{"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: \"42e744eaee\",\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\/mothers-day\/\" class=\"trending-topic-button button primary\">\n\t\t\t\t\tMother&#039;s Day\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\/holidays\/\" class=\"trending-topic-button button primary\">\n\t\t\t\t\tHolidays\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\/motherhood\/\" class=\"trending-topic-button button primary\">\n\t\t\t\t\tMotherhood\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\/mothers\/\" class=\"trending-topic-button button primary\">\n\t\t\t\t\tMothers\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\/considering-hearers\/\" class=\"trending-topic-button button primary\">\n\t\t\t\t\tConsidering Hearers\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\/discouragement\/\" class=\"trending-topic-button button primary\">\n\t\t\t\t\tDiscouragement\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\/love\/\" class=\"trending-topic-button button primary\">\n\t\t\t\t\tLove\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\/love-of-god\/\" class=\"trending-topic-button button primary\">\n\t\t\t\t\tLove of God\t\t\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n<\/section>\n\n\n\n<hr class=\"wp-block-separator alignfull has-alpha-channel-opacity is-style-wide\" style=\"margin-top:var(--wp--preset--spacing--40);margin-bottom:var(--wp--preset--spacing--40)\"\/>\n\n\n<section\n\tclass=\"wp-block-ct wp-block-ct-horizontal-features wp-block-ct-horizontal-features-ctp\"\n\tdata-desktop-slider=\"4\"\n\tdata-mobile-slider=\"true\"\n\tdata-mobile-columns=\"false\"\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\/preaching\/holidays\/\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\tUpcoming Holidays\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\/preaching\/holidays\/\" 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-1081\">arrow_right<\/title>\n\n\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t<use 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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-27423\">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-43209\">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: 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\/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\" role=\"img\">\n\t\t<title id=\"title-arrow_left-69950\">arrow_left<\/title>\n\n\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t<use xlink:href=\"#arrow_left\"><\/use>\n\t\t\n\t<\/svg>\n\n\t\t\t\t<\/button>\n\t\t\t<button class=\"slider-button-next\" role=\"button\" aria-label=\"Next\">\n\t\t\t\t\n\t<svg height=\"9\" width=\"6\" class=\"icon arrow_right\" aria-hidden=\"true\" role=\"img\">\n\t\t<title id=\"title-arrow_right-25875\">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<\/button>\n\t\t<\/div><!-- .navigation -->\n\t<\/div>\n\t\n<\/section>\n\n\n\n<hr class=\"wp-block-separator alignfull has-alpha-channel-opacity is-style-wide\" style=\"margin-top:var(--wp--preset--spacing--40);margin-bottom:var(--wp--preset--spacing--40)\"\/>\n\n\n<section \n\tid=\"ct-landing-page-post-river-ctp-block\"\n\tclass=\"landing-page-post-river-container \"\n\tdata-term_ids=\"[]\"\n\tdata-source=\"most-recent\"\n\tdata-maxpages=\"1296\"\n>\n\n\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\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\/from-rags-to-real-riches\/\" target=\"_self\">\n\t\tFrom Rags to Real Riches\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-66997\" 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-66997\" 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>As an Indian, Manoj Raithatha was raised as a Hindu and his family regularly visited the Hare Krishna temple. But an economic downturn resulted in the family moving start a new life in Kenya. In Nairobi his parents enrolled Manoj and his sister in a Christian school.<\/p>\n<!-- \/wp:paragraph -->\n\n<!-- wp:paragraph -->\n<p>Manoj writes, \u201cI was intrigued by the teaching that God took upon himself the judgment of our sin by dying on a cross. But seeing my inventive mother baking cakes to make ends meet diverted my attention from God to money. I wanted success and recognition, and I wanted money!<\/p>\n<!-- \/wp:paragraph -->\n\n<!-- wp:paragraph -->\n<p>Manoj became very successful buying property and reselling it at a profit. He said, \u201cBefore I knew it, I was buying whole blocks of apartments across the UK.\u201d But then the economic downturn of 2008 was brutal and the value of his business disappeared overnight.<\/p>\n<!-- \/wp:paragraph -->\n\n<!-- wp:paragraph -->\n<p>Then came the ultimate crisis, his 2-year-old son became critically ill with severe breathing difficulties. In the ER his airways shut, and he was intubated to keep him alive. Manoj and his wife wept uncontrollably.<\/p>\n<!-- \/wp:paragraph -->\n\n<!-- wp:paragraph -->\n<p>Then Manoj said, \u201cAn American couple whom we had recently befriended began praying for Ishaan. They even got their families\u2019 churches in the United States to pray for him. On the fourth day in the hospital, the doctor said that my son would not open his eyes anytime soon. But then Ishaan suddenly sat bolt upright in bed. The only explanation was that we had witnessed a miracle.\u201d<\/p>\n<!-- \/wp:paragraph -->\n\n<!-- wp:paragraph -->\n<p>Manoj and his wife committed to attend their friends\u2019 church to thank them for the prayers. Manoj said:<\/p>\n<!-- \/wp:paragraph -->\n\n<!-- wp:paragraph -->\n<p>I felt stirred to walk down to the front and to give his life to Jesus, the One who gave his life for me. I couldn\u2019t get my head around the immensity of God\u2019s grace. After I gave my life to Christ, my wife didn\u2019t recognize me; she felt like she was married to a new man. I found myself saying sorry, becoming gentler and caring for others, laying aside the pursuit of money in order to serve God.