{"id":47,"date":"2025-08-22T19:20:19","date_gmt":"2025-08-22T19:20:19","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.christianitytoday.com\/pastors\/?page_id=47"},"modified":"2026-03-11T19:22:46","modified_gmt":"2026-03-11T19:22:46","slug":"preaching","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/www.christianitytoday.com\/pastors\/preaching\/","title":{"rendered":"Preaching Tools"},"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-87bab845 wp-block-group-is-layout-constrained\" style=\"margin-bottom:var(--wp--preset--spacing--40)\"><nav class=\"items-justified-center alignfull sub-nav-menu wp-block-navigation is-content-justification-center is-layout-flex wp-container-core-navigation-is-layout-a89b3969 wp-block-navigation-is-layout-flex\" aria-label=\"Preaching Tools Subnav\"><ul class=\"wp-block-navigation__container items-justified-center 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<div style=\"background-color: #191919; color: white;\" class=\"ct-feature alignfull wp-block-acf-feature\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<figure class=\"ct-feature__media\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<a href=\"https:\/\/www.christianitytoday.com\/pastors\/content\/recreating-dynamics-of-text\/\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<img decoding=\"async\" width=\"640\" height=\"360\" src=\"https:\/\/www.christianitytoday.com\/pastors\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/19\/2026\/01\/staying-true-to-the-text.png?w=640\" class=\"attachment-large size-large\" alt=\"An image of a old time parchment with medical drawings and notes of the human skeleton\" loading=\"lazy\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.christianitytoday.com\/pastors\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/19\/2026\/01\/staying-true-to-the-text.png 2995w, https:\/\/www.christianitytoday.com\/pastors\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/19\/2026\/01\/staying-true-to-the-text.png?resize=300,169 300w, https:\/\/www.christianitytoday.com\/pastors\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/19\/2026\/01\/staying-true-to-the-text.png?resize=768,432 768w, https:\/\/www.christianitytoday.com\/pastors\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/19\/2026\/01\/staying-true-to-the-text.png?resize=1024,576 1024w, https:\/\/www.christianitytoday.com\/pastors\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/19\/2026\/01\/staying-true-to-the-text.png?resize=1536,864 1536w, https:\/\/www.christianitytoday.com\/pastors\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/19\/2026\/01\/staying-true-to-the-text.png?resize=2048,1152 2048w, https:\/\/www.christianitytoday.com\/pastors\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/19\/2026\/01\/staying-true-to-the-text.png?resize=1920,1080 1920w, https:\/\/www.christianitytoday.com\/pastors\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/19\/2026\/01\/staying-true-to-the-text.png?resize=301,169 301w, https:\/\/www.christianitytoday.com\/pastors\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/19\/2026\/01\/staying-true-to-the-text.png?resize=602,338 602w, https:\/\/www.christianitytoday.com\/pastors\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/19\/2026\/01\/staying-true-to-the-text.png?resize=634,356 634w, https:\/\/www.christianitytoday.com\/pastors\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/19\/2026\/01\/staying-true-to-the-text.png?resize=1266,712 1266w, https:\/\/www.christianitytoday.com\/pastors\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/19\/2026\/01\/staying-true-to-the-text.png?resize=324,182 324w, https:\/\/www.christianitytoday.com\/pastors\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/19\/2026\/01\/staying-true-to-the-text.png?resize=648,365 648w, https:\/\/www.christianitytoday.com\/pastors\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/19\/2026\/01\/staying-true-to-the-text.png?resize=82,46 82w, https:\/\/www.christianitytoday.com\/pastors\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/19\/2026\/01\/staying-true-to-the-text.png?resize=164,92 164w, https:\/\/www.christianitytoday.com\/pastors\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/19\/2026\/01\/staying-true-to-the-text.png?resize=412,231 412w, https:\/\/www.christianitytoday.com\/pastors\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/19\/2026\/01\/staying-true-to-the-text.png?resize=824,464 824w, https:\/\/www.christianitytoday.com\/pastors\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/19\/2026\/01\/staying-true-to-the-text.png?resize=821,462 821w, https:\/\/www.christianitytoday.com\/pastors\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/19\/2026\/01\/staying-true-to-the-text.png?resize=1300,732 1300w, https:\/\/www.christianitytoday.com\/pastors\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/19\/2026\/01\/staying-true-to-the-text.png?resize=160,90 160w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 640px) 100vw, 640px\" \/>\t\t\t\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/figure>\n\t\t<div class=\"ct-feature__inner\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"ct-feature__content\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"post-kicker\"><span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.christianitytoday.com\/pastors\/guides\/\">Field Guide<\/a><\/span><\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"ct-feature__content-inner\">\n\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<h2 class=\"ct-feature__title\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<a href=\"https:\/\/www.christianitytoday.com\/pastors\/content\/recreating-dynamics-of-text\/\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\tRecreating the Dynamics of the Text\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/h2>\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"ct-feature__deck\"><p>Shape your sermon around what the text is trying to do, not just what it&#8217;s trying to say.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"post-byline\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.christianitytoday.com\/pastors\/authors\/mark-buchanan\/\">Mark Buchanan<\/a><\/div>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div><!-- .ct-feature__content-inner -->\n\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"ct-feature__actions wp-block-button is-style-outline\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<a class=\"wp-block-button__link wp-element-button\" href=\"https:\/\/www.christianitytoday.com\/pastors\/content\/recreating-dynamics-of-text\/\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\tRead more\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div><!-- .ct-feature__content -->\n\t\t\t<div class=\"image-credit\">Illustration by Emily Fernando \/ Source Images: Max Beckmann, Battista Franco, James Ward \/ Artvee<\/div>\t\t<\/div><!-- .ct-feature__inner -->\n\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\n\n<section class=\"wp-block-ct wp-block-ct-signup-ctp is-layout-constrained alignfull\">\n\t<div class=\"newsletter-signup\">\n\t<div class=\"signup-content\">\n\t\t<h2 class=\"signup-title-ctp\">CT Pastors Newsletter<\/h2>\n\t\t<div class=\"description-ctp\">\n\t\t\t<p>Delivered weekly, each issue equips you with the best wisdom and practical tools for church leadership.<\/p>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t<\/div>\n\t<div class=\"signup-form-content has-disclaimer\">\n\t\t<form class=\"form-content\" action=\"#\" id=\"newsletter-modal-form-3\" data-newsletter-inline-form>\n\t<script>\n\t\tfunction onNewsletterModalFormSubmit( token ) {\n\t\t\tconst openForm = document.getElementById( 'newsletter-modal-form-3' );\n\t\t\tconst emailField = document.getElementById('newsletter-email-4');\n\t\t\tconst listId = document.getElementById('list-id-5');\n\t\t\tconst button = openForm.querySelector( 'button[type=\"submit\"]' );\n\t\t\tif ( emailField.reportValidity() ) {\n\t\t\t\t\/\/ GTM datalayer event\n\t\t\t\twindow.dataLayer = window.dataLayer || 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Please try again.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n\t<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/section>\n\n\n\n<div id=\"advanced-search-block_d7fbc3c8ec71a43104e8795cfe9342ec\" 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_d7fbc3c8ec71a43104e8795cfe9342ec-search\" class=\"search-label\">SEARCH PREACHING TOOLS<\/label>\n\t\t\t<input\n\t\t\t\ttype=\"search\"\n\t\t\t\tid=\"advanced-search-block_d7fbc3c8ec71a43104e8795cfe9342ec-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=\"post\" \/>\n\t\t\t\t\t<input type=\"hidden\" name=\"post_type\" value=\"sermons\" \/>\n\t\t\t\t\t<input type=\"hidden\" name=\"post_type\" value=\"sermon-illustrations\" 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\"https:\\\/\\\/www.christianitytoday.com\\\/pastors\\\/wp-admin\\\/admin-ajax.php\",\n\t\t\tnonce: \"2fb062d054\",\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\t\t\t<div class=\"filter-field\">\n\t\t\t\t<label for=\"advanced-search-block_d7fbc3c8ec71a43104e8795cfe9342ec-format\" class=\"filter-label\">FORMAT<\/label>\n\t\t\t\t<select name=\"format[]\" id=\"advanced-search-block_d7fbc3c8ec71a43104e8795cfe9342ec-format\" 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=\"article\">Article<\/option>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<option value=\"bible-commentary\">Bible Commentary<\/option>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<option value=\"book\">Book<\/option>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<option value=\"cartoon\">Cartoon<\/option>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<option value=\"course\">Course<\/option>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<option value=\"event\">Event<\/option>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<option value=\"excerpt\">Excerpt<\/option>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<option value=\"field-guide\">Field Guide<\/option>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<option value=\"podcast\">Podcast<\/option>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<option value=\"review\">Review<\/option>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<option value=\"sermon\">Sermon<\/option>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<option value=\"sermon-illustration\">Sermon Illustration<\/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\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"filter-field\">\n\t\t\t\t<label for=\"advanced-search-block_d7fbc3c8ec71a43104e8795cfe9342ec-topic\" class=\"filter-label\">TOPIC<\/label>\n\t\t\t\t<select name=\"topic[]\" id=\"advanced-search-block_d7fbc3c8ec71a43104e8795cfe9342ec-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_d7fbc3c8ec71a43104e8795cfe9342ec-illustration-type\" class=\"filter-label\">ILLUSTRATION TYPE<\/label>\n\t\t\t\t<select name=\"illustration_type[]\" id=\"advanced-search-block_d7fbc3c8ec71a43104e8795cfe9342ec-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_d7fbc3c8ec71a43104e8795cfe9342ec-audience\" class=\"filter-label\">AUDIENCE<\/label>\n\t\t\t\t<select name=\"audience[]\" id=\"advanced-search-block_d7fbc3c8ec71a43104e8795cfe9342ec-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_d7fbc3c8ec71a43104e8795cfe9342ec-multimedia\" class=\"filter-label\">MULTIMEDIA<\/label>\n\t\t\t\t<select name=\"multimedia[]\" id=\"advanced-search-block_d7fbc3c8ec71a43104e8795cfe9342ec-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\/easter\/\" class=\"trending-topic-button button primary\">\n\t\t\t\t\tEaster\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\/resurrection\/\" class=\"trending-topic-button button primary\">\n\t\t\t\t\tResurrection\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\/pastor\/\" class=\"trending-topic-button button primary\">\n\t\t\t\t\tPastor\t\t\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<a href=\"https:\/\/www.christianitytoday.com\/pastors\/topics\/pastors-role\/\" class=\"trending-topic-button button primary\">\n\t\t\t\t\tPastor&#039;s Role\t\t\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<a href=\"https:\/\/www.christianitytoday.com\/pastors\/topics\/resurrection-of-christ\/\" class=\"trending-topic-button button primary\">\n\t\t\t\t\tResurrection of Christ\t\t\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<a href=\"https:\/\/www.christianitytoday.com\/pastors\/topics\/church-planting\/\" class=\"trending-topic-button button primary\">\n\t\t\t\t\tChurch Planting\t\t\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<a href=\"https:\/\/www.christianitytoday.com\/pastors\/topics\/depression\/\" class=\"trending-topic-button button primary\">\n\t\t\t\t\tDepression\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\/failure\/\" class=\"trending-topic-button button primary\">\n\t\t\t\t\tFailure\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--24);margin-bottom:var(--wp--preset--spacing--40)\" \/>\n\n\n<section\n\tclass=\"wp-block-ct wp-block-ct-horizontal-features 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href=\"https:\/\/www.christianitytoday.com\/pastors\/topics\/easter\/\">\n\t\t\t\tEaster\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\tApril 5\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\/good-friday\/\"\n\t\t\tclass=\"ct-article-card-link\"\n\t\t\taria-label=\"Good Friday\"\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\/good-friday.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\/good-friday\/\">\n\t\t\t\tGood Friday\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\tApril 3\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\/lent\/\"\n\t\t\tclass=\"ct-article-card-link\"\n\t\t\taria-label=\"Lent\"\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\/lent.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\/lent\/\">\n\t\t\t\tLent\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\tbegins February 18\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\/palm-sunday\/\"\n\t\t\tclass=\"ct-article-card-link\"\n\t\t\taria-label=\"Palm Sunday\"\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\/palm-sunday.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\/palm-sunday\/\">\n\t\t\t\tPalm Sunday\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\tMarch 29\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 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wp-block-ct-horizontal-features wp-block-ct-horizontal-features-ctp\"\n\tdata-desktop-slider=\"4\"\n\tdata-mobile-slider=\"false\"\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\/guides\/\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\tField Guides\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\/guides\/\" 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-79852\">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: 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\/preaching-on-easter-introduction\/\"\n\t\t\t\tclass=\"ct-article-card-link\"\n\t\t\t\taria-label=\"Preaching on Easter\"\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\/2026\/01\/preaching-on-easter.png?w=602\" class=\"ct-article-card-image\" alt=\"A sketch of eggs in a birds nest with stylized notes beside it\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.christianitytoday.com\/pastors\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/19\/2026\/01\/preaching-on-easter.png 2996w, https:\/\/www.christianitytoday.com\/pastors\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/19\/2026\/01\/preaching-on-easter.png?resize=300,169 300w, https:\/\/www.christianitytoday.com\/pastors\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/19\/2026\/01\/preaching-on-easter.png?resize=768,432 768w, https:\/\/www.christianitytoday.com\/pastors\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/19\/2026\/01\/preaching-on-easter.png?resize=1024,576 1024w, https:\/\/www.christianitytoday.com\/pastors\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/19\/2026\/01\/preaching-on-easter.png?resize=1536,864 1536w, https:\/\/www.christianitytoday.com\/pastors\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/19\/2026\/01\/preaching-on-easter.png?resize=2048,1152 2048w, https:\/\/www.christianitytoday.com\/pastors\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/19\/2026\/01\/preaching-on-easter.png?resize=1920,1080 1920w, https:\/\/www.christianitytoday.com\/pastors\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/19\/2026\/01\/preaching-on-easter.png?resize=301,169 301w, https:\/\/www.christianitytoday.com\/pastors\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/19\/2026\/01\/preaching-on-easter.png?resize=602,338 602w, https:\/\/www.christianitytoday.com\/pastors\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/19\/2026\/01\/preaching-on-easter.png?resize=634,356 634w, https:\/\/www.christianitytoday.com\/pastors\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/19\/2026\/01\/preaching-on-easter.png?resize=1266,712 1266w, https:\/\/www.christianitytoday.com\/pastors\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/19\/2026\/01\/preaching-on-easter.png?resize=324,182 324w, https:\/\/www.christianitytoday.com\/pastors\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/19\/2026\/01\/preaching-on-easter.png?resize=648,364 648w, https:\/\/www.christianitytoday.com\/pastors\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/19\/2026\/01\/preaching-on-easter.png?resize=82,46 82w, https:\/\/www.christianitytoday.com\/pastors\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/19\/2026\/01\/preaching-on-easter.png?resize=164,92 164w, https:\/\/www.christianitytoday.com\/pastors\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/19\/2026\/01\/preaching-on-easter.png?resize=412,231 412w, https:\/\/www.christianitytoday.com\/pastors\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/19\/2026\/01\/preaching-on-easter.png?resize=824,463 824w, https:\/\/www.christianitytoday.com\/pastors\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/19\/2026\/01\/preaching-on-easter.png?resize=821,462 821w, https:\/\/www.christianitytoday.com\/pastors\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/19\/2026\/01\/preaching-on-easter.png?resize=1300,732 1300w, https:\/\/www.christianitytoday.com\/pastors\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/19\/2026\/01\/preaching-on-easter.png?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\/preaching-on-easter-introduction\/\" target=\"_self\">\n\t\tPreaching on Easter\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<p>How do you keep Easter preaching intellectually engaging for skeptics while also fresh and practical for believers?