{"id":160,"date":"2025-08-28T15:32:12","date_gmt":"2025-08-28T15:32:12","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.christianitytoday.com\/pastors\/?page_id=160"},"modified":"2026-04-07T16:10:14","modified_gmt":"2026-04-07T16:10:14","slug":"sermon-illustrations","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/www.christianitytoday.com\/pastors\/preaching\/sermon-illustrations\/","title":{"rendered":"Sermon Illustrations"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<div class=\"wp-block-group alignfull sub-nav-pattern has-global-padding is-content-justification-center is-layout-constrained wp-container-core-group-is-layout-877c1ccd wp-block-group-is-layout-constrained\"><nav class=\"items-justified-center no-wrap alignfull sub-nav-menu wp-block-navigation is-content-justification-center is-nowrap is-layout-flex wp-container-core-navigation-is-layout-12a27398 wp-block-navigation-is-layout-flex\" aria-label=\"Preaching Tools Subnav\"><ul class=\"wp-block-navigation__container items-justified-center no-wrap alignfull sub-nav-menu wp-block-navigation\"><li class=\" wp-block-navigation-item wp-block-navigation-link\"><a class=\"wp-block-navigation-item__content\"  href=\"https:\/\/www.christianitytoday.com\/pastors\/preaching\/sermon-illustrations\/\"><span class=\"wp-block-navigation-item__label\">Sermon Illustrations<\/span><\/a><\/li><li class=\" wp-block-navigation-item wp-block-navigation-link\"><a class=\"wp-block-navigation-item__content\"  href=\"https:\/\/www.christianitytoday.com\/pastors\/preaching\/sermons\/\"><span class=\"wp-block-navigation-item__label\">Sermons<\/span><\/a><\/li><li class=\" wp-block-navigation-item wp-block-navigation-link\"><a class=\"wp-block-navigation-item__content\"  href=\"https:\/\/www.christianitytoday.com\/pastors\/preaching\/holidays\/\"><span class=\"wp-block-navigation-item__label\">Holidays &amp; Events<\/span><\/a><\/li><li class=\" wp-block-navigation-item wp-block-navigation-link\"><a class=\"wp-block-navigation-item__content\"  href=\"https:\/\/www.christianitytoday.com\/pastors\/guides\/preaching\/\"><span class=\"wp-block-navigation-item__label\">Preaching Field Guides<\/span><\/a><\/li><li class=\" wp-block-navigation-item wp-block-navigation-link\"><a class=\"wp-block-navigation-item__content\"  href=\"https:\/\/www.christianitytoday.com\/pastors\/guides\/exegetical\/\"><span class=\"wp-block-navigation-item__label\">Exegetical Field Guides<\/span><\/a><\/li><li class=\" wp-block-navigation-item wp-block-navigation-link\"><a class=\"wp-block-navigation-item__content\"  href=\"https:\/\/www.christianitytoday.com\/pastors\/preaching\/lectionary\/\"><span class=\"wp-block-navigation-item__label\">Lectionary<\/span><\/a><\/li><\/ul><\/nav><\/div>\n\n\n\n<div style=\"height:20px\" aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"wp-block-spacer\"><\/div>\n\n\n\n<div id=\"advanced-search-block_03c1aa2a5fa973d57f139949137c2622\" class=\"advanced-search-block\">\n\t<form class=\"advanced-search-form\" action=\"https:\/\/www.christianitytoday.com\/pastors\/search\/\" method=\"get\">\n\n\t\t<!-- Search Field -->\n\t\t<div class=\"search-field-wrapper\">\n\t\t<label for=\"advanced-search-block_03c1aa2a5fa973d57f139949137c2622-search\" class=\"search-label\">SEARCH SERMON ILLUSTRATIONS &#8211; 14,000+ CAREFULLY CHOSEN AND EDITOR-SCREENED<\/label>\n\t\t\t<input\n\t\t\t\ttype=\"search\"\n\t\t\t\tid=\"advanced-search-block_03c1aa2a5fa973d57f139949137c2622-search\"\n\t\t\t\tname=\"s\"\n\t\t\t\tclass=\"search-input\"\n\t\t\t\tplaceholder=\"WORD\/PHRASE\"\n\t\t\t\/>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\n\t\t<!-- Hidden post types -->\n\t\t\t\t\t<input type=\"hidden\" name=\"post_type\" value=\"sermon-illustrations\" \/>\n\t\t\n\t\t<!-- Hidden field to identify this as a pastors search -->\n\t\t<input type=\"hidden\" name=\"ctp_search\" value=\"1\" \/>\n\n\t\t\t\t<!-- Scripture Section - React component will be mounted here -->\n\t\t<div class=\"search-field-wrapper scripture-section\" data-block-id=\"advanced-search-block_03c1aa2a5fa973d57f139949137c2622\">\n\t\t\t<!-- Hidden fields for form submission -->\n\t\t\t<input type=\"hidden\" name=\"scripture_reference\" id=\"advanced-search-block_03c1aa2a5fa973d57f139949137c2622-scripture\" \/>\n\t\t\t<div class=\"scripture-mount-placeholder\">Loading scripture reference selector&#8230;<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t<script>\n\t\t\/\/ Provide AJAX config for scripture ID resolution on the frontend.\n\t\t\/\/ (Used by Advanced Search to convert OSIS\/chapter\/verse to ScriptureID ranges.)\n\t\twindow.ctScriptureReferences = window.ctScriptureReferences || {\n\t\t\tajaxUrl: \"https:\\\/\\\/www.christianitytoday.com\\\/pastors\\\/wp-admin\\\/admin-ajax.php\",\n\t\t\tnonce: \"59eca441e8\",\n\t\t};\n\t<\/script>\n\t\t\n\t\t<!-- Filters Grid -->\n\t\t<div class=\"search-field-wrapper filters-grid\">\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"filter-field\">\n\t\t\t\t<label for=\"advanced-search-block_03c1aa2a5fa973d57f139949137c2622-topic\" class=\"filter-label\">TOPIC<\/label>\n\t\t\t\t<select name=\"topic[]\" id=\"advanced-search-block_03c1aa2a5fa973d57f139949137c2622-topic\" class=\"filter-select\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<option value=\"\">SELECT<\/option>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<option value=\"arts\">Arts<\/option>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<option value=\"christian-culture\">Christian Culture<\/option>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<option value=\"church-history\">Church History<\/option>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<option value=\"discipleship\">Discipleship<\/option>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<option value=\"easter\">easter<\/option>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<option value=\"evangelism\">Evangelism<\/option>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<option value=\"everyday-disciples\">Everyday Disciples<\/option>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<option value=\"family\">Family<\/option>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<option value=\"famous-people\">Famous People<\/option>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<option value=\"fellowship\">Fellowship<\/option>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<option value=\"history\">History<\/option>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<option value=\"humor\">Humor<\/option>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<option value=\"international\">International<\/option>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<option value=\"literature\">Literature<\/option>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<option value=\"marriage\">Marriage<\/option>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<option value=\"ministry\">Ministry<\/option>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<option value=\"money\">Money<\/option>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<option value=\"movies-tv\">Movies &amp; TV<\/option>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<option value=\"music\">Music<\/option>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<option value=\"news\">News<\/option>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<option value=\"pop-culture\">Pop Culture<\/option>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<option value=\"science-nature\">Science &amp; Nature<\/option>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<option value=\"sermonnotes-com\">SermonNotes.com<\/option>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<option value=\"sexuality\">Sexuality<\/option>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<option value=\"social-media\">Social Media<\/option>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<option value=\"sports\">Sports<\/option>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<option value=\"technology\">Technology<\/option>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<option value=\"work-career\">Work &amp; Career<\/option>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<option value=\"worship\">Worship<\/option>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/select>\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"filter-field\">\n\t\t\t\t<label for=\"advanced-search-block_03c1aa2a5fa973d57f139949137c2622-illustration-type\" class=\"filter-label\">ILLUSTRATION TYPE<\/label>\n\t\t\t\t<select name=\"illustration_type[]\" id=\"advanced-search-block_03c1aa2a5fa973d57f139949137c2622-illustration-type\" class=\"filter-select\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<option value=\"\">SELECT<\/option>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<option value=\"editors-choice\">Editor&#039;s Choice<\/option>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<option value=\"humor\">Humor<\/option>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<option value=\"news-that-illustrates\">News That Illustrates<\/option>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<option value=\"props-symbols\">Props &amp; Symbols<\/option>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<option value=\"quotes\">Quotes<\/option>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<option value=\"statistics\">Statistics<\/option>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<option value=\"stories\">Stories<\/option>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/select>\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"filter-field\">\n\t\t\t\t<label for=\"advanced-search-block_03c1aa2a5fa973d57f139949137c2622-audience\" class=\"filter-label\">AUDIENCE<\/label>\n\t\t\t\t<select name=\"audience[]\" id=\"advanced-search-block_03c1aa2a5fa973d57f139949137c2622-audience\" class=\"filter-select\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<option value=\"\">SELECT<\/option>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<option value=\"men\">Men<\/option>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<option value=\"seekers\">Seekers<\/option>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<option value=\"women\">Women<\/option>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<option value=\"young-adults\">Young Adults<\/option>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<option value=\"youth-children\">Youth &amp; Children<\/option>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/select>\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"filter-field\">\n\t\t\t\t<label for=\"advanced-search-block_03c1aa2a5fa973d57f139949137c2622-multimedia\" class=\"filter-label\">MULTIMEDIA<\/label>\n\t\t\t\t<select name=\"multimedia[]\" id=\"advanced-search-block_03c1aa2a5fa973d57f139949137c2622-multimedia\" class=\"filter-select\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<option value=\"\">SELECT<\/option>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<option value=\"audio\">Audio<\/option>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<option value=\"video\">Video<\/option>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/select>\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\n\t\t<!-- Submit Button -->\n\t\t<button type=\"submit\" class=\"search-submit-button wp-block-button tertiary\">\n\t\t\tSEARCH\n\t\t<\/button>\n\n\t<\/form>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n\n<section class=\"wp-block-ctp wp-block-ctp-trending-topics wp-block-group alignfull has-global-padding is-layout-constrained wp-block-group-is-layout-constrained\">\n\t<h2 class=\"trending-topics-title\">\n\t\tTrending Topics\t<\/h2>\n\t<div class=\"trending-topics-list\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<a href=\"https:\/\/www.christianitytoday.com\/pastors\/topics\/pastor\/\" class=\"trending-topic-button button primary\">\n\t\t\t\t\tPastor\t\t\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<a href=\"https:\/\/www.christianitytoday.com\/pastors\/topics\/pastors-role\/\" class=\"trending-topic-button button primary\">\n\t\t\t\t\tPastor&#039;s Role\t\t\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<a href=\"https:\/\/www.christianitytoday.com\/pastors\/topics\/temptation\/\" class=\"trending-topic-button button primary\">\n\t\t\t\t\tTemptation\t\t\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<a href=\"https:\/\/www.christianitytoday.com\/pastors\/topics\/church-planting\/\" class=\"trending-topic-button button primary\">\n\t\t\t\t\tChurch Planting\t\t\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<a 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Day\t\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t<\/h3>\n\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p class=\"ct-article-card-date\">\n\t\t\t\tMay 10\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n<div class=\"ct-article-card ct-article-card-holiday\">\n\t\t<div class=\"thumbnail\">\n\t\t<a\n\t\t\thref=\"https:\/\/www.christianitytoday.com\/pastors\/topics\/ascension-of-jesus\/\"\n\t\t\tclass=\"ct-article-card-link\"\n\t\t\taria-label=\"Ascension of Jesus\"\n\t\t>\n\t\t\t<img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/www.christianitytoday.com\/pastors\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/19\/2025\/11\/ascension-of-jesus.jpg\" width=\"640\" height=\"360\" alt=\"\" class=\"ct-article-card-image\" \/>\t\t<\/a>\n\t<\/div>\n\t\n\t<div class=\"card-content\">\n\n\t\t<h3 class=\"ct-article-card-title\">\n\t\t\t<a href=\"https:\/\/www.christianitytoday.com\/pastors\/topics\/ascension-of-jesus\/\">\n\t\t\t\tAscension of Jesus\t\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t<\/h3>\n\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p class=\"ct-article-card-date\">\n\t\t\t\tMay 14\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n<div class=\"ct-article-card ct-article-card-holiday\">\n\t\t<div class=\"thumbnail\">\n\t\t<a\n\t\t\thref=\"https:\/\/www.christianitytoday.com\/pastors\/topics\/pentecost\/\"\n\t\t\tclass=\"ct-article-card-link\"\n\t\t\taria-label=\"Pentecost\"\n\t\t>\n\t\t\t<img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/www.christianitytoday.com\/pastors\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/19\/2025\/11\/pentecost.jpg\" width=\"640\" height=\"360\" alt=\"\" class=\"ct-article-card-image\" \/>\t\t<\/a>\n\t<\/div>\n\t\n\t<div class=\"card-content\">\n\n\t\t<h3 class=\"ct-article-card-title\">\n\t\t\t<a href=\"https:\/\/www.christianitytoday.com\/pastors\/topics\/pentecost\/\">\n\t\t\t\tPentecost\t\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t<\/h3>\n\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p class=\"ct-article-card-date\">\n\t\t\t\tMay 24\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n<div class=\"ct-article-card ct-article-card-holiday\">\n\t\t<div class=\"thumbnail\">\n\t\t<a\n\t\t\thref=\"https:\/\/www.christianitytoday.com\/pastors\/topics\/fathers-day\/\"\n\t\t\tclass=\"ct-article-card-link\"\n\t\t\taria-label=\"Father&#039;s Day\"\n\t\t>\n\t\t\t<img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/www.christianitytoday.com\/pastors\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/19\/2025\/11\/fathers-day.jpg\" width=\"640\" height=\"360\" alt=\"\" class=\"ct-article-card-image\" \/>\t\t<\/a>\n\t<\/div>\n\t\n\t<div class=\"card-content\">\n\n\t\t<h3 class=\"ct-article-card-title\">\n\t\t\t<a