<\/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: Manoj Raithatha, \u201cFrom Rags to Real Riches,\u201d CT magazine (September, 2015), pp. 87-88<\/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=14665&#038;pretty_range=Psalm%2049%3A16&#038;ctp_search=1\" title=\"Search for scripture reference: Psalm 49:16\">\n\t\t\t\t<span 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tag-link\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tFame\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\/greed\/\" class=\"button primary tag-link\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tGreed\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\/hinduism\/\" class=\"button primary tag-link\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tHinduism\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\/illness\/\" class=\"button primary tag-link\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tIllness\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\/love-of-money\/\" class=\"button primary tag-link\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tLove of Money\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\/miracles\/\" class=\"button primary tag-link\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tMiracles\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\/money\/\" class=\"button primary tag-link\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tMoney\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\/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\/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\/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\/sickness\/\" class=\"button primary tag-link\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tSickness\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\/success\/\" class=\"button primary tag-link\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tSuccess\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\/a-son-struggles-to-release-his-rage-towards-his-father\/\" target=\"_self\">\n\t\tA Son Struggles to Release His Rage Towards His Father\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-66995\" 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-66995\" 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>Pastor and author Esau McCauley tells the following story about learning to forgive:<\/p>\n<!-- \/wp:paragraph -->\n\n<!-- wp:paragraph -->\n<p>Growing up, I had good reason to loathe my father. He was abusive and struggled with addiction. He cycled in and out of jail, and that sent my family tumbling down the economic ladder.<\/p>\n<!-- \/wp:paragraph -->\n\n<!-- wp:paragraph -->\n<p>Before he died when I was in my mid-30s, I realized that my sense of my own righteousness had callused into something cruel. I didn\u2019t want him to change, because his poor behavior formed a central part of my identity. He left his family; I built one. He was addicted to drugs; I barely drank alcohol. As long as I compared myself with him in this way, I needed his brokenness to provide direction. I was not running toward the good; I was fleeing him.<\/p>\n<!-- \/wp:paragraph -->\n\n<!-- wp:paragraph -->\n<p>I remember the day that my father apologized to me. We hadn\u2019t spoken in years but were now reunited at my sister\u2019s wedding. During a lull in the rehearsal, I asked him the questions that had been with me my whole life: \u201cWhy did you leave, and why did you stay away?\u201d He replied, \u201cSon, I don\u2019t rightly know. After I left, I saw that you all were doing better without me, so I stayed away. I\u2019m sorry.\u201d<\/p>\n<!-- \/wp:paragraph -->\n\n<!-- wp:paragraph -->\n<p>What shocked me most was how difficult it was to accept this new version of him even as he tried to make amends. Who was I if I wasn\u2019t a person with a wicked father? I was confronted with a miracle that I was not sure I wanted. Forgiving my father forced me to create a positive, and not merely a reactive, vision of my life. It also taught the valuable lesson that not all lost causes are irredeemably lost.<\/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: Esau McCaulley, \u201cIt\u2019s So Hard Not to Be Consumed by Rage,\u201d The New York Times, January 25, 2026.<\/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=23295&#038;pretty_range=Matthew%206%3A12&#038;ctp_search=1\" title=\"Search for scripture reference: Matthew 6:12\">\n\t\t\t\t<span class=\"scripture-label\">\n\t\t\t\t\tMatthew 6:12\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%206%3A12&#038;version=NIV\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" title=\"View on Bible Gateway: Matthew 6:12\">\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-68603\">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=23743&#038;pretty_range=Matthew%2018%3A15&#038;ctp_search=1\" title=\"Search for scripture reference: Matthew 18:15\">\n\t\t\t\t<span class=\"scripture-label\">\n\t\t\t\t\tMatthew 18:15\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=Matthew%2018%3A15&#038;version=NIV\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" title=\"View on Bible Gateway: Matthew 18:15\">\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-65006\">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=23749&#038;scripture_end=23750&#038;pretty_range=Matthew%2018%3A21%E2%80%9322&#038;ctp_search=1\" title=\"Search for scripture reference: Matthew 18:21\u201322\">\n\t\t\t\t<span class=\"scripture-label\">\n\t\t\t\t\tMatthew 18:21\u201322\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%2018%3A21%E2%80%9322&#038;version=NIV\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" title=\"View on Bible Gateway: Matthew 18:21\u201322\">\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-35313\">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=25655&#038;scripture_end=25656&#038;pretty_range=Luke%2017%3A3%E2%80%934&#038;ctp_search=1\" title=\"Search for scripture reference: Luke 17:3\u20134\">\n\t\t\t\t<span class=\"scripture-label\">\n\t\t\t\t\tLuke 