<\/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\/finding-and-crafting-the-sermons-big-idea-introduction\/\"\n\t\t\t\tclass=\"ct-article-card-link\"\n\t\t\t\taria-label=\"Finding and Crafting the Sermon&#8217;s Big Idea\"\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\/2026\/01\/finding-and-crafting-the-sermons-big-idea.png?w=602\" class=\"ct-article-card-image\" alt=\"Sketches of trees and a color triad\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.christianitytoday.com\/pastors\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/19\/2026\/01\/finding-and-crafting-the-sermons-big-idea.png 2995w, https:\/\/www.christianitytoday.com\/pastors\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/19\/2026\/01\/finding-and-crafting-the-sermons-big-idea.png?resize=300,169 300w, https:\/\/www.christianitytoday.com\/pastors\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/19\/2026\/01\/finding-and-crafting-the-sermons-big-idea.png?resize=768,432 768w, https:\/\/www.christianitytoday.com\/pastors\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/19\/2026\/01\/finding-and-crafting-the-sermons-big-idea.png?resize=1024,576 1024w, https:\/\/www.christianitytoday.com\/pastors\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/19\/2026\/01\/finding-and-crafting-the-sermons-big-idea.png?resize=1536,864 1536w, https:\/\/www.christianitytoday.com\/pastors\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/19\/2026\/01\/finding-and-crafting-the-sermons-big-idea.png?resize=2048,1152 2048w, https:\/\/www.christianitytoday.com\/pastors\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/19\/2026\/01\/finding-and-crafting-the-sermons-big-idea.png?resize=1920,1080 1920w, https:\/\/www.christianitytoday.com\/pastors\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/19\/2026\/01\/finding-and-crafting-the-sermons-big-idea.png?resize=301,169 301w, https:\/\/www.christianitytoday.com\/pastors\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/19\/2026\/01\/finding-and-crafting-the-sermons-big-idea.png?resize=602,338 602w, https:\/\/www.christianitytoday.com\/pastors\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/19\/2026\/01\/finding-and-crafting-the-sermons-big-idea.png?resize=634,356 634w, https:\/\/www.christianitytoday.com\/pastors\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/19\/2026\/01\/finding-and-crafting-the-sermons-big-idea.png?resize=1266,712 1266w, https:\/\/www.christianitytoday.com\/pastors\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/19\/2026\/01\/finding-and-crafting-the-sermons-big-idea.png?resize=324,182 324w, https:\/\/www.christianitytoday.com\/pastors\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/19\/2026\/01\/finding-and-crafting-the-sermons-big-idea.png?resize=648,364 648w, https:\/\/www.christianitytoday.com\/pastors\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/19\/2026\/01\/finding-and-crafting-the-sermons-big-idea.png?resize=82,46 82w, https:\/\/www.christianitytoday.com\/pastors\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/19\/2026\/01\/finding-and-crafting-the-sermons-big-idea.png?resize=164,92 164w, https:\/\/www.christianitytoday.com\/pastors\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/19\/2026\/01\/finding-and-crafting-the-sermons-big-idea.png?resize=412,231 412w, https:\/\/www.christianitytoday.com\/pastors\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/19\/2026\/01\/finding-and-crafting-the-sermons-big-idea.png?resize=824,463 824w, https:\/\/www.christianitytoday.com\/pastors\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/19\/2026\/01\/finding-and-crafting-the-sermons-big-idea.png?resize=822,462 822w, https:\/\/www.christianitytoday.com\/pastors\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/19\/2026\/01\/finding-and-crafting-the-sermons-big-idea.png?resize=1300,732 1300w, https:\/\/www.christianitytoday.com\/pastors\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/19\/2026\/01\/finding-and-crafting-the-sermons-big-idea.png?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\/finding-and-crafting-the-sermons-big-idea-introduction\/\" target=\"_self\">\n\t\tFinding and Crafting the Sermon&#8217;s Big Idea\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<p>Get clear, get simple, and get focused with your big ideas.<\/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\/praying-for-your-sermon\/\"\n\t\t\t\tclass=\"ct-article-card-link\"\n\t\t\t\taria-label=\"Praying for Your Sermon\"\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\/2026\/01\/praying-for-your-sermon.png?w=602\" class=\"ct-article-card-image\" alt=\"Science-like sketches of a human head and hands with handwritten notes\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.christianitytoday.com\/pastors\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/19\/2026\/01\/praying-for-your-sermon.png 2995w, https:\/\/www.christianitytoday.com\/pastors\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/19\/2026\/01\/praying-for-your-sermon.png?resize=300,169 300w, https:\/\/www.christianitytoday.com\/pastors\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/19\/2026\/01\/praying-for-your-sermon.png?resize=768,432 768w, https:\/\/www.christianitytoday.com\/pastors\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/19\/2026\/01\/praying-for-your-sermon.png?resize=1024,576 1024w, https:\/\/www.christianitytoday.com\/pastors\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/19\/2026\/01\/praying-for-your-sermon.png?resize=1536,864 1536w, https:\/\/www.christianitytoday.com\/pastors\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/19\/2026\/01\/praying-for-your-sermon.png?resize=2048,1152 2048w, https:\/\/www.christianitytoday.com\/pastors\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/19\/2026\/01\/praying-for-your-sermon.png?resize=1920,1080 1920w, https:\/\/www.christianitytoday.com\/pastors\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/19\/2026\/01\/praying-for-your-sermon.png?resize=301,169 301w, https:\/\/www.christianitytoday.com\/pastors\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/19\/2026\/01\/praying-for-your-sermon.png?resize=602,338 602w, https:\/\/www.christianitytoday.com\/pastors\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/19\/2026\/01\/praying-for-your-sermon.png?resize=634,356 634w, https:\/\/www.christianitytoday.com\/pastors\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/19\/2026\/01\/praying-for-your-sermon.png?resize=1266,712 1266w, https:\/\/www.christianitytoday.com\/pastors\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/19\/2026\/01\/praying-for-your-sermon.png?resize=324,182 324w, https:\/\/www.christianitytoday.com\/pastors\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/19\/2026\/01\/praying-for-your-sermon.png?resize=648,364 648w, https:\/\/www.christianitytoday.com\/pastors\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/19\/2026\/01\/praying-for-your-sermon.png?resize=82,46 82w, https:\/\/www.christianitytoday.com\/pastors\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/19\/2026\/01\/praying-for-your-sermon.png?resize=164,92 164w, https:\/\/www.christianitytoday.com\/pastors\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/19\/2026\/01\/praying-for-your-sermon.png?resize=412,231 412w, https:\/\/www.christianitytoday.com\/pastors\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/19\/2026\/01\/praying-for-your-sermon.png?resize=824,463 824w, https:\/\/www.christianitytoday.com\/pastors\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/19\/2026\/01\/praying-for-your-sermon.png?resize=822,462 822w, https:\/\/www.christianitytoday.com\/pastors\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/19\/2026\/01\/praying-for-your-sermon.png?resize=1300,732 1300w, https:\/\/www.christianitytoday.com\/pastors\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/19\/2026\/01\/praying-for-your-sermon.png?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\/praying-for-your-sermon\/\" target=\"_self\">\n\t\tPraying for Your Sermon\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<p>Practical and creative ways to rekindle and then integrate prayer into your preaching routines and rhythms.<\/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\/sermon-application-introduction\/\"\n\t\t\t\tclass=\"ct-article-card-link\"\n\t\t\t\taria-label=\"Sermon Application\"\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\/2026\/01\/sermon-application.png?w=602\" class=\"ct-article-card-image\" alt=\"An image with sketches of human hands in various positions\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.christianitytoday.com\/pastors\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/19\/2026\/01\/sermon-application.png 2996w, https:\/\/www.christianitytoday.com\/pastors\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/19\/2026\/01\/sermon-application.png?resize=300,169 300w, https:\/\/www.christianitytoday.com\/pastors\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/19\/2026\/01\/sermon-application.png?resize=768,432 768w, https:\/\/www.christianitytoday.com\/pastors\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/19\/2026\/01\/sermon-application.png?resize=1024,576 1024w, https:\/\/www.christianitytoday.com\/pastors\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/19\/2026\/01\/sermon-application.png?resize=1536,863 1536w, https:\/\/www.christianitytoday.com\/pastors\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/19\/2026\/01\/sermon-application.png?resize=2048,1151 2048w, https:\/\/www.christianitytoday.com\/pastors\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/19\/2026\/01\/sermon-application.png?resize=1920,1080 1920w, https:\/\/www.christianitytoday.com\/pastors\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/19\/2026\/01\/sermon-application.png?resize=301,169 301w, https:\/\/www.christianitytoday.com\/pastors\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/19\/2026\/01\/sermon-application.png?resize=602,338 602w, https:\/\/www.christianitytoday.com\/pastors\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/19\/2026\/01\/sermon-application.png?resize=634,356 634w, https:\/\/www.christianitytoday.com\/pastors\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/19\/2026\/01\/sermon-application.png?resize=1268,712 1268w, https:\/\/www.christianitytoday.com\/pastors\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/19\/2026\/01\/sermon-application.png?resize=324,182 324w, https:\/\/www.christianitytoday.com\/pastors\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/19\/2026\/01\/sermon-application.png?resize=648,364 648w, https:\/\/www.christianitytoday.com\/pastors\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/19\/2026\/01\/sermon-application.png?resize=82,46 82w, https:\/\/www.christianitytoday.com\/pastors\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/19\/2026\/01\/sermon-application.png?resize=164,92 164w, https:\/\/www.christianitytoday.com\/pastors\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/19\/2026\/01\/sermon-application.png?resize=412,231 412w, https:\/\/www.christianitytoday.com\/pastors\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/19\/2026\/01\/sermon-application.png?resize=824,463 824w, https:\/\/www.christianitytoday.com\/pastors\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/19\/2026\/01\/sermon-application.png?resize=822,462 822w, https:\/\/www.christianitytoday.com\/pastors\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/19\/2026\/01\/sermon-application.png?resize=1300,732 1300w, https:\/\/www.christianitytoday.com\/pastors\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/19\/2026\/01\/sermon-application.png?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\/sermon-application-introduction\/\" target=\"_self\">\n\t\tSermon Application\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<p>How to apply effectively, dangers to avoid, and a fresh chal\u00adlenge to point to Jesus in your applications.<\/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 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-95537\">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 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Store\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/h2>\n\t\t\t\t\t<a href=\"https:\/\/store.christianitytoday.com\/\" 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-62671\">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\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-columns is-not-stacked-on-mobile from-the-store-products is-layout-flow wp-block-columns-is-layout-flow\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-column from-the-store-product is-layout-flow wp-block-column-is-layout-flow\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-group is-vertical is-layout-flex wp-container-core-group-is-layout-fe9cc265 wp-block-group-is-layout-flex\">\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large from-the-store-product-image\"><a class=\"link-custom\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\" 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https:\/\/www.christianitytoday.com\/pastors\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/19\/2025\/11\/ad4bfd962c2cbbf478f9df3195806e73f8053646_3acd54.png?resize=324,324 324w, https:\/\/www.christianitytoday.com\/pastors\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/19\/2025\/11\/ad4bfd962c2cbbf478f9df3195806e73f8053646_3acd54.png?resize=648,648 648w, https:\/\/www.christianitytoday.com\/pastors\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/19\/2025\/11\/ad4bfd962c2cbbf478f9df3195806e73f8053646_3acd54.png?resize=82,82 82w, https:\/\/www.christianitytoday.com\/pastors\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/19\/2025\/11\/ad4bfd962c2cbbf478f9df3195806e73f8053646_3acd54.png?resize=164,164 164w, https:\/\/www.christianitytoday.com\/pastors\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/19\/2025\/11\/ad4bfd962c2cbbf478f9df3195806e73f8053646_3acd54.png?resize=412,412 412w, https:\/\/www.christianitytoday.com\/pastors\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/19\/2025\/11\/ad4bfd962c2cbbf478f9df3195806e73f8053646_3acd54.png?resize=824,824 824w, https:\/\/www.christianitytoday.com\/pastors\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/19\/2025\/11\/ad4bfd962c2cbbf478f9df3195806e73f8053646_3acd54.png?resize=231,231 231w, https:\/\/www.christianitytoday.com\/pastors\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/19\/2025\/11\/ad4bfd962c2cbbf478f9df3195806e73f8053646_3acd54.png?resize=462,462 462w, https:\/\/www.christianitytoday.com\/pastors\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/19\/2025\/11\/ad4bfd962c2cbbf478f9df3195806e73f8053646_3acd54.png?resize=934,934 934w, https:\/\/www.christianitytoday.com\/pastors\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/19\/2025\/11\/ad4bfd962c2cbbf478f9df3195806e73f8053646_3acd54.png?resize=732,732 732w, https:\/\/www.christianitytoday.com\/pastors\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/19\/2025\/11\/ad4bfd962c2cbbf478f9df3195806e73f8053646_3acd54.png?resize=160,160 160w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\" \/><\/a><span class=\"image-credits\"><\/span><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\"><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading from-the-store-product-title has-medium-font-size\"><a href=\"https:\/\/store.christianitytoday.com\/products\/shepherding-the-shepherd-bundle\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Shepherding the Shepherd Bundle<\/a><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"from-the-store-product-description\">Save on the full series of Shepherding the Shepherd books from Lee Eclov!<\/p>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-buttons from-the-store-product-button is-layout-flex wp-block-buttons-is-layout-flex\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-button is-style-outline is-style-outline--6\"><a class=\"wp-block-button__link wp-element-button\" href=\"https:\/\/store.christianitytoday.com\/products\/shepherding-the-shepherd-bundle\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">View product details<\/a><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-column from-the-store-product is-layout-flow wp-block-column-is-layout-flow\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-group is-vertical is-layout-flex wp-container-core-group-is-layout-fe9cc265 wp-block-group-is-layout-flex\">\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large from-the-store-product-image\"><a class=\"link-custom\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/store.christianitytoday.com\/products\/the-preacher-as-sermon\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" height=\"1024\" width=\"1024\" src=\"https:\/\/www.christianitytoday.com\/pastors\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/19\/2025\/11\/c2026a427f9596bae161915200aa2aa5e3dfbe76.png?w=640\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-60819\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.christianitytoday.com\/pastors\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/19\/2025\/11\/c2026a427f9596bae161915200aa2aa5e3dfbe76.png 1200w, https:\/\/www.christianitytoday.com\/pastors\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/19\/2025\/11\/c2026a427f9596bae161915200aa2aa5e3dfbe76.png?resize=150,150 150w, https:\/\/www.christianitytoday.com\/pastors\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/19\/2025\/11\/c2026a427f9596bae161915200aa2aa5e3dfbe76.png?resize=300,300 300w, https:\/\/www.christianitytoday.com\/pastors\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/19\/2025\/11\/c2026a427f9596bae161915200aa2aa5e3dfbe76.png?resize=768,768 768w, https:\/\/www.christianitytoday.com\/pastors\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/19\/2025\/11\/c2026a427f9596bae161915200aa2aa5e3dfbe76.png?resize=1024,1024 1024w, https:\/\/www.christianitytoday.com\/pastors\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/19\/2025\/11\/c2026a427f9596bae161915200aa2aa5e3dfbe76.png?resize=1080,1080 1080w, https:\/\/www.christianitytoday.com\/pastors\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/19\/2025\/11\/c2026a427f9596bae161915200aa2aa5e3dfbe76.png?resize=169,169 169w, https:\/\/www.christianitytoday.com\/pastors\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/19\/2025\/11\/c2026a427f9596bae161915200aa2aa5e3dfbe76.png?resize=338,338 338w, https:\/\/www.christianitytoday.com\/pastors\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/19\/2025\/11\/c2026a427f9596bae161915200aa2aa5e3dfbe76.png?resize=356,356 356w, https:\/\/www.christianitytoday.com\/pastors\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/19\/2025\/11\/c2026a427f9596bae161915200aa2aa5e3dfbe76.png?resize=712,712 712w, https:\/\/www.christianitytoday.com\/pastors\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/19\/2025\/11\/c2026a427f9596bae161915200aa2aa5e3dfbe76.png?resize=324,324 324w, https:\/\/www.christianitytoday.com\/pastors\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/19\/2025\/11\/c2026a427f9596bae161915200aa2aa5e3dfbe76.png?resize=648,648 648w, https:\/\/www.christianitytoday.com\/pastors\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/19\/2025\/11\/c2026a427f9596bae161915200aa2aa5e3dfbe76.png?resize=82,82 82w, https:\/\/www.christianitytoday.com\/pastors\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/19\/2025\/11\/c2026a427f9596bae161915200aa2aa5e3dfbe76.png?resize=164,164 164w, https:\/\/www.christianitytoday.com\/pastors\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/19\/2025\/11\/c2026a427f9596bae161915200aa2aa5e3dfbe76.png?resize=412,412 412w, https:\/\/www.christianitytoday.com\/pastors\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/19\/2025\/11\/c2026a427f9596bae161915200aa2aa5e3dfbe76.png?resize=824,824 824w, https:\/\/www.christianitytoday.com\/pastors\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/19\/2025\/11\/c2026a427f9596bae161915200aa2aa5e3dfbe76.png?resize=231,231 231w, https:\/\/www.christianitytoday.com\/pastors\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/19\/2025\/11\/c2026a427f9596bae161915200aa2aa5e3dfbe76.png?resize=462,462 462w, https:\/\/www.christianitytoday.com\/pastors\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/19\/2025\/11\/c2026a427f9596bae161915200aa2aa5e3dfbe76.png?resize=934,934 934w, https:\/\/www.christianitytoday.com\/pastors\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/19\/2025\/11\/c2026a427f9596bae161915200aa2aa5e3dfbe76.png?resize=732,732 732w, https:\/\/www.christianitytoday.com\/pastors\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/19\/2025\/11\/c2026a427f9596bae161915200aa2aa5e3dfbe76.png?resize=160,160 160w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\" \/><\/a><span class=\"image-credits\"><\/span><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\"><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading from-the-store-product-title has-medium-font-size\"><a href=\"https:\/\/store.christianitytoday.com\/products\/the-preacher-as-sermon\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">The Preacher As Sermon<\/a><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"from-the-store-product-description\">It\u2019s easy to forget that we\u2019re meant to first be impacted by the message ourselves \u2013 that our preaching would be the natural overflow of our own spiritual transformation.