href=\"https:\/\/www.christianitytoday.com\/pastors\/topics\/fathers-day\/\">\n\t\t\t\tFather&#039;s Day\t\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t<\/h3>\n\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p class=\"ct-article-card-date\">\n\t\t\t\tJune 21\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\n\t\t<div class=\"navigation no-slider\">\n\t\t\t<button class=\"slider-button-prev\" role=\"button\" aria-label=\"Previous\">\n\t\t\t\t\n\t<svg 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wp-block-ct-horizontal-features-ctp\"\n\tdata-desktop-slider=\"4\"\n\tdata-mobile-slider=\"false\"\n\tdata-mobile-columns=\"true\"\n>\n\t<header class=\"block-header\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<section class=\"wp-block-ct wp-block-ctp wp-block-ctp-section-heading\">\n\t<div class=\"wp-block-ctp-section-heading-text\">\n\t\t<h2 class=\"wp-block-ctp-section-heading-title\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<a href=\"https:\/\/www.christianitytoday.com\/pastors\/topics\/illustrations\/\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\tEssential Guides to Sermon Illustrations\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/h2>\n\t\t\t\t\t<a href=\"https:\/\/www.christianitytoday.com\/pastors\/topics\/illustrations\/\" class=\"wp-block-ctp-section-heading-link\">\n\t\t\t\tView All\t\t\t\t\n\t<svg height=\"6\" width=\"8\" class=\"icon arrow_right\" aria-hidden=\"true\" role=\"img\">\n\t\t<title id=\"title-arrow_right-39944\">arrow_right<\/title>\n\n\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t<use xlink:href=\"#arrow_right\"><\/use>\n\t\t\n\t<\/svg>\n\n\t\t\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n<\/section>\n\t\t\t<\/header>\n\n\t\t<div\n\t\tclass=\"articles swiper\"\n\t\tstyle=\"--numcards: 4;\"\n\t>\n\t\t<div class=\"swiper-wrapper swiper-wrapper-curate\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"ct-article-card ct-article-card-vertical\" style=\"--thumb-col-width: 0px;\"\n\t>\n\t\t\t\n\t\t<div class=\"card-content\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<h3 class=\"ct-article-card-title\">\n\t\t\t\t<a href=\"https:\/\/www.christianitytoday.com\/pastors\/content\/improve-your-sermon-illustrations-introduction\/\" target=\"_self\">\n\t\tImprove Your Sermon Illustrations\t\t\t\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t\t<\/h3>\n\t\t\n\t<p class=\"ct-article-card-author vcard\">\n\t\t\t\t<a href=\"https:\/\/www.christianitytoday.com\/pastors\/search\/\" class=\"byline-link\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"ct-article-card-deck\">\n\t\t\t<p>Helping you plan ahead and illustrate with confidence, variety, and even joy.<\/p>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t<\/div><!-- .card-content -->\n<\/div><!-- .ct-article-card -->\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"ct-article-card ct-article-card-vertical\" style=\"--thumb-col-width: 120px;\"\n\t>\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"thumbnail\">\n\t\t\t<a\n\t\t\t\thref=\"https:\/\/www.christianitytoday.com\/pastors\/content\/mirrors-windows-and-pictures\/\"\n\t\t\t\tclass=\"ct-article-card-link\"\n\t\t\t\taria-label=\"Mirrors, Windows, and Pictures\"\n\t\t\t\ttarget=\"_self\"\n\t\t\t>\n\t\t\t\t<img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"602\" height=\"338\" src=\"https:\/\/www.christianitytoday.com\/pastors\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/19\/2023\/10\/136684.jpg?w=602\" class=\"ct-article-card-image\" alt=\"\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.christianitytoday.com\/pastors\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/19\/2023\/10\/136684.jpg 5000w, https:\/\/www.christianitytoday.com\/pastors\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/19\/2023\/10\/136684.jpg?resize=300,169 300w, https:\/\/www.christianitytoday.com\/pastors\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/19\/2023\/10\/136684.jpg?resize=768,432 768w, https:\/\/www.christianitytoday.com\/pastors\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/19\/2023\/10\/136684.jpg?resize=1024,576 1024w, https:\/\/www.christianitytoday.com\/pastors\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/19\/2023\/10\/136684.jpg?resize=1536,864 1536w, https:\/\/www.christianitytoday.com\/pastors\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/19\/2023\/10\/136684.jpg?resize=2048,1152 2048w, https:\/\/www.christianitytoday.com\/pastors\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/19\/2023\/10\/136684.jpg?resize=1920,1080 1920w, https:\/\/www.christianitytoday.com\/pastors\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/19\/2023\/10\/136684.jpg?resize=301,169 301w, https:\/\/www.christianitytoday.com\/pastors\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/19\/2023\/10\/136684.jpg?resize=602,338 602w, https:\/\/www.christianitytoday.com\/pastors\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/19\/2023\/10\/136684.jpg?resize=634,356 634w, https:\/\/www.christianitytoday.com\/pastors\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/19\/2023\/10\/136684.jpg?resize=1266,712 1266w, https:\/\/www.christianitytoday.com\/pastors\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/19\/2023\/10\/136684.jpg?resize=324,182 324w, https:\/\/www.christianitytoday.com\/pastors\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/19\/2023\/10\/136684.jpg?resize=648,364 648w, https:\/\/www.christianitytoday.com\/pastors\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/19\/2023\/10\/136684.jpg?resize=82,46 82w, https:\/\/www.christianitytoday.com\/pastors\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/19\/2023\/10\/136684.jpg?resize=164,92 164w, https:\/\/www.christianitytoday.com\/pastors\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/19\/2023\/10\/136684.jpg?resize=412,231 412w, https:\/\/www.christianitytoday.com\/pastors\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/19\/2023\/10\/136684.jpg?resize=824,463 824w, https:\/\/www.christianitytoday.com\/pastors\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/19\/2023\/10\/136684.jpg?resize=821,462 821w, https:\/\/www.christianitytoday.com\/pastors\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/19\/2023\/10\/136684.jpg?resize=1300,732 1300w, https:\/\/www.christianitytoday.com\/pastors\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/19\/2023\/10\/136684.jpg?resize=160,90 160w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 602px) 100vw, 602px\" \/>\t\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\n\t\t<div class=\"card-content\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<h3 class=\"ct-article-card-title\">\n\t\t\t\t<a href=\"https:\/\/www.christianitytoday.com\/pastors\/content\/mirrors-windows-and-pictures\/\" target=\"_self\">\n\t\tMirrors, Windows, and Pictures\t\t\t\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t\t<\/h3>\n\t\t\n\t<p class=\"ct-article-card-author vcard\">\n\t\t\t\t<a href=\"https:\/\/www.christianitytoday.com\/pastors\/authors\/lee-eclov\/\" class=\"byline-link\">\n\t\t\t\tLee Eclov\t\t\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"ct-article-card-deck\">\n\t\t\t<p>How to use sermon illustrations.<\/p>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t<\/div><!-- .card-content -->\n<\/div><!-- .ct-article-card -->\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"ct-article-card ct-article-card-vertical\" style=\"--thumb-col-width: 120px;\"\n\t>\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"thumbnail\">\n\t\t\t<a\n\t\t\t\thref=\"https:\/\/www.christianitytoday.com\/pastors\/podcasts\/monday-morning-preacher\/finding-illustrations\/\"\n\t\t\t\tclass=\"ct-article-card-link\"\n\t\t\t\taria-label=\"Finding Illustrations\"\n\t\t\t\ttarget=\"_self\"\n\t\t\t>\n\t\t\t\t<img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"602\" height=\"338\" src=\"https:\/\/www.christianitytoday.com\/pastors\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/19\/2017\/06\/77494.jpg?w=602\" class=\"ct-article-card-image\" alt=\"\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.christianitytoday.com\/pastors\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/19\/2017\/06\/77494.jpg 1152w, https:\/\/www.christianitytoday.com\/pastors\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/19\/2017\/06\/77494.jpg?resize=300,169 300w, https:\/\/www.christianitytoday.com\/pastors\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/19\/2017\/06\/77494.jpg?resize=768,432 768w, https:\/\/www.christianitytoday.com\/pastors\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/19\/2017\/06\/77494.jpg?resize=1024,576 1024w, https:\/\/www.christianitytoday.com\/pastors\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/19\/2017\/06\/77494.jpg?resize=301,169 301w, https:\/\/www.christianitytoday.com\/pastors\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/19\/2017\/06\/77494.jpg?resize=602,338 602w, https:\/\/www.christianitytoday.com\/pastors\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/19\/2017\/06\/77494.jpg?resize=634,356 634w, https:\/\/www.christianitytoday.com\/pastors\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/19\/2017\/06\/77494.jpg?resize=324,182 324w, https:\/\/www.christianitytoday.com\/pastors\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/19\/2017\/06\/77494.jpg?resize=648,365 648w, https:\/\/www.christianitytoday.com\/pastors\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/19\/2017\/06\/77494.jpg?resize=82,46 82w, https:\/\/www.christianitytoday.com\/pastors\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/19\/2017\/06\/77494.jpg?resize=164,92 164w, https:\/\/www.christianitytoday.com\/pastors\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/19\/2017\/06\/77494.jpg?resize=412,231 412w, https:\/\/www.christianitytoday.com\/pastors\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/19\/2017\/06\/77494.jpg?resize=824,464 824w, https:\/\/www.christianitytoday.com\/pastors\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/19\/2017\/06\/77494.jpg?resize=821,462 821w, https:\/\/www.christianitytoday.com\/pastors\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/19\/2017\/06\/77494.jpg?resize=160,90 160w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 602px) 100vw, 602px\" \/>\t\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\n\t\t<div class=\"card-content\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<h3 class=\"ct-article-card-title\">\n\t\t\t\t<a href=\"https:\/\/www.christianitytoday.com\/pastors\/podcasts\/monday-morning-preacher\/finding-illustrations\/\" target=\"_self\">\n\t\tFinding Illustrations\t\t\t\t\t<i>\n\t\t\t\n\t<svg height=\"16\" width=\"14\" class=\"icon podcast_grayscale\" aria-hidden=\"true\" role=\"img\">\n\t\t<title id=\"title-podcast_grayscale-32363\">podcast_grayscale<\/title>\n\n\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t<use xlink:href=\"#podcast_grayscale\"><\/use>\n\t\t\n\t<\/svg>\n\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/i>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t\t<\/h3>\n\t\t\n\t<p class=\"ct-article-card-author vcard\">\n\t\t\t\t<a href=\"https:\/\/www.christianitytoday.com\/pastors\/authors\/matt-woodley\/\" class=\"byline-link\">\n\t\t\t\tMatt Woodley\t\t\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"ct-article-card-deck\">\n\t\t\t<p>Always stay curious when looking for illustrations.<\/p>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t<\/div><!-- .card-content -->\n<\/div><!-- .ct-article-card -->\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"ct-article-card ct-article-card-vertical\" style=\"--thumb-col-width: 120px;\"\n\t>\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"thumbnail\">\n\t\t\t<a\n\t\t\t\thref=\"https:\/\/www.christianitytoday.com\/pastors\/content\/when-illustrations-go-awry\/\"\n\t\t\t\tclass=\"ct-article-card-link\"\n\t\t\t\taria-label=\"When Illustrations Go Awry\"\n\t\t\t\ttarget=\"_self\"\n\t\t\t>\n\t\t\t\t<img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"602\" height=\"338\" src=\"https:\/\/www.christianitytoday.com\/pastors\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/19\/2019\/08\/91653.jpg?w=602\" class=\"ct-article-card-image\" alt=\"\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.christianitytoday.com\/pastors\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/19\/2019\/08\/91653.jpg 3775w, https:\/\/www.christianitytoday.com\/pastors\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/19\/2019\/08\/91653.jpg?resize=300,169 300w, https:\/\/www.christianitytoday.com\/pastors\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/19\/2019\/08\/91653.jpg?resize=768,432 768w, https:\/\/www.christianitytoday.com\/pastors\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/19\/2019\/08\/91653.jpg?resize=1024,576 1024w, https:\/\/www.christianitytoday.com\/pastors\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/19\/2019\/08\/91653.jpg?resize=1536,863 1536w, https:\/\/www.christianitytoday.com\/pastors\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/19\/2019\/08\/91653.jpg?resize=2048,1151 2048w, https:\/\/www.christianitytoday.com\/pastors\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/19\/2019\/08\/91653.jpg?resize=1920,1080 1920w, https:\/\/www.christianitytoday.com\/pastors\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/19\/2019\/08\/91653.jpg?resize=301,169 301w, https:\/\/www.christianitytoday.com\/pastors\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/19\/2019\/08\/91653.jpg?resize=602,338 602w, https:\/\/www.christianitytoday.com\/pastors\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/19\/2019\/08\/91653.jpg?resize=634,356 634w, https:\/\/www.christianitytoday.com\/pastors\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/19\/2019\/08\/91653.jpg?resize=1268,712 1268w, https:\/\/www.christianitytoday.com\/pastors\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/19\/2019\/08\/91653.jpg?resize=324,182 324w, https:\/\/www.christianitytoday.com\/pastors\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/19\/2019\/08\/91653.jpg?resize=648,364 648w, https:\/\/www.christianitytoday.com\/pastors\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/19\/2019\/08\/91653.jpg?resize=82,46 82w, https:\/\/www.christianitytoday.com\/pastors\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/19\/2019\/08\/91653.jpg?resize=164,92 164w, https:\/\/www.christianitytoday.com\/pastors\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/19\/2019\/08\/91653.jpg?resize=412,231 412w, https:\/\/www.christianitytoday.com\/pastors\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/19\/2019\/08\/91653.jpg?resize=824,463 824w, https:\/\/www.christianitytoday.com\/pastors\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/19\/2019\/08\/91653.jpg?resize=822,462 822w, https:\/\/www.christianitytoday.com\/pastors\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/19\/2019\/08\/91653.jpg?resize=1300,732 1300w, https:\/\/www.christianitytoday.com\/pastors\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/19\/2019\/08\/91653.jpg?resize=160,90 160w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 602px) 100vw, 602px\" \/>\t\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\n\t\t<div class=\"card-content\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<h3 class=\"ct-article-card-title\">\n\t\t\t\t<a href=\"https:\/\/www.christianitytoday.com\/pastors\/content\/when-illustrations-go-awry\/\" target=\"_self\">\n\t\tWhen Illustrations Go Awry\t\t\t\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t\t<\/h3>\n\t\t\n\t<p class=\"ct-article-card-author vcard\">\n\t\t\t\t<a href=\"https:\/\/www.christianitytoday.com\/pastors\/authors\/clark-cothern\/\" class=\"byline-link\">\n\t\t\t\tClark Cothern\t\t\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"ct-article-card-deck\">\n\t\t\t<p>On sticky notes and paper shredders.