17:3\u20134\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%2017%3A3%E2%80%934&#038;version=NIV\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" title=\"View on Bible Gateway: Luke 17:3\u20134\">\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-69680\">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=29299&#038;scripture_end=29305&#038;pretty_range=Ephesians%204%3A26%E2%80%9332&#038;ctp_search=1\" title=\"Search for scripture reference: Ephesians 4:26\u201332\">\n\t\t\t\t<span class=\"scripture-label\">\n\t\t\t\t\tEphesians 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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\/famous-film-director-reflects-on-terror-of-death\/\" target=\"_self\">\n\t\tFamous Film Director Reflects on Terror of Death\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-66993\" 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-66993\" 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>Chlo\u00e9 Zhao is a distinguished 43-year-old (as of 2026) film director with five feature films under her belt. Her film Hamnet won the Golden Globe for best motion-picture, drama, and received eight Academy Award nominations, including for best picture and best director.<\/p>\n<!-- \/wp:paragraph -->\n\n<!-- wp:paragraph -->\n<p>In a recent interview she was asked about her views of death. Zhao replied:<\/p>\n<!-- \/wp:paragraph -->\n\n<!-- wp:paragraph -->\n<p>I have been terrified of death my whole life. I still am. And because I\u2019ve been so afraid I haven\u2019t been able to live fully. I haven\u2019t been able to love with my heart open because I\u2019m so scared of losing love, which is a form of death. When you\u2019re in your 40s, a midlife crisis is the best thing that can happen to you, because you\u2019re on your way to a rebirth. You can\u2019t run from this feeling. Your body is changing, and you can feel death. And because I\u2019m so scared of it, I have no choice but to start to develop a healthier relationship with it, or the second half of life would be too hard. It shouldn\u2019t be this terrifying that I can\u2019t even live.<\/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: David Marchese, &quot;The Interview: Chlo\u00e9 Zhao Is Yearning to Know How to Love,&quot; The New York Times (1-25-26)<\/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=8371&#038;pretty_range=2%20Samuel%2014%3A14&#038;ctp_search=1\" title=\"Search for scripture reference: 2 Samuel 14:14\">\n\t\t\t\t<span 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4:13\u201315\">\n\t\t\t\t<span class=\"scripture-label\">\n\t\t\t\t\tJames 4:13\u201315\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%204%3A13%E2%80%9315&#038;version=NIV\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" title=\"View on Bible Gateway: James 4:13\u201315\">\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-92813\">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=30399&#038;pretty_range=1%20Peter%201%3A24&#038;ctp_search=1\" title=\"Search for scripture reference: 1 Peter 1:24\">\n\t\t\t\t<span class=\"scripture-label\">\n\t\t\t\t\t1 Peter 1:24\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%20Peter%201%3A24&#038;version=NIV\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" title=\"View on Bible Gateway: 1 Peter 1:24\">\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-96952\">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\/fear-of-death\/\" class=\"button primary tag-link\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tFear of Death\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-death\/\" class=\"button primary tag-link\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tLife &amp; Death\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-death\/\" class=\"button primary tag-link\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tPhysical Death\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\/actor-anthony-hopkins-on-being-found-by-god\/\" target=\"_self\">\n\t\tActor Anthony Hopkins on Being Found by God\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-66991\" 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-66991\" 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>Anthony Hopkins is known for playing characters with hidden depths\u2014Hannibal Lecter, the butler in The Remains of the Day\u2014men who keep most of what they feel buried beneath the surface. For a long time, that was Hopkins himself.<\/p>\n<!-- \/wp:paragraph -->\n\n<!-- wp:paragraph -->\n<p>In his memoir and a recent interview, he describes a night that changed everything: December 29, 1975, at 11 p.m. He was drunk, in a blackout, driving his car somewhere in California, with no idea where he was going. Suddenly, he realized he could easily kill someone. He pulled over, went into a Beverly Hills party, found an ex-agent and said, \u201cI need help.\u201d<\/p>\n<!-- \/wp:paragraph -->\n\n<!-- wp:paragraph -->\n<p>And then, he says, something happened. He looked at his watch\u201411 o\u2019clock\u2014and, as he tells it, a voice spoke to him from deep inside: \u201cIt\u2019s all over. Now you can start living. And it has all been for a purpose, so don\u2019t forget one moment of it.\u201d He calls it \u201cspooky\u201d\u2014a male, reasonable voice, like a radio in his soul. From that moment, he says, the craving to drink was taken from him.<\/p>\n<!-- \/wp:paragraph -->\n\n<!-- wp:paragraph -->\n<p>At 87 he looks back\u2014from a bullied, lonely boy called \u201cDennis the Dunce,\u201d to a man nearly destroyed by alcohol, to an actor with a long, rich life\u2014he hears a pattern: \u201cEverything I sought and yearned for found me. I didn\u2019t find it. It came to me.\u201d<\/p>\n<!-- \/wp:paragraph -->\n\n<!-- wp:paragraph -->\n<p>The article doesn\u2019t say if Hopkins has accepted Christ, but he\u2019s getting close\u2013or maybe God is moving close to him.