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-buttons from-the-store-product-button is-layout-flex wp-block-buttons-is-layout-flex\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-button is-style-outline is-style-outline--7\"><a class=\"wp-block-button__link wp-element-button\" href=\"https:\/\/store.christianitytoday.com\/products\/the-preacher-as-sermon\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">View product details<\/a><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-column from-the-store-product is-layout-flow wp-block-column-is-layout-flow\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-group is-vertical is-layout-flex wp-container-core-group-is-layout-fe9cc265 wp-block-group-is-layout-flex\">\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large from-the-store-product-image\"><a class=\"link-custom\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/store.christianitytoday.com\/products\/the-model-sermon\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" height=\"1024\" width=\"1024\" src=\"https:\/\/www.christianitytoday.com\/pastors\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/19\/2025\/11\/6573d81318ecdeb4c29474a32ceec6bb858e3e33.png?w=640\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-60820\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.christianitytoday.com\/pastors\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/19\/2025\/11\/6573d81318ecdeb4c29474a32ceec6bb858e3e33.png 1200w, https:\/\/www.christianitytoday.com\/pastors\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/19\/2025\/11\/6573d81318ecdeb4c29474a32ceec6bb858e3e33.png?resize=150,150 150w, https:\/\/www.christianitytoday.com\/pastors\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/19\/2025\/11\/6573d81318ecdeb4c29474a32ceec6bb858e3e33.png?resize=300,300 300w, https:\/\/www.christianitytoday.com\/pastors\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/19\/2025\/11\/6573d81318ecdeb4c29474a32ceec6bb858e3e33.png?resize=768,768 768w, https:\/\/www.christianitytoday.com\/pastors\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/19\/2025\/11\/6573d81318ecdeb4c29474a32ceec6bb858e3e33.png?resize=1024,1024 1024w, https:\/\/www.christianitytoday.com\/pastors\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/19\/2025\/11\/6573d81318ecdeb4c29474a32ceec6bb858e3e33.png?resize=1080,1080 1080w, https:\/\/www.christianitytoday.com\/pastors\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/19\/2025\/11\/6573d81318ecdeb4c29474a32ceec6bb858e3e33.png?resize=169,169 169w, https:\/\/www.christianitytoday.com\/pastors\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/19\/2025\/11\/6573d81318ecdeb4c29474a32ceec6bb858e3e33.png?resize=338,338 338w, https:\/\/www.christianitytoday.com\/pastors\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/19\/2025\/11\/6573d81318ecdeb4c29474a32ceec6bb858e3e33.png?resize=356,356 356w, https:\/\/www.christianitytoday.com\/pastors\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/19\/2025\/11\/6573d81318ecdeb4c29474a32ceec6bb858e3e33.png?resize=712,712 712w, https:\/\/www.christianitytoday.com\/pastors\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/19\/2025\/11\/6573d81318ecdeb4c29474a32ceec6bb858e3e33.png?resize=324,324 324w, https:\/\/www.christianitytoday.com\/pastors\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/19\/2025\/11\/6573d81318ecdeb4c29474a32ceec6bb858e3e33.png?resize=648,648 648w, https:\/\/www.christianitytoday.com\/pastors\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/19\/2025\/11\/6573d81318ecdeb4c29474a32ceec6bb858e3e33.png?resize=82,82 82w, https:\/\/www.christianitytoday.com\/pastors\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/19\/2025\/11\/6573d81318ecdeb4c29474a32ceec6bb858e3e33.png?resize=164,164 164w, https:\/\/www.christianitytoday.com\/pastors\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/19\/2025\/11\/6573d81318ecdeb4c29474a32ceec6bb858e3e33.png?resize=412,412 412w, https:\/\/www.christianitytoday.com\/pastors\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/19\/2025\/11\/6573d81318ecdeb4c29474a32ceec6bb858e3e33.png?resize=824,824 824w, https:\/\/www.christianitytoday.com\/pastors\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/19\/2025\/11\/6573d81318ecdeb4c29474a32ceec6bb858e3e33.png?resize=231,231 231w, https:\/\/www.christianitytoday.com\/pastors\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/19\/2025\/11\/6573d81318ecdeb4c29474a32ceec6bb858e3e33.png?resize=462,462 462w, https:\/\/www.christianitytoday.com\/pastors\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/19\/2025\/11\/6573d81318ecdeb4c29474a32ceec6bb858e3e33.png?resize=934,934 934w, https:\/\/www.christianitytoday.com\/pastors\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/19\/2025\/11\/6573d81318ecdeb4c29474a32ceec6bb858e3e33.png?resize=732,732 732w, https:\/\/www.christianitytoday.com\/pastors\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/19\/2025\/11\/6573d81318ecdeb4c29474a32ceec6bb858e3e33.png?resize=160,160 160w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\" \/><\/a><span class=\"image-credits\"><\/span><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\"><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading from-the-store-product-title has-medium-font-size\"><a href=\"https:\/\/store.christianitytoday.com\/products\/the-model-sermon\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">The Model Sermon<\/a><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"from-the-store-product-description\">You\u2019re called to be a faithful and effective communicator of God\u2019s Word. But what exactly are the core principles of a \u201cbiblical sermon\u201d?<\/p>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-buttons from-the-store-product-button is-layout-flex wp-block-buttons-is-layout-flex\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-button is-style-outline is-style-outline--8\"><a class=\"wp-block-button__link wp-element-button\" href=\"https:\/\/store.christianitytoday.com\/products\/the-model-sermon\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">View product details<\/a><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n<section \n\tid=\"ct-landing-page-post-river-ctp-block\"\n\tclass=\"landing-page-post-river-container \"\n\tdata-term_ids=\"[165]\"\n\tdata-source=\"tax_ctp_categories\"\n\tdata-maxpages=\"815\"\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\tLatest on Preaching\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-post-sermon-illustrations-sermons\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\t<div class=\"ct-article-card-kicker-container\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"post-kicker\"><span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.christianitytoday.com\/pastors\/preaching\/sermon-illustrations\/\">Sermon Illustration<\/a><\/span><\/div>\t\t\t<\/div>\n\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\/crash-course-on-jesus\/\" target=\"_self\">\n\t\tCrash Course on Jesus\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\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-65864\" 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-65864\" 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>Seventeen-year-old Casey Crease\u2019s life changed forever after a night of partying at his parents\u2019 house. Frustrated with his friends, he left the party around 1 a.m., despite their attempts to stop him from driving drunk. Ignoring their warnings, Casey sped away in his Camaro, only to lose control and crash near his home.<\/p>\n<!-- \/wp:paragraph -->\n\n<!-- wp:paragraph -->\n<p>Casey recalls waking up, \u201ccovered in glass, a deployed airbag lying in my lap.\u201d In shock, he repeatedly screamed, \u201cWho did I hit?!\u201d until a friend assured him he\u2019d only hit trees. But at the hospital, a state trooper delivered devastating news: \u201cThere\u2019s been a fatality.\u201d Casey\u2019s friend John, trying to stop the car, had been struck and killed. \u201cBefore the accident, I thought my life was falling apart. After the accident, I wanted to die,\u201d Casey writes. Yet, in his deepest despair, he sensed God\u2019s presence.<\/p>\n<!-- \/wp:paragraph -->\n\n<!-- wp:paragraph -->\n<p>Raised in a Christian family, Casey had begun to doubt his faith before the crash. Afterward, desperate for hope, he returned to church and resolved to read the New Testament. Still, he wrestled with guilt and wondered, \u201cThe more I tried to be a Christian, the emptier I felt.\u201d<\/p>\n<!-- \/wp:paragraph -->\n\n<!-- wp:paragraph -->\n<p>Everything changed during a revival service in his senior year. The preacher asked, \u201cDo you want to be well?\u201d-echoing Jesus\u2019 words to the paralyzed man in Jerusalem. Casey remembers, \u201cIf Jesus will heal me, I want to be well\u2026 It was a quiet moment between the Lord and me but that day he began to soften my heart. He made me his own.\u201d Over time, Casey realized his sins were forgiven, \u201cnot because of anything I had done but because of what Jesus accomplished on the cross.\u201d<\/p>\n<!-- \/wp:paragraph -->\n\n<!-- wp:paragraph -->\n<p>With newfound faith, Casey faced the consequences of his actions-including probation and community service-and began speaking to other teens about the dangers of drinking and driving. He concludes, \u201cI am confident that Jesus is the Son of God, that he is able to forgive sins, and that he is in the business of making broken people brand new.\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: Casey Crease, &quot;My Crash Course on Jesus&quot; Christianity Today Jul\/Aug 2013<\/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=16956&#038;pretty_range=Proverbs%2020%3A1&#038;ctp_search=1\" title=\"Search for scripture reference: Proverbs 20:1\">\n\t\t\t\t<span class=\"scripture-label\">\n\t\t\t\t\tProverbs 20:1\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=Proverbs%2020%3A1&#038;version=NIV\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" title=\"View on Bible Gateway: Proverbs 20:1\">\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-390\">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=17074&#038;pretty_range=Proverbs%2023%3A29&#038;ctp_search=1\" title=\"Search for scripture reference: Proverbs 23:29\">\n\t\t\t\t<span class=\"scripture-label\">\n\t\t\t\t\tProverbs 23:29\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=Proverbs%2023%3A29&#038;version=NIV\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" title=\"View on Bible Gateway: Proverbs 23:29\">\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-40875\">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=17673&#038;pretty_range=Isaiah%201%3A18&#038;ctp_search=1\" title=\"Search for scripture reference: Isaiah 1:18\">\n\t\t\t\t<span class=\"scripture-label\">\n\t\t\t\t\tIsaiah 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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\/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\/teens\/\" class=\"button primary tag-link\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tTeens\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\t<div class=\"ct-article-card-kicker-container\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"post-kicker\"><span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.christianitytoday.com\/pastors\/preaching\/sermon-illustrations\/\">Sermon Illustration<\/a><\/span><\/div>\t\t\t<\/div>\n\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\/perpetua-shines-like-a-star-in-martyrdom\/\" target=\"_self\">\n\t\tPerpetua Shines Like a Star in Martyrdom\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\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-65862\" 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-65862\" 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>On March 7, in the year 203, a young Christian woman named Vibia Perpetua was killed in an arena somewhere in Roman North Africa. As enemies of the Roman order, Christians of the time were intermittently subjected to arrest, detention, torture and execution, often in public and in ways designed to humiliate them. For Perpetua, the authorities had prepared a wild cow. The spectacle of a terrified young woman being trampled or gored was meant to entertain the baying crowd gathered to celebrate the birthday of an imperial prince.<\/p>\n<!-- \/wp:paragraph -->\n\n<!-- wp:paragraph -->\n<p>Perpetua had other ideas. In the arena, she was courageous and cool. When she was tossed by the cow, her tunic ripped. She modestly hitched up the garment, asked for a clip for her hair, which had come undone, and then went to help a fellow condemned Christian who had been knocked down. Since the cow failed to kill her, Perpetua was led to the center of the arena to be executed more conventionally. The novice gladiator assigned this grisly task at first merely wounded her so she moved his trembling hand to her throat to finish the job. She was only about 22.<\/p>\n<!-- \/wp:paragraph -->\n\n<!-- wp:paragraph -->\n<p>We know all this because within a few years of Perpetua\u2019s martyrdom a remarkable dossier was compiled, telling her story from arrest to death in the arena. This included a diary she had written while in prison, an extremely rare ancient account of a woman\u2019s life by the woman herself\u2026.<\/p>\n<!-- \/wp:paragraph -->\n\n<!-- wp:paragraph -->\n<p>Perpetua tells us what it was like to be in a Roman prison: the stifling heat and the press of bodies. She talks about her intense anxiety for her infant son, whom she was still breastfeeding when she was arrested. She recounts bitter arguments with her father, who was desperate for her to abandon her faith to save her life\u2026<\/p>\n<!-- \/wp:paragraph -->\n\n<!-- wp:paragraph -->\n<p>As one <em>Wall Street Journal<\/em> reviewer notes, Ms. Ruden makes Perpetua quite modern: \u201cI call her the twenty-first-century woman\u2019s remote ancestor.\u201d This is a self-aware martyr, assertive and vulnerable, \u2026<\/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: Sacks, Sam. Review of Perpetua: The Woman, the Martyr, by Sarah Ruden. Wall Street Journal, Weekend edition, December 20\u201321, 2025, C7\u2013C8<\/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=29866&#038;pretty_range=2%20Timothy%203%3A12&#038;ctp_search=1\" title=\"Search for scripture reference: 2 Timothy 3:12\">\n\t\t\t\t<span class=\"scripture-label\">\n\t\t\t\t\t2 Timothy 3:12\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=2%20Timothy%203%3A12&#038;version=NIV\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" title=\"View on Bible Gateway: 2 Timothy 3:12\">\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-1950\">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=23446&#038;pretty_range=Matthew%2010%3A28&#038;ctp_search=1\" title=\"Search for scripture reference: Matthew 10:28\">\n\t\t\t\t<span class=\"scripture-label\">\n\t\t\t\t\tMatthew 10:28\t\t\t\t<\/span>\n\t\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t\t<a class=\"scripture-label-link\" href=\"https:\/\/www.biblegateway.com\/passage\/?search=Matthew%2010%3A28&#038;version=NIV\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" title=\"View on Bible Gateway: Matthew 10:28\">\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-27378\">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=28152&#038;pretty_range=Romans%208%3A35&#038;ctp_search=1\" title=\"Search for scripture reference: Romans 8:35\">\n\t\t\t\t<span class=\"scripture-label\">\n\t\t\t\t\tRomans 8:35\t\t\t\t<\/span>\n\t\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t\t<a class=\"scripture-label-link\" href=\"https:\/\/www.biblegateway.com\/passage\/?search=Romans%208%3A35&#038;version=NIV\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" title=\"View on Bible Gateway: Romans 8:35\">\n\t\t\t\t<span class=\"scripture-label-icon\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\n\t<svg height=\"7\" 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role=\"img\">\n\t\t<title id=\"title-book-63292\">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=23698&#038;pretty_range=Matthew%2016%3A25&#038;ctp_search=1\" title=\"Search for scripture reference: Matthew 16:25\">\n\t\t\t\t<span class=\"scripture-label\">\n\t\t\t\t\tMatthew 16:25\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%2016%3A25&#038;version=NIV\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" title=\"View on Bible Gateway: Matthew 16:25\">\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-62300\">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=24634&#038;pretty_range=Mark%2010%3A45&#038;ctp_search=1\" title=\"Search for scripture reference: Mark 10:45\">\n\t\t\t\t<span class=\"scripture-label\">\n\t\t\t\t\tMark 10:45\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=Mark%2010%3A45&#038;version=NIV\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" title=\"View on Bible Gateway: Mark 10:45\">\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-88687\">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=23930&#038;pretty_range=Matthew%2023%3A11&#038;ctp_search=1\" title=\"Search for scripture reference: Matthew 23:11\">\n\t\t\t\t<span class=\"scripture-label\">\n\t\t\t\t\tMatthew 23:11\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%2023%3A11&#038;version=NIV\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" title=\"View on Bible Gateway: Matthew 23:11\">\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-81445\">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=30055&#038;pretty_range=Hebrews%206%3A10&#038;ctp_search=1\" title=\"Search for scripture reference: Hebrews 6:10\">\n\t\t\t\t<span class=\"scripture-label\">\n\t\t\t\t\tHebrews 6:10\t\t\t\t<\/span>\n\t\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t\t<a class=\"scripture-label-link\" href=\"https:\/\/www.biblegateway.com\/passage\/?search=Hebrews%206%3A10&#038;version=NIV\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" title=\"View on Bible Gateway: Hebrews 6:10\">\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-8769\">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=28777&#038;pretty_range=1%20Corinthians%2015%3A58&#038;ctp_search=1\" title=\"Search for scripture reference: 1 Corinthians 15:58\">\n\t\t\t\t<span class=\"scripture-label\">\n\t\t\t\t\t1 Corinthians 15:58\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%20Corinthians%2015%3A58&#038;version=NIV\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" title=\"View on Bible Gateway: 1 Corinthians 15:58\">\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-12669\">book<\/title>\n\n\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t<use 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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\/martyrdom\/\" class=\"button primary tag-link\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tMartyrdom\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\/sacrifice\/\" class=\"button primary tag-link\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tSacrifice\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<\/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\t<div class=\"ct-article-card-kicker-container\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"post-kicker\"><span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.christianitytoday.com\/pastors\/preaching\/sermon-illustrations\/\">Sermon Illustration<\/a><\/span><\/div>\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t<div class=\"card-content\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<h3 class=\"ct-article-card-title\">\n\t\t\t\t<a href=\"https:\/\/www.christianitytoday.com\/pastors\/preaching\/sermon-illustrations\/the-twin-towers-or-mount-st-helens-two-ways-to-respond-to-suffering\/\" target=\"_self\">\n\t\tThe Twin Towers or Mount St. Helens\u2013Two Ways to Respond to Suffering\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\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-65860\" 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-65860\" 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 Twin Towers in New York in 2001 and the explosion of Mount St. Helens in Washington State in 1980. Both destinations were nationally known, fatal, fiery, and traumatic. Both left behind visual carnage, and in both cases, people wondered if the damage could ever be repaired.