<\/p>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t<\/div><!-- .card-content -->\n<\/div><!-- .ct-article-card -->\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\n\t\t<div class=\"navigation is_mobile_columns no-slider\">\n\t\t\t<button class=\"slider-button-prev\" role=\"button\" aria-label=\"Previous\">\n\t\t\t\t\n\t<svg height=\"9\" width=\"6\" class=\"icon arrow_left\" aria-hidden=\"true\" 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class=\"wp-block-ct wp-block-ctp wp-block-ctp-section-heading\">\n\t<div class=\"wp-block-ctp-section-heading-text\">\n\t\t<h2 class=\"wp-block-ctp-section-heading-title\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\tNewest Sermon Illustrations\t\t\t\t\t<\/h2>\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n<\/section>\n\t\n\t\t\n\t\n\t<div class=\"is-layout-constrained\">\n\t\t<div id=\"loader\" class=\"has-text-align-center\" style=\"display: none;\" aria-label=\"Loading\"><\/div>\n\t<\/div>\n\t<div\n\t\tid=\"dynamic-post-river\"\n\t\tclass=\"\n\t\twp-block-ct\n\t\twp-block-ct-landing-page-post-river\n\t\twp-block-ct-landing-page-post-river-list\t\tlayout-list\t\twp-block-ct-landing-page-post-river-sermon-illustrations\t\t \t\t \"\n\t\t>\n\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"ct-article-card ct-article-card-horizontal\" style=\"--thumb-col-width: 0px;\"\n\t>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t<div class=\"card-content\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<h3 class=\"ct-article-card-title\">\n\t\t\t\t<a href=\"https:\/\/www.christianitytoday.com\/pastors\/preaching\/sermon-illustrations\/finding-freedom-from-panic-attacks\/\" target=\"_self\">\n\t\tFinding Freedom from Panic Attacks\t\t\t\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t\t<\/h3>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"ct-article-card-deck\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"quick-view-container\">\n\t\t\t\t<button type=\"button\" class=\"quick-view-toggle\" data-target=\"quick-view-66444\" onclick=\"toggleQuickView(this)\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"quick-view-text\">QUICK VIEW<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t<\/button>\n\n\t\t\t\t<div id=\"quick-view-66444\" class=\"quick-view-content\" style=\"display: none;\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<!-- Full Post Content -->\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"quick-view-text\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"quick-view-article-content\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<!-- wp:paragraph -->\n<p>Kyle Zunker began suffering terrifying panic attacks in his late teens, which only worsened over time. By 2015, desperate for answers, he underwent an MRI while clinging to anxiety medication and hope. The scan was clear, leaving doctors puzzled and Kyle still searching for relief.<\/p>\n<!-- \/wp:paragraph -->\n\n<!-- wp:paragraph -->\n<p>Seven years earlier, Kyle had left home for college. Though raised Christian, his faith was nominal and quickly unraveled. He writes, \u201cI wanted to be the most successful and important person in the world. The more self-oriented my life became, the more I subscribed to intellectual arguments against the existence of God. By my early 20s, I was a staunch atheist.\u201d<\/p>\n<!-- \/wp:paragraph -->\n\n<!-- wp:paragraph -->\n<p>As he chased achievement, his health collapsed. His first panic attack at 19 left him desperate and overwhelmed. Anxiety became a constant presence, and he bounced from doctor to doctor, self-medicating to cope. He pinned his hope on passing the bar exam and proposing to his girlfriend, Hannah. When both dreams came true, he was shocked to find no peace: \u201cIf those hadn\u2019t brought peace, then what could?\u201d<\/p>\n<!-- \/wp:paragraph -->\n\n<!-- wp:paragraph -->\n<p>Before their wedding, Kyle and Hannah often passed Pearl Street Church in San Antonio. Hoping to boost his respectability, he suggested they attend. Expecting to scoff, he was instead moved by a sermon on Genesis 22. Kyle recalls, \u201cGod\u2019s instruction to Abraham was not a sadistic test; it prophetically foreshadowed the work of Jesus\u2026 God did not require Abraham to pay that price but chose instead to pay it himself.\u201d<\/p>\n<!-- \/wp:paragraph -->\n\n<!-- wp:paragraph -->\n<p>Over the next months, he read the New Testament and kept attending church, but anxiety persisted. One sleepless night, exhausted and broken, he finally prayed, \u201cThy will be done.\u201d He writes, \u201cEverything changed that night. The peace of God\u2026 changed my life. It gave me power over anxiety and fear, and my body began to heal as joy and hope replaced depression and despair.\u201d<\/p>\n<!-- \/wp:paragraph -->\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"sermon-illustration-source\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p>Source: Kyle Zunker, \u201cTestimony,\u201d CT magazine (July\/Aug, 2024), pp. 25-28<\/p>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\n\t\t\t\t\t<!-- Scripture References -->\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"is-layout-constrained has-global-padding mb-4\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<section class=\"scripture-reference-section\"><h3 class=\"scripture-reference-section-title\">Scripture<\/h3><div class=\"scripture-contents\">\t\t\t<div class=\"scripture-label-wrapper\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<a class=\"scripture-label-link\" href=\"https:\/\/www.christianitytoday.com\/pastors\/search\/?scripture_start=549&#038;pretty_range=Genesis%2022%3A1&#038;ctp_search=1\" title=\"Search for scripture reference: Genesis 22:1\">\n\t\t\t\t<span 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tag-link\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tConversion\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/li>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<li>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<a href=\"https:\/\/www.christianitytoday.com\/pastors\/topics\/evangelism\/\" class=\"button primary tag-link\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tEvangelism\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/li>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<li>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<a href=\"https:\/\/www.christianitytoday.com\/pastors\/topics\/forgiveness\/\" class=\"button primary tag-link\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tForgiveness\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/li>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<li>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<a href=\"https:\/\/www.christianitytoday.com\/pastors\/topics\/grace\/\" class=\"button primary tag-link\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tGrace\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/li>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<li>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<a href=\"https:\/\/www.christianitytoday.com\/pastors\/topics\/grace-of-god\/\" class=\"button primary tag-link\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tGrace of God\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/li>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<li>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<a href=\"https:\/\/www.christianitytoday.com\/pastors\/topics\/mental-illness\/\" class=\"button primary tag-link\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tMental Illness\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/li>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<li>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<a href=\"https:\/\/www.christianitytoday.com\/pastors\/topics\/new-birth\/\" class=\"button primary tag-link\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tNew Birth\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/li>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<li>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<a href=\"https:\/\/www.christianitytoday.com\/pastors\/topics\/new-life\/\" class=\"button primary tag-link\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tNew Life\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/li>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<li>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<a href=\"https:\/\/www.christianitytoday.com\/pastors\/topics\/panic\/\" class=\"button primary tag-link\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tPanic\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/li>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<li>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<a href=\"https:\/\/www.christianitytoday.com\/pastors\/topics\/peace\/\" class=\"button primary tag-link\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tPeace\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/li>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<li>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<a href=\"https:\/\/www.christianitytoday.com\/pastors\/topics\/redemption\/\" class=\"button primary tag-link\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tRedemption\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/li>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<li>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<a href=\"https:\/\/www.christianitytoday.com\/pastors\/topics\/regeneration\/\" class=\"button primary tag-link\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tRegeneration\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/li>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<li>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<a href=\"https:\/\/www.christianitytoday.com\/pastors\/topics\/salvation\/\" class=\"button primary tag-link\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tSalvation\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/li>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<li>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<a href=\"https:\/\/www.christianitytoday.com\/pastors\/topics\/testimony\/\" class=\"button primary tag-link\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tTestimony\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/li>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<li>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<a href=\"https:\/\/www.christianitytoday.com\/pastors\/topics\/witness\/\" class=\"button primary tag-link\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tWitness\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/li>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t<\/div><!-- .quick-view-container -->\n\t\t\t<\/div><!-- .card-content -->\n<\/div><!-- .ct-article-card -->\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"ct-article-card ct-article-card-horizontal\" style=\"--thumb-col-width: 0px;\"\n\t>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t<div class=\"card-content\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<h3 class=\"ct-article-card-title\">\n\t\t\t\t<a href=\"https:\/\/www.christianitytoday.com\/pastors\/preaching\/sermon-illustrations\/faithfulness-in-the-swamp-where-god-still-works\/\" target=\"_self\">\n\t\tFaithfulness in the \u201cSwamp\u201d Where God Still Works\t\t\t\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t\t<\/h3>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"ct-article-card-deck\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"quick-view-container\">\n\t\t\t\t<button type=\"button\" class=\"quick-view-toggle\" data-target=\"quick-view-66442\" onclick=\"toggleQuickView(this)\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"quick-view-text\">QUICK VIEW<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t<\/button>\n\n\t\t\t\t<div id=\"quick-view-66442\" class=\"quick-view-content\" style=\"display: none;\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<!-- Full Post Content -->\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"quick-view-text\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"quick-view-article-content\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<!-- wp:paragraph -->\n<p>In Japan, the average Protestant church has fewer than 50 people. Missionaries quietly refer to Japan as a \u201cgraveyard.\u201d No wonder one famous Japanese author wrote, \u201cJapan is a swamp\u2026 whenever you plant the sapling of Christianity, the roots begin to rot.\u201d And yet\u2014God has not given up on Japan.<br>Consider Pastor Lam Wai Chan, a reluctant missionary from Singapore. He arrived in Tokyo assuming he would \u201cfix\u201d a struggling congregation. Instead, he discovered a few elderly believers who had weathered decades of disappointment and still showed up, still prayed, still loved Christ. Lam felt God confronting him gently: \u201cThey have faithfulness. What about you?\u201d<\/p>\n<!-- \/wp:paragraph -->\n\n<!-- wp:paragraph -->\n<p>So Lam offered the whole sinking church back to God. No flashy programs. No clever marketing. Just prayer. Slowly\u2014beautifully\u2014the church doubled. Children returned. New families wandered in without invitation. Lam tells anyone who listens: \u201cGod promised to preserve this church, and He has never failed me once.\u201d<br>Or consider Pastor Mizuno, who has served the same rural congregation for nearly 50 years. When she returned to simply helping each person meet God daily in Scripture, the congregation revived, growing from a handful to more than a hundred. Her testimony is simple: \u201cI made mistakes. But I was faithful. God sustained us.\u201d<\/p>\n<!-- \/wp:paragraph -->\n\n<!-- wp:paragraph -->\n<p>Japan remains less than 1% Christian. The soil still seems hard. Revival may come slowly. But faithfulness is its own miracle.<\/p>\n<!-- \/wp:paragraph -->\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"sermon-illustration-source\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p>Source: Sophia Lee, \u201cGrowth Is Good. Survival Is, Too,\u201d Christianity Today, March\/April 2025.<\/p>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\n\t\t\t\t\t<!-- Scripture References -->\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"is-layout-constrained has-global-padding mb-4\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\n\t\t\t\t\t<!