A Living Hope

Worship Service for May 17, 2020

WELCOME

I pray that your time spent here on CrossPointe’s website will rejuvenate and reinvigorate your faith in the Risen Lord Jesus to more confidently and peacefully face the difficult days in which we are presently living.

But before we begin to worship, I have a few church announcements:

ANNOUNCEMENTS

Our church leaders met this past Wednesday and decided that we could open for worship again on June 7th if the governor lifts the ban on gatherings of 10 or more. We are also anxiously watching the number of new cases reported in Medina County and are praying that they do not increase as a result of business re-openings.

Speaking of praying, our next quarterly Prayer Vigil will take place Wednesday, May 27th from 7 am to 7 pm. You will be invited to sign up for a 20 minute time-slot to pray for this current pandemic situation: that God will bring us through this, wisdom for our leaders (country and church).

Once again, let us open our hearts to praising and hearing the Word of the Lord by reading through the worship service. Please take advantage of the opportunity to read, pause, reflect and pray when you feel led. I hope you also noticed that most of this service is also available in video format on the same page where you accessed this.

I will be at the church building again between 12:00 noon and 1:00 pm for those of you who choose to drop off your offering. Look for a box on a stand in the lobby. If you wish to send it in the mail, the address is

CrossPointe Community Church
P. O. Box 126
Chippewa Lake, OH 44215-0126

Because Proverbs 15:13 (ESV) says, “A glad heart makes a cheerful face, but by sorrow of heart the spirit is crushed”

“It’s no good, sir,” said the hopeless pupil to his English teacher.
“I try to learn, but everything you say goes in both ears and out the other.”
“Goes in both ears and out the other?” asked the puzzled teacher,
“You only have two ears.”
“You see, sir? I’m no good at math, either.”

There was the person who sent ten different puns to his friends, with the hope that at least one of the puns would make them laugh. No pun in ten did.

Now I wish to call you to worship with these awe-inspiring words spoken through the prophet Isaiah:

CALL TO WORSHIP

But now, O Jacob, listen to the Lord who created you.
O Israel, the one who formed you says,
“Do not be afraid, for I have ransomed you.
I have called you by name; you are mine.
When you go through deep waters,
I will be with you.
When you go through rivers of difficulty,
you will not drown.
When you walk through the fire of oppression,
you will not be burned up;
the flames will not consume you.
For I am the Lord, your God,
the Holy One of Israel, your Savior.
Isaiah 43:1-3a

SONGS OF WORSHIP AND PRAISE

How Firm a Foundation

Rippon, John

How firm a foundation,
Ye saints of the Lord,
Is laid for your faith
In His excellent Word!
What more can He say
Than to you He hath said,
To you who for refuge
To Jesus have fled?
Fear not; I am with thee.
O be not dismayed,
For I am thy God,
And will still give thee aid.
I’ll strengthen thee, help thee,
And cause thee to stand,
Upheld by My gracious,
Omnipotent hand.
When through the deep waters
I call thee to go
The rivers of woe
Shall not thee overflow
For I will be with thee,
Thy troubles to bless,
And sanctify to thee
Thy deepest distress.
When through fiery trials,
Thy pathway shall lie,
My grace, all sufficient,
Shall be thy supply.
The flames shall not hurt thee;
I only design
Thy dross to consume
And thy gold to refine.
The soul that on Jesus
Hath leaned for repose,
I will not, I will not
Desert to its foes;
That soul, though all hell
Should endeavor to shake,
I’ll never, no never,
No never forsake.
©Public Domain
CCLI License No. 1843349

Alleluia, Alleluia

Fishel, Donald E.