<\/p>\n<!-- \/wp:paragraph -->\n\n<!-- wp:paragraph -->\n<p>Imagine you were charged with the task of restoration. In the case of the Twin Towers, the devastation was simply destructive. The first task of the restorer would be to cart away all the remnants of the old buildings; the smoldering bricks and twisted steel girders would simply be detritus that impeded restoration. But in the case of Mount St. Helens, the debris from the eruption\u2014fallen trees, volcanic ashes\u2014was the starting point of reforestation. These elements were not merely compatible with recovery; it was conducive to it. Within 15 years, the site of the Mount St. Helens eruption was a thriving forest whose trees were unusually tall for their age because the ash abated competing weeds and foliage in their early years. Then other plants began to grow in the now-enriched soil. Wildlife returned. By 1997 there were more species of birds in the area than there were in the 1980 pre-eruption study of the same region.<\/p>\n<!-- \/wp:paragraph -->\n\n<!-- wp:paragraph -->\n<p>The difference between rebuilding the Twin Towers and Mount St. Helens forest is simple: one disaster left debris that was in the way, and the other left debris that helped the restoration. In the same way, some people respond to suffering like the Twin Towers\u2013it\u2019s just in the way. Other people respond to suffering like the debris around Mount St. Helens\u2013they take the ashes of their suffering and turn it into something that helps them flourish.<\/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: Edited by Heather and Fred Ginrich, Treating Trauma in Christian Counseling (IVP Academic, 2017), pages 39-40<\/p>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\n\t\t\t\t\t<!-- Scripture References -->\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"is-layout-constrained has-global-padding mb-4\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\n\t\t\t\t\t<!-- Tags -->\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t<\/div><!-- .quick-view-container -->\n\t\t\t<\/div><!-- .card-content -->\n<\/div><!-- .ct-article-card -->\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"ct-article-card ct-article-card-horizontal\" style=\"--thumb-col-width: 0px;\"\n\t>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"ct-article-card-kicker-container\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"post-kicker\"><span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.christianitytoday.com\/pastors\/preaching\/sermon-illustrations\/\">Sermon Illustration<\/a><\/span><\/div>\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t<div class=\"card-content\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<h3 class=\"ct-article-card-title\">\n\t\t\t\t<a href=\"https:\/\/www.christianitytoday.com\/pastors\/preaching\/sermon-illustrations\/the-enemy-who-prayed-for-me\/\" target=\"_self\">\n\t\tThe Enemy Who Prayed for Me\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\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-65857\" 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-65857\" class=\"quick-view-content\" style=\"display: none;\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<!-- Full Post Content -->\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"quick-view-text\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"quick-view-article-content\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<!-- wp:paragraph -->\n<p>When Yassir Eric was 16, he believed he knew exactly who his enemies were. One of them was a new boy at school named Zakariya\u2014quiet, brilliant, gentle, and unmistakably Christian, with the fan-shaped scars on his forehead marking him as part of the Dinka people. For Yassir, raised in an elite Sudanese Muslim family steeped in jihadist zeal, that was enough to justify hatred. Every day at noon prayers, he asked God to destroy Zakariya.<\/p>\n<!-- \/wp:paragraph -->\n\n<!-- wp:paragraph -->\n<p>Two years later, he and his friends ambushed the boy on a dark path. They beat him, stabbed him, and walked away assuming he was dead. Zakariya vanished from school, and the memory was buried under Yassir\u2019s growing religious pride.<br>But life unraveled his certainties. His respected uncle unexpectedly became a Christian. His young cousin, near death, miraculously revived after the prayers of two Egyptian Coptic believers. Yassir secretly began reading a Bible, feeling the foundations of his world shift. When he eventually confessed his faith in Jesus, he lost everything\u2014family, inheritance, even his name. He was arrested, beaten, and hunted, yet he rebuilt a new life far from Sudan.<\/p>\n<!-- \/wp:paragraph -->\n\n<!-- wp:paragraph -->\n<p>Years later, now a Christian minister in Cairo, he finished preaching at a conference when a man approached him, walking slowly with a limp. His right eye was frozen from an old injury. His hand was twisted.<\/p>\n<!-- \/wp:paragraph -->\n\n<!-- wp:paragraph -->\n<p>\u201cDon\u2019t you recognize me?\u201d the man asked. \u201cI\u2019m Zakariya.\u201d He opened his Bible. On the first page was a handwritten prayer list. At the top was Yassir\u2019s name. \u201cBecause you hated me so deeply,\u201d Zakariya said, \u201cI always prayed for you.\u201d<br>Sometimes the people we try hardest to erase are the very ones carrying our names\u2014quietly, faithfully\u2014before 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: Yassir Eric with Jayson Casper, \u201cI Was the Enemy Jesus Told You to Love,\u201d Christianity Today, Sept\/Oct 2025.<\/p>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\n\t\t\t\t\t<!-- Scripture References -->\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"is-layout-constrained has-global-padding mb-4\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\n\t\t\t\t\t<!-- Tags -->\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"tags-section\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"tag-links tag-cloud button-group\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<h3 class=\"tag-cloud-title\">Tags<\/h3>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<ul>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<li>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<a href=\"https:\/\/www.christianitytoday.com\/pastors\/topics\/bitterness\/\" class=\"button primary tag-link\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tBitterness\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\/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\/islam\/\" class=\"button primary tag-link\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tIslam\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\/\" class=\"button primary tag-link\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tLove\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\/resentment\/\" class=\"button primary tag-link\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tResentment\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\t<div class=\"ct-article-card-kicker-container\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"post-kicker\"><span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.christianitytoday.com\/pastors\/preaching\/sermon-illustrations\/\">Sermon Illustration<\/a><\/span><\/div>\t\t\t<\/div>\n\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\/what-flourishing-really-looks-like\/\" target=\"_self\">\n\t\tWhat Flourishing Really Looks Like\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\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-65855\" 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-65855\" 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 group from a suburban church once returned from a service trip overseas with an unexpected story. They had spent a week building simple homes in a small village\u2014places with tin roofs, dirt floors, and none of the conveniences most of us consider basic. What surprised them most was the people they met.<br>These families, who lived with so much less, somehow seemed to have so much more. They laughed easily, shared freely, and treated guests like long-lost relatives. Many had strong faith, tight-knit families, and friendships that threaded through the whole community. One volunteer admitted that she wasn\u2019t sure she knew anyone back home who seemed as joyfully grounded as the grandmother who offered her the last mango from the tree behind her house.<\/p>\n<!-- \/wp:paragraph -->\n\n<!-- wp:paragraph -->\n<p>A massive new global study\u2014the Global Flourishing Study\u2014suggests something deeper is going on. Researchers followed more than 200,000 adults in 22 countries and found a surprising pattern: nations with the highest incomes often had lower levels of overall human flourishing.<\/p>\n<!-- \/wp:paragraph -->\n\n<!-- wp:paragraph -->\n<p>People in places countries with far lower GDP reported higher levels of meaning, stronger relationships, richer community life, and more positive emotions than people in some of the world\u2019s wealthiest nations. One factor stood out: Dense webs of loving relationships\u2014family, friends, neighbors, and often, shared religious life. In fact, weekly participation in a worshiping community was strongly associated with higher flourishing across most of the globe.<\/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: Global Flourishing Study findings reported in \u201cWhat Makes for a Flourishing Life,\u201d Christianity Today, April 30, 2025.<\/p>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\n\t\t\t\t\t<!-- Scripture References -->\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"is-layout-constrained has-global-padding mb-4\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\n\t\t\t\t\t<!-- Tags -->\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"tags-section\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"tag-links tag-cloud button-group\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<h3 class=\"tag-cloud-title\">Tags<\/h3>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<ul>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<li>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<a href=\"https:\/\/www.christianitytoday.com\/pastors\/topics\/contentment\/\" class=\"button primary tag-link\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tContentment\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\/fulfillment\/\" class=\"button primary tag-link\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tFulfillment\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\/happiness\/\" class=\"button primary tag-link\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tHappiness\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\/joy\/\" class=\"button primary tag-link\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tJoy\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\/materialism\/\" class=\"button primary tag-link\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tMaterialism\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\/satisfaction\/\" class=\"button primary tag-link\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tSatisfaction\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\t<div class=\"ct-article-card-kicker-container\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"post-kicker\"><span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.christianitytoday.com\/pastors\/preaching\/sermon-illustrations\/\">Sermon Illustration<\/a><\/span><\/div>\t\t\t<\/div>\n\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\/becoming-smaller-before-a-greater-god\/\" target=\"_self\">\n\t\tBecoming Smaller Before a Greater God\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\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-65831\" 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-65831\" 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>Researcher Arthur Brooks tells the story of a college student enrolled in an introductory astronomy class. She wasn\u2019t a science major. She walked into class each week carrying the same worries we all carry, but after 90 minutes in class studying galaxies, nebulae, and the billions of stars swirling above us, she would walk out of class feeling strangely\u2026 relieved. Why? Because, she said, \u201cI am just a speck on a speck.\u201d<\/p>\n<!-- \/wp:paragraph -->\n\n<!-- wp:paragraph -->\n<p>It sounds like an insult\u2014but for her, it was liberation. Standing in awe before something vast made her smaller, and in becoming smaller, she found peace. Brooks argues that we become miserable when we try to make ourselves big\u2014important, admired, at the center of everything. But when we shrink in honest humility, we lose ourselves in wonder.<\/p>\n<!-- \/wp:paragraph -->\n\n<!-- wp:paragraph -->\n<p>And this, Scripture says, is exactly where God meets us: \u201cThe fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom\u201d (Prov. 9:10). And \u201cWhen I consider your heavens\u2026 what is man that you are mindful of him?\u201d (Ps. 8:3\u20134).<\/p>\n<!-- \/wp:paragraph -->\n\n<!-- wp:paragraph -->\n<p>We are, as Brooks puts it, \u201cspecks\u201d\u2014but \u201cbeloved specks.\u201d In the vast universe God created, He knows your name, your needs, and calls you His own. True humility is not thinking less of yourself\u2014it\u2019s seeing yourself honestly before a God immeasurably great.<\/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: Arthur C. Brooks, \u201cTo Get Happier, Make Yourself Smaller,\u201d The Atlantic, (11-20-25)<\/p>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\n\t\t\t\t\t<!-- Scripture References -->\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"is-layout-constrained has-global-padding mb-4\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<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=16649&#038;pretty_range=Proverbs%209%3A10&#038;ctp_search=1\" title=\"Search for scripture reference: Proverbs 9:10\">\n\t\t\t\t<span class=\"scripture-label\">\n\t\t\t\t\tProverbs 9:10\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=Proverbs%209%3A10&#038;version=NIV\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" title=\"View on Bible Gateway: Proverbs 9:10\">\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-2776\">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=14016&#038;pretty_range=Psalm%208%3A3&#038;ctp_search=1\" title=\"Search for scripture reference: Psalm 8:3\">\n\t\t\t\t<span class=\"scripture-label\">\n\t\t\t\t\tPsalm 8:3\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=Psalm%208%3A3&#038;version=NIV\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" title=\"View on Bible Gateway: Psalm 8:3\">\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-63267\">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=15795&#038;pretty_range=Psalm%20111%3A1&#038;ctp_search=1\" title=\"Search for scripture reference: Psalm 111:1\">\n\t\t\t\t<span class=\"scripture-label\">\n\t\t\t\t\tPsalm 111:1\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=Psalm%20111%3A1&#038;version=NIV\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" title=\"View on Bible Gateway: Psalm 111:1\">\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-67181\">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=14170&#038;pretty_range=Psalm%2019%3A1&#038;ctp_search=1\" title=\"Search for scripture reference: Psalm 19:1\">\n\t\t\t\t<span class=\"scripture-label\">\n\t\t\t\t\tPsalm 19:1\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=Psalm%2019%3A1&#038;version=NIV\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" title=\"View on Bible Gateway: Psalm 19:1\">\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-50473\">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=13402&#038;pretty_range=Job%2022%3A12&#038;ctp_search=1\" title=\"Search for scripture reference: Job 22:12\">\n\t\t\t\t<span class=\"scripture-label\">\n\t\t\t\t\tJob 22:12\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=Job%2022%3A12&#038;version=NIV\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" title=\"View on Bible Gateway: Job 22:12\">\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-93732\">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=27951&#038;pretty_range=Romans%201%3A20&#038;ctp_search=1\" title=\"Search for scripture reference: Romans 1:20\">\n\t\t\t\t<span class=\"scripture-label\">\n\t\t\t\t\tRomans 1:20\t\t\t\t<\/span>\n\t\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t\t<a class=\"scripture-label-link\" href=\"https:\/\/www.biblegateway.com\/passage\/?search=Romans%201%3A20&#038;version=NIV\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" title=\"View on Bible Gateway: Romans 1:20\">\n\t\t\t\t<span class=\"scripture-label-icon\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\n\t<svg height=\"7\" width=\"10\" class=\"icon book\" aria-hidden=\"true\" role=\"img\">\n\t\t<title id=\"title-book-72143\">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=14373&#038;pretty_range=Psalm%2033%3A6&#038;ctp_search=1\" title=\"Search for scripture reference: Psalm 33:6\">\n\t\t\t\t<span class=\"scripture-label\">\n\t\t\t\t\tPsalm 33:6\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=Psalm%2033%3A6&#038;version=NIV\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" title=\"View on Bible Gateway: Psalm 33:6\">\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-20204\">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=1&#038;pretty_range=Genesis%201%3A1&#038;ctp_search=1\" title=\"Search for scripture reference: Genesis 1:1\">\n\t\t\t\t<span class=\"scripture-label\">\n\t\t\t\t\tGenesis 1:1\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=Genesis%201%3A1&#038;version=NIV\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" title=\"View on Bible Gateway: Genesis 1:1\">\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-23509\">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\/awe\/\" class=\"button primary tag-link\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tAwe\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/li>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<li>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<a href=\"https:\/\/www.christianitytoday.com\/pastors\/topics\/creation\/\" class=\"button primary tag-link\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tCreation\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/li>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<li>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<a href=\"https:\/\/www.christianitytoday.com\/pastors\/topics\/greatness-of-god\/\" class=\"button primary tag-link\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tGreatness 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\/humble\/\" class=\"button primary tag-link\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tHumble\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\/humility\/\" class=\"button primary tag-link\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tHumility\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\/power-of-god\/\" class=\"button primary tag-link\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tPower 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\/worship\/\" class=\"button primary tag-link\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tWorship\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\t<div class=\"ct-article-card-kicker-container\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"post-kicker\"><span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.christianitytoday.com\/pastors\/preaching\/sermon-illustrations\/\">Sermon Illustration<\/a><\/span><\/div>\t\t\t<\/div>\n\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\/research-shows-how-to-learn-gratitude\/\" target=\"_self\">\n\t\tResearch Shows How to Learn Gratitude\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\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-65833\" 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-65833\" 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>Researcher Arthur C. Brooks gave a summary based on numerous studies on the benefits of gratitude: Thankfulness raises human beings\u2019 happiness. It stimulates the ventromedial prefrontal cortex, part of the brain\u2019s reward circuit. Gratitude can make us more resilient, and enhance relationships by strengthening romantic ties, bolstering friendships, and creating family bonds that endure during times of crisis. It may improve many health indicators, such as blood pressure and diet. Gratitude can make us more generous with others, more patient, and less materialistic.