-- Tags -->\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"tags-section\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"tag-links tag-cloud button-group\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<h3 class=\"tag-cloud-title\">Tags<\/h3>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<ul>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<li>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<a href=\"https:\/\/www.christianitytoday.com\/pastors\/topics\/church-growth\/\" class=\"button primary tag-link\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tChurch Growth\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/li>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<li>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<a href=\"https:\/\/www.christianitytoday.com\/pastors\/topics\/endurance\/\" class=\"button primary tag-link\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tEndurance\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/li>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<li>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<a href=\"https:\/\/www.christianitytoday.com\/pastors\/topics\/faithfulness\/\" class=\"button primary tag-link\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tFaithfulness\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/li>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<li>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<a href=\"https:\/\/www.christianitytoday.com\/pastors\/topics\/faithfulness-of-god\/\" class=\"button primary tag-link\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tFaithfulness of God\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/li>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<li>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<a href=\"https:\/\/www.christianitytoday.com\/pastors\/topics\/growth\/\" class=\"button primary tag-link\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tGrowth\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/li>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<li>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<a href=\"https:\/\/www.christianitytoday.com\/pastors\/topics\/ministry\/\" class=\"button primary tag-link\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tMinistry\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/li>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<li>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<a href=\"https:\/\/www.christianitytoday.com\/pastors\/topics\/pastoring\/\" class=\"button primary tag-link\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tPastoring\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/li>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<li>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<a href=\"https:\/\/www.christianitytoday.com\/pastors\/topics\/patience\/\" class=\"button primary tag-link\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tPatience\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/li>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<li>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<a href=\"https:\/\/www.christianitytoday.com\/pastors\/topics\/perseverance\/\" class=\"button primary tag-link\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tPerseverance\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/li>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<li>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<a href=\"https:\/\/www.christianitytoday.com\/pastors\/topics\/power-of-prayer\/\" class=\"button primary tag-link\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tPower of Prayer\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/li>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<li>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<a href=\"https:\/\/www.christianitytoday.com\/pastors\/topics\/prayer\/\" class=\"button primary tag-link\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tPrayer\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/li>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<li>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<a href=\"https:\/\/www.christianitytoday.com\/pastors\/topics\/revival\/\" class=\"button primary tag-link\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tRevival\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/li>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t<\/div><!-- .quick-view-container -->\n\t\t\t<\/div><!-- .card-content -->\n<\/div><!-- .ct-article-card -->\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"ct-article-card ct-article-card-horizontal\" style=\"--thumb-col-width: 0px;\"\n\t>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t<div class=\"card-content\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<h3 class=\"ct-article-card-title\">\n\t\t\t\t<a href=\"https:\/\/www.christianitytoday.com\/pastors\/preaching\/sermon-illustrations\/sin-is-like-the-bear-in-the-crawl-space\/\" target=\"_self\">\n\t\tSin Is Like the Bear in the Crawl Space\t\t\t\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t\t<\/h3>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"ct-article-card-deck\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"quick-view-container\">\n\t\t\t\t<button type=\"button\" class=\"quick-view-toggle\" data-target=\"quick-view-66440\" onclick=\"toggleQuickView(this)\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"quick-view-text\">QUICK VIEW<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t<\/button>\n\n\t\t\t\t<div id=\"quick-view-66440\" class=\"quick-view-content\" style=\"display: none;\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<!-- Full Post Content -->\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"quick-view-text\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"quick-view-article-content\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<!-- wp:paragraph -->\n<p>When Ken Johnson of Altadena, California, noticed bricks scattered under his house and the crawl-space frame torn apart, he suspected a raccoon or maybe a stray dog. But when he installed a camera, he woke up one morning to a shocking discovery: a 550-pound black bear had moved in. Not for a visit. Not for a night. It had settled in.<\/p>\n<!-- \/wp:paragraph -->\n\n<!-- wp:paragraph -->\n<p>For more than a week, Johnson heard the bear\u2019s heavy breathing and dragon-like hissing through a vent beneath his kitchen floor. He watched it stroll down the sidewalk like it owned the place. It rummaged through his garbage, dragged bricks around, and made itself increasingly at home. He tried everything to send it packing\u2014leaf blowers, air horns, blasting music, even running the washing machine on spin cycle.<\/p>\n<!-- \/wp:paragraph -->\n\n<!-- wp:paragraph -->\n<p>Nothing worked. The bear grew more comfortable, not less. Experts told him the real danger wasn\u2019t the bear\u2019s presence\u2014it was allowing it to remain long enough to believe the crawl space was its den. Once that happened, getting it out would be far harder and far riskier.<\/p>\n<!-- \/wp:paragraph -->\n\n<!-- wp:paragraph -->\n<p>It\u2019s a striking picture of how certain things enter our lives. Not all at once, and not always with obvious danger. A small compromise here, a quiet resentment there, a habit that begins with a shrug. At first it seems manageable, even harmless. But left unchallenged, it begins to rearrange the interior of our lives the way that bear rearranged the bricks under Johnson\u2019s house\u2014slowly, persistently, until it settles in.<\/p>\n<!-- \/wp:paragraph -->\n\n<!-- wp:paragraph -->\n<p>And once it settles, it does not leave easily.<\/p>\n<!-- \/wp:paragraph -->\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"sermon-illustration-source\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p>Source: Christine Hauser, \u201cBlack Bear, Uninvited, Moves Into California Man\u2019s Crawl Space,\u201d The New York Times, Dec. 3, 2025.<\/p>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\n\t\t\t\t\t<!-- Scripture References -->\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"is-layout-constrained has-global-padding mb-4\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\n\t\t\t\t\t<!-- Tags -->\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"tags-section\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"tag-links tag-cloud button-group\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<h3 class=\"tag-cloud-title\">Tags<\/h3>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<ul>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<li>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<a href=\"https:\/\/www.christianitytoday.com\/pastors\/topics\/addiction\/\" class=\"button primary tag-link\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tAddiction\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/li>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<li>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<a href=\"https:\/\/www.christianitytoday.com\/pastors\/topics\/ash-wednesday\/\" class=\"button primary tag-link\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tAsh Wednesday\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/li>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<li>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<a href=\"https:\/\/www.christianitytoday.com\/pastors\/topics\/deception\/\" class=\"button primary tag-link\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tDeception\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/li>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<li>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<a href=\"https:\/\/www.christianitytoday.com\/pastors\/topics\/lent\/\" class=\"button primary tag-link\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tLent\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/li>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<li>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<a href=\"https:\/\/www.christianitytoday.com\/pastors\/topics\/repentance\/\" class=\"button primary tag-link\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tRepentance\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/li>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<li>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<a href=\"https:\/\/www.christianitytoday.com\/pastors\/topics\/self-deception\/\" class=\"button primary tag-link\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tSelf-deception\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/li>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<li>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<a href=\"https:\/\/www.christianitytoday.com\/pastors\/topics\/sin\/\" class=\"button primary tag-link\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tSin\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/li>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t<\/div><!-- .quick-view-container -->\n\t\t\t<\/div><!-- .card-content -->\n<\/div><!-- .ct-article-card -->\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"ct-article-card ct-article-card-horizontal\" style=\"--thumb-col-width: 0px;\"\n\t>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t<div class=\"card-content\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<h3 class=\"ct-article-card-title\">\n\t\t\t\t<a href=\"https:\/\/www.christianitytoday.com\/pastors\/preaching\/sermon-illustrations\/the-real-story-behind-handels-messiahs-message-of-hope\/\" target=\"_self\">\n\t\tThe Real Story Behind Handel\u2019s Messiah\u2019s Message of Hope\t\t\t\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t\t<\/h3>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"ct-article-card-deck\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"quick-view-container\">\n\t\t\t\t<button type=\"button\" class=\"quick-view-toggle\" data-target=\"quick-view-66438\" onclick=\"toggleQuickView(this)\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"quick-view-text\">QUICK VIEW<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t<\/button>\n\n\t\t\t\t<div id=\"quick-view-66438\" class=\"quick-view-content\" style=\"display: none;\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<!-- Full Post Content -->\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"quick-view-text\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"quick-view-article-content\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<!-- wp:paragraph -->\n<p>Nearly 300 years ago, Messiah was born not out of cultural confidence but out of anxiety, grief, and deep uncertainty. George Frideric Handel lived in a world marked by disease, political unrest, and religious division. Families buried children regularly. Nations argued over legitimacy and power. Beneath the wealth of empire lay human enslavement and moral fracture. It was not a hopeful age.<\/p>\n<!-- \/wp:paragraph -->\n\n<!-- wp:paragraph -->\n<p>The words of Messiah did not come from Handel himself but from Charles Jennens, the troubled aristocrat who assembled its biblical text. Jennens suffered recurring despair and depression. He had lost a brother to suicide. Searching for a way through his darkness, he turned to Scripture\u2014not to argue, but to endure. He gathered passages that traced a path from promise to suffering to redemption, beginning not with triumph but with a whisper: \u201cComfort ye, my people.\u201d<\/p>\n<!-- \/wp:paragraph -->\n\n<!-- wp:paragraph -->\n<p>Handel composed the music in just 24 days. At its premiere in Dublin in 1742, one of the most haunting moments came when Susannah Cibber stepped forward to sing, \u201cHe was despised and rejected of men, a man of sorrows and acquainted with grief.\u201d Cibber herself had been publicly shamed and abused. The audience knew her story. As she sang of Christ\u2019s suffering, silence filled the hall. One listener reportedly stood and said, \u201cFor this be all thy sins forgiven.\u201d The gospel was no abstraction that night\u2014it was embodied.<\/p>\n<!-- \/wp:paragraph -->\n\n<!-- wp:paragraph -->\n<p>Later, Messiah became linked to care for abandoned children through performances benefiting London\u2019s Foundling Hospital. Words like \u201cFor unto us a child is born\u201d rang out beneath balconies filled with the forgotten.<\/p>\n<!-- \/wp:paragraph -->\n\n<!-- wp:paragraph -->\n<p>Messiah endures because it names grief, injustice, and death\u2014and then insists, with Scripture, that they are not the final word.<\/p>\n<!-- \/wp:paragraph -->\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"sermon-illustration-source\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p>Source: Clarissa Moll, interview with Charles King, The Bulletin; Charles King, Every Valley: The Desperate Lives and Troubled Times That Made Handel\u2019s Messiah.<\/p>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\n\t\t\t\t\t<!-- Scripture References -->\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"is-layout-constrained has-global-padding mb-4\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\n\t\t\t\t\t<!