Alleluia, alleluia!
Give thanks to the risen Lord;
Alleluia, alleluia!
Give praise to His name.
Jesus is Lord of all the earth
He is the King of creation.
Alleluia, alleluia!
Give thanks to the risen Lord;
Alleluia, alleluia!
Give praise to His name.
Spread the good news o’er all the earth
Jesus has died and has risen.
Alleluia, alleluia!
Give thanks to the risen Lord;
Alleluia, alleluia!
Give praise to His name.
We have been crucified with Christ
Now we shall live forever.
Alleluia, alleluia!
Give thanks to the risen Lord;
Alleluia, alleluia!
Give praise to His name.
Come let us praise the living God
Joyfully sing to our Savior.
Alleluia, alleluia!
Give thanks to the risen Lord;
Alleluia, alleluia!
Give praise to His name.
©1973 The Word of God Music (admin by The Copyright Company)
CCLI License No. 1843349

Majesty

Hayford, Jack

Majesty, worship His majesty.
Unto Jesus be all glory, honor and praise.
Majesty, kingdom authority, flow from His throne
Unto His own, His anthem raise.
So exalt, lift up on high the name of Jesus.
Magnify, come glorify Christ Jesus, the King.
Majesty, worship His majesty.
Jesus who died, now glorified, King of all kings.
Jesus who died, now glorified, King of all kings.
©1981 Rocksmith Music (Mandina/Rocksmith Music [c/o Trust Music Management, Inc.])
CCLI License No. 1843349

OPENING PRAYER

Our Lord Jesus, who in death has gone before us, as we exalt and lift up Your name in worship, help us to trust in the firm foundation of Your Word that we might be filled with the blessed hope that You are with us today and forever, through our Risen Lord, to whom we give thanks and praise. Amen.

THE GIVING OF THE LORD’S OFFERING

(see announcement above)

PRAYER SONG

He Is Able

Noland, Rory/Ferguson, Greg

He is able, more than able
To accomplish what concerns me today
He is able, more than able
To handle anything that comes my way.
He is able, more than able
To do much more than I could ever dream.
He is able, more than able
To make me what He wants me to be.
©1989 Maranatha Praise, Inc.
CCLI License No. 1843349

THE MORNING PRAYER

Brad Winter

Dear Heavenly Father,
We praise you and thank you for this beautiful day.
We know God, that you are able to handle what concerns us today.
Our world changed overnight due to the coronavirus, you are able.
We have been isolated from family and friends, you are able.
Friends, family, and co-workers have become sick or died from the virus, you are able.
Panic has stricken the entire population, you are able.
Many have lost their job and are wondering how to provide for their families, you are able.
We know God, you are able to handle what concerns us today and will give us the strength to weather the storm and you will.
Because you are able, make us who you want us to be.
May we be reminded by the fresh smell of spring, warm sunshine, singing of the birds, and beautiful flowers that you have blessed us who believe in you with a fresh new beginning. Our sins were paid for on the cross and you have given us the opportunity to come to you in prayer and ask for forgiveness.
God, grant us the courage to handle the challenges before us. When we are tempted to give up, give us the strength through your almighty power and love to help us overcome any challenge that may arise.
We pray for all those affected by the COVID-19 pandemic and the safety of those on the front lines who are directly exposed. We pray for our government leaders and the decisions before them.
As we go on with our lives, may our thoughts, words, and actions always glorify you and reflect the mission of CrossPointe Community Church.
In Jesus’ name, Amen.

THE SCRIPTURES

I look up to the mountains—does my help come from there? My help comes from the Lord, who made heaven and earth! He will not let you stumble; the one who watches over you will not slumber. Indeed, He who watches over Israel never slumbers or sleeps. The Lord himself watches over you! The Lord stands beside you as your protective shade. The sun will not harm you by day, nor the moon at night. The Lord keeps you from all harm and watches over your life. The Lord keeps watch over you as you come and go, both now and forever.
Psalm 121:1-8

Peter, an apostle of Jesus Christ,
To God’s elect, exiles scattered throughout the provinces of Pontus, Galatia, Cappadocia, Asia and Bithynia, who have been chosen according to the foreknowledge of God the Father, through the sanctifying work of the Spirit, to be obedient to Jesus Christ and sprinkled with his blood:
Grace and peace be yours in abundance.
Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ! In His great mercy He has given us new birth into a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, and into an inheritance that can never perish, spoil or fade. This inheritance is kept in heaven for you, who through faith are shielded by God’s power until the coming of the salvation that is ready to be revealed in the last time.
In all this you greatly rejoice, though now for a little while you may have had to suffer grief in all kinds of trials. These have come so that the proven genuineness of your faith—of greater worth than gold, which perishes even though refined by fire—may result in praise, glory and honor when Jesus Christ is revealed. Though you have not seen Him, you love Him; and even though you do not see Him now, you believe in Him and are filled with an inexpressible and glorious joy, for you are receiving the end result of your faith, the salvation of your souls.
Concerning this salvation, the prophets, who spoke of the grace that was to come to you, searched intently and with the greatest care, trying to find out the time and circumstances to which the Spirit of Christ in them was pointing when he predicted the sufferings of the Messiah and the glories that would follow. It was revealed to them that they were not serving themselves but you, when they spoke of the things that have now been told you by those who have preached the gospel to you by the Holy Spirit sent from heaven. Even angels long to look into these things.
I Peter 1:1-12