<\/p>\n<!-- \/wp:paragraph -->\n\n<!-- wp:paragraph -->\n<p>Gratitude also appears to be something that you can improve through practice. For example, in a 2018 study, four psychologists randomly split a sample of 153 human subjects into groups that were assigned to either remember something they were grateful for or think about something unrelated. The grateful remembering group experienced more than five times as much positive emotion as the control group. Regularly practicing gratitude and praise to God really will make us more thankful people.<\/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: Arthur C. Brooks. \u201cHow to Be Thankful When You Don\u2019t Feel Thankful.\u201d The Atlantic, (11-24-21)<\/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=29640&#038;pretty_range=1%20Thessalonians%205%3A18&#038;ctp_search=1\" title=\"Search for scripture reference: 1 Thessalonians 5:18\">\n\t\t\t\t<span class=\"scripture-label\">\n\t\t\t\t\t1 Thessalonians 5:18\t\t\t\t<\/span>\n\t\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t\t<a class=\"scripture-label-link\" href=\"https:\/\/www.biblegateway.com\/passage\/?search=1%20Thessalonians%205%3A18&#038;version=NIV\" target=\"_blank\" 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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\t<div class=\"ct-article-card-kicker-container\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"post-kicker\"><span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.christianitytoday.com\/pastors\/preaching\/sermon-illustrations\/\">Sermon Illustration<\/a><\/span><\/div>\t\t\t<\/div>\n\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\/its-only-drowning\/\" target=\"_self\">\n\t\tIt&#8217;s Only Drowning\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\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-65836\" 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-65836\" 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>Some disregard man\u2019s need to be rescued as a mere trifle. David Litt, a former Obama speechwriter, describes his efforts to learn surfing. While his daredevil brother-in-law joked, \u201cIt\u2019s only drowning\u201d Litt describes in his book, \u201cIt\u2019s Only Drowning\u201d one of his worst wipeouts.<\/p>\n<!-- \/wp:paragraph -->\n\n<!-- wp:paragraph -->\n<p>\u201cFor a long time I was weightless. In free fall. Bracing myself to hit the water with a full-body slap. But the impact never came. The crashing lip, as powerful as a jackhammer, blasted through the surface, and I flew down the resulting sinkhole until my right hip bounced against the sand. Then the sea washed over me like a coffin lid and the hold-down buried me alive.<\/p>\n<!-- \/wp:paragraph -->\n\n<!-- wp:paragraph -->\n<p>At first I held it together. <em>Don\u2019t worry. Wait it out.<\/em> But I\u2019d developed a mental hourglass\u2026and I could feel it running dry. I\u2019d never been underwater this long before. I\u2019d never pinwheeled so violently. I raised an arm, expecting to punch through the ocean\u2019s surface, but all I felt was more ocean. Water streamed up my nose and down my throat. <em>How deep am I? How long have I gone without breathing? Something\u2019s wrong.<\/em> Panic setting in, I thrashed frantically upward, water surging through the corners of my mouth each time I fought to suppress a breath. When, finally, the wave lost interest, I burst into the sunlight and took shallow, rapid breaths. My neck was sore with whiplash, my tonsils swollen from salt.\u201d<\/p>\n<!-- \/wp:paragraph -->\n\n<!-- wp:paragraph -->\n<p>&#8212;<\/p>\n<!-- \/wp:paragraph -->\n\n<!-- wp:paragraph -->\n<p>Drowning is no joke. Separation from God is no joke. Spurgeon\u2019s quote could be paired with this illustration.<\/p>\n<!-- \/wp:paragraph -->\n\n<!-- wp:quote -->\n<blockquote class=\"wp-block-quote\"><!-- wp:paragraph -->\n<p>\u201cA man who is drowning does not need to be told how to swim; he needs to be pulled out of the water. And so the sinner, sinking under the weight of his sin, does not want directions, but deliverance. He is not a free agent who can save himself if he will; he is a captive, bound hand and foot, unless the strong arm of grace shall rescue him.\u201d <br><br>C. H. Spurgeon, <em>The Metropolitan Tabernacle Pulpit<\/em>, vol. 11 (London: Passmore &amp; Alabaster, 1865).<\/p>\n<!-- \/wp:paragraph --><\/blockquote>\n<!-- \/wp:quote -->\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 Litt, It\u2019s Only Drowning, Gallery Books, 2025, 255.<\/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=27035&#038;pretty_range=Acts%204%3A12&#038;ctp_search=1\" title=\"Search for scripture reference: Acts 4:12\">\n\t\t\t\t<span 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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\/salvation-by-works\/\" class=\"button primary tag-link\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tSalvation by Works\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\/separation\/\" class=\"button primary tag-link\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tSeparation\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\/works-righteousness\/\" class=\"button primary tag-link\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tWorks Righteousness\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\t<div class=\"ct-article-card-kicker-container\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"post-kicker\"><span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.christianitytoday.com\/pastors\/preaching\/sermon-illustrations\/\">Sermon Illustration<\/a><\/span><\/div>\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t<div class=\"card-content\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<h3 class=\"ct-article-card-title\">\n\t\t\t\t<a href=\"https:\/\/www.christianitytoday.com\/pastors\/preaching\/sermon-illustrations\/the-besetting-sin-of-gossip\/\" target=\"_self\">\n\t\tThe Besetting Sin of Gossip\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\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-65838\" 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-65838\" 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>Author and journalist Kelsey McKinney is co-creator of the podcast &#8220;Normal Gossip&#8221; and has written for The New York Times, Vogue, GQ, Cosmopolitan and Vanity Fair. In her 2025 book \u201cYou Didn&#8217;t Hear This from Me: (Mostly) True Notes on Gossip&#8221;, McKinney explores the world of gossip in pop culture, celebrities and in everyday life. In one chapter entitled &#8220;Thou Shalt Not Gossip&#8221;, she details her evangelical upbringing and her struggles between trying not to sin and her innate need and desire to gossip.<\/p>\n<!-- \/wp:paragraph -->\n\n<!-- wp:paragraph -->\n<p>&#8220;I was taught growing up that everyone had a thorn shoved deep into their side, impossible to dig out on their own. The thorn couldn&#8217;t be ripped out with pliers or cut out with a scalpel because it was inside of you from birth, a kind of predetermined bodily failure created just for you. The thorn was a metaphor, of course, but it was a metaphor that would ruin your life if you let it, because the thorn was the thing that kept you from holiness, from goodness, from the shiny pearly gates of Heaven. For some, the thorn was greed or pride or wrath or lust or gluttony. But I learned quickly that my thorn was made of whispers and cupped hands and wide eyes. The thorn I thought I needed God to rid me was the one thing I loved most in the world: gossip.&#8221;<\/p>\n<!-- \/wp:paragraph -->\n\n<!-- wp:paragraph -->\n<p>Even during a sermon McKinney often couldn&#8217;t get her thoughts away from gossip:<\/p>\n<!-- \/wp:paragraph -->\n\n<!-- wp:paragraph -->\n<p>&#8220;No matter how hard I tried to tell myself that gossiping was wicked, and that God hated it, the stories just stuck to my brain. Nothing else stuck there: not multiplication tables or vocabulary words or what I had done over the weekend. But the gossip stayed. I could not remember the citation for important verses in the Bible, but I could remember that at Bible study last week, a girl had asked for everyone to pray for her ability to have patience with her parents as they fought. While the pastor guided the focus of the congregation into a close reading of verses about humility and Jonah, I watched her parents, seated far away from me, and noticed how they leaned apart. Would they get divorced? It was so much easier to focus on the drama than on anything the Bible said.&#8221;<\/p>\n<!-- \/wp:paragraph -->\n\n<!-- wp:paragraph -->\n<p>McKinney offers a good metaphor for her experience of gossip:<\/p>\n<!-- \/wp:paragraph -->\n\n<!-- wp:paragraph -->\n<p>&#8220;And every single time I gossiped, it felt like my body was a two-liter soda bottle all shaken up. The drama and the intrigue and the secrets fizzed inside of me. Sometimes the story was too good, a Mento swallowed before I could convince myself not to, and it would all come bubbling out to the surface in a geyser of gossip.&#8221;<\/p>\n<!-- \/wp:paragraph -->\n\n<!-- wp:paragraph -->\n<p>McKinney gives a stark and flagrant portrayal of the inner workings of choosing sin over holiness:<\/p>\n<!-- \/wp:paragraph -->\n\n<!-- wp:paragraph -->\n<p>&#8220;In high school I wrote in dry-erase marker on the mirror in my room Ephesians 4:29, in my curly, looping handwriting, &#8216;Do not let any unwholesome talk come out of your mouths, but only what is helpful for building up others according to their needs, that it may benefit those who listen.&#8217; I read the verse a half-dozen times every day, branded the words and their cadence into the soft tissue of my brain so that later, those grooves would burn when I ignored them and chose sin instead.&#8221;<\/p>\n<!-- \/wp:paragraph -->\n\n<!-- wp:paragraph -->\n<p>As a young woman she soon chose to walk away from the Gospel:<\/p>\n<!-- \/wp:paragraph -->\n\n<!-- wp:paragraph -->\n<p>&#8220;I stopped praying for God to take away my desire to gossip and eventually I stopped praying altogether. Without the fear of sin, I was able to stop policing my engagement with gossip, which in turn let me gossip more &#8230;&#8230; Maybe being a gossip is simply part of my identity and personality, unremovable and consistent.&#8221;<\/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: Kelsey McKinney, \u201cYou Didn&#039;t Hear This from Me: (Mostly) True Notes on Gossip,&quot; Grand Central Publishing, 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\" 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style=\"--thumb-col-width: 0px;\"\n\t>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"ct-article-card-kicker-container\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"post-kicker\"><span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.christianitytoday.com\/pastors\/preaching\/sermon-illustrations\/\">Sermon Illustration<\/a><\/span><\/div>\t\t\t<\/div>\n\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\/christians-made-him-rethink-his-hatred-of-christians\/\" target=\"_self\">\n\t\tChristians Made Him Rethink His Hatred of Christians\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\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-65840\" 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-65840\" 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>Randy Loubier and his family were reeling from a series of tragedies: his son\u2019s girlfriend, Kira, had just died in a car crash, and less than three weeks earlier, another son\u2019s girlfriend, Ashley, had committed suicide. On top of this, Randy\u2019s career in finance had collapsed after he was fired for being a whistleblower, and his family was at risk of losing their home.<\/p>\n<!-- \/wp:paragraph -->\n\n<!-- wp:paragraph -->\n<p>At Ashley\u2019s funeral, a family friend named Debbie was the only light in their darkness, offering support and kindness. Later, at Kira\u2019s wake, Randy was surprised when Kira\u2019s mother, despite her own grief, expressed concern for Randy\u2019s son: \u201cI am so sorry Zach lost Ashley\u2026 When all this is over, would it be okay if I spend a little time with Zach?\u201d Randy was stunned: \u201cShe just lost her daughter, her best friend, and she wants to care for my son? Who does that?\u201d<\/p>\n<!-- \/wp:paragraph -->\n\n<!-- wp:paragraph -->\n<p>Debbie then introduced Randy to her pastor, who invited both sons to a new grief group. Moved by the compassion of these Christians, Randy\u2019s wife announced, \u201cI\u2019m going to start going to church.\u201d Soon after, Randy\u2019s father-in-law sent him a Bible. Though previously skeptical of Christianity, Randy decided to read it: \u201cGod, if you are in this book, I am going to be super upset, because I will have been wrong for 50 years. But I guess\u2026I want to know.\u201d<\/p>\n<!-- \/wp:paragraph -->\n\n<!-- wp:paragraph -->\n<p>As he read, Randy was convicted about his own failings and gradually fell in love with Scripture. Weekly meetings with the pastor deepened his faith. When he reached the Gospels, he realized, \u201cJesus had been speaking to me all along.\u201d Randy reflects, \u201cJesus, the Word, is everything to me. He saved me\u2026 But make no mistake, the church first sparked my curiosity. If God\u2019s people hadn\u2019t made me wonder about their peculiar love, I never would have cracked open God\u2019s Word, and I never would have fallen in love myself.\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: Randy Loubier, \u201cChristians Made Me Rethink My Hatred of Christians,\u201d CT magazine, pp. 102-104<\/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=18704&#038;pretty_range=Isaiah%2052%3A7&#038;ctp_search=1\" title=\"Search 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href=\"https:\/\/www.biblegateway.com\/passage\/?search=Mark%205%3A19&#038;version=NIV\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" title=\"View on Bible Gateway: Mark 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-45320\">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=25285&#038;pretty_range=Luke%208%3A39&#038;ctp_search=1\" title=\"Search for scripture reference: Luke 8:39\">\n\t\t\t\t<span class=\"scripture-label\">\n\t\t\t\t\tLuke 8:39\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%208%3A39&#038;version=NIV\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" title=\"View on Bible Gateway: Luke 8:39\">\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-9753\">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=26302&#038;pretty_range=John%206%3A44&#038;ctp_search=1\" title=\"Search for scripture reference: John 6:44\">\n\t\t\t\t<span class=\"scripture-label\">\n\t\t\t\t\tJohn 6:44\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%206%3A44&#038;version=NIV\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" title=\"View on Bible Gateway: John 6:44\">\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-83778\">book<\/title>\n\n\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t<use xlink:href=\"#book\"><\/use>\n\t\t\n\t<\/svg>\n\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/span>\n\t\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"scripture-label-wrapper\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<a class=\"scripture-label-link\" href=\"https:\/\/www.christianitytoday.com\/pastors\/search\/?scripture_start=26932&#038;pretty_range=Acts%201%3A8&#038;ctp_search=1\" title=\"Search for scripture reference: Acts 1:8\">\n\t\t\t\t<span class=\"scripture-label\">\n\t\t\t\t\tActs 1:8\t\t\t\t<\/span>\n\t\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t\t<a class=\"scripture-label-link\" href=\"https:\/\/www.biblegateway.com\/passage\/?search=Acts%201%3A8&#038;version=NIV\" 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tag-link\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tBible\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/li>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<li>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<a href=\"https:\/\/www.christianitytoday.com\/pastors\/topics\/compassion\/\" class=\"button primary tag-link\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tCompassion\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/li>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<li>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<a href=\"https:\/\/www.christianitytoday.com\/pastors\/topics\/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\/example\/\" class=\"button primary 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Church\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\/opportunity\/\" class=\"button primary tag-link\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tOpportunity\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/li>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<li>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<a href=\"https:\/\/www.christianitytoday.com\/pastors\/topics\/outreach\/\" class=\"button primary tag-link\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tOutreach\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/li>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<li>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<a href=\"https:\/\/www.christianitytoday.com\/pastors\/topics\/scripture\/\" class=\"button primary tag-link\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tScripture\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/li>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<li>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<a href=\"https:\/\/www.christianitytoday.com\/pastors\/topics\/seekers\/\" class=\"button primary tag-link\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tSeekers\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/li>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<li>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<a href=\"https:\/\/www.christianitytoday.com\/pastors\/topics\/soul-winning\/\" class=\"button primary tag-link\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tSoul Winning\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\/word-of-god\/\" class=\"button primary tag-link\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tWord 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\t<div class=\"ct-article-card-kicker-container\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"post-kicker\"><span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.christianitytoday.com\/pastors\/preaching\/sermon-illustrations\/\">Sermon Illustration<\/a><\/span><\/div>\t\t\t<\/div>\n\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\/do-human-beings-want-to-be-deceived\/\" target=\"_self\">\n\t\tDo Human Beings Want to be Deceived?