<\/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: David Marchese, interview with Anthony Hopkins, The New York Times, Oct. 25, 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=7278&#038;scripture_end=7287&#038;pretty_range=1%20Samuel%203%3A1%E2%80%9310&#038;ctp_search=1\" title=\"Search for scripture reference: 1 Samuel 3:1\u201310\">\n\t\t\t\t<span class=\"scripture-label\">\n\t\t\t\t\t1 Samuel 3:1\u201310\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%20Samuel%203%3A1%E2%80%9310&#038;version=NIV\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" title=\"View on Bible Gateway: 1 Samuel 3:1\u201310\">\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-86356\">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=1581&#038;scripture_end=1586&#038;pretty_range=Exodus%203%3A1%E2%80%936&#038;ctp_search=1\" title=\"Search for scripture reference: Exodus 3:1\u20136\">\n\t\t\t\t<span class=\"scripture-label\">\n\t\t\t\t\tExodus 3:1\u20136\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=Exodus%203%3A1%E2%80%936&#038;version=NIV\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" title=\"View on Bible Gateway: Exodus 3:1\u20136\">\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-6381\">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=9399&#038;scripture_end=9401&#038;pretty_range=1%20Kings%2019%3A11%E2%80%9313&#038;ctp_search=1\" title=\"Search for scripture reference: 1 Kings 19:11\u201313\">\n\t\t\t\t<span class=\"scripture-label\">\n\t\t\t\t\t1 Kings 19:11\u201313\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%20Kings%2019%3A11%E2%80%9313&#038;version=NIV\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" title=\"View on Bible Gateway: 1 Kings 19:11\u201313\">\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-86606\">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=18239&#038;pretty_range=Isaiah%2030%3A21&#038;ctp_search=1\" title=\"Search for scripture reference: Isaiah 30:21\">\n\t\t\t\t<span class=\"scripture-label\">\n\t\t\t\t\tIsaiah 30:21\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%2030%3A21&#038;version=NIV\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" title=\"View on Bible Gateway: Isaiah 30:21\">\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-86617\">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 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href=\"https:\/\/www.christianitytoday.com\/pastors\/search\/?scripture_start=26509&#038;pretty_range=John%2010%3A27&#038;ctp_search=1\" title=\"Search for scripture reference: John 10:27\">\n\t\t\t\t<span class=\"scripture-label\">\n\t\t\t\t\tJohn 10:27\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%2010%3A27&#038;version=NIV\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" title=\"View on Bible Gateway: John 10:27\">\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-71752\">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\/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\/hearing-gods-voice\/\" class=\"button primary tag-link\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tHearing God&#039;s Voice\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\/help-from-god\/\" class=\"button primary tag-link\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tHelp from 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\/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\/spiritual-perception\/\" class=\"button primary tag-link\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tSpiritual Perception\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\/voice-of-god\/\" class=\"button primary tag-link\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tVoice 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<\/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\/christian-scientist-reflects-on-gods-mercy\/\" target=\"_self\">\n\t\tChristian Scientist Reflects on God&#8217;s Mercy\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-66988\" 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-66988\" 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>The Christian astrophysicist Deborah Haarsma was standing alone in the New Mexico desert beside the Very Large Array, a vast field of twenty-seven radio dishes stretching for miles. While her colleagues worked inside the control room, tracking signals arriving from halfway across the universe, she stood outside in the cold, looking up with her bare eyes. The sky was thick with stars, and the words of Psalm 19 came to mind: \u201cThe heavens declare the glory of God.\u201d The team was studying gravitational lenses\u2014places where massive galaxies bend space itself. In moments like that, ordinary measurements felt useless.<\/p>\n<!-- \/wp:paragraph -->\n\n<!-- wp:paragraph -->\n<p>As a young researcher, Haarsma found familiar atheist arguments surfacing in her mind. Carl Sagan once wrote that we live on \u201can insignificant planet of a humdrum star\u2026tucked away in some forgotten corner\u201d of the cosmos. If the universe is this vast, where do human beings fit? And where does God?<\/p>\n<!-- \/wp:paragraph -->\n\n<!-- wp:paragraph -->\n<p>Astronomers estimate that our galaxy contains about 100 billion stars, with hundreds of billions of galaxies beyond it. Even more striking, everything we can see\u2014stars, planets, atoms\u2014accounts for only about 5 percent of the universe. The remaining 95 percent is dark matter and dark energy, real and powerful yet largely unexplained. Some conclude that that God must be distant and impersonal.<\/p>\n<!-- \/wp:paragraph -->\n\n<!-- wp:paragraph -->\n<p>But Scripture proclaims that the Creator of all things did not remain removed from what he made. In a universe vast beyond imagination, the incarnation declares something astonishing: the God who made the cosmos chose to come flesh and dwell among us.