THE MESSAGE

Randy K’Meyer

A Living Hope

Did you hear the one about the husband who was ever filled with hope? One day his wife got so mad at him she packed his bags and told him to get out. And as he was walking out the door, she yelled, “And I hope you die a long, slow, painful death.”

He paused, turned around and said, “So, you want me to stay?” ¹

If only we could all be that hopeful. Especially in these days. Seems that hopelessness is just as contagious as the coronavirus.

Gail and I were out walking (what else is there to do?) and noticed one of our neighbors has a rather hopeless license plate. Spelled out in capital letters only, it proclaims: BTTN DWN. ‘Beaten down,’ and we thought how sad.

Then we ran into her mother who explained it actually stands for “Button Down Designs,” the name of her business . . . lol!

All of us need renewed hope, for hope is so very important to our well-being. Hope helps keep us afloat when the deep waters threaten. When times are tough and it seems like there is no light at the end of the tunnel, hope motivates to keep moving forward, and in some cases to go on living.

In 1994, the city of Sarajevo was under siege on an almost daily basis as a result of war. Mortars and artillery fire transformed once beautiful buildings into rubble. Sarajevo’s citizens were frightened, weary, and increasingly despondent. Then, one February day, a mortar shell exploded in the market, killing 68. Many more were wounded and maimed from the blast.

That’s when a cellist with the Sarajevo symphony took his cello to the market, sat down amidst the rubble . . . and played a concert. When he finished, he simply took up his instrument and left. Every day, for 67 days, he came to the market; every day he played a concert. He did it because he felt his community needed hope. He said, “Hope is music in the heart.” ²

The people Peter addressed in his first letter to the church were in desperate need of some music in their hearts . . . that is, hope.

Why? William Barclay, on his commentary of this letter tells us why:

That this letter was written in a time when persecution threatened is abundantly clear. They are in the midst of various trials (1:6). They are likely to be falsely accused as evil-doers (3:16). A fiery ordeal is going to try them (4:12). When they suffer, they are to commit themselves to God (4:19). They may well have to suffer for righteousness sake (3:14). They are sharing in the afflictions that the Christian brotherhood throughout the world is called upon to endure (5:9). ³

Because the recipients of this letter were having to, as Peter says in verse 6, “endure many trials for a little while,” they were indeed, in much need of hope.

And that’s exactly what Peter attempts to provide them; most encouragingly in his topic sentence:

Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ! In His great mercy He has given us new birth into a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead! (I Peter 1:3).

If that’s his topic sentence, and I believe it is; the main subject is, “A LIVING HOPE!” In my mind, that’s the big picture of this letter. If you’re not opposed to highlighting or underlining in your Bible, those three words are the ones I would highlight. In my mind, everything else in the letter modifies the words: living hope. That’s why Peter says the prophets and even the angels are enamored by this hope!

So what does Peter mean by “a living hope?” No doubt about it, his living hope primarily has to do with the truth that no matter what happens to us in this life, God has our backs in the next. Peter wants his first century friends and us to trust that no amount of earthly strife; be it persecution, or coronavirus and it’s fallout can deter God’s purpose to grant us what Peter calls a heavenly inheritance.

However; this living hope is not exclusively associated with the next life. Peter also wants us to know that that this new birth into a living hope has ramifications for living in the here and now.

As we endure these unusual, almost unprecedented, times I want to encourage you to lean into your hope in Christ. So today I want us to further focus on what Peter means by a living hope. And then, the next couple of weeks, we will take a look at those parts of this letter that will help us maintain and nurture that hope as part of this life.

First, let’s take note of how we come into this inheritance of a living hope?