\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\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-65501\" 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-65501\" 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 his book \u201cThe Future of Truth,\u201d Werner Herzog writes about the pursuit of truth.<\/p>\n<!-- \/wp:paragraph -->\n\n<!-- wp:paragraph -->\n<p>\u201cNo one knows what it is, truth. Least of all the author. But philosophers don\u2019t know either, nor mathematicians, not even the Pope in Rome knows what it is, though he has his faith and the certainty of salvation to draw on\u2026<\/p>\n<!-- \/wp:paragraph -->\n\n<!-- wp:paragraph -->\n<p>Is there such a thing in human nature as readiness to accept lies?\u2026<\/p>\n<!-- \/wp:paragraph -->\n\n<!-- wp:paragraph -->\n<p>\u2026A willingness to deceive ourselves seems to be an essential part of our makeup. ..<\/p>\n<!-- \/wp:paragraph -->\n\n<!-- wp:paragraph -->\n<p>Show business lives entirely from our willingness to suspend our disbelief. We buy tickets for a magical performance, where we are quite willingly misled. Wrestling bouts are another instance. They draw huge audiences, even though everyone knows they \u2018re not real fights, but highly choreographed spectacles. Regardless, the spectators are passionately engaged in these fights, as though they were perfectly real.<\/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: Werner Herzog, The Future of Truth, Penguin Press, 2025, 3, 70-71.<\/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=29843&#038;pretty_range=2%20Timothy%202%3A15&#038;ctp_search=1\" title=\"Search for scripture reference: 2 Timothy 2:15\">\n\t\t\t\t<span class=\"scripture-label\">\n\t\t\t\t\t2 Timothy 2:15\t\t\t\t<\/span>\n\t\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t\t<a class=\"scripture-label-link\" href=\"https:\/\/www.biblegateway.com\/passage\/?search=2%20Timothy%202%3A15&#038;version=NIV\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" title=\"View on Bible Gateway: 2 Timothy 2:15\">\n\t\t\t\t<span class=\"scripture-label-icon\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\n\t<svg height=\"7\" width=\"10\" class=\"icon book\" aria-hidden=\"true\" role=\"img\">\n\t\t<title id=\"title-book-22140\">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=16339&#038;pretty_range=Psalm%20145%3A18&#038;ctp_search=1\" title=\"Search for scripture reference: Psalm 145:18\">\n\t\t\t\t<span class=\"scripture-label\">\n\t\t\t\t\tPsalm 145:18\t\t\t\t<\/span>\n\t\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t\t<a class=\"scripture-label-link\" href=\"https:\/\/www.biblegateway.com\/passage\/?search=Psalm%20145%3A18&#038;version=NIV\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" title=\"View on Bible Gateway: Psalm 145:18\">\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-36609\">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=30502&#038;pretty_range=2%20Peter%202%3A1&#038;ctp_search=1\" title=\"Search for scripture reference: 2 Peter 2:1\">\n\t\t\t\t<span class=\"scripture-label\">\n\t\t\t\t\t2 Peter 2:1\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%20Peter%202%3A1&#038;version=NIV\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" title=\"View on Bible Gateway: 2 Peter 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-17942\">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=29671&#038;pretty_range=2%20Thessalonians%202%3A9&#038;ctp_search=1\" title=\"Search for scripture reference: 2 Thessalonians 2:9\">\n\t\t\t\t<span class=\"scripture-label\">\n\t\t\t\t\t2 Thessalonians 2:9\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%20Thessalonians%202%3A9&#038;version=NIV\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" title=\"View on Bible Gateway: 2 Thessalonians 2:9\">\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-54875\">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=28355&#038;pretty_range=Romans%2016%3A18&#038;ctp_search=1\" title=\"Search for scripture reference: Romans 16:18\">\n\t\t\t\t<span class=\"scripture-label\">\n\t\t\t\t\tRomans 16:18\t\t\t\t<\/span>\n\t\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t\t<a class=\"scripture-label-link\" href=\"https:\/\/www.biblegateway.com\/passage\/?search=Romans%2016%3A18&#038;version=NIV\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" title=\"View on Bible Gateway: Romans 16:18\">\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-29119\">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=29503&#038;pretty_range=Colossians%202%3A8&#038;ctp_search=1\" title=\"Search for scripture reference: Colossians 2:8\">\n\t\t\t\t<span class=\"scripture-label\">\n\t\t\t\t\tColossians 2:8\t\t\t\t<\/span>\n\t\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t\t<a class=\"scripture-label-link\" href=\"https:\/\/www.biblegateway.com\/passage\/?search=Colossians%202%3A8&#038;version=NIV\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" title=\"View on Bible Gateway: Colossians 2:8\">\n\t\t\t\t<span class=\"scripture-label-icon\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\n\t<svg height=\"7\" width=\"10\" class=\"icon book\" aria-hidden=\"true\" role=\"img\">\n\t\t<title id=\"title-book-30127\">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=16742&#038;pretty_range=Proverbs%2012%3A22&#038;ctp_search=1\" title=\"Search for scripture reference: Proverbs 12:22\">\n\t\t\t\t<span class=\"scripture-label\">\n\t\t\t\t\tProverbs 12:22\t\t\t\t<\/span>\n\t\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t\t<a class=\"scripture-label-link\" 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tag-link\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tHypocrisy\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<\/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\t<div class=\"ct-article-card-kicker-container\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"post-kicker\"><span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.christianitytoday.com\/pastors\/preaching\/sermon-illustrations\/\">Sermon Illustration<\/a><\/span><\/div>\t\t\t<\/div>\n\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\/focus-on-others-gives-us-motivation-to-overcome\/\" target=\"_self\">\n\t\tFocus On Others Gives Us Motivation to Overcome\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\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-65498\" 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-65498\" 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>God did not create us to be loners. From the beginning He said being alone was not good. One value that others supply to our life is motivation. Sheryl Sandberg and Adam Grant write of this as they tell the story of a mother who wanted to be a superhero for her children.<\/p>\n<!-- \/wp:paragraph -->\n\n<!-- wp:paragraph -->\n<p>When we focus on others, we find motivation that is difficult to marshal for ourselves alone. In 2015, U. S. Army major Lisa Jaster was attempting to graduate from the elite Ranger School. Having served in Afghanistan and Iraq, she thought she could complete the grueling program in nine weeks. But getting through land navigation, water survival, staged assaults, ambushes, mountaineering, and an obstacle course took her twenty-six weeks. The final event was a twelve-mile march carrying a thirty-five-pound rucksack plus nine quarts of water and a rifle. By the ten-mile mark, Lisa felt nauseous, her feet were blistered, and she thought there was no way she could make it to the finish line. But then an image flashed through her mind\u2014a cherished picture of her and her kids. Her son had Batman on his T-shirt and her daughter had Wonder Woman on hers. On the photo Lisa had written, \u201cI want to be their superhero.\u201d Lisa ran the last two miles and beat her target time by a minute and a half. She went on to make history as one of the first three women to become an Army Ranger.<\/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: Sheryl Sandberg and Adam Grant, Option B, Alfred A. Knopf, 2017, Page 95-96.<\/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=30629&#038;pretty_range=1%20John%205%3A4&#038;ctp_search=1\" title=\"Search for scripture reference: 1 John 5:4\">\n\t\t\t\t<span class=\"scripture-label\">\n\t\t\t\t\t1 John 5:4\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%20John%205%3A4&#038;version=NIV\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" title=\"View on Bible Gateway: 1 John 5:4\">\n\t\t\t\t<span 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class=\"icon book\" aria-hidden=\"true\" role=\"img\">\n\t\t<title id=\"title-book-79289\">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=28154&#038;pretty_range=Romans%208%3A37&#038;ctp_search=1\" title=\"Search for scripture reference: Romans 8:37\">\n\t\t\t\t<span class=\"scripture-label\">\n\t\t\t\t\tRomans 8:37\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%3A37&#038;version=NIV\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" title=\"View on Bible Gateway: Romans 8:37\">\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-94941\">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=30279&#038;pretty_range=James%201%3A12&#038;ctp_search=1\" title=\"Search for scripture reference: James 1:12\">\n\t\t\t\t<span class=\"scripture-label\">\n\t\t\t\t\tJames 1:12\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=James%201%3A12&#038;version=NIV\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" title=\"View on Bible Gateway: James 1:12\">\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-51323\">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=29395&#038;pretty_range=Philippians%202%3A3&#038;ctp_search=1\" title=\"Search for scripture reference: Philippians 2:3\">\n\t\t\t\t<span class=\"scripture-label\">\n\t\t\t\t\tPhilippians 2:3\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=Philippians%202%3A3&#038;version=NIV\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" title=\"View on Bible Gateway: Philippians 2:3\">\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-45976\">book<\/title>\n\n\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t<use 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tag-link\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tDetermination\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\/motherhood\/\" class=\"button primary tag-link\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tMotherhood\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\/motivation\/\" class=\"button primary tag-link\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tMotivation\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\/women\/\" class=\"button primary tag-link\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tWomen\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\/women-in-leadership\/\" class=\"button primary tag-link\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tWomen in Leadership\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\t<div class=\"ct-article-card-kicker-container\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"post-kicker\"><span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.christianitytoday.com\/pastors\/preaching\/sermon-illustrations\/\">Sermon Illustration<\/a><\/span><\/div>\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t<div class=\"card-content\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<h3 class=\"ct-article-card-title\">\n\t\t\t\t<a href=\"https:\/\/www.christianitytoday.com\/pastors\/preaching\/sermon-illustrations\/the-pastor-who-became-a-plumber-and-met-jesus\/\" target=\"_self\">\n\t\tThe Pastor Who Became a Plumber\u2014and Met Jesus\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\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-65496\" 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-65496\" 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>Ten years ago, a young husband and father named Nathaniel had dreamed for years of becoming a pastor.. But seminary was expensive. His family needed stability. And perhaps most honestly, he felt unprepared. &#8220;How could I lead people down a path I barely know myself?&#8221;<\/p>\n<!-- \/wp:paragraph -->\n\n<!-- wp:paragraph -->\n<p>A pastor at his church mentioned that a member owned a plumbing company and was hiring. It wasn\u2019t glamorous. It wasn\u2019t ministry. It wasn\u2019t what he pictured when he imagined serving God. But he prayed, \u201cLord, make me the kind of person who could someday be a pastor,\u201d and he took the job. Ten years later, he\u2019s still a plumber\u2014and he says it\u2019s the best thing that ever happened to his spiritual life.<\/p>\n<!-- \/wp:paragraph -->\n\n<!-- wp:paragraph -->\n<p>You wouldn\u2019t expect spiritual formation to happen while kneeling under a sink or installing a water heater. But Nathaniel discovered what many Christians forget: the Christian life is learned in ordinary work with ordinary people.<\/p>\n<!-- \/wp:paragraph -->\n\n<!-- wp:paragraph -->\n<p>Wrench in hand, he learned to pray while working. He discovered what saints taught: that work and prayer aren\u2019t enemies but partners. Manual labor demanded all of him\u2014mind, strength, attention, humility. And as he gave all of himself to his work, he learned to give all of himself to God.<\/p>\n<!-- \/wp:paragraph -->\n\n<!-- wp:paragraph -->\n<p>Somewhere between tightening pipes and thumbing through theology books at night, Jesus reshaped him\u2014not into the pastor he dreamed of becoming, but into a follower whose whole life had become a prayer. Nathaniel says, \u201cThis isn\u2019t the life I expected, but it\u2019s the life for which I prayed.\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: Nathaniel Marshall, \u201cInstead of Becoming a Pastor, I Minister as a Plumber,\u201d Christianity Today, (09-1-22)<\/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=17358&#038;pretty_range=Ecclesiastes%202%3A24&#038;ctp_search=1\" title=\"Search for scripture reference: Ecclesiastes 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href=\"https:\/\/www.biblegateway.com\/passage\/?search=Colossians%203%3A17&#038;version=NIV\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" title=\"View on Bible Gateway: Colossians 3:17\">\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-18004\">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=16911&#038;pretty_range=Proverbs%2018%3A9&#038;ctp_search=1\" title=\"Search for scripture reference: Proverbs 18:9\">\n\t\t\t\t<span class=\"scripture-label\">\n\t\t\t\t\tProverbs 18:9\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=2%20Timothy%202%3A15&#038;version=NIV\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" title=\"View on Bible Gateway: 2 Timothy 2:15\">\n\t\t\t\t<span class=\"scripture-label-icon\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\n\t<svg height=\"7\" width=\"10\" class=\"icon book\" aria-hidden=\"true\" role=\"img\">\n\t\t<title id=\"title-book-7552\">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\/calling\/\" class=\"button primary 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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\/vocation\/\" class=\"button primary tag-link\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tVocation\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\t<div class=\"ct-article-card-kicker-container\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"post-kicker\"><span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.christianitytoday.com\/pastors\/preaching\/sermon-illustrations\/\">Sermon Illustration<\/a><\/span><\/div>\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t<div class=\"card-content\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<h3 class=\"ct-article-card-title\">\n\t\t\t\t<a href=\"https:\/\/www.christianitytoday.com\/pastors\/preaching\/sermon-illustrations\/the-quiet-return-of-faith\/\" target=\"_self\">\n\t\tThe Quiet Return of Faith\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\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-65493\" 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-65493\" 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>For much of the last half-century, Sweden was held up as the clearest picture of a secular future. Church attendance hovered around five percent. Belief in God collapsed. As Swedish church historian Joel Halldorf describes it, religion wasn\u2019t angrily rejected\u2014it was gently dismissed. But in recent years, Sweden has seen unexpected signs of change: open conversations about faith at intellectual dinner tables, and\u2014most surprising of all\u2014young people showing up in churches.<\/p>\n<!-- \/wp:paragraph -->\n\n<!-- wp:paragraph -->\n<p>Across the Western world, similar signals are appearing. In Britain, journalists speak of a \u201cquiet revival.\u201d In France, the Catholic Church reports a stunning surge: more than 7,400 teenagers baptized at Easter in 2024. In the United States, Pew Research notes that the long decline of religious affiliation has flattened, especially among younger adults.<\/p>\n<!-- \/wp:paragraph -->\n\n<!-- wp:paragraph -->\n<p>Globally, Gen Z is now more religious than their boomer parents\u2014a reversal once thought nearly impossible. Musician Nick Cave observed that a decade ago, talking about God at a dinner table would get you laughed out of the room. Now, he says, people listen. There is \u201ca kind of need\u201d in the air.<\/p>\n<!-- \/wp:paragraph -->\n\n<!-- wp:paragraph -->\n<p>Halldorf argues that there\u2019s an erosion of faith in secular progress itself. When reason, technology, and prosperity stopped delivering hope, people didn\u2019t stop longing. They started searching again. And in the Western world that search is becoming visible.