<\/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: Deborah Haarsma, \u201cThe Incarnation Sheds Light on Astrophysics,\u201d Christianity Today, November\/December 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=14170&#038;pretty_range=Psalm%2019%3A1&#038;ctp_search=1\" title=\"Search for 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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\/majesty-of-god\/\" class=\"button primary tag-link\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tMajesty 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\/science\/\" class=\"button primary tag-link\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tScience\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\/stars\/\" class=\"button primary tag-link\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tStars\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\/from-called-out-chump-to-christian-rapper\/\" target=\"_self\">\n\t\tFrom Called-Out Chump to Christian Rapper\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-66928\" 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-66928\" 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>Hip-hop artist Tedashii grew up believing he was a good kid who never got into trouble. He received a scholarship to Baylor University, where he joined the football and track teams and excelled academically. &#8220;I\u2019m living my dream,&#8221; he recalled.<\/p>\n<!-- \/wp:paragraph -->\n\n<!-- wp:paragraph -->\n<p>Halfway through his first semester, a student walked up to him. He said, \u2018I heard the way you speak about girls, how you talk about your life. I heard the jokes you told and how you interact with other guys. And I gotta be honest, I think the Bible would call that sin.\u2019 Tedashii yelled, shoving the student away. For the first time, someone told him he wasn&#8217;t good, and it was God saying it.<\/p>\n<!-- \/wp:paragraph -->\n\n<!-- wp:paragraph -->\n<p>Later, Tedashii attempted to break a weightlifting record but injured his back. Doctors warned that further injury could leave him paralyzed. He chose to prioritize his ability to walk over football. Two days later, the same student shared the gospel with him again, explaining that Jesus died for his sins and offered a relationship with God. He said that, even though Tedashii was an enemy of God, Jesus came to this world and lived the perfect life that he couldn\u2019t live. He died innocently on the cross, dying the death that he should have died. Three days later, God raised his Son from the dead, proving that Jesus is God. He said, \u201cGod doesn\u2019t want your good behavior, he wants a relationship.\u201d<\/p>\n<!-- \/wp:paragraph -->\n\n<!-- wp:paragraph -->\n<p>This message shook Tedashii. Later that week, he broke down in his dorm room, realizing he wasn&#8217;t good in God&#8217;s eyes. He cried out to God, believing the gospel for the first time. The student who shared the gospel with him became a close friend and encouraged him to include Christian messages in his rap lyrics. After Baylor, Tedashii signed with Reach Records and released four solo albums. The gospel&#8217;s transformation of his life compelled him to share its message with others.<\/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: Tedashii, \u201cFrom Called-Out Chump to Christian Rapper,\u201d CT magazine (November, 2015), pp. 103-104<\/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=14529&#038;pretty_range=Psalm%2040%3A3&#038;ctp_search=1\" title=\"Search for scripture reference: Psalm 40:3\">\n\t\t\t\t<span 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href=\"https:\/\/www.biblegateway.com\/passage\/?search=Ephesians%202%3A1&#038;version=NIV\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" title=\"View on Bible Gateway: Ephesians 2:1\">\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-58397\">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=29324&#038;pretty_range=Ephesians%205%3A19&#038;ctp_search=1\" title=\"Search for scripture reference: Ephesians 5:19\">\n\t\t\t\t<span class=\"scripture-label\">\n\t\t\t\t\tEphesians 5:19\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=Ephesians%205%3A19&#038;version=NIV\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" title=\"View on Bible Gateway: Ephesians 5:19\">\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-86745\">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=29479&#038;pretty_range=Colossians%201%3A13&#038;ctp_search=1\" title=\"Search for scripture reference: Colossians 1:13\">\n\t\t\t\t<span class=\"scripture-label\">\n\t\t\t\t\tColossians 1:13\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=Colossians%201%3A13&#038;version=NIV\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" title=\"View on Bible Gateway: Colossians 1:13\">\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-84017\">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=29508&#038;pretty_range=Colossians%202%3A13&#038;ctp_search=1\" title=\"Search for scripture reference: Colossians 2:13\">\n\t\t\t\t<span class=\"scripture-label\">\n\t\t\t\t\tColossians 2:13\t\t\t\t<\/span>\n\t\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t\t<a class=\"scripture-label-link\" 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href=\"https:\/\/www.biblegateway.com\/passage\/?search=Titus%203%3A4&#038;version=NIV\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" title=\"View on Bible Gateway: Titus 3:4\">\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-48027\">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=30440&#038;pretty_range=1%20Peter%203%3A15&#038;ctp_search=1\" title=\"Search for scripture reference: 1 Peter 3:15\">\n\t\t\t\t<span class=\"scripture-label\">\n\t\t\t\t\t1 Peter 3:15\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=1%20Peter%203%3A15&#038;version=NIV\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" title=\"View on Bible Gateway: 1 Peter 3:15\">\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-58988\">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\/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\/changing-lives\/\" class=\"button primary tag-link\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tChanging Lives\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\/christian-life\/\" class=\"button primary tag-link\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tChristian 