Peter tells us: “Through the resurrection of Jesus from the dead” (I Peter 1:3).

Some of you are probably thinking, ‘Wait a minute preacher, I have heard you say a thousand times that our salvation is based upon our faith in what Christ did on the cross to secure our forgiveness.’

Peter is not disagreeing with basic New Testament theology. The resurrection of Jesus from the dead implies that Jesus what? Died. The phrase ‘resurrection from the dead’ better fits the context. For Peter to have said, “We have been born anew to a living hope, through the death of Christ” would have been somewhat awkward. So, he chooses to say ‘through the resurrection of Jesus.’

But make no mistake, in chapter 2 Peter writes, “For you know that God paid a ransom to save you from the empty life you inherited from your ancestors. And it was not paid with mere gold or silver, which lose their value. It was the precious blood of Christ, the sinless, spotless Lamb of God” (2:18-19)

Or as an old beloved hymn has it: “Our hope is built on nothing less than Jesus’ blood and righteousness.” ⁴

On the other hand, during an interview before his 50th college reunion, former New York City mayor Michael Bloomberg confessed that his mortality started dawning on him at age 72. He also said that he’s been sobered by how many of his former classmates have passed away. When the interviewer probed the mayor on what he believed about life after, he said with a grin: “I am telling you if there is a God, when I get to heaven, I’m not stopping to be interviewed, I’m heading straight in.” And he pointed to his work on gun safety, obesity and smoking cessation, before concluding, “I have earned my place in heaven; it’s not even close.” ⁵

We are biblically astute enough to know that no one earns their way into heaven.

In the wonderful little e-book I e-mailed you several weeks ago, Coronavirus and Christ, John Piper points the way:

Awake or asleep—that is, live or die—I will be alive with God. How can that be? I am a sinner. I have never lived a day of my life—not one—without falling short of God’s standards of love and holiness. So how can this be? How can God say, You, John Piper, will be with me—live or die”? God didn’t even wait for the question before he answered. It’s because of Jesus. Jesus alone. Because of his death, there will be no wrath toward me. Not because of my perfection. My sins, my guilt, and my punishment fell on my Savior, Jesus Christ. He “died for us.” That’s what his word says. Therefore, I am free from guilt. Free from punishment. Secure in God’s merciful favor. “Live or die,” God said, “you will be with me.” ⁶

Or as Peter has stated in verse 9: “The reward for trusting Him will be the salvation of your souls.”

We can count on it because Peter says about this living hope . . .

Now we live with great expectation, and we have a priceless inheritance—an inheritance that is kept in heaven for you, pure and undefiled, beyond the reach of change and decay. And through your faith, God is protecting you by his power until you receive this salvation” (I Peter 1:3-5).

What Peter is conveying to his readers and to us in these verses is that when the day comes when we take our last breath here on earth, God has our backs and will safely usher us into His marvelous Kingdom through the resurrection of Jesus from the dead.

Because He was raised to life, so will we. Paul to the Romans: “Just as God raised Jesus from the dead, He will give life to your mortal bodies” (Romans 6:10-11).

We can confidently cultivate this living hope because God has our backs and He will not let us down!

I’m sure you remember the school shooting that took place in San Bernardino in 2015. Denise Peraza told about how her life was spared because a valiant young man named Shannon Johnson shielded Denise’s body with his own. Denise recounts:

Wednesday morning at 10:55 A.M. we were seated next to each other at a table, joking about how we thought the large clock on the wall might be broken because time seemed to be moving so slowly. I would have never guessed that only five minutes later, we would be huddled next to each other under the same table, using a fallen chair as a shield from over 60 rounds of bullets being fired across the room. While I cannot recall every single second that played out that morning, I will always remember his left arm wrapped around me, holding me as close as possible next to him behind that chair. And amidst all the chaos, I’ll always remember him saying these three words: ‘I got you, I got you, I got you.’” ⁷

Those are God’s three words to you, not just in this time of need, but also on that day our lives come to an end on this earth. On that day, He will, as it were, wrap His strong arm around us and say, “I got you, I got you, I got you.”

That’s what the Psalmist meant when under the inspiration of the Spirit, he said, “Our help (and our hope) is in the Lord who made heaven and earth! (Psalm 121:2).