-- Tags -->\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"tags-section\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"tag-links tag-cloud button-group\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<h3 class=\"tag-cloud-title\">Tags<\/h3>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<ul>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<li>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<a href=\"https:\/\/www.christianitytoday.com\/pastors\/topics\/advent\/\" class=\"button primary tag-link\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tAdvent\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/li>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<li>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<a href=\"https:\/\/www.christianitytoday.com\/pastors\/topics\/christmas\/\" class=\"button primary tag-link\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tChristmas\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/li>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<li>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<a href=\"https:\/\/www.christianitytoday.com\/pastors\/topics\/comfort\/\" class=\"button primary tag-link\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tComfort\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/li>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<li>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<a href=\"https:\/\/www.christianitytoday.com\/pastors\/topics\/hope\/\" class=\"button primary tag-link\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tHope\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/li>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<li>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<a href=\"https:\/\/www.christianitytoday.com\/pastors\/topics\/incarnation\/\" class=\"button primary tag-link\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tIncarnation\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/li>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<li>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<a href=\"https:\/\/www.christianitytoday.com\/pastors\/topics\/resurrection\/\" class=\"button primary tag-link\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tResurrection\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/li>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t<\/div><!-- .quick-view-container -->\n\t\t\t<\/div><!-- .card-content -->\n<\/div><!-- .ct-article-card -->\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"ct-article-card ct-article-card-horizontal\" style=\"--thumb-col-width: 0px;\"\n\t>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t<div class=\"card-content\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<h3 class=\"ct-article-card-title\">\n\t\t\t\t<a href=\"https:\/\/www.christianitytoday.com\/pastors\/preaching\/sermon-illustrations\/before-hitler-the-leader-there-was-hitler-the-nomad\/\" target=\"_self\">\n\t\tBefore Hitler the Leader There Was Hitler the Nomad\t\t\t\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t\t<\/h3>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"ct-article-card-deck\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"quick-view-container\">\n\t\t\t\t<button type=\"button\" class=\"quick-view-toggle\" data-target=\"quick-view-66436\" onclick=\"toggleQuickView(this)\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"quick-view-text\">QUICK VIEW<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t<\/button>\n\n\t\t\t\t<div id=\"quick-view-66436\" class=\"quick-view-content\" style=\"display: none;\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<!-- Full Post Content -->\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"quick-view-text\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"quick-view-article-content\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<!-- wp:paragraph -->\n<p>In the winter of 1909, a young man trudged through the streets of Vienna..His beard was unkempt. His coat\u2014bought at a pawnshop\u2014was threadbare, and his shoes looked ready to fall apart. He had no home, no destination, and no community. The man was Adolf Hitler.<\/p>\n<!-- \/wp:paragraph -->\n\n<!-- wp:paragraph -->\n<p>He drifted from flophouse to flophouse, sleeping in doorways when he had no money for a bed. He sold crude postcards he painted for tourists and often went hungry. He was consumed by a longing to belong. It is almost impossible to imagine that this homeless drifter would, within three decades, command one of the most murderous regimes in history. But Hitler\u2019s years of vagrancy\u2014what he later called the period when he \u201cgrew hard\u201d\u2014offer a chilling lesson about what happens when human beings are severed from home, place, and spiritual community.<\/p>\n<!-- \/wp:paragraph -->\n\n<!-- wp:paragraph -->\n<p>From 1908 to 1913, Hitler was rootless in every sense. He had been rejected twice by the Vienna Academy of Fine Arts. His mother was dead. He had no family, friends, no trade, no church, and no sense of purpose. He was spiritually adrift.<br>And in that homelessness, he found something dark to cling to. Vienna\u2019s toxic antisemitic culture offered him an explanation for his suffering and, more importantly, a community defined by resentment. It gave him identity through blame and belonging through hatred.<\/p>\n<!-- \/wp:paragraph -->\n\n<!-- wp:paragraph -->\n<p>We were made for place, for people, and for purpose. When those bonds are severed we become desperate who will cling to anything that offers identity, even if it is monstrous.<\/p>\n<!-- \/wp:paragraph -->\n\n<!-- wp:paragraph -->\n<p>But the Church remains a home, calling to wanderers: Come in. Find rest. Find belonging. Find hope. The Church is the answer to nomadic modernity.<\/p>\n<!-- \/wp:paragraph -->\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"sermon-illustration-source\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p>Source: Eddie Larow, \u201cNomadic Modernity,\u201d First Things (12-17-25)<\/p>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\n\t\t\t\t\t<!-- Scripture References -->\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"is-layout-constrained has-global-padding mb-4\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\n\t\t\t\t\t<!-- Tags -->\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"tags-section\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"tag-links tag-cloud button-group\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<h3 class=\"tag-cloud-title\">Tags<\/h3>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<ul>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<li>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<a href=\"https:\/\/www.christianitytoday.com\/pastors\/topics\/body-of-christ\/\" class=\"button primary tag-link\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tBody of Christ\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/li>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<li>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<a href=\"https:\/\/www.christianitytoday.com\/pastors\/topics\/church\/\" class=\"button primary tag-link\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tChurch\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/li>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<li>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<a href=\"https:\/\/www.christianitytoday.com\/pastors\/topics\/community\/\" class=\"button primary tag-link\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tCommunity\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/li>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<li>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<a href=\"https:\/\/www.christianitytoday.com\/pastors\/topics\/loneliness\/\" class=\"button primary tag-link\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tLoneliness\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/li>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t<\/div><!-- .quick-view-container -->\n\t\t\t<\/div><!-- .card-content -->\n<\/div><!-- .ct-article-card -->\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"ct-article-card ct-article-card-horizontal\" style=\"--thumb-col-width: 0px;\"\n\t>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t<div class=\"card-content\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<h3 class=\"ct-article-card-title\">\n\t\t\t\t<a href=\"https:\/\/www.christianitytoday.com\/pastors\/preaching\/sermon-illustrations\/escape-from-north-korea\/\" target=\"_self\">\n\t\tEscape from North Korea\t\t\t\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t\t<\/h3>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"ct-article-card-deck\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"quick-view-container\">\n\t\t\t\t<button type=\"button\" class=\"quick-view-toggle\" data-target=\"quick-view-66407\" onclick=\"toggleQuickView(this)\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"quick-view-text\">QUICK VIEW<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t<\/button>\n\n\t\t\t\t<div id=\"quick-view-66407\" class=\"quick-view-content\" style=\"display: none;\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<!-- Full Post Content -->\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"quick-view-text\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"quick-view-article-content\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<!-- wp:paragraph -->\n<p>Joseph Kim grew up in North Korea with loving parents, but his world changed during the Great Famine of the 1990s. When he was 12, his father died of starvation, and soon after, his mother and sister left for China in search of food. His mother returned alone, having sold his sister into bride slavery-a common fate for young North Korean refugees. Later, his mother was imprisoned by the North Korean government, leaving Joseph alone and homeless on the streets.<\/p>\n<!-- \/wp:paragraph -->\n\n<!-- wp:paragraph -->\n<p>For three years, Joseph survived by begging and sleeping in the mountains. At 15, facing starvation, he made the dangerous decision to escape North Korea by crossing into China. There, an elderly Chinese Korean woman advised him to seek help at a church. He found a church, where members gave him small amounts of money and temporary shelter. The kindness of these Christians, who helped a stranger without expecting anything in return, sparked his curiosity about their faith.<\/p>\n<!-- \/wp:paragraph -->\n\n<!-- wp:paragraph -->\n<p>At another church, he saw the words, \u201cCome To Me, All You Who Are Weary And Burdened, And I Will Give You Rest.\u201d Joseph recalls, \u201cIt was as if someone was talking directly to me. I thought I heard a voice saying, \u2018I understand how exhausted you are and what a hopeless situation you are in. I will take care of you.\u2019\u201d A Christian woman took him in, encouraged him to read the Bible, and gave him the name \u201cJoseph.\u201d He prayed, \u201cGod, I don\u2019t know who you are or whether you exist as the Bible and Christians claim. But I need your help.\u201d<\/p>\n<!-- \/wp:paragraph -->\n\n<!-- wp:paragraph -->\n<p>With help from activists and Liberty in North Korea (LiNK), Joseph eventually escaped to the United States in 2007 as a refugee minor, attended high school, and began to build a new life. Reflecting on his journey, Joseph writes, \u201cI had been alone in the world. Finding Christians in China, I found hope again. Caring for strangers, acting compassionately without expecting anything in return: That is the beauty of the gospel.\u201d<\/p>\n<!-- \/wp:paragraph -->\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"sermon-illustration-source\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p>Source: Joseph Kim, \u201cEscape from North Korea,\u201d CT magazine (May, 2015), <\/p>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\n\t\t\t\t\t<!-- Scripture References -->\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"is-layout-constrained has-global-padding mb-4\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<section class=\"scripture-reference-section\"><h3 class=\"scripture-reference-section-title\">Scripture<\/h3><div class=\"scripture-contents\">\t\t\t<div class=\"scripture-label-wrapper\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<a class=\"scripture-label-link\" href=\"https:\/\/www.christianitytoday.com\/pastors\/search\/?scripture_start=3315&#038;pretty_range=Leviticus%2019%3A33&#038;ctp_search=1\" title=\"Search for scripture reference: Leviticus 19:33\">\n\t\t\t\t<span class=\"scripture-label\">\n\t\t\t\t\tLeviticus 19:33\t\t\t\t<\/span>\n\t\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t\t<a class=\"scripture-label-link\" href=\"https:\/\/www.biblegateway.com\/passage\/?search=Leviticus%2019%3A33&#038;version=NIV\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" title=\"View on Bible Gateway: Leviticus 19:33\">\n\t\t\t\t<span class=\"scripture-label-icon\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\n\t<svg height=\"7\" width=\"10\" class=\"icon book\" aria-hidden=\"true\" role=\"img\">\n\t\t<title id=\"title-book-69074\">book<\/title>\n\n\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t<use xlink:href=\"#book\"><\/use>\n\t\t\n\t<\/svg>\n\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/span>\n\t\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"scripture-label-wrapper\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<a class=\"scripture-label-link\" href=\"https:\/\/www.christianitytoday.com\/pastors\/search\/?scripture_start=18794&#038;pretty_range=Isaiah%2058%3A7&#038;ctp_search=1\" title=\"Search for scripture reference: Isaiah 58:7\">\n\t\t\t\t<span class=\"scripture-label\">\n\t\t\t\t\tIsaiah 58:7\t\t\t\t<\/span>\n\t\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t\t<a class=\"scripture-label-link\" href=\"https:\/\/www.biblegateway.com\/passage\/?search=Isaiah%2058%3A7&#038;version=NIV\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" title=\"View on Bible Gateway: Isaiah 58:7\">\n\t\t\t\t<span class=\"scripture-label-icon\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\n\t<svg height=\"7\" width=\"10\" class=\"icon book\" aria-hidden=\"true\" role=\"img\">\n\t\t<title id=\"title-book-12370\">book<\/title>\n\n\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t<use xlink:href=\"#book\"><\/use>\n\t\t\n\t<\/svg>\n\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/span>\n\t\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"scripture-label-wrapper\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<a class=\"scripture-label-link\" href=\"https:\/\/www.christianitytoday.com\/pastors\/search\/?scripture_start=20866&#038;pretty_range=Ezekiel%2018%3A16&#038;ctp_search=1\" title=\"Search for scripture reference: Ezekiel 18:16\">\n\t\t\t\t<span class=\"scripture-label\">\n\t\t\t\t\tEzekiel 18:16\t\t\t\t<\/span>\n\t\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t\t<a class=\"scripture-label-link\" href=\"https:\/\/www.biblegateway.com\/passage\/?search=Ezekiel%2018%3A16&#038;version=NIV\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" title=\"View on Bible Gateway: Ezekiel 18:16\">\n\t\t\t\t<span class=\"scripture-label-icon\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\n\t<svg height=\"7\" width=\"10\" class=\"icon book\" aria-hidden=\"true\" role=\"img\">\n\t\t<title id=\"title-book-34085\">book<\/title>\n\n\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t<use xlink:href=\"#book\"><\/use>\n\t\t\n\t<\/svg>\n\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/span>\n\t\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"scripture-label-wrapper\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<a class=\"scripture-label-link\" href=\"https:\/\/www.christianitytoday.com\/pastors\/search\/?scripture_start=23460&#038;pretty_range=Matthew%2010%3A42&#038;ctp_search=1\" title=\"Search for scripture reference: Matthew 10:42\">\n\t\t\t\t<span class=\"scripture-label\">\n\t\t\t\t\tMatthew 10:42\t\t\t\t<\/span>\n\t\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t\t<a class=\"scripture-label-link\" href=\"https:\/\/www.biblegateway.com\/passage\/?search=Matthew%2010%3A42&#038;version=NIV\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" title=\"View