What do you do when you believe in God but still wrestle with doubt? In this message, Pastor Jacob opens up about the tension between faith and doubt, something every believer faces but few feel safe talking about. Walking through stories of biblical figures like Abraham, Gideon, John the Baptist, and Thomas, he reveals that doubt has always been part of the faith journey. Rather than being the enemy of faith, doubt is often a pathway to deeper, more meaningful belief. You'll discover why Jesus didn't shame His doubting disciples but instead entrusted them with the Great Commission, and what that means for you today. Whether you're navigating unanswered prayers, spiritual confusion, or watching someone you love wrestle with belief, this message will remind you that God meets you right where you are, doubts and all.

0:00 When you don't have easy answers
3:38 A pastor's honest struggle with doubt
7:09 Welcome to this message series
7:33 Doubt as a pathway to deeper faith
9:05 Biblical heroes who doubted
11:22 The disciples worshiped and some doubted
12:51 How Jesus responds to doubt
14:20 The Great Commission; doubts and all
16:07 Three big reasons we have doubt
17:08 Having "bend" in your faith
18:53 When your kids start asking real questions
21:58 The church should be the safest place to ask hard questions
23:07 Dignifying Thomas's doubts
26:01 Thomas came back
27:14 Jesus meets Thomas in his doubt
28:27 Doubting Thomas becomes faith-filled Thomas
29:31 Walking through the valley? Keep walking
31:38 Faith is an ongoing journey
32:21 Closing prayer

Support the show

Made a decision to follow Jesus? We want to know about it! Fill out our connect card here: https://local.churchcenter.com/people/forms/115766

Thank you for your generosity. For information on how to give, visit https://localvineyard.church/give.

When life knocks you down how do you get back up again? In this Easter message, we walk through the resurrection story in Matthew 28 and discover that getting back up doesn't start with strength or willpower. It starts with surrender. The women at the tomb were afraid yet filled with joy. The disciples worshiped yet still had doubts. And Jesus didn't push any of them away. He walked toward them and gave them purpose. Real faith isn't the absence of fear; it's the presence of Jesus in the middle of it. Whether you're carrying grief, wrestling with doubt, or unsure of your next step, this message is an invitation to start at the feet of Jesus and trust that He is with you always.

0:00 When life doesn't go according to plan
4:52 The Easter story
6:58 The women walk toward the tomb
9:15 Keep walking toward Jesus in your grief
11:21 Afraid yet filled with joy
13:55 Jesus appears
16:47 Getting back up starts with getting down
18:26 Start your day at the feet of Jesus
20:19 Worship replaces fear and reveals purpose
21:44 The enemy's counter-plan
24:16 The disciples worship with doubts
26:44 Doubt is not the opposite of faith
28:12 The Great Commission
30:53 "I am with you always"
32:04 Prayer and ministry time

Support the show

Made a decision to follow Jesus? We want to know about it! Fill out our connect card here: https://local.churchcenter.com/people/forms/115766

Thank you for your generosity. For information on how to give, visit https://localvineyard.church/give.

In Philippians 3, the Apostle Paul makes a radical claim: everything the world calls valuable is garbage compared to knowing Jesus. In this message from the "Invitation to Joy" series at Local Vineyard Church, we explore what it means to release the things the world says matter, redefine true success through the lens of God's Kingdom, and make Christ our greatest treasure. Paul had the perfect religious resume, yet he counted it all as loss for the surpassing worth of knowing Christ. Through the story of the rich young ruler and Paul's own transformation, we see that joy doesn't come from climbing higher but from getting lower and deeper in our relationship with God. When knowing God becomes our greatest pursuit, everything else finds its proper place. I can't change yesterday, I can't control tomorrow, but I can choose joy today.

0:00 The grossest thing ever
2:50 Paul says it's all garbage
5:17 Paul's impressive resume
6:59 True joy comes from knowing God
7:24 The principle of responsibility
9:51 Jesus invites us to know him
10:53 Release what the world says matters
12:07 Our prisons don't care about our accolades
14:05 Righteousness is received not achieved
15:20 The rich young ruler
17:46 Redefine what actually matters
18:51 The "when/then" mentality
20:35 God cares about the heart
21:03 The surpassing worth of knowing Christ
24:09 Intimate knowing — Adam knew Eve
25:01 The Kingdom flips everything upside down
27:01 What are you treating like treasure?
27:49 Christ as our greatest treasure
29:17 Losing vs. forfeiting your soul
31:14 Joy rooted in Christ not circumstances
33:20 Prayer and response

Support the show

Made a decision to follow Jesus? We want to know about it! Fill out our connect card here: https://local.churchcenter.com/people/forms/115766

Thank you for your generosity. For information on how to give, visit https://localvineyard.church/give.