The Neighborhood Podcast
This is a podcast of Guilford Park Presbyterian Church in Greensboro, North Carolina featuring guests from both inside the church and the surrounding community. Hosted by Rev. Dr. Stephen M. Fearing, Head of Staff.
The Neighborhood Podcast
"No Doubt About It" (April 27, 2025 Children's Musical)
Faith and doubt often walk hand in hand on our spiritual journeys. The story of Thomas—forever labeled "Doubting Thomas"—offers profound insights into this universal experience.
When Jesus appears to his disciples after the resurrection, Thomas stands apart, refusing to believe without tangible evidence. "Unless I see the mark of the nails in his hands and put my finger in the mark of the nails and my hand in his side, I will not believe." His skepticism stems not from stubbornness but from the depth of his grief and disillusionment after witnessing his teacher's brutal death.
What follows is a remarkable encounter with the divine. Jesus returns specifically for Thomas, offering his wounds as proof and speaking directly to his doubt. Thomas's response—"My Lord and my God!"—becomes one of scripture's most powerful declarations of faith. Yet Jesus adds something crucial: "Blessed are those who have not seen and yet have come to believe." This blessing extends across time to all who embrace faith without physical evidence.
Through this dramatic retelling, we discover that doubt isn't the enemy of faith but often the pathway to deeper conviction. As one character reflects, "If it wasn't for doubt, Thomas, how will we ever know what we do believe?" We also witness the vital role community plays in nurturing belief, as Thomas acknowledges how others' testimonies helped strengthen his own faith.
The story concludes with the beautiful image of believers as "a living vine of witnesses" stretching across generations, connecting modern Christians to those who physically encountered the risen Christ. It's an invitation to recognize our place in this unbroken chain of testimony that has sustained faith for two thousand years.
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As our children prepare to lead us in the proclamation of the word, let us listen to the words of John 20, 19-31, a passage which is colloquially known as. Doubting Thomas, let us listen again to what God is saying to God's church. When it was evening on that day, the first day of the week, and the doors were locked where the disciples were for fear of the religious leaders, jesus came and stood among them and said Peace be with you.
Speaker 1:After he said this, he showed them his hands and his side. Then the disciples rejoiced when they saw the Lord. Jesus said to them again Peace be with you. As the Father has sent me, so I send you. When he had said this, he breathed on them and said to them Receive the Holy Spirit. If you forgive the sins of any, they are forgiven them. If you retain the sins of any, they are forgiven them. If you retain the sins of any, they are retained.
Speaker 1:But Thomas, who was called the twin, one of the twelve, was not with them when Jesus came. So the other disciples told him we have seen the Lord. But he said to them Unless I see the mark of the nails on his hands and put my finger in the mark of the nails and my hand in his side, I will not believe. A week later his disciples were again in the house and Thomas was with them, although the doors were shut. Jesus came and stood among them and said Peace be with you. And he said to Thomas Put your finger here and see my hand. Reach out your hand and put it in my side. Do not doubt, but believe. Thomas answered him my Lord and my God Jesus said to him have you believed because you have seen me, blessed are those who have not seen and yet have come to believe.
Speaker 1:Now Jesus did many other signs in the presence of his disciples that are not written in this book, but these are written so that you may continue to believe that Jesus is the Messiah, the Son of God, and that through believing you may have life in his name. Friends, holy wisdom, holy word. Thanks be to God.
Speaker 3:Singing and dancing. What joy is today Following Jesus? He's showing the way Life is fulfilling. We work and we play Alleluia, alleluia, singing and dancing where joy is. Today Following Jesus, he's showing the way Life is fulfilling. We work and we play Alleluia, alleluia. I could not speak. Now I can talk. I could not cry. Now I can walk. I hurt so bad. Now there's no pain. My mind was gone. He made me sane. Singing and dancing for joy is today Following Jesus is showing the way Life is fulfilling. We work and we play Alleluia, alleluia. To some fool, I turned my back. He put my life back on the track. I see what happened to the rest Of all the prophets is the best. Singing and dancing were diaries. Today, following Jesus is showing the way Life is fulfilling. We work and we play Alleluia. Let's sing our joys today Following Jesus, he's showing the way Life is fulfilling. We work and we play Alleluia, alleluia, alleluia, alleluia, hallelujah. Technical difficulties.