on Bible Gateway: Matthew 10:42\">\n\t\t\t\t<span class=\"scripture-label-icon\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\n\t<svg height=\"7\" width=\"10\" class=\"icon book\" aria-hidden=\"true\" role=\"img\">\n\t\t<title id=\"title-book-39516\">book<\/title>\n\n\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t<use xlink:href=\"#book\"><\/use>\n\t\t\n\t<\/svg>\n\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/span>\n\t\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"scripture-label-wrapper\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<a class=\"scripture-label-link\" href=\"https:\/\/www.christianitytoday.com\/pastors\/search\/?scripture_start=23488&#038;pretty_range=Matthew%2011%3A28&#038;ctp_search=1\" title=\"Search for scripture reference: Matthew 11:28\">\n\t\t\t\t<span class=\"scripture-label\">\n\t\t\t\t\tMatthew 11:28\t\t\t\t<\/span>\n\t\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t\t<a class=\"scripture-label-link\" href=\"https:\/\/www.biblegateway.com\/passage\/?search=Matthew%2011%3A28&#038;version=NIV\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" title=\"View on Bible Gateway: Matthew 11:28\">\n\t\t\t\t<span class=\"scripture-label-icon\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\n\t<svg height=\"7\" width=\"10\" class=\"icon book\" aria-hidden=\"true\" role=\"img\">\n\t\t<title id=\"title-book-90459\">book<\/title>\n\n\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t<use xlink:href=\"#book\"><\/use>\n\t\t\n\t<\/svg>\n\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/span>\n\t\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"scripture-label-wrapper\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<a class=\"scripture-label-link\" href=\"https:\/\/www.christianitytoday.com\/pastors\/search\/?scripture_start=24044&#038;pretty_range=Matthew%2025%3A35&#038;ctp_search=1\" title=\"Search for scripture reference: Matthew 25:35\">\n\t\t\t\t<span class=\"scripture-label\">\n\t\t\t\t\tMatthew 25:35\t\t\t\t<\/span>\n\t\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t\t<a class=\"scripture-label-link\" href=\"https:\/\/www.biblegateway.com\/passage\/?search=Matthew%2025%3A35&#038;version=NIV\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" title=\"View on Bible Gateway: Matthew 25:35\">\n\t\t\t\t<span class=\"scripture-label-icon\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\n\t<svg height=\"7\" width=\"10\" class=\"icon book\" aria-hidden=\"true\" role=\"img\">\n\t\t<title id=\"title-book-84522\">book<\/title>\n\n\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t<use xlink:href=\"#book\"><\/use>\n\t\t\n\t<\/svg>\n\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/span>\n\t\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"scripture-label-wrapper\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<a class=\"scripture-label-link\" href=\"https:\/\/www.christianitytoday.com\/pastors\/search\/?scripture_start=24215&#038;pretty_range=Matthew%2028%3A19&#038;ctp_search=1\" title=\"Search for scripture reference: Matthew 28:19\">\n\t\t\t\t<span class=\"scripture-label\">\n\t\t\t\t\tMatthew 28:19\t\t\t\t<\/span>\n\t\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t\t<a class=\"scripture-label-link\" href=\"https:\/\/www.biblegateway.com\/passage\/?search=Matthew%2028%3A19&#038;version=NIV\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" title=\"View on Bible Gateway: Matthew 28:19\">\n\t\t\t\t<span class=\"scripture-label-icon\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\n\t<svg height=\"7\" width=\"10\" class=\"icon book\" aria-hidden=\"true\" role=\"img\">\n\t\t<title id=\"title-book-32525\">book<\/title>\n\n\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t<use xlink:href=\"#book\"><\/use>\n\t\t\n\t<\/svg>\n\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/span>\n\t\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"scripture-label-wrapper\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<a class=\"scripture-label-link\" href=\"https:\/\/www.christianitytoday.com\/pastors\/search\/?scripture_start=25493&#038;pretty_range=Luke%2012%3A33&#038;ctp_search=1\" title=\"Search for scripture reference: Luke 12:33\">\n\t\t\t\t<span class=\"scripture-label\">\n\t\t\t\t\tLuke 12:33\t\t\t\t<\/span>\n\t\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t\t<a class=\"scripture-label-link\" href=\"https:\/\/www.biblegateway.com\/passage\/?search=Luke%2012%3A33&#038;version=NIV\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" title=\"View on Bible Gateway: Luke 12:33\">\n\t\t\t\t<span class=\"scripture-label-icon\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\n\t<svg height=\"7\" width=\"10\" class=\"icon book\" aria-hidden=\"true\" role=\"img\">\n\t\t<title id=\"title-book-92305\">book<\/title>\n\n\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t<use xlink:href=\"#book\"><\/use>\n\t\t\n\t<\/svg>\n\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/span>\n\t\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"scripture-label-wrapper\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<a class=\"scripture-label-link\" href=\"https:\/\/www.christianitytoday.com\/pastors\/search\/?scripture_start=26137&#038;pretty_range=John%203%3A16&#038;ctp_search=1\" title=\"Search for scripture reference: John 3:16\">\n\t\t\t\t<span class=\"scripture-label\">\n\t\t\t\t\tJohn 3:16\t\t\t\t<\/span>\n\t\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t\t<a class=\"scripture-label-link\" href=\"https:\/\/www.biblegateway.com\/passage\/?search=John%203%3A16&#038;version=NIV\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" title=\"View on Bible Gateway: John 3:16\">\n\t\t\t\t<span class=\"scripture-label-icon\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\n\t<svg height=\"7\" width=\"10\" class=\"icon book\" aria-hidden=\"true\" role=\"img\">\n\t\t<title id=\"title-book-35546\">book<\/title>\n\n\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t<use xlink:href=\"#book\"><\/use>\n\t\t\n\t<\/svg>\n\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/span>\n\t\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"scripture-label-wrapper\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<a class=\"scripture-label-link\" href=\"https:\/\/www.christianitytoday.com\/pastors\/search\/?scripture_start=26932&#038;pretty_range=Acts%201%3A8&#038;ctp_search=1\" title=\"Search for scripture reference: Acts 1:8\">\n\t\t\t\t<span class=\"scripture-label\">\n\t\t\t\t\tActs 1:8\t\t\t\t<\/span>\n\t\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t\t<a class=\"scripture-label-link\" href=\"https:\/\/www.biblegateway.com\/passage\/?search=Acts%201%3A8&#038;version=NIV\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" title=\"View on Bible Gateway: Acts 1:8\">\n\t\t\t\t<span class=\"scripture-label-icon\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\n\t<svg height=\"7\" width=\"10\" class=\"icon book\" aria-hidden=\"true\" role=\"img\">\n\t\t<title id=\"title-book-54338\">book<\/title>\n\n\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t<use xlink:href=\"#book\"><\/use>\n\t\t\n\t<\/svg>\n\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/span>\n\t\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"scripture-label-wrapper\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<a class=\"scripture-label-link\" href=\"https:\/\/www.christianitytoday.com\/pastors\/search\/?scripture_start=27662&#038;pretty_range=Acts%2020%3A35&#038;ctp_search=1\" title=\"Search for scripture reference: Acts 20:35\">\n\t\t\t\t<span class=\"scripture-label\">\n\t\t\t\t\tActs 20:35\t\t\t\t<\/span>\n\t\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t\t<a class=\"scripture-label-link\" href=\"https:\/\/www.biblegateway.com\/passage\/?search=Acts%2020%3A35&#038;version=NIV\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" title=\"View on Bible Gateway: Acts 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class=\"scripture-label-icon\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\n\t<svg height=\"7\" width=\"10\" class=\"icon book\" aria-hidden=\"true\" role=\"img\">\n\t\t<title id=\"title-book-87085\">book<\/title>\n\n\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t<use xlink:href=\"#book\"><\/use>\n\t\t\n\t<\/svg>\n\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/span>\n\t\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"scripture-label-wrapper\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<a class=\"scripture-label-link\" href=\"https:\/\/www.christianitytoday.com\/pastors\/search\/?scripture_start=29806&#038;pretty_range=1%20Timothy%206%3A17&#038;ctp_search=1\" title=\"Search for scripture reference: 1 Timothy 6:17\">\n\t\t\t\t<span class=\"scripture-label\">\n\t\t\t\t\t1 Timothy 6:17\t\t\t\t<\/span>\n\t\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t\t<a class=\"scripture-label-link\" href=\"https:\/\/www.biblegateway.com\/passage\/?search=1%20Timothy%206%3A17&#038;version=NIV\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" title=\"View on Bible Gateway: 1 Timothy 6:17\">\n\t\t\t\t<span class=\"scripture-label-icon\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\n\t<svg height=\"7\" width=\"10\" class=\"icon book\" aria-hidden=\"true\" role=\"img\">\n\t\t<title id=\"title-book-74239\">book<\/title>\n\n\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t<use xlink:href=\"#book\"><\/use>\n\t\t\n\t<\/svg>\n\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/span>\n\t\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"scripture-label-wrapper\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<a class=\"scripture-label-link\" href=\"https:\/\/www.christianitytoday.com\/pastors\/search\/?scripture_start=30244&#038;pretty_range=Hebrews%2013%3A2&#038;ctp_search=1\" title=\"Search for scripture reference: Hebrews 13:2\">\n\t\t\t\t<span class=\"scripture-label\">\n\t\t\t\t\tHebrews 13:2\t\t\t\t<\/span>\n\t\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t\t<a class=\"scripture-label-link\" href=\"https:\/\/www.biblegateway.com\/passage\/?search=Hebrews%2013%3A2&#038;version=NIV\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" title=\"View on Bible Gateway: Hebrews 13:2\">\n\t\t\t\t<span class=\"scripture-label-icon\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\n\t<svg height=\"7\" width=\"10\" class=\"icon book\" aria-hidden=\"true\" role=\"img\">\n\t\t<title id=\"title-book-10300\">book<\/title>\n\n\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t<use xlink:href=\"#book\"><\/use>\n\t\t\n\t<\/svg>\n\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/span>\n\t\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"scripture-label-wrapper\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<a class=\"scripture-label-link\" href=\"https:\/\/www.christianitytoday.com\/pastors\/search\/?scripture_start=30309&#038;pretty_range=James%202%3A15&#038;ctp_search=1\" title=\"Search for scripture reference: James 2:15\">\n\t\t\t\t<span class=\"scripture-label\">\n\t\t\t\t\tJames 2:15\t\t\t\t<\/span>\n\t\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t\t<a class=\"scripture-label-link\" href=\"https:\/\/www.biblegateway.com\/passage\/?search=James%202%3A15&#038;version=NIV\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" title=\"View on Bible Gateway: James 2:15\">\n\t\t\t\t<span class=\"scripture-label-icon\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\n\t<svg height=\"7\" width=\"10\" class=\"icon book\" aria-hidden=\"true\" role=\"img\">\n\t\t<title id=\"title-book-87763\">book<\/title>\n\n\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t<use xlink:href=\"#book\"><\/use>\n\t\t\n\t<\/svg>\n\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/span>\n\t\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div><\/section>\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\n\t\t\t\t\t<!-- Tags -->\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"tags-section\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"tag-links tag-cloud button-group\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<h3 class=\"tag-cloud-title\">Tags<\/h3>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<ul>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<li>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<a href=\"https:\/\/www.christianitytoday.com\/pastors\/topics\/bondage\/\" class=\"button primary tag-link\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tBondage\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/li>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<li>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<a href=\"https:\/\/www.christianitytoday.com\/pastors\/topics\/born-again\/\" class=\"button primary tag-link\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tBorn Again\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/li>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<li>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<a href=\"https:\/\/www.christianitytoday.com\/pastors\/topics\/compassion\/\" class=\"button primary tag-link\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tCompassion\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/li>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<li>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<a href=\"https:\/\/www.christianitytoday.com\/pastors\/topics\/conversion\/\" class=\"button primary tag-link\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tConversion\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/li>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<li>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<a href=\"https:\/\/www.christianitytoday.com\/pastors\/topics\/daily-bread\/\" class=\"button primary tag-link\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tDaily Bread\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/li>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<li>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<a href=\"https:\/\/www.christianitytoday.com\/pastors\/topics\/escape\/\" class=\"button primary tag-link\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tEscape\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/li>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<li>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<a href=\"https:\/\/www.christianitytoday.com\/pastors\/topics\/evangelism\/\" class=\"button primary tag-link\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tEvangelism\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/li>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<li>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<a href=\"https:\/\/www.christianitytoday.com\/pastors\/topics\/food\/\" class=\"button primary tag-link\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tFood\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/li>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<li>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<a href=\"https:\/\/www.christianitytoday.com\/pastors\/topics\/generosity\/\" class=\"button primary tag-link\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tGenerosity\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/li>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<li>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<a href=\"https:\/\/www.christianitytoday.com\/pastors\/topics\/giving\/\" class=\"button