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\/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\/cross\/\" class=\"button primary tag-link\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tCross\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\/cross-of-christ\/\" class=\"button primary tag-link\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tCross 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\/crucifixion\/\" class=\"button primary tag-link\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tCrucifixion\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\/music\/\" class=\"button primary tag-link\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tMusic\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\/musicians\/\" class=\"button primary tag-link\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tMusicians\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\/praise\/\" class=\"button primary tag-link\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tPraise\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\/rap-music\/\" class=\"button primary tag-link\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tRap Music\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\/singing\/\" class=\"button primary tag-link\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tSinging\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\/witnessing\/\" class=\"button primary tag-link\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tWitnessing\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\/worship-music\/\" class=\"button primary tag-link\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tWorship Music\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\/spanish-womans-botched-art-restoration-yields-good-result\/\" target=\"_self\">\n\t\tSpanish Woman\u2019s Botched Art Restoration Yields Good Result\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-66930\" 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-66930\" 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 2012, an elderly woman named Cecilia Gim\u00e9nez noticed that a beloved fresco of Jesus in her small Spanish church was flaking and fading. The painting\u2014Ecce Homo, \u201cBehold the Man\u201d\u2014showed Christ crowned with thorns, on his way to the cross. Cecilia loved that image of Jesus. And so, with good intentions and very limited skill, she decided to help by restoring it herself.<\/p>\n<!-- \/wp:paragraph -->\n\n<!-- wp:paragraph -->\n<p>What emerged was not a careful restoration but a face so misshapen that the internet exploded with mockery. The image went viral. People laughed. Memes spread. Cecilia, already in her 80s, was humiliated. She wept. She stopped eating. She was described in headlines as a \u201ccrazy old woman\u201d who had ruined a priceless work of art.<\/p>\n<!-- \/wp:paragraph -->\n\n<!-- wp:paragraph -->\n<p>By every human measure, it was a failure\u2014a public flop. And yet, something unexpected happened. Tourists began showing up. First dozens. Then thousands. Then more than 150,000 visitors from around the world. The struggling town of Borja came back to life. Restaurants survived. Museums flourished. An opera was written. The church became a place of pilgrimage. And Cecilia\u2014once scorned\u2014became a beloved figure.<\/p>\n<!-- \/wp:paragraph -->\n\n<!-- wp:paragraph -->\n<p>The painting she botched was called Behold the Man\u2014a picture of Jesus on the way to being mocked, beaten, and humiliated. The Christ who knows what it is to be laughed at. The Christ who turns shame into redemption.Cecilia didn\u2019t plan any of this. But Jesus took her mistake and folded it into a larger story of mercy and life.<\/p>\n<!-- \/wp:paragraph -->\n\n<!-- wp:paragraph -->\n<p>Preaching Angle: The gospel does not promise that failure does not get the final word. In the hands of Jesus, even our worst missteps can be made to serve his good purposes.<\/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: Raphael Minder, \u201cDespite Good Intentions, a Fresco in Spain Is Ruined,\u201d The New York Times, August 23, 2012<\/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=28145&#038;pretty_range=Romans%208%3A28&#038;ctp_search=1\" title=\"Search for scripture reference: Romans 8:28\">\n\t\t\t\t<span class=\"scripture-label\">\n\t\t\t\t\tRomans 8:28\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=Romans%208%3A28&#038;version=NIV\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" title=\"View on Bible Gateway: Romans 8:28\">\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-63091\">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-59855\">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=28895&#038;pretty_range=2%20Corinthians%205%3A17&#038;ctp_search=1\" title=\"Search for scripture reference: 2 Corinthians 5:17\">\n\t\t\t\t<span class=\"scripture-label\">\n\t\t\t\t\t2 Corinthians 5:17\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=2%20Corinthians%205%3A17&#038;version=NIV\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" title=\"View on Bible Gateway: 2 Corinthians 5:17\">\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-48632\">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=18710&#038;pretty_range=Isaiah%2052%3A13&#038;ctp_search=1\" title=\"Search for scripture reference: Isaiah 52:13\">\n\t\t\t\t<span class=\"scripture-label\">\n\t\t\t\t\tIsaiah 52:13\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%2052%3A13&#038;version=NIV\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" title=\"View on Bible Gateway: Isaiah 52:13\">\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-14739\">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\/failure\/\" class=\"button primary tag-link\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tFailure\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\/providence\/\" class=\"button primary tag-link\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tProvidence\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\/restoration\/\" class=\"button primary tag-link\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tRestoration\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<\/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\/nfl-reporter-helps-coaches-see-their-blind-spots\/\" target=\"_self\">\n\t\tNFL Reporter Helps Coaches See Their Blind Spots\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-66933\" 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-66933\" 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>After 23 years as an NFL sideline reporter, Laura Okmin made an unusual career change. Instead of asking coaches questions on game day, she now helps them confront something far more difficult: their blind spots.