Speaker 1:That was you, huh? Oh, no, leave Please.
Speaker 4:Testing. Okay, okay, that's why she wouldn't put her scar on her face.
Speaker 3:Thomas, how good you could come to my party. But it's just about over. What took you so long? So much work to do? Mary, my twin and I had so much to finish, so much to do, so much to do. Still a shame you couldn't have been here earlier. Jesus was here, jesus, then he did come. I really wanted to talk with him some more. What did you want to talk to him about?
Speaker 4:I'm not sure exactly.
Speaker 3:It's just he worries me these days, all this talk of suffering and dying and rising Don't forget about rising, oh, I remember that too. But all this talk of bad stuff goes against all the joy and happiness that we've been feeling since Jesus came to us. It's just not right. We must talk him out of these bad thoughts. Thomas, we mistrust in Jesus. Nobody knows the joy he's brought to people better than I do.
Speaker 3:You must have heard what I, mary Magdalene, was like before Jesus came along and gave me my new life. I have been meaning to ask you about that, mary. I never knew you before then and I have only heard others tell how Jesus helped you. Since I didn't see it myself, I have a hard time believing it. I understand your doubt, thomas. Sometimes I have to pinch myself to see if it isn't all just a dream. But the new me is just as real as this party at my house. Somehow I just don't know.
Speaker 3:Thomas, you are such a doubter. Ever since I've come to know you, you've doubted so many things. That's him, mary. Ever since he was a kid he has been a doubter. Even his twin brother calls him Doubting Thomas. I doubt that it's true. Even your mother tells on her son Doubting Tommy.
Speaker 3:I doubt that. You can't deny it. It's your reputation. We knew you in your childhood. I doubt it. We knew you in your teenhood, I doubt it. We've known you all these years. We've known your friends and fears. We've known your hopes and fears.
Speaker 3:I doubt it. I doubt it. That's not true. Shut up, you're making me sick. Come on, look at it, get it. You've become a teacher. I doubt it. You might become a preacher. I doubt it. We've known them all these years. We've known your files and fears. We've known Him all these years. We've known Him so long. We've known our hope since the years. I doubt it. I doubt it. That's not true. The Lord said he must suffer. I doubt it. Must die and live forever? I doubt it. We've known him all these years. We've known your help and tears. We've known his hopes and fears. I doubt it. I doubt it. That can't be, can it? I doubt it. I doubt it. That can't be, can it? The time has come to go now. I doubt it. Tomorrow you'll feel better. I doubt it, I doubt it. I doubt it. This can't be.
Speaker 4:The weeks and months passed, Jesus continued his ministry of preaching, teaching and healing. The followers grew in numbers and in conviction, but so did the enemies of Jesus. It seemed likely that Jesus' prophecy would come true. Jesus was finally arrested, beaten, crucified on a cross until he was dead, and then buried in a tomb with a huge stone placed over the opening. Almost all of the followers turned away. They spent three days in sadness and in hiding, but soon they had some awesome news to share.
Speaker 3:We have seen the Lord. We have seen the Lord. We have seen the Lord. We have seen the Lord. Mary, have you seen him too? Yes, and I can hardly believe it. Tell us about it. It was a little like this this very morn and break of day, we faithful women went our way To seek the tomb where Jesus lay. Alleluia, alleluia. An angel, glad in white, we see, and sadness full. Gone to us three, glad in white, we see, and sadness look unto us three. Your Lord does go to Galilee. Alleluia, Alleluia, alleluia, alleluia, alleluia, alleluia, alleluia, alleluia, alleluia, alleluia. Is that how Jesus appeared to you too? No, he appeared to us in a very different way. It was still dark and very late in the night.
Speaker 3:Last night we apostles met in fear. Amidst us came my Lord most dear, and sent my peace beyond all fear. Alleluia, alleluia, alleluia, alleluia, alleluia, alleluia, alleluia, alleluia, alleluia, alleluia. We have seen the Lord. We have seen the Lord. We have seen the Lord. We have seen the Lord. We have seen the Lord.