primary tag-link\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tGiving\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/li>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<li>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<a href=\"https:\/\/www.christianitytoday.com\/pastors\/topics\/hunger\/\" class=\"button primary tag-link\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tHunger\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/li>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<li>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<a href=\"https:\/\/www.christianitytoday.com\/pastors\/topics\/new-life\/\" class=\"button primary tag-link\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tNew Life\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/li>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<li>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<a href=\"https:\/\/www.christianitytoday.com\/pastors\/topics\/outreach\/\" class=\"button primary tag-link\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tOutreach\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/li>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<li>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<a href=\"https:\/\/www.christianitytoday.com\/pastors\/topics\/physical-bondage\/\" class=\"button primary tag-link\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tPhysical Bondage\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/li>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<li>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<a href=\"https:\/\/www.christianitytoday.com\/pastors\/topics\/physical-hunger\/\" class=\"button primary tag-link\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tPhysical Hunger\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/li>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<li>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<a href=\"https:\/\/www.christianitytoday.com\/pastors\/topics\/redemption\/\" class=\"button primary tag-link\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tRedemption\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/li>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<li>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<a href=\"https:\/\/www.christianitytoday.com\/pastors\/topics\/refugee\/\" class=\"button primary tag-link\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tRefugee\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/li>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<li>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<a href=\"https:\/\/www.christianitytoday.com\/pastors\/topics\/salvation\/\" class=\"button primary tag-link\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tSalvation\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/li>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<li>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<a href=\"https:\/\/www.christianitytoday.com\/pastors\/topics\/social-conditions\/\" class=\"button primary tag-link\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tSocial Conditions\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/li>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<li>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<a href=\"https:\/\/www.christianitytoday.com\/pastors\/topics\/starvation\/\" class=\"button primary tag-link\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tStarvation\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/li>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<li>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<a href=\"https:\/\/www.christianitytoday.com\/pastors\/topics\/testimony\/\" class=\"button primary tag-link\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tTestimony\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/li>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t<\/div><!-- .quick-view-container -->\n\t\t\t<\/div><!-- .card-content -->\n<\/div><!-- .ct-article-card -->\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"ct-article-card ct-article-card-horizontal\" style=\"--thumb-col-width: 0px;\"\n\t>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t<div class=\"card-content\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<h3 class=\"ct-article-card-title\">\n\t\t\t\t<a href=\"https:\/\/www.christianitytoday.com\/pastors\/preaching\/sermon-illustrations\/is-life-a-computer-simulation\/\" target=\"_self\">\n\t\tIs Life a Computer Simulation?\t\t\t\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t\t<\/h3>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"ct-article-card-deck\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"quick-view-container\">\n\t\t\t\t<button type=\"button\" class=\"quick-view-toggle\" data-target=\"quick-view-66409\" onclick=\"toggleQuickView(this)\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"quick-view-text\">QUICK VIEW<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t<\/button>\n\n\t\t\t\t<div id=\"quick-view-66409\" class=\"quick-view-content\" style=\"display: none;\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<!-- Full Post Content -->\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"quick-view-text\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"quick-view-article-content\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<!-- wp:paragraph -->\n<p>It might be human nature, especially for those who don\u2019t look to religion for answers, to try to come up with a theory of reality and life, the purpose of us being here and how long will all this last. An article in the Wall Street Journal reported on Elon Musk\u2019s theory.<\/p>\n<!-- \/wp:paragraph -->\n\n<!-- wp:paragraph -->\n<p>\u201cIt can be hard to understand Elon Musk\u2019s reality\u2014especially as he appears to be on track to become the world\u2019s first trillionaire this year. Even he questions that reality. For the longest time, Musk has talked about the possibility that we\u2019re living in a computer simulation.<\/p>\n<!-- \/wp:paragraph -->\n\n<!-- wp:paragraph -->\n<p>\u201cI do have this theory about predicting the future, which is that the most interesting outcome is the most likely,\u201d Musk said during a podcast appearance a few weeks ago.<br>It is an idea rooted in the thinking that if our reality really is a simulation, we would get shut down if we were boring.<\/p>\n<!-- \/wp:paragraph -->\n\n<!-- wp:paragraph -->\n<p>\u201cAnother way to think of it is like we could be an alien Netflix series and that series is only going to get continued if our ratings are good,\u201d Musk said. \u201cIf you apply Darwin to simulation theory then only the most interesting simulations will continue. Therefore, the most interesting outcome is most likely because it\u2019s either that or annihilation.<\/p>\n<!-- \/wp:paragraph -->\n\n<!-- wp:paragraph -->\n<p>\u201cSo,\u201d he added, \u201creally, we have one goal: Keep it interesting.\u201d<\/p>\n<!-- \/wp:paragraph -->\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"sermon-illustration-source\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p>Source: Tim Higgins, Musk\u2019s Surreal Year Could Make Him Founding Member of Trillionaire Club, The Wall Street Journal, January 5, 2026, B1.<\/p>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\n\t\t\t\t\t<!-- Scripture References -->\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"is-layout-constrained has-global-padding mb-4\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<section class=\"scripture-reference-section\"><h3 class=\"scripture-reference-section-title\">Scripture<\/h3><div class=\"scripture-contents\">\t\t\t<div class=\"scripture-label-wrapper\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<a class=\"scripture-label-link\" href=\"https:\/\/www.christianitytoday.com\/pastors\/search\/?scripture_start=27951&#038;pretty_range=Romans%201%3A20&#038;ctp_search=1\" title=\"Search for scripture reference: Romans 1:20\">\n\t\t\t\t<span class=\"scripture-label\">\n\t\t\t\t\tRomans 1:20\t\t\t\t<\/span>\n\t\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t\t<a class=\"scripture-label-link\" href=\"https:\/\/www.biblegateway.com\/passage\/?search=Romans%201%3A20&#038;version=NIV\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" title=\"View on Bible Gateway: Romans 1:20\">\n\t\t\t\t<span class=\"scripture-label-icon\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\n\t<svg height=\"7\" width=\"10\" class=\"icon book\" aria-hidden=\"true\" role=\"img\">\n\t\t<title id=\"title-book-12208\">book<\/title>\n\n\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t<use xlink:href=\"#book\"><\/use>\n\t\t\n\t<\/svg>\n\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/span>\n\t\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"scripture-label-wrapper\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<a class=\"scripture-label-link\" 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tag-cloud button-group\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<h3 class=\"tag-cloud-title\">Tags<\/h3>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<ul>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<li>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<a href=\"https:\/\/www.christianitytoday.com\/pastors\/topics\/boredom\/\" class=\"button primary tag-link\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tBoredom\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/li>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<li>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<a href=\"https:\/\/www.christianitytoday.com\/pastors\/topics\/creation\/\" class=\"button primary tag-link\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tCreation\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/li>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<li>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<a href=\"https:\/\/www.christianitytoday.com\/pastors\/topics\/humanity\/\" class=\"button primary tag-link\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tHumanity\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/li>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<li>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<a href=\"https:\/\/www.christianitytoday.com\/pastors\/topics\/life\/\" class=\"button primary tag-link\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tLife\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/li>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<li>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<a href=\"https:\/\/www.christianitytoday.com\/pastors\/topics\/reality\/\" class=\"button primary tag-link\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tReality\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/li>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<li>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<a href=\"https:\/\/www.christianitytoday.com\/pastors\/topics\/truth\/\" class=\"button primary tag-link\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tTruth\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/li>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<li>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<a href=\"https:\/\/www.christianitytoday.com\/pastors\/topics\/worldview\/\" class=\"button primary tag-link\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tWorldview\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/li>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t<\/div><!-- .quick-view-container -->\n\t\t\t<\/div><!-- .card-content -->\n<\/div><!-- .ct-article-card -->\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"ct-article-card ct-article-card-horizontal\" style=\"--thumb-col-width: 0px;\"\n\t>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t<div class=\"card-content\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<h3 class=\"ct-article-card-title\">\n\t\t\t\t<a href=\"https:\/\/www.christianitytoday.com\/pastors\/preaching\/sermon-illustrations\/when-a-secular-culture-starts-leaning-toward-god-again\/\" target=\"_self\">\n\t\tWhen a Secular Culture Starts Leaning Toward God Again\t\t\t\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t\t<\/h3>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"ct-article-card-deck\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"quick-view-container\">\n\t\t\t\t<button type=\"button\" class=\"quick-view-toggle\" data-target=\"quick-view-66411\" onclick=\"toggleQuickView(this)\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"quick-view-text\">QUICK VIEW<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t<\/button>\n\n\t\t\t\t<div id=\"quick-view-66411\" class=\"quick-view-content\" style=\"display: none;\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<!-- Full Post Content -->\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"quick-view-text\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"quick-view-article-content\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<!-- wp:paragraph -->\n<p>In central London in 2009, red buses had a bold message stretched across their sides: \u201cThere\u2019s probably no God. Now stop worrying and enjoy your life.\u201d It was the high tide of New Atheism\u2014Richard Dawkins filling stadiums, and the cultural mood tilting hard against faith. Belief in God felt not only outdated but unfashionable. But something unexpected happened.<\/p>\n<!-- \/wp:paragraph -->\n\n<!-- wp:paragraph -->\n<p>In a small radio studio near Westminster Abbey, a young broadcaster named Justin Brierley started inviting atheists and Christians to have honest conversations. No shouting. No mocking. Just listening, questioning, and seeking understanding. At the time, critics warned him:<br>\u201cYou\u2019re giving atheism a platform! Christians will lose their faith!\u201d<\/p>\n<!-- \/wp:paragraph -->\n\n<!-- wp:paragraph -->\n<p>Atheists started listening, and some\u2014even very public ones\u2014began to reconsider. Scroll through YouTube comments today under Brierley\u2019s debates with people like Richard Dawkins, and you\u2019ll see an astonishing pattern. Atheists writing things like: \u201cI don\u2019t believe in God, but this conversation made me think.\u201d \u201cThis is the first Christian space where I\u2019ve felt respected.\u201d \u201cI\u2019m an atheist\u2026 but I\u2019m curious again.\u201d<\/p>\n<!-- \/wp:paragraph -->\n\n<!-- wp:paragraph -->\n<p>One journalist calls it a \u201csoftening.\u201d A growing number of public intellectuals have begun speaking publicly about Christianity as morally beautiful, culturally essential, and spiritually compelling.<\/p>\n<!-- \/wp:paragraph -->\n\n<!-- wp:paragraph -->\n<p>Brierley calls it a \u201csurprising rebirth of belief in God.\u201d Many people\u2014especially young men\u2014are quietly asking again: \u201cWhat if there is more?\u201d Sometimes God moves by opening cracks in even the most confident doubt.<\/p>\n<!-- \/wp:paragraph -->\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"sermon-illustration-source\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p>Source: Madeleine Davies, \u201cJustin Brierley Goes from Unbelievable to Re-Enchanting,\u201d Christianity Today, March\/April 2025.<\/p>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\n\t\t\t\t\t<!