Worshipping Doubters
Mark Allen Powell and the Gospel of Matthew for Lent 2026
Worshipping Doubters
A heavy dose of realism this Lent: people of great faith (more than the apostles) might not struggle with any of these things—they can stay home if they like—but most people, people who have some faith but can identify with the lapses of those Jesus picked to be his disciples need to find meaning in life as “worshipping doubters”—people whose little mustard seed of faith might be enough for them to move mountains.
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Matthew repeatedly describes the disciples as “people of little faith.” In moments of worry (Matthew 6), panic (Matthew 8), faltering courage (Matthew 14), confusion (Matthew 16), and failure (Matthew 17), their faith is real, yet incomplete.
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Across these passages, Jesus does not abandon the disciples when their faith falters. Powell highlights how Matthew presents Jesus as teaching, correcting, and remaining present with disciples whose trust wavers..
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As Powell emphasizes, “little faith” in Matthew is not a dismissal but a description of faith in process. These short Lenten videos invite reflection on how even limited faith continues to shape discipleship and worship.
Lent One
Facing Anxiety
Anxiety is not a modern invention, and Jesus knows it well. In the Sermon on the Mount, he speaks tenderly but directly to disciples who worry about food, clothing, and tomorrow itself. Calling them “people of little faith,” Jesus does not shame them; instead, he invites them to see their lives held within God’s generous care. This reflection explores what faith looks like when worry refuses to go away. Explore how trusting God, even imperfectly, can re-center our lives during anxious times.
Lent Two: Feeling Overwhelmed
In Powell’s narrative framework, episodes like the storm at sea show the disciples in real relational tension with Jesus. Their fear and Jesus’ rebuke display the Gospel’s honest portrayal of disciples who struggle with presence and power. Jesus’ question, “Why are you afraid?” invites not self-judgment but deeper reflection on who holds them in the midst of chaos.
Lent Three: Attempting the Impossible
Peter steps out of the boat, doing something no reasonable person would attempt—and for a moment, it works. But when fear sets in, he begins to sink, and Jesus names him a “person of little faith.” This story captures both the courage and fragility of discipleship: faith that dares greatly and yet collapses quickly. In this reflection, we consider what happens when faith is strong enough to begin but not strong enough to finish—and why Jesus still reaches out his hand.
Lent Four: Being Confused
Sometimes the problem isn’t fear or failure—it’s misunderstanding. The disciples completely miss Jesus’ point, worrying about bread when he is talking about something far more serious. Once again, Jesus calls them “people of little faith,” linking confusion with a lack of trust and perception. This session invites viewers to reflect on how faith can be present even when understanding is not, and how Jesus patiently teaches disciples who just don’t get it.
Lent Five: Dealing with Failure
After witnessing remarkable miracles, the disciples suddenly find themselves unable to act in faith. They fail publicly. Jesus explains their failure bluntly: “Because of your little faith.” Yet he also insists that even the smallest amount of faith, like a mustard seed, can move mountains. This final reflection holds together disappointment and hope, exploring how failure does not disqualify disciples but becomes the very place where faith is refined and renewed.