Speaker 3:What is all this commotion? We have seen the Lord, the Lord Jesus, whom we saw dead and buried, the one and only was dead. Now he is alive. That's impossible. It must have been someone else. No, we touched him. It was him. Then it must have been a ghost. We all saw him dead. So it must have been a ghost. You saw. No, we touched him. It was me. A lion. It is true, thomas, I saw him too. He was near the garden. It was in the garden near where he was buried.
Speaker 3:Oh Mary, I wish I could believe you. But. But there's the little Unless my eyes fully see, unless my hands fully touch, I cannot fully believe. I long to so much. So easy to give in, to deny what. I feel. More fun to go with the crowd. But I know what I know and my senses tell me no one can come back to life Unless my eyes fully see, unless my lips fully watch. I cannot forgive me, though I long to so much. Our Jesus is not here. Won't you open your eyes? Not here, just feel with your hands. We saw him crucified, taken down and buried. Jesus is dead, not alive. Unless my eyes fully see, unless my hands fully touch, I cannot fully believe, though I want it so much. Unless my eyes fully see, no, I won't do so much. Unless my eyes fully see, unless my hands fully touch, then I fully believe. No, I won long to so much. Long to so much Unless I see you, unless I touch.
Speaker 2:My pierced side, o Thomas, see my hands, my feet. I show to thee, not faithless but believing me.
Speaker 3:No longer Thomas 79. He saw the feet, the hands, the side. Alleluia, alleluia, god. We sing the holy day of days. Love is the voice of God. We pay To thee in jubilee and praise. Alleluia, alleluia, alleluia, alleluia, alleluia, alleluia, alleluia, alleluia, alleluia, alleluia, alleluia, Alleluia, alleluia, alleluia, alleluia, alleluia, alleluia, alleluia, alleluia.
Speaker 2:How blessed are they who have not seen and yet whose faith has constant been, for the eternal life shall end. We have seen the Lord.
Speaker 3:We have seen the Lord. We have seen the Lord. We have seen the Lord. We have seen the Lord. Yay, the Lord's alive forever. We know it. He lives and works among us. We know it. He lives our days and years. He lives our times and years. He lives our smiles and tears. He knows our hopes and fears. We know it. We know it. We believe the Lord will go before us. We know it, preparing places for us. We know it. He lives our days and years preparing places for us. We know it. He lives our days and years. He lends our smiles and tears. He lends our hopes and fears. We know it. We know it. We believe. We know it. We'll show it. We know it. We'll show it.
Speaker 3:We know it, we believe we have seen the Lord and this has been enough to convince even a doubter like me. Maybe you're no longer a doubter, thomas. Maybe poor Trevor, may the world remember you as the living Thomas. I doubt that my old nickname will probably stick and it could serve me right. I should be ashamed for ever doubting our Lord. That's not true. Look what it got you a personal appearance from deep to the south. If it wasn't for doubt, thomas, how will we ever know what we do believe? I've never looked at it that way. I want to thank all of you for helping me believe. Thank us. What did we do? Seeing and hearing your faith has somehow helped me believe. It must be important to be surrounded by others who do believe.
Speaker 3:Remember how Jesus once said Wherever two or three are gathered in my name, there I am in the midst of them. Yes, that's it. That's what he said, and now we can believe all of his promises. That's the message we should exactly pass on to others that Jesus is with us. This is such good news. I know I will believe as long as I live.
Speaker 3:But I can't help but worry that the message might be lost to our sons and daughters. You mean the good news might die with us? No, it can't. We must tell as many people as we possibly can. They will not want it and they will tell more and they will tell even more.
Speaker 3:Just think a living vine of witnesses connected back to us, the ones who knew Jesus and really saw him come back to life. Can you imagine all this? Maybe even 2,000 years from now, this belief of Jesus is still alive and growing through these sons and daughters and grandsons and granddaughters. As long as each and every generation passes it on and believes, you know what I do believe, it can really happen. I don't doubt it in the least. A living vine of witnesses. Jesus has died and has risen again. Come join us now in this glad refrain Alleluia, alleluia, alleluia. Oh sons and daughters. Let us sing the King of heaven, the glorious King. O'er death and hell rose triumphing. Alleluia, alleluia, alleluia, alleluia, alleluia, alleluia, alleluia, alleluia. Let us sing the King of heaven, the glorious King. All death and hell will triumph in Alleluia, alleluia, thank you.