<\/p>\n<!-- \/wp:paragraph -->\n\n<!-- wp:paragraph -->\n<p>The work began after Dan Quinn was fired as head coach of the Atlanta Falcons. Quinn wanted to understand what went wrong, so he planned to call former players and staff himself. Okmin stopped him and suggested something different. What if she interviewed dozens of people who had worked with him \u2014 anonymously \u2014 and asked not about strategy, but about what he missed as a person?<\/p>\n<!-- \/wp:paragraph -->\n\n<!-- wp:paragraph -->\n<p>Quinn agreed. \u201cAll of us have blind spots,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n<!-- \/wp:paragraph -->\n\n<!-- wp:paragraph -->\n<p>Okmin spent months interviewing players, assistants, and even family members. She compiled the feedback into a long report that revealed patterns Quinn could not see on his own. He took on too much. He overlooked his staff. He worked harder but with diminishing results. The feedback was painful \u2014 and transformative. Quinn memorized the document and later recommended the process to other coaches.<\/p>\n<!-- \/wp:paragraph -->\n\n<!-- wp:paragraph -->\n<p>Since then, Okmin has done this work with more than ten NFL coaches. Many struggle at first. The anonymity is uncomfortable. The criticism can sting. Okmin herself admits she would not want one done on her. But the coaches who endure it often respond the same way. After reading hard feedback, one coach simply said, \u201cThat\u2019s fair.\u201d<\/p>\n<!-- \/wp:paragraph -->\n\n<!-- wp:paragraph -->\n<p><strong>Preaching Angle: <\/strong><\/p>\n<!-- \/wp:paragraph -->\n\n<!-- wp:paragraph -->\n<p>We all have blind spots, and we need the Word of God and good Christian friends to help us confess and see what we\u2019ve been missing.<\/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: Rustin Dodd, \u201cShe Was an NFL Sideline Reporter. Now She Helps NFL Coaches Find Their Blind Spots,\u201d The Athletic, January 14, 2026.<\/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=23553&#038;pretty_range=Matthew%2013%3A13&#038;ctp_search=1\" title=\"Search for scripture reference: Matthew 13:13\">\n\t\t\t\t<span class=\"scripture-label\">\n\t\t\t\t\tMatthew 13:13\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%2013%3A13&#038;version=NIV\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" title=\"View on Bible Gateway: Matthew 13:13\">\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-50734\">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=27926&#038;pretty_range=Acts%2028%3A26&#038;ctp_search=1\" title=\"Search for scripture reference: Acts 28:26\">\n\t\t\t\t<span class=\"scripture-label\">\n\t\t\t\t\tActs 28:26\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%2028%3A26&#038;version=NIV\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" title=\"View on Bible Gateway: Acts 28:26\">\n\t\t\t\t<span 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width=\"10\" class=\"icon book\" aria-hidden=\"true\" role=\"img\">\n\t\t<title id=\"title-book-5657\">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=28862&#038;pretty_range=2%20Corinthians%204%3A2&#038;ctp_search=1\" title=\"Search for scripture reference: 2 Corinthians 4:2\">\n\t\t\t\t<span class=\"scripture-label\">\n\t\t\t\t\t2 Corinthians 4:2\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=2%20Corinthians%204%3A2&#038;version=NIV\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" title=\"View on Bible Gateway: 2 Corinthians 4:2\">\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\" 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id=\"title-book-57702\">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\/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\/confession\/\" class=\"button primary tag-link\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tConfession\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\/sheriffs-surprising-job-tracking-down-an-emu\/\" target=\"_self\">\n\t\tSheriff\u2019s Surprising Job: Tracking Down an Emu\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-66935\" 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-66935\" 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>A sheriff\u2019s corporal in St. Johns County, Florida, responded to what sounded like a routine call: an animal loose on a county road. After 25 years on the job, he had handled horses, cows, pigs, goats, even turkeys. This one, he assumed, would be no different. The animal was an emu.<\/p>\n<!-- \/wp:paragraph -->\n\n<!-- wp:paragraph -->\n<p>The corporal admitted he underestimated the situation. Agricultural deputies usually handle escaped livestock, but they were unavailable. \u201cI figured I can handle something like this oversized turkey,\u201d he said. Instead, he found himself in a 45-minute chase with a bird named Tina.<\/p>\n<!-- \/wp:paragraph -->\n\n<!-- wp:paragraph -->\n<p>Body-camera footage shows the emu calmly strolling down the road as the corporal tries to coax her closer. At first, his voice is upbeat. As the minutes pass, his sighs grow heavier. When he finally gets his hands on Tina, she breaks free and runs again. Emus can\u2019t fly, but they are fast, powerful, and capable of serious damage with their legs. Tina tore holes in his uniform and forced him to improvise.<\/p>\n<!-- \/wp:paragraph -->\n\n<!