<\/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: Joel Halldorf, \u201cNot So Secular Sweden,\u201d Christianity Today, (01-08-26)<\/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=24215&#038;pretty_range=Matthew%2028%3A19&#038;ctp_search=1\" title=\"Search for scripture reference: Matthew 28:19\">\n\t\t\t\t<span class=\"scripture-label\">\n\t\t\t\t\tMatthew 28:19\t\t\t\t<\/span>\n\t\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t\t<a class=\"scripture-label-link\" href=\"https:\/\/www.biblegateway.com\/passage\/?search=Matthew%2028%3A19&#038;version=NIV\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" title=\"View on Bible Gateway: Matthew 28:19\">\n\t\t\t\t<span class=\"scripture-label-icon\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\n\t<svg height=\"7\" width=\"10\" class=\"icon book\" aria-hidden=\"true\" role=\"img\">\n\t\t<title id=\"title-book-85226\">book<\/title>\n\n\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t<use xlink:href=\"#book\"><\/use>\n\t\t\n\t<\/svg>\n\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/span>\n\t\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"scripture-label-wrapper\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<a class=\"scripture-label-link\" href=\"https:\/\/www.christianitytoday.com\/pastors\/search\/?scripture_start=26932&#038;pretty_range=Acts%201%3A8&#038;ctp_search=1\" title=\"Search for scripture reference: Acts 1:8\">\n\t\t\t\t<span class=\"scripture-label\">\n\t\t\t\t\tActs 1:8\t\t\t\t<\/span>\n\t\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t\t<a class=\"scripture-label-link\" href=\"https:\/\/www.biblegateway.com\/passage\/?search=Acts%201%3A8&#038;version=NIV\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" title=\"View on Bible Gateway: Acts 1:8\">\n\t\t\t\t<span class=\"scripture-label-icon\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\n\t<svg height=\"7\" width=\"10\" class=\"icon book\" aria-hidden=\"true\" role=\"img\">\n\t\t<title id=\"title-book-3065\">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=23415&#038;pretty_range=Matthew%209%3A35&#038;ctp_search=1\" title=\"Search for scripture reference: Matthew 9:35\">\n\t\t\t\t<span class=\"scripture-label\">\n\t\t\t\t\tMatthew 9:35\t\t\t\t<\/span>\n\t\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t\t<a class=\"scripture-label-link\" href=\"https:\/\/www.biblegateway.com\/passage\/?search=Matthew%209%3A35&#038;version=NIV\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" title=\"View on Bible Gateway: Matthew 9:35\">\n\t\t\t\t<span class=\"scripture-label-icon\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\n\t<svg height=\"7\" width=\"10\" class=\"icon book\" aria-hidden=\"true\" role=\"img\">\n\t\t<title id=\"title-book-47617\">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=25366&#038;pretty_range=Luke%2010%3A2&#038;ctp_search=1\" title=\"Search for scripture reference: Luke 10:2\">\n\t\t\t\t<span class=\"scripture-label\">\n\t\t\t\t\tLuke 10:2\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=Luke%2010%3A2&#038;version=NIV\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" title=\"View on Bible Gateway: Luke 10:2\">\n\t\t\t\t<span class=\"scripture-label-icon\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\n\t<svg height=\"7\" width=\"10\" class=\"icon book\" aria-hidden=\"true\" role=\"img\">\n\t\t<title id=\"title-book-21284\">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=26990&#038;pretty_range=Acts%202%3A40&#038;ctp_search=1\" title=\"Search for scripture reference: Acts 2:40\">\n\t\t\t\t<span class=\"scripture-label\">\n\t\t\t\t\tActs 2:40\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%202%3A40&#038;version=NIV\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" title=\"View on Bible Gateway: Acts 2:40\">\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-98653\">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=27540&#038;pretty_range=Acts%2017%3A16&#038;ctp_search=1\" title=\"Search for scripture reference: Acts 17:16\">\n\t\t\t\t<span class=\"scripture-label\">\n\t\t\t\t\tActs 17:16\t\t\t\t<\/span>\n\t\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t\t<a class=\"scripture-label-link\" 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tag-link\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tApologetics\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/li>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<li>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<a href=\"https:\/\/www.christianitytoday.com\/pastors\/topics\/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\/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\/revival\/\" class=\"button primary tag-link\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tRevival\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/li>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<li>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<a href=\"https:\/\/www.christianitytoday.com\/pastors\/topics\/secularism\/\" class=\"button primary tag-link\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tSecularism\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/li>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<li>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<a href=\"https:\/\/www.christianitytoday.com\/pastors\/topics\/seekers\/\" class=\"button primary tag-link\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tSeekers\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/li>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/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\t<div class=\"ct-article-card-kicker-container\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"post-kicker\"><span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.christianitytoday.com\/pastors\/preaching\/sermon-illustrations\/\">Sermon Illustration<\/a><\/span><\/div>\t\t\t<\/div>\n\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\/an-unready-father-met-his-heavenly-father\/\" target=\"_self\">\n\t\tAn Unready Father Met His Heavenly Father\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\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-65491\" 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-65491\" 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>Hector Vega\u2019s journey to faith began in the most unlikely place: Rikers Island Prison. One night, correction officers rushed in. An inmate named Jose Vega had committed suicide. Due to a mix-up, prison staff mistakenly identified Hector as the deceased and notified his family. For several days, while the prison was on lockdown, Hector\u2019s family believed he was dead.<\/p>\n<!-- \/wp:paragraph -->\n\n<!-- wp:paragraph -->\n<p>Reflecting on this, Hector said, \u201cThere\u2019s something powerfully symbolic in how I was \u2018dead\u2019 but not yet buried. Looking back on this moment in my life, I believe God was beginning to show me that although I was physically alive, I was spiritually lifeless.\u201d<\/p>\n<!-- \/wp:paragraph -->\n\n<!-- wp:paragraph -->\n<p>Raised in Hell\u2019s Kitchen, New York, Hector struggled with feelings of inadequacy. To fit in, he began drinking at 11, then moved to marijuana, cocaine, and heroin. Multiple prison sentences followed. A turning point came through his girlfriend Michelle, who, frustrated by his addiction and aware he wasn\u2019t ready for fatherhood, turned to God and prayed for his deliverance. She encouraged Hector to attend a Christian recovery program.<\/p>\n<!-- \/wp:paragraph -->\n\n<!-- wp:paragraph -->\n<p>Hector recalls, \u201cI also started feeling deep remorse and shame over the pain I had caused people in my family, especially my mom and dad. So, I started attending prison chapel services. From there I started reading the Word of God, and gradually it got a tight hold on my heart.\u201d He clung to passages like Psalms 27 and 91, and Galatians 5:1\u201313, which speaks of freedom in Christ.<\/p>\n<!-- \/wp:paragraph -->\n\n<!-- wp:paragraph -->\n<p>With the support of mentors, Hector surrendered his life to Christ. Since then, he has served as executive director of a homeless shelter and addiction-recovery program, and since 2009, as pastor of East Harlem Fellowship. Married to Michelle for 30 years, they have raised four children. Hector now travels globally, sharing, \u201cWhen the world had labeled me an addict and a career criminal, his love and mercy overwhelmed me\u2026 I was made in his image and worthy of being presented as a trophy of his grace.\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: Hector Vega, \u201cI Wasn\u2019t Ready to Be a Father When I Met My Heavenly Father,\u201d CT magazine (October, 2023), pp. 94-96<\/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=15290&#038;pretty_range=Psalm%2086%3A5&#038;ctp_search=1\" title=\"Search for scripture reference: Psalm 86:5\">\n\t\t\t\t<span class=\"scripture-label\">\n\t\t\t\t\tPsalm 86:5\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=Psalm%2086%3A5&#038;version=NIV\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" title=\"View on Bible Gateway: Psalm 86:5\">\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-14950\">book<\/title>\n\n\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t<use xlink:href=\"#book\"><\/use>\n\t\t\n\t<\/svg>\n\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/span>\n\t\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"scripture-label-wrapper\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<a class=\"scripture-label-link\" 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tag-link\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tAlcohol\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\/assurance-of-salvation\/\" class=\"button primary tag-link\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tAssurance of Salvation\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\/behavior\/\" class=\"button primary tag-link\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tBehavior\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/li>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<li>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<a href=\"https:\/\/www.christianitytoday.com\/pastors\/topics\/born-again\/\" class=\"button primary tag-link\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tBorn 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tag-link\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tConversion\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/li>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<li>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<a href=\"https:\/\/www.christianitytoday.com\/pastors\/topics\/drugs\/\" class=\"button primary tag-link\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tDrugs\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\/forgiveness-of-christ\/\" class=\"button primary tag-link\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tForgiveness 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\/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\/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\/redemption\/\" class=\"button primary tag-link\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tRedemption\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/li>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<li>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<a href=\"https:\/\/www.christianitytoday.com\/pastors\/topics\/regeneration\/\" class=\"button primary tag-link\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tRegeneration\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/li>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<li>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<a href=\"https:\/\/www.christianitytoday.com\/pastors\/topics\/salvation\/\" class=\"button primary tag-link\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tSalvation\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/li>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<li>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<a href=\"https:\/\/www.christianitytoday.com\/pastors\/topics\/testimony\/\" class=\"button primary tag-link\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tTestimony\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/li>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<li>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<a href=\"https:\/\/www.christianitytoday.com\/pastors\/topics\/witness\/\" class=\"button primary tag-link\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tWitness\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/li>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t<\/div><!-- .quick-view-container -->\n\t\t\t<\/div><!-- .card-content -->\n<\/div><!-- .ct-article-card -->\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"ct-article-card ct-article-card-horizontal\" style=\"--thumb-col-width: 0px;\"\n\t>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"ct-article-card-kicker-container\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"post-kicker\"><span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.christianitytoday.com\/pastors\/search\/?format=Article&#038;ctp_search=1\">Article<\/a><\/span><\/div>\t\t\t<\/div>\n\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\/content\/pisgah\/\" target=\"_self\">\n\t\tPisgah\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\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\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\t<div class=\"ct-article-card-kicker-container\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"post-kicker\"><span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.christianitytoday.com\/pastors\/preaching\/sermon-illustrations\/\">Sermon Illustration<\/a><\/span><\/div>\t\t\t<\/div>\n\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\/dying-and-the-shape-of-a-faithful-life\/\" target=\"_self\">\n\t\tDying and the Shape of a Faithful Life\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\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-65352\" 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-65352\" 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 a tender reflection on her mother\u2019s death, author Jen Wilkin describes standing at the bedside of the woman who once held her hand as a child. As her mother\u2019s breathing slowed, Wilkin noticed something she had spent years teaching in Scripture but had never fully seen in life itself: the symmetry of a human life.<br>She realized that the way her mother left the world mirrored the way she had entered it\u2014through great labor, surrounded by caregivers, dependent on others for comfort and care. The end echoed the beginning. Birth and death formed bookends, and in between stretched a long arc of giving and receiving, strength and weakness, dependence and responsibility.<\/p>\n<!-- \/wp:paragraph -->\n\n<!-- wp:paragraph -->\n<p>Wilkin calls this pattern a kind of chiasm\u2014a mirror structure often found in Scripture, where the most important truth sits at the center. Life, she suggests, follows the same design. We begin helpless, grow strong, care for others, then slowly relinquish control and learn again how to receive care. What looks like loss is not wasted. It is part of God\u2019s wise ordering.<\/p>\n<!-- \/wp:paragraph -->\n\n<!-- wp:paragraph -->\n<p>At her mother\u2019s bedside, Wilkin whispered words she had spoken often in the final years: &#8220;You are a person to love, not a problem to solve.&#8221; In a culture that fears aging and resists dependence, Scripture teaches that human worth does not diminish with ability. Bodies may fail, but people continue to grow\u2014especially in wisdom.<\/p>\n<!-- \/wp:paragraph -->\n\n<!-- wp:paragraph -->\n<p>The symmetry of a long life reminds us that God is faithful in every season\u2014from first breath to last\u2014and that none of it is wasted in his hands.<\/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: Jen Wilkin, \u201cAt My Mother\u2019s Deathbed, I Discovered the Symmetry of a Long Life,\u201d Christianity Today, Jan\/Feb 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\" 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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-muslim-walks-through-the-door\/\" target=\"_self\">\n\t\tA Muslim Walks Through the Door\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\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-65349\" 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-65349\" 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>Nabeel Qureshi was born in California to Pakistani immigrant parents, devout members of the peaceful Ahmadi sect of Islam. His father whispered \u201cAllahu Akbar\u201d into his ear at birth, following a family tradition dating back to Muhammad. Nabeel\u2019s family was loving and tightly knit, entirely centered on Islam. His mother taught him Arabic before English, and by age five, he had read the entire Qur\u2019an in Arabic and memorized many chapters.<\/p>\n<!-- \/wp:paragraph -->\n\n<!-- wp:paragraph -->\n<p>His family legacy included generations of Muslim missionaries, and by middle school, Nabeel was adept at challenging Christian theology. Islam gave him \u201cpurpose, values, and direction for worship.\u201d<\/p>\n<!-- \/wp:paragraph -->\n\n<!-- wp:paragraph -->\n<p>In 2001, while at Old Dominion University, Nabeel met David Wood, a Christian student. Nabeel was surprised that someone so intelligent would read the Bible. Their debates grew into a deep friendship and years-long dialogue. David encouraged Nabeel to examine both Islam and Christianity objectively. \u201cI had been happy with my faith and with my Ahmadi community and did not want to leave it, but I ultimately converted to Christianity after years of dialogue with Wood,\u201d Nabeel recalled. He described his conversion as \u201cthe most painful thing [he] ever did\u201d because it cost him most of his friendships and relationships with fellow Muslims.<\/p>\n<!-- \/wp:paragraph -->\n\n<!-- wp:paragraph -->\n<p>He wrote, \u201cFor the first time, the [Qur\u2019an] seemed utterly irrelevant to my suffering. It felt like a dead book.\u201d In contrast, the words of Jesus in the New Testament \u201cleapt off the page and jump-started my heart.\u201d He realized, \u201cFor Muslims, following the gospel is more than a call to prayer. It is a call to die. I knelt at the foot of my bed and gave up my life.\u201d<\/p>\n<!-- \/wp:paragraph -->\n\n<!-- wp:paragraph -->\n<p>His conversion deeply wounded his family. He said, \u201cTo this day my family is broken by the decision I made, and it is excruciating every time I see the cost I had to pay.\u201d But Nabeel said, \u201cJesus is the God of redemption. He redeemed my suffering by making me rely upon him for my every moment\u2026 To follow him is worth giving up everything.\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: Nabeel Qureshi, \u201cCalled Off the Minaret,\u201d CT magazine (Jan\/Feb, 2014), pp. 95-96; Justin Taylor, \u201cNabeel Qureshi (1983-2017),\u201d The Gospel Coalition, (9-16-17)<\/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\" 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tag-cloud button-group\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<h3 class=\"tag-cloud-title\">Tags<\/h3>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<ul>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<li>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<a href=\"https:\/\/www.christianitytoday.com\/pastors\/topics\/apologetics\/\" class=\"button primary tag-link\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tApologetics\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/li>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<li>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<a href=\"https:\/\/www.christianitytoday.com\/pastors\/topics\/authority-of-christ\/\" class=\"button primary tag-link\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tAuthority 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\/authority-of-scripture\/\" class=\"button primary tag-link\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tAuthority of Scripture\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/li>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<li>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<a href=\"https:\/\/www.christianitytoday.com\/pastors\/topics\/born-again\/\" class=\"button primary tag-link\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tBorn Again\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/li>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<li>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<a href=\"https:\/\/www.christianitytoday.com\/pastors\/topics\/christ\/\" class=\"button primary tag-link\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tChrist\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-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\/cross-bearing\/\" class=\"button primary tag-link\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tCross-bearing\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\/deity-of-christ\/\" class=\"button primary tag-link\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tDeity 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\/dreams\/\" class=\"button primary tag-link\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tDreams\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\/dying-to-self\/\" class=\"button primary tag-link\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tDying to Self\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\/muslim\/\" class=\"button primary tag-link\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tMuslim\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\/new-testament\/\" class=\"button primary tag-link\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tNew Testament\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\/visions-dreams\/\" class=\"button primary tag-link\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tVisions &amp; Dreams\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\t<div class=\"ct-article-card-kicker-container\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"post-kicker\"><span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.christianitytoday.com\/pastors\/preaching\/sermon-illustrations\/\">Sermon Illustration<\/a><\/span><\/div>\t\t\t<\/div>\n\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\/an-educational-obstacle-course\/\" target=\"_self\">\n\t\tAn Educational Obstacle Course\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\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-65346\" 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-65346\" 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>What is the greatest obstacle to education? poor teacher training? decrepit facilities? inadequate curriculum? outdated teaching methods? or, lack of money? According to seminary and Christian college prof. T. David Gordon, the greatest obstacle to education is, &#8220;the student himself, his parochialism, his laziness, his reluctance to abandon his current viewpoints, his resistance to disciplined intellectual effort, his complacent self-satisfaction with his present attainment and understanding.