Lenten “In and Out” Series — Part 1: The Dungeon of Doubt
- SNE.BCNA
- Mar 8
- 5 min read
Matthew 11:2–11 (February 22, 2026)
Lent is a season where we slow down long enough to be honest—honest about what we believe, what we fear, and what we’re carrying.
Today, we begin a brand-new sermon series titled “In and Out.” In this series, we’ll be looking at followers of Jesus who struggled with their faith. At moments, they were all in for Jesus—and then in other moments they were all out against Jesus. Maybe you’ve lived that tension, too. Maybe you were all in… and then life happened… and doubt started whispering, “What if this isn’t real?”
Welcome to the Dungeon of Doubt
Have you ever struggled with your faith?
Is all this Jesus stuff real?
If it is real, why do bad things happen to good people?
Why does God answer some prayers but seem silent on others?
If I struggle with belief, does that mean I’m not saved—beyond the love of God?
Will God be mad at me if I wrestle with believing?
If Jesus is real, why don’t people who claim to follow Jesus act better?
What do I do if everyone around me is all in… but I’m all out?
That place—that mental, emotional, spiritual place—we call it the dungeon of doubt.
But hear this clearly: if you are in a season of “doubt and out,” you have joined the company of some of the most powerful saints the Bible knows. You’re not in uncharted territory. Look closely, and you’ll see the footprints of people who walked through doubt before you—and kept walking with Jesus.
A Powerful Saint Who Started Second-Guessing Jesus
In Matthew 11, we read about one of the most famous, anointed followers of Jesus… and he’s second-guessing everything.
It’s John the Baptist—the same man Jesus described in a jaw-dropping way:
Among those born of women, there has not risen one greater than John the Baptist.
And yet here he is in our text… on the verge of getting out rather than staying in.
John the Baptist: A Faith Giant With a Human Heart
John the Baptist is one of the most decorated figures in the New Testament.
While he was still in his mother Elizabeth’s womb, when pregnant Mary came near, baby John did a Holy Spirit flip in the womb.
He became a powerful prophet—yes, a strange prophet.
He lived in the wilderness
Ate locusts and wild honey
Wore camel hair and a leather belt
And yes… did y’all know preachers can be strange? Aren’t you glad you don’t have a strange preacher?
John rose to fame with his bold, “in your face, turn or burn” preaching. He didn’t mince words. He didn’t dodge controversy. He called it as he saw it.
And John was close to Jesus for a long time. In John 1, he sees Jesus and declares, “Behold! The Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world!”
And we can add it like this:
Behold the Lamb of God who takes away the shame of the world
…the bitterness of the world
…the fear of the world
…the anger of the world
…the hurts of the world
…the guilt of the world
…the hate of the world
…the loneliness of the world
…the addictions of the world
John even saw the Spirit descend like a dove, and heard the Father’s affirmation over Jesus.
So here’s the question: If you experienced all that in person… you’d never doubt again, right?
…Or would you?
This Is What You Must Know: Circumstances Can Cause Doubt
1. Circumstances will cause you to doubt in Christ.
Matthew tells us that John, in prison, hears about the works of Christ and sends messengers with one haunting question:
“Are You the Coming One, or do we look for another?”
Why would John ask that?
Because his circumstances in life changed.
How John Ended Up in Prison (Yes… it gets spicy)
John didn’t get locked up for stealing or violence—he got locked up for the truth.
King Herod took his brother Philip’s wife, Herodias, and John called it out: “It is not lawful for you to have your brother’s wife.”
That made Herodias furious—so furious she wanted John dead.
And isn’t it true?
When sin is brought into the light, people often get mad.
When sin is brought into the light, people often play the “don’t judge me” card.
When sin is brought into the light, people often lie and deny.
Then comes Herod’s birthday party. Herodias uses her daughter (Herod’s niece) to do sensual, attention-grabbing entertainment. Herod gets caught up in lust and blurts out, “I’ll give you anything you want, just name it!”
She runs to her mother, and Herodias says, “Ask for the head of John the Baptist.”
And John is arrested and imprisoned.
“It’s Not Working for Me”
Now imagine John in prison. He knows Jesus is healing people. He knows miracles are happening. He knows crowds are following.
But John is sitting in a cell thinking:
If Jesus is the Messiah… why am I still here?
If Jesus is really the One… why isn’t He doing something for me?
And that’s where doubt often lives: When God’s actions or His silence don’t match our expectations.
John is sweating bullets. The countdown has begun. And he finally tells his disciples:
“Go ask Him… Are you the Coming One, or should we look for another?”
Jesus’ Answer: “Tell John What You See”
When John’s messengers arrive, Jesus doesn’t shame them. He doesn’t crush John for questioning.
He essentially says:
“Go tell John what’s happening.”
The blind are seeing
The lame are walking
Lepers are cleansed
The deaf are hearing
The dead are raised
The poor are hearing the Good News
And then Jesus delivers this life-changing principle:
“Blessed is he who is not offended because of Me.”
In other words: Blessed is the one who still believes—even when life doesn’t make sense. Blessed is the one who doesn’t walk away just because God didn’t meet their expectations in the timeframe they wanted.
John’s Ending… and Our Lesson
We don’t get a detailed emotional response from John in that moment—but we do know how the story ends: John is beheaded.
And that’s heavy.
But it also shows us something powerful: Faith isn’t proven when everything is easy. Faith is proven when circumstances scream, “Quit,” and you still whisper, “Jesus is the One.”
A Puzzle With One Missing Piece
Here’s a picture worth remembering.
A 1,000-piece puzzle. Michelle, her sister, and her mom put it together over the ice storm holidays.
999 pieces. One missing. And because one piece is missing… the picture still feels incomplete.
That’s what life can feel like sometimes.
You look at your story and think: “I’m missing the one piece that would make this make sense.”
And many times, we won’t see that missing piece until heaven.
So remember this:
When all the pieces aren’t there… blessed are those who still believe.
An Invitation Out of the Dungeon
If you’re in the dungeon of doubt today, hear this:
Jesus isn’t shocked by your questions.
You’re not the first believer to wrestle.
Doubt doesn’t mean you’re beyond God’s love.
This morning, why not come to Jesus with honesty and say: “Lord, help my unbelief.”
Be all in—not all out. And let Jesus lead you out of the dungeon of doubt.
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