-- wp:paragraph -->\n<p>Eventually, the corporal put handcuffs on the emu\u2019s legs to stop her from kicking. Only when Tina\u2019s owner arrived did the chase end. The bird immediately calmed down, accepted food, and became gentle again.<\/p>\n<!-- \/wp:paragraph -->\n\n<!-- wp:paragraph -->\n<p>The corporal later reflected that he thought he knew what he was dealing with, but all his experience had not prepared him for and emu chase.<\/p>\n<!-- \/wp:paragraph -->\n\n<!-- wp:paragraph -->\n<p><strong>Preaching Angles:<\/strong><\/p>\n<!-- \/wp:paragraph -->\n\n<!-- wp:paragraph -->\n<p>So many things in the Christian life\u2013serving, discipleship, obedience, loving others\u2013are like chasing an emu. They are way more challenging than we ever imagined.<\/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: Amanda Holpuch, \u201cRunaway Emu Leads Florida Corporal in 45-Minute Police Chase,\u201d The New York Times, January 15, 2026.<\/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=24094&#038;pretty_range=Matthew%2026%3A39&#038;ctp_search=1\" title=\"Search for scripture reference: Matthew 26:39\">\n\t\t\t\t<span 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5:3\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%205%3A3&#038;version=NIV\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" title=\"View on Bible Gateway: Romans 5:3\">\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-10028\">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=29456&#038;pretty_range=Philippians%204%3A13&#038;ctp_search=1\" title=\"Search for scripture reference: Philippians 4:13\">\n\t\t\t\t<span class=\"scripture-label\">\n\t\t\t\t\tPhilippians 4:13\t\t\t\t<\/span>\n\t\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t\t<a 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tag-link\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tServanthood\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\/service\/\" class=\"button primary tag-link\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tService\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\/work\/\" class=\"button primary tag-link\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tWork\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\/how-chatbots-answer-your-prayers\/\" target=\"_self\">\n\t\tHow Chatbots Answer Your Prayers\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-66937\" 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-66937\" 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>A <em>New York Times<\/em> article observes how we are seeing AI as God. As the subtitle puts it, \u201cA religious fervor surrounds our relationship with technology.\u201d The linguist Adam Aleksic claims, \u201cYou\u2019re Literally Worshiping Your Phone\u2026 Scrolling [on your computer or phone] is a digital prayer. You assume it knows a piece of you. You are offering your attention and in exchange you get something.\u201d<\/p>\n<!-- \/wp:paragraph -->\n\n<!-- wp:paragraph -->\n<p>But the <em>New York Times<\/em> article offered this insightful contrast between the God of the Bible and the idol god of AI:<\/p>\n<!-- \/wp:paragraph -->\n\n<!-- wp:paragraph -->\n<p>\u201cAs anyone who has ever prayed in a house of worship or to God in bed at night will know, prayers are not always answered. But the act itself gives comfort and hope. Here lies an important difference between our \u201cdigital prayers,\u201d which is a guaranteed transaction, and traditional religious prayer.<\/p>\n<!-- \/wp:paragraph -->\n\n<!-- wp:paragraph -->\n<p>The chatbot prayer is always met immediately with an answer. And the answer comes from an unctuous prophet: An analysis published this year found that A.I. chatbots are 50 percent more [bent on meeting your needs].. The major chatbots flatter their users and reflect back to them their worldview. The A.I.-driven personalization algorithm creates playlists for you and only you\u2026 The relationship between users and chatbots is defined by \u2018narcissistic individualism,\u2019 with A.I. incapable of delivering the hard truths of a traditional prophet or oracle.\u201d<\/p>\n<!-- \/wp:paragraph -->\n\n<!-- wp:paragraph -->\n<p>The article notes that the god of AI shapes us to think: \u201cI am the only one who gets to initiate the conversation. It is there for me, and it serves me.\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 Bernstein, &quot;It Makes Sense That People See A.I. as God&quot; The New York Times (1-23-26)<\/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=13969&#038;pretty_range=Psalm%204%3A3&#038;ctp_search=1\" title=\"Search for scripture reference: Psalm 4:3\">\n\t\t\t\t<span class=\"scripture-label\">\n\t\t\t\t\tPsalm 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href=\"https:\/\/www.biblegateway.com\/passage\/?search=Psalm%2033%3A18&#038;version=NIV\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" title=\"View on Bible Gateway: Psalm 33:18\">\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-96973\">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=14404&#038;pretty_range=Psalm%2034%3A15&#038;ctp_search=1\" title=\"Search for scripture reference: Psalm 34:15\">\n\t\t\t\t<span class=\"scripture-label\">\n\t\t\t\t\tPsalm 34:15\t\t\t\t<\/span>\n\t\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t\t<a class=\"scripture-label-link\" 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href=\"https:\/\/www.biblegateway.com\/passage\/?search=Malachi%203%3A16&#038;version=NIV\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" title=\"View on Bible Gateway: Malachi 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-92435\">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=23291&#038;pretty_range=Matthew%206%3A8&#038;ctp_search=1\" title=\"Search for scripture reference: Matthew 6:8\">\n\t\t\t\t<span class=\"scripture-label\">\n\t\t\t\t\tMatthew 6:8\t\t\t\t<\/span>\n\t\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t\t<a class=\"scripture-label-link\" 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