-- Scripture References -->\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"is-layout-constrained has-global-padding mb-4\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\n\t\t\t\t\t<!-- Tags -->\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"tags-section\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"tag-links tag-cloud button-group\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<h3 class=\"tag-cloud-title\">Tags<\/h3>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<ul>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<li>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<a href=\"https:\/\/www.christianitytoday.com\/pastors\/topics\/apologetics\/\" class=\"button primary tag-link\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tApologetics\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/li>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<li>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<a href=\"https:\/\/www.christianitytoday.com\/pastors\/topics\/atheism\/\" class=\"button primary tag-link\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tAtheism\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/li>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<li>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<a href=\"https:\/\/www.christianitytoday.com\/pastors\/topics\/doubt\/\" class=\"button primary tag-link\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tDoubt\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/li>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<li>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<a href=\"https:\/\/www.christianitytoday.com\/pastors\/topics\/evangelism\/\" class=\"button primary tag-link\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tEvangelism\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/li>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<li>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<a href=\"https:\/\/www.christianitytoday.com\/pastors\/topics\/pursuing-sinners\/\" class=\"button primary tag-link\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tPursuing Sinners\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/li>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<li>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<a href=\"https:\/\/www.christianitytoday.com\/pastors\/topics\/secularism\/\" class=\"button primary tag-link\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tSecularism\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/li>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<li>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<a href=\"https:\/\/www.christianitytoday.com\/pastors\/topics\/seekers\/\" class=\"button primary tag-link\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tSeekers\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/li>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<li>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<a href=\"https:\/\/www.christianitytoday.com\/pastors\/topics\/unbelief\/\" class=\"button primary tag-link\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tUnbelief\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/li>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t<\/div><!-- .quick-view-container -->\n\t\t\t<\/div><!-- .card-content -->\n<\/div><!-- .ct-article-card -->\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"ct-article-card ct-article-card-horizontal\" style=\"--thumb-col-width: 0px;\"\n\t>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t<div class=\"card-content\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<h3 class=\"ct-article-card-title\">\n\t\t\t\t<a href=\"https:\/\/www.christianitytoday.com\/pastors\/preaching\/sermon-illustrations\/a-heart-patients-callous-attitude-toward-his-new-heart\/\" target=\"_self\">\n\t\tA Heart Patient&#8217;s Callous Attitude Toward His New Heart\t\t\t\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t\t<\/h3>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"ct-article-card-deck\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"quick-view-container\">\n\t\t\t\t<button type=\"button\" class=\"quick-view-toggle\" data-target=\"quick-view-66413\" onclick=\"toggleQuickView(this)\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"quick-view-text\">QUICK VIEW<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t<\/button>\n\n\t\t\t\t<div id=\"quick-view-66413\" class=\"quick-view-content\" style=\"display: none;\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<!-- Full Post Content -->\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"quick-view-text\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"quick-view-article-content\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<!-- wp:paragraph -->\n<p><em>E.R. Nurses<\/em> is the 2021 book of over 100 personal stories of E.R. nurses all over the United States. Victoria Lindsay served in the US Navy as a gunner&#8217;s mate for several years before she left and decided to become a nurse. She began working with heart-transplant patients and now specializes in cardiothoracic surgery nursing.<\/p>\n<!-- \/wp:paragraph -->\n\n<!-- wp:paragraph -->\n<p>Lindsay gives a first-person account of a special incident with Ken, a patient, who she is prepping for a heart transplant. She advises him he now needs a serious change in lifestyle:<\/p>\n<!-- \/wp:paragraph -->\n\n<!-- wp:paragraph -->\n<p>&#8220;&#8216;Whatever you were doing before, you need to really come at it from different points and change. You need to be able to eat healthy and exercise to the best of your ability.&#8217;<\/p>\n<!-- \/wp:paragraph -->\n\n<!-- wp:paragraph -->\n<p>&#8220;Ken nods in agreement, but he doesn&#8217;t know what I do.<\/p>\n<!-- \/wp:paragraph -->\n\n<!-- wp:paragraph -->\n<p>&#8220;Not everyone who gets a new heart actually takes care of it. I&#8217;ve seen heart transplants ruined pretty quickly over a few years because patients didn&#8217;t control their diabetes. They end up basically throwing the whole \u2026 heart away.<\/p>\n<!-- \/wp:paragraph -->\n\n<!-- wp:paragraph -->\n<p>&#8220;I&#8217;ve had heart-transplant patients come back in and say: &#8216;You know what? I&#8217;m just not going to take my immuno-suppression medication anymore.&#8217;<\/p>\n<!-- \/wp:paragraph -->\n\n<!-- wp:paragraph -->\n<p>&#8220;And I say: &#8216;You do realize someone died for you, right? That this heart you&#8217;ve got could have gone to anyone a little bit healthier or younger &#8211; someone who could have done something more with their life. But it was given to you, and now you don&#8217;t want to take your \u2026 drugs?'&#8221;<\/p>\n<!-- \/wp:paragraph -->\n\n<!-- wp:paragraph -->\n<p>As of the book&#8217;s publishing in 2021, Ken has followed her advice. Not everyone does. In the same way, some believers and non-believers alike adopt a callous and ungrateful attitude toward a certain Someone who died for them and offered them a new Life.<\/p>\n<!-- \/wp:paragraph -->\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"sermon-illustration-source\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p>Source: James Patterson and Matt Eversmann, E.R. Nurses, Little, Brown and Company, 2021, pages 76-77<\/p>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\n\t\t\t\t\t<!-- Scripture References -->\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"is-layout-constrained has-global-padding mb-4\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\n\t\t\t\t\t<!-- Tags -->\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t<\/div><!-- .quick-view-container -->\n\t\t\t<\/div><!-- .card-content -->\n<\/div><!-- .ct-article-card -->\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"ct-article-card ct-article-card-horizontal\" style=\"--thumb-col-width: 0px;\"\n\t>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t<div class=\"card-content\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<h3 class=\"ct-article-card-title\">\n\t\t\t\t<a href=\"https:\/\/www.christianitytoday.com\/pastors\/preaching\/sermon-illustrations\/the-christmas-special-that-almost-didnt-happen\/\" target=\"_self\">\n\t\tThe Christmas Special That Almost Didn\u2019t Happen\t\t\t\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t\t<\/h3>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"ct-article-card-deck\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"quick-view-container\">\n\t\t\t\t<button type=\"button\" class=\"quick-view-toggle\" data-target=\"quick-view-66416\" onclick=\"toggleQuickView(this)\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"quick-view-text\">QUICK VIEW<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t<\/button>\n\n\t\t\t\t<div id=\"quick-view-66416\" class=\"quick-view-content\" style=\"display: none;\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<!-- Full Post Content -->\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"quick-view-text\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"quick-view-article-content\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<!-- wp:paragraph -->\n<p>Sixty years ago, when Charles Schulz (\u201cSparky\u201d to his friends) and his small creative team first brought the Peanuts gang to life on television, executives thought the project was doomed. Everything about it seemed wrong for network TV. The pacing was slow. The voice actors were children instead of professionals. And worst of all\u2014in the eyes of executives\u2014Schulz insisted that Linus stand onstage and recite the nativity story straight from the Gospel of Luke.<\/p>\n<!-- \/wp:paragraph -->\n\n<!-- wp:paragraph -->\n<p>One executive flatly said that including Scripture in a Christmas special was too religious, too risky. But the air date had already been set, so CBS reluctantly agreed to broadcast it\u2014once. They didn\u2019t expect to do it again.<\/p>\n<!-- \/wp:paragraph -->\n\n<!-- wp:paragraph -->\n<p>Then came December 9, 1965. Fifteen million people tuned in. And everything the executives had criticized\u2014the simplicity, the sincerity, the Scripture\u2014became everything viewers loved. The next morning\u2019s reviews were glowing. Families had gathered around their televisions and heard, perhaps for the first time on primetime TV, the angels\u2019 announcement: \u201cGlory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, good will toward men.\u201d<\/p>\n<!-- \/wp:paragraph -->\n\n<!-- wp:paragraph -->\n<p>The special became a classic not because it followed the trends, but because it gently pointed back to something deeper than commercialism or sentimentality. Schulz once told his colleagues, \u201cIf we don\u2019t tell the story, who will?\u201d<\/p>\n<!-- \/wp:paragraph -->\n\n<!-- wp:paragraph -->\n<p>This little, unlikely cartoon dared to tell the Bible\u2019s story of Christmas. And decades later, the world is still listening.<\/p>\n<!-- \/wp:paragraph -->\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"sermon-illustration-source\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p>Source: Emma Eicher, \u201cA Charlie Brown Christmas Almost Never Made It to TV,\u201d WORLD Radio, The World and Everything in It, November 2025.<\/p>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\n\t\t\t\t\t<!-- Scripture References -->\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"is-layout-constrained has-global-padding mb-4\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<section class=\"scripture-reference-section\"><h3 class=\"scripture-reference-section-title\">Scripture<\/h3><div class=\"scripture-contents\">\t\t\t<div class=\"scripture-label-wrapper\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<a class=\"scripture-label-link\" href=\"https:\/\/www.christianitytoday.com\/pastors\/search\/?scripture_start=23450&#038;pretty_range=Matthew%2010%3A32&#038;ctp_search=1\" title=\"Search for scripture reference: Matthew 10:32\">\n\t\t\t\t<span 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28:18\t\t\t\t<\/span>\n\t\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t\t<a class=\"scripture-label-link\" href=\"https:\/\/www.biblegateway.com\/passage\/?search=Matthew%2028%3A18&#038;version=NIV\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" title=\"View on Bible Gateway: Matthew 28:18\">\n\t\t\t\t<span class=\"scripture-label-icon\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\n\t<svg height=\"7\" width=\"10\" class=\"icon book\" aria-hidden=\"true\" role=\"img\">\n\t\t<title id=\"title-book-25445\">book<\/title>\n\n\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t<use xlink:href=\"#book\"><\/use>\n\t\t\n\t<\/svg>\n\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/span>\n\t\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"scripture-label-wrapper\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<a class=\"scripture-label-link\" href=\"https:\/\/www.christianitytoday.com\/pastors\/search\/?scripture_start=25468&#038;pretty_range=Luke%2012%3A8&#038;ctp_search=1\" title=\"Search for scripture reference: Luke 12:8\">\n\t\t\t\t<span class=\"scripture-label\">\n\t\t\t\t\tLuke 12:8\t\t\t\t<\/span>\n\t\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t\t<a class=\"scripture-label-link\" href=\"https:\/\/www.biblegateway.com\/passage\/?search=Luke%2012%3A8&#038;version=NIV\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" title=\"View on Bible Gateway: Luke 12:8\">\n\t\t\t\t<span class=\"scripture-label-icon\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\n\t<svg height=\"7\" width=\"10\" class=\"icon book\" aria-hidden=\"true\" role=\"img\">\n\t\t<title id=\"title-book-10630\">book<\/title>\n\n\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t<use xlink:href=\"#book\"><\/use>\n\t\t\n\t<\/svg>\n\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/span>\n\t\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"scripture-label-wrapper\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<a class=\"scripture-label-link\" href=\"https:\/\/www.christianitytoday.com\/pastors\/search\/?scripture_start=28203&#038;pretty_range=Romans%2010%3A14&#038;ctp_search=1\" title=\"Search for scripture reference: Romans 10:14\">\n\t\t\t\t<span class=\"scripture-label\">\n\t\t\t\t\tRomans 10:14\t\t\t\t<\/span>\n\t\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t\t<a class=\"scripture-label-link\" 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tag-link\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tAdvent\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/li>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<li>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<a href=\"https:\/\/www.christianitytoday.com\/pastors\/topics\/birth-of-christ\/\" class=\"button primary tag-link\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tBirth of Christ\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/li>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<li>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<a href=\"https:\/\/www.christianitytoday.com\/pastors\/topics\/boldness\/\" class=\"button primary tag-link\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tBoldness\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/li>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<li>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<a href=\"https:\/\/www.christianitytoday.com\/pastors\/topics\/christmas\/\" class=\"button primary 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