“The Gift of Doubt” – a message from Ecclesiastes 2 by Dan Ryan

This past weekend at Eastbrook, we continued our new preaching series “The Skeptic’s Guide to Life with God: Ecclesiastes.” Pastor Dan Ryan preached a message entitled “The Gift of Doubt” from Ecclesiastes 2.

You can find the message outline and video below. You can access the entire series here. Join us for weekend worship in-person or remotely via Eastbrook at Home.

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“Yet when I surveyed all that my hands had done
and what I had toiled to achieve,
everything was meaningless, a chasing after the wind;
nothing was gained under the sun.” (Ecclesiastes 2:11)

The Path of Ecclesiastes

• What is life about?

• Chapter 2 – seeking the meaning of life

• Existential wrestling, crisis, or angst – a unique form of doubt

Doubt as an Invitation

Doubt as a Companion

• The Teacher wrestles with meaninglessness & doubt his whole life

• How have we viewed doubt in our lives? Is it a sin?

• The doubt of Peter & Thomas, and Jesus’ reaction

• Reframing doubt

Doubt as a Blessing

• Letting our doubt lead us back to God

• Nothing else can answer our deepest longing

• Do we view this kind of doubt as a gift? Can we?

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Dig Deeper

This week dig deeper in one or more of the following ways:

• Are you someone who doesn’t experience doubt? Reflect on the ways you have viewed those who have doubts. If you have a friend who does, spend time with them and listen to their experience. Let God speak to you how you can walk with those you know who have doubts.
• If you are working through your own doubts, revisit books such as Making Sense of God by Tim Keller or A Skeptic’s Guide to Faith by Phillip Yancey.