&#8221; Surprised? Shocked? If you think Gordon is just being an ornery troglodyte, an ancient observer noticed the same over 2,400 years ago &#8212; Socrates! To meet the challenge, Gordon says the best educators try to &#8220;infect&#8221; their students with a love of learning (and a hatred of parochialism!).<\/p>\n<!-- \/wp:paragraph -->\n\n<!-- wp:paragraph -->\n<p>You&#8217;d think education would come &#8220;naturally&#8221; to Jesus&#8217; disciples (&#8220;learners&#8221;), but it doesn&#8217;t seem to. It takes the Holy Spirit to overcome our (sinful) resistance to learning.<\/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: T. David Gordon, Why Johnny Can&#039;t Sing Hymns (P&amp;R Publishing, 2010), p. 108 and https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Socrates<\/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=14257&#038;pretty_range=Psalm%2025%3A5&#038;ctp_search=1\" title=\"Search for scripture reference: Psalm 25:5\">\n\t\t\t\t<span class=\"scripture-label\">\n\t\t\t\t\tPsalm 25:5\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=Psalm%2025%3A5&#038;version=NIV\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" title=\"View on Bible Gateway: Psalm 25:5\">\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-30456\">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=14335&#038;pretty_range=Psalm%2031%3A3&#038;ctp_search=1\" title=\"Search for scripture reference: Psalm 31:3\">\n\t\t\t\t<span class=\"scripture-label\">\n\t\t\t\t\tPsalm 31:3\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=Psalm%2031%3A3&#038;version=NIV\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" title=\"View on Bible Gateway: Psalm 31:3\">\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-43563\">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=16406&#038;pretty_range=Proverbs%201%3A5&#038;ctp_search=1\" title=\"Search for scripture reference: Proverbs 1:5\">\n\t\t\t\t<span class=\"scripture-label\">\n\t\t\t\t\tProverbs 1:5\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=Proverbs%201%3A5&#038;version=NIV\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" title=\"View on Bible Gateway: Proverbs 1:5\">\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-849\">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=16408&#038;pretty_range=Proverbs%201%3A7&#038;ctp_search=1\" title=\"Search for scripture reference: Proverbs 1:7\">\n\t\t\t\t<span class=\"scripture-label\">\n\t\t\t\t\tProverbs 1:7\t\t\t\t<\/span>\n\t\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t\t<a class=\"scripture-label-link\" href=\"https:\/\/www.biblegateway.com\/passage\/?search=Proverbs%201%3A7&#038;version=NIV\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" title=\"View on Bible Gateway: Proverbs 1:7\">\n\t\t\t\t<span class=\"scripture-label-icon\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\n\t<svg height=\"7\" width=\"10\" class=\"icon book\" aria-hidden=\"true\" role=\"img\">\n\t\t<title id=\"title-book-71865\">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=16648&#038;pretty_range=Proverbs%209%3A9&#038;ctp_search=1\" title=\"Search for scripture reference: Proverbs 9:9\">\n\t\t\t\t<span class=\"scripture-label\">\n\t\t\t\t\tProverbs 9:9\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=Proverbs%209%3A9&#038;version=NIV\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" title=\"View on Bible Gateway: Proverbs 9:9\">\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-59210\">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=16735&#038;pretty_range=Proverbs%2012%3A15&#038;ctp_search=1\" title=\"Search for scripture reference: Proverbs 12:15\">\n\t\t\t\t<span class=\"scripture-label\">\n\t\t\t\t\tProverbs 12:15\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=Proverbs%2012%3A15&#038;version=NIV\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" title=\"View on Bible Gateway: Proverbs 12:15\">\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-42422\">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=16758&#038;pretty_range=Proverbs%2013%3A10&#038;ctp_search=1\" title=\"Search for scripture reference: Proverbs 13:10\">\n\t\t\t\t<span class=\"scripture-label\">\n\t\t\t\t\tProverbs 13:10\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=Proverbs%2013%3A10&#038;version=NIV\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" title=\"View on Bible Gateway: Proverbs 13:10\">\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-9605\">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=16779&#038;pretty_range=Proverbs%2014%3A6&#038;ctp_search=1\" title=\"Search for scripture reference: Proverbs 14:6\">\n\t\t\t\t<span class=\"scripture-label\">\n\t\t\t\t\tProverbs 14:6\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=Proverbs%2014%3A6&#038;version=NIV\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" title=\"View on Bible Gateway: Proverbs 14:6\">\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-85677\">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=16839&#038;pretty_range=Proverbs%2015%3A31&#038;ctp_search=1\" title=\"Search for scripture reference: Proverbs 15:31\">\n\t\t\t\t<span class=\"scripture-label\">\n\t\t\t\t\tProverbs 15:31\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=Proverbs%2015%3A31&#038;version=NIV\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" title=\"View on Bible Gateway: Proverbs 15:31\">\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-63153\">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=16951&#038;pretty_range=Proverbs%2019%3A25&#038;ctp_search=1\" title=\"Search for scripture reference: Proverbs 19:25\">\n\t\t\t\t<span class=\"scripture-label\">\n\t\t\t\t\tProverbs 19:25\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=Proverbs%2019%3A25&#038;version=NIV\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" title=\"View on Bible Gateway: Proverbs 19:25\">\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-11644\">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=17223&#038;pretty_range=Proverbs%2028%3A26&#038;ctp_search=1\" title=\"Search for scripture reference: Proverbs 28:26\">\n\t\t\t\t<span class=\"scripture-label\">\n\t\t\t\t\tProverbs 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=Proverbs%2028%3A26&#038;version=NIV\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" title=\"View on Bible Gateway: Proverbs 28:26\">\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-41187\">book<\/title>\n\n\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t<use xlink:href=\"#book\"><\/use>\n\t\t\n\t<\/svg>\n\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/span>\n\t\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"scripture-label-wrapper\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<a class=\"scripture-label-link\" href=\"https:\/\/www.christianitytoday.com\/pastors\/search\/?scripture_start=23488&#038;pretty_range=Matthew%2011%3A28&#038;ctp_search=1\" title=\"Search for scripture reference: Matthew 11:28\">\n\t\t\t\t<span class=\"scripture-label\">\n\t\t\t\t\tMatthew 11:28\t\t\t\t<\/span>\n\t\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t\t<a class=\"scripture-label-link\" href=\"https:\/\/www.biblegateway.com\/passage\/?search=Matthew%2011%3A28&#038;version=NIV\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" title=\"View on Bible Gateway: Matthew 11:28\">\n\t\t\t\t<span class=\"scripture-label-icon\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\n\t<svg height=\"7\" width=\"10\" class=\"icon book\" aria-hidden=\"true\" role=\"img\">\n\t\t<title id=\"title-book-66660\">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=26303&#038;pretty_range=John%206%3A45&#038;ctp_search=1\" title=\"Search for scripture reference: John 6:45\">\n\t\t\t\t<span class=\"scripture-label\">\n\t\t\t\t\tJohn 6:45\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%206%3A45&#038;version=NIV\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" title=\"View on Bible Gateway: John 6:45\">\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-82884\">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=26686&#038;pretty_range=John%2014%3A17&#038;ctp_search=1\" title=\"Search for scripture reference: John 14:17\">\n\t\t\t\t<span class=\"scripture-label\">\n\t\t\t\t\tJohn 14:17\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=John%2014%3A17&#038;version=NIV\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" title=\"View on Bible Gateway: John 14:17\">\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-85823\">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=26695&#038;pretty_range=John%2014%3A26&#038;ctp_search=1\" title=\"Search for scripture reference: John 14:26\">\n\t\t\t\t<span class=\"scripture-label\">\n\t\t\t\t\tJohn 14:26\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=John%2014%3A26&#038;version=NIV\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" title=\"View on Bible Gateway: John 14:26\">\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-25243\">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=26728&#038;scripture_end=26760&#038;pretty_range=John%2016%3A1%E2%80%9333&#038;ctp_search=1\" title=\"Search for scripture reference: John 16:1\u201333\">\n\t\t\t\t<span class=\"scripture-label\">\n\t\t\t\t\tJohn 16:1\u201333\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%2016%3A1%E2%80%9333&#038;version=NIV\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" title=\"View on Bible Gateway: John 16:1\u201333\">\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-77607\">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=26992&#038;pretty_range=Acts%202%3A42&#038;ctp_search=1\" title=\"Search for scripture reference: Acts 2:42\">\n\t\t\t\t<span class=\"scripture-label\">\n\t\t\t\t\tActs 2:42\t\t\t\t<\/span>\n\t\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t\t<a class=\"scripture-label-link\" href=\"https:\/\/www.biblegateway.com\/passage\/?search=Acts%202%3A42&#038;version=NIV\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" title=\"View on Bible Gateway: Acts 2:42\">\n\t\t\t\t<span class=\"scripture-label-icon\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\n\t<svg height=\"7\" width=\"10\" class=\"icon book\" aria-hidden=\"true\" role=\"img\">\n\t\t<title id=\"title-book-30449\">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=29452&#038;pretty_range=Philippians%204%3A9&#038;ctp_search=1\" title=\"Search for scripture reference: Philippians 4:9\">\n\t\t\t\t<span class=\"scripture-label\">\n\t\t\t\t\tPhilippians 4:9\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=Philippians%204%3A9&#038;version=NIV\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" title=\"View on Bible Gateway: Philippians 4:9\">\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-34980\">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=29861&#038;pretty_range=2%20Timothy%203%3A7&#038;ctp_search=1\" title=\"Search for scripture reference: 2 Timothy 3:7\">\n\t\t\t\t<span class=\"scripture-label\">\n\t\t\t\t\t2 Timothy 3:7\t\t\t\t<\/span>\n\t\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t\t<a class=\"scripture-label-link\" href=\"https:\/\/www.biblegateway.com\/passage\/?search=2%20Timothy%203%3A7&#038;version=NIV\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" title=\"View on Bible Gateway: 2 Timothy 3:7\">\n\t\t\t\t<span class=\"scripture-label-icon\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\n\t<svg height=\"7\" width=\"10\" class=\"icon book\" aria-hidden=\"true\" role=\"img\">\n\t\t<title id=\"title-book-42432\">book<\/title>\n\n\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t<use 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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=30605&#038;pretty_range=1%20John%204%3A1&#038;ctp_search=1\" title=\"Search for scripture reference: 1 John 4:1\">\n\t\t\t\t<span class=\"scripture-label\">\n\t\t\t\t\t1 John 4:1\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%20John%204%3A1&#038;version=NIV\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" title=\"View on Bible Gateway: 1 John 4:1\">\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-98660\">book<\/title>\n\n\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t<use 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tag-link\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tDiscipleship\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\/humility\/\" class=\"button primary tag-link\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tHumility\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\/learning\/\" class=\"button primary tag-link\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tLearning\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\/students\/\" class=\"button primary tag-link\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tStudents\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\/teaching\/\" class=\"button primary tag-link\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tTeaching\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\/wisdom\/\" class=\"button primary tag-link\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tWisdom\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\t<div class=\"ct-article-card-kicker-container\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"post-kicker\"><span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.christianitytoday.com\/pastors\/preaching\/sermon-illustrations\/\">Sermon Illustration<\/a><\/span><\/div>\t\t\t<\/div>\n\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\/why-were-not-listening-eight-traps\/\" target=\"_self\">\n\t\tWhy We\u2019re Not Listening \u2013 Eight Traps\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\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-65344\" 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-65344\" 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>These eight traps are explained by the author in much more detail in the book represented by these few selected sentences.<\/p>\n<!-- \/wp:paragraph -->\n\n<!-- wp:paragraph -->\n<p>\u2018You have my undivided attention,\u2019 Homer announces to his family over the kitchen table in a scene from <em>The Simpsons<\/em>.<\/p>\n<!-- \/wp:paragraph -->\n\n<!-- wp:paragraph -->\n<p>When the camera zooms in to reveal the contents of Homer\u2019s mind, however, we see a cartoon jig, with a bird dancing, a cow on the fiddle and a tortoise banging percussively on its shell\u2026.<\/p>\n<!-- \/wp:paragraph -->\n\n<!-- wp:paragraph -->\n<p>Some traps are commonly held beliefs which destroy your desire to listen \u2013 truly listen \u2013 to others. Even if you are able to start listening, you can still fall into other traps that hijack your ability, as you listen, to stay present\u2026<\/p>\n<!-- \/wp:paragraph -->\n\n<!-- wp:paragraph -->\n<p>I Want to Win. \u2018Winning\u2019 a conversation\u2026causes collateral damage across a relationship. You leave the speaker feeling dismissed or seething, convinced that you have willfully ignored them.<\/p>\n<!-- \/wp:paragraph -->\n\n<!-- wp:paragraph -->\n<p>I Am in Charge. Your role is to explain to instruct, add value, be right, even at times to dictate. It\u2019s your job as boss, parent, elder, teacher, professor, older sibling or supervisor.<\/p>\n<!-- \/wp:paragraph -->\n\n<!-- wp:paragraph -->\n<p>I Have Expertise (and You Don\u2019t). If you are caught in this expertise trap, (a relation of I am in charge), in your eyes the world is frozen. It\u2019s as if you have nothing new to learn, because you already know what they are going to say.<\/p>\n<!-- \/wp:paragraph -->\n\n<!-- wp:paragraph -->\n<p>I Must Prove I\u2019m a Man. Indeed, in the workplace there is a clear link between gender assertiveness, and the role of a speaker and listener. Here, men may feel the need to be dominant, authoritative or persuasive to avoid the risk of being marginalized. So, they drill themselves not in sensitivity or receptiveness but in delivering a strong message.<\/p>\n<!-- \/wp:paragraph -->\n\n<!-- wp:paragraph -->\n<p>I Must Solve and Sort. The temptation to offer advice intensifies if you believe that your greatest value lies in your capacity to mend the lives of others, or if you feel the need to control a situation to stay safe. But if you are ensnared by this listening trap, you and your speaker could both lose out. When you listen to solve rather than to understand, you take on the speaker\u2019s responsibility and deny them their agency. This burdens you and disempowers them.<\/p>\n<!-- \/wp:paragraph -->\n\n<!-- wp:paragraph -->\n<p>I Don\u2019t Have Time. Our challenge is that we think many times faster than we talk. Our brains can digest 400 words each minute, as we often recognize words in conversation before they\u2019ve been fully spoken, but we speak at about half that speed. As this excess processing power lies idle, listening can feel slow and frustrating, so we become subsumed in daydreaming or planning our response. If I Listen, I Must Obey. \u2018Listen to me!\u2019 your teacher yells at you\u2026but what she means is: <em>Obey me! Keep quiet! Sit still!<\/em> So, it\u2019s perhaps not surprising that ingrained in your subconscious is a belief that listening binds you to a whole set of obligations: \u2026If you listen, you must fulfil all the expectations of the person talking to you.<\/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: Emily Kasriel, Deep Listening (New York: HarperCollins, 2025), 29\u201340.<\/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\" 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The Preacher As Sermon It\u2019s easy to forget that we\u2019re meant to first be impacted by the message ourselves \u2013 that our preaching would be the natural overflow of our own spiritual transformation. The Model Sermon You\u2019re called <a class=\"more-link\" href=\"https:\/\/www.christianitytoday.com\/pastors\/preaching\/\">Read more&#8230;<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":3,"featured_media":0,"parent":0,"menu_order":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","template":"","meta":{"_acf_changed":true,"footnotes":""},"class_list":["post-47","page","type-page","status-publish","hentry"],"acf":[],"yoast_head":"<!-- This site is optimized with the Yoast SEO plugin v22.9 - https:\/\/yoast.com\/wordpress\/plugins\/seo\/ -->\n<title>Preaching Tools - CT Pastors<\/title>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\n<link rel=\"canonical\" href=\"https:\/\/www.christianitytoday.com\/pastors\/preaching\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:locale\" content=\"en_US\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:type\" content=\"article\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:title\" content=\"Preaching Tools - CT Pastors\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:description\" content=\"Shepherding the Shepherd Bundle Save on the full series of Shepherding the Shepherd books from Lee Eclov! 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