the Twelve, was not with the disciples when Jesus came. 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 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!" 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."
STP KIDS Dismissal
STP KIDS is the Children’s Ministry at St. Peter’s Edina, designed for all children from 6 months to 10 years old (Grade 5). Older children are welcome to participate as helpers. Our vision is to partner with parents in raising up a generation of children that will seek their God-given Kingdom mission and impact their world for Jesus!
Message
John 20:25 (NIV) - "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."
John 20:27-29 (NIV) - [Jesus] 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."
My Hope is Built on Nothing Less
My hope is built on nothing less
Than Jesus blood and righteousness
No merit of my own I claim
But wholly lean on Jesus name
On Christ the Solid Rock I stand
All other ground is sinking sand
When darkness veils His lovely face
I rest on His unchanging grace
In every high and stormy gale
My anchor holds within the veil
On Christ the Solid Rock I stand
All other ground is sinking sand
His oath His covenant and blood
Support me in the raging flood
When every earthly prop gives way
He then is all my hope and stay
On Christ the Solid Rock I stand
All other ground is sinking sand
When He shall come with trumpet sound
Oh may I then in Him be found
Clothed in His Righteousness alone
Redeemed to stand before the throne
On Christ the Solid Rock I stand
All other ground is sinking sand
Prayer
If you are in need of prayer, we would love the opportunity to pray with you! You can post a prayer on our online prayer wall, or submit a private prayer to our prayer team. Speak with Pastor Mark if you desire personal prayer.
Confession & Forgiveness
Pastor: Let us confess our sins before God and in the presence of one another…
Pastor: We confess to the Lord our unbelief, doubts and fears.
All: Forgive us, Lord.
Pastor: Our failure to leave behind the way of sin and death and fully embrace our new life in Christ, we confess to the Lord.
All: Forgive us, Lord.
Pastor: Our failure to proclaim the good news of Jesus’ death and resurrection, we confess to the Lord.
All: Forgive us, Lord.
Pastor: Our foolish and selfish approach to relationships, we confess to the Lord.
All: Forgive us, Lord.
Pastor: Our sinful thoughts, words, and deeds, and our failure to love God above all things and others as ourselves, we confess to the Lord.
All: Forgive us, Lord.
All: Merciful Father, we pray for pardon, peace, and forgiveness from our sin for the sake of Jesus Christ, who suffered and died for us to pay the penalty from sin and release us from its guilt.
Pastor: Jesus invited Thomas to reach out to His hands and feet, examining the wounds of His sacrificial suffering and death for us. Today our Lord stands before you and me and says, “See My hands. Stop doubting and believe.” Through Jesus’ life, death, and resurrection, forgiveness is offered to you, your family, your friends. He invites you to believe!
Words of Institution / Communion Distribution
Just before Jesus was crucified, He instituted the Lord’s Supper with His disciples. After the Resurrection, believers still gather today to receive the bread and wine.
Holy Communion is offered to those who have been instructed in the Christian faith as confessed by the Lutheran Church. We believe that:
1) Jesus Christ is our only Lord and Savior from all sin, death, and the power of the devil;
2) the Risen Christ is really present in the Sacrament and that with the bread and wine we receive is His true Body and Blood; and
3) we resolve to dedicate our lives to the service of our Lord in His Body, the Church, by regular group worship, sacrificial giving, and thankful living.
If you have any questions please consult with the pastor.
Approach the altar on your own. Gluten-free hosts are available by requesting one from the communion server. Grape juice is located in the center ring of cups.
The Lord’s Prayer
All: Our Father who art in heaven, hallowed be thy name. Thy kingdom come. Thy will be done on earth as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread, and forgive us our trespasses, as we forgive those who trespass against us, and lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil. For thine is the kingdom and the power, and the glory, forever and ever. Amen.
Blessing
Psalm 94:19 (NLT) - When doubts filled my mind, your comfort gave me renewed hope and cheer.
How Can It Be
I am guilty
Ashamed of what I've done
What I've become
These hands are dirty
I dare not lift them up
To the Holy One
You plead my cause
You right my wrongs
You break my chains
You overcome
You gave Your life
To give me mine
You say that I am free
I've been hiding
Afraid I've let You down
Inside I doubt
That You still love me
But in Your eyes
There's only grace now
You plead my cause
You right my wrongs
You break my chains
You overcome
You gave Your life
To give me mine
You say that I am free
How can it be yeah
How can it be
Though I fall You can make me new
From this death I will rise with You
Oh the grace reaching out for me
How can it be
How can it be
You plead my cause
You right my wrongs
You break my chains
You overcome
You gave Your life
To give me mine
You say that I am free
You plead my cause
You right my wrongs
You break my chains
You overcome
You gave Your life
To give me mine
You say that I am free
How can it be yeah
How can it be
Give Me Faith
CCLI Song # 5680939
Chris Brown | London Gatch | Mack Brock | Wade Joye
© 2009 Be Essential Songs; Elevation Worship Publishing
For use solely with the SongSelect® Terms of Use. All rights reserved. www.ccli.com
CCLI License # 277265
How Can It Be
CCLI Song # 7023294
Jason Ingram | Jeff Johnson | Paul Mabury
© 2014 Songs of Mojo Three LLC; Oceans Away Music; Open Hands Music; So Essential Tunes
For use solely with the SongSelect® Terms of Use. All rights reserved. www.ccli.com
CCLI License # 277265