That’s what Peter means when he writes: “God is protecting you by His power until you receive this salvation” (I Peter 1:5). And because He is protecting us by His power, this living hope will carry us through whatever we face today.

That’s why Peter continues, “So be truly glad. There is wonderful joy ahead even though you must endure many trials for a little while” (I Peter 1:6).

In Steven Spielberg’s famous movie, Jaws, the second victim the great white shark kills is a young boy named Alex Kintner, played by Jeffrey Voorhees. When the crowd realizes what has happened, there’s a panic, and everyone in the water goes running back to the safety of the beach. Mrs. Kintner, Alex’s mother, stumbles around in the shallows calling for Alex.

Later, dressed in black widow’s garb, she approaches the chief of police and slaps him in the face for not closing the beaches. She says, “I just found out that a girl got killed here last week, and you knew it. You knew there was a shark out there. You knew it was dangerous, but you let people go swimming anyway. You knew all those things, but still, my boy is dead now, and there’s nothing you can do about it, my boy is dead.”

Several decades after that sad scene was filmed, Lee Fierro, who played Mrs. Kintner, sat down in a seafood restaurant and notices the menu has an ‘Alex Kintner Sandwich.’ She commented to the waiter that she had played his mother so many years ago. Soon, the owner of the restaurant ran out to greet her, and he was none other than Jeffrey Voorhees, who had played her son. They had not seen each other since the movie shoot. ⁸

Heaven is a bit like that. When we go to be with Christ, pain, death, and separation will all be undone. Family members who lost each other in unimaginable circumstances, will come running back together again.

John tells us in his Revelation, “And I heard a loud voice from the throne saying:

Behold, the dwelling place of God is with man, and He will dwell with them. They will be His people, and God Himself will be with them as their God. He will wipe away every tear from their eyes, and there will be no more death or mourning or crying or pain, for the former things have passed away.
Revelation 21:3-4

In the book, Building a Church of Small Groups, the authors relate the words of Lyman Coleman as he reflected on the death of his beloved wife, Margaret:

The most painful decision of my life was asking God to take her home. She had been suffering from repeated brain seizures and her body was wasted. I whispered in her ear: “Honey, I love you. I love you. Jesus wants you to come home. We are going to be all right. We give you permission to let go.” She closed her eyes and fell asleep. As I write this letter, I realize I am without my editor. My greatest critic. My teammate. Soulmate. Prayermate. Partner in everything. We traveled the roads less traveled together in hard times and good times. Honey, I miss you. I miss you. I miss you. I will keep the light on for the kids. I will be there for friends. And one day, we are going to join you. All of us. Because Jesus promised, “Because I live, you also will live.” ⁹

“So be truly glad (about this living hope). There is wonderful joy ahead
even though you must endure many trials for a little while” (I Peter 1:6).

Do you recall that in 2009 our nation was on the ropes? The mortgage crisis was in full swing. The rollercoaster nature of Wall Street was making everyone sick to their stomach. Long-trusted financial institutions were being shut down or bought out. Unemployment rates were skyrocketing. Sound familiar?

Sensing heavy hearts in his congregation that Easter, Pastor John Ortberg, offered a powerful reminder about our living hope.

I cannot think of an Easter in recent memory where there was a bigger need for hope, for something that would breathe life into the human spirit. A year ago, so many people felt like they were on pretty solid ground. Now they find themselves in circumstances they never would have predicted. A lot of people are feeling anxious. They have pressures that they did not have before. They regret decisions they’ve made over this last year. They wonder where things will stand a year from now. Nobody ever wants a season of hard times to come, but when they do, they have a way of making you ask, ‘What am I really counting on? Am I building my life on a foundation that’s solid enough that circumstances beyond my control cannot take it away?
That’s why I’ve been looking forward to Easter; a time when we gather to remember the only hope capable of sustaining a human life through everything. People have not gathered for the past 2,000 years to say, ‘The stock market has risen. It has risen indeed.’ They have not gathered to say, ‘The dollar has risen. It has risen indeed.’ Or, ‘the employment rate has risen.’ Or, ‘the gross domestic product has risen.’ Or, ‘General Motors has risen.’ Or, ‘The value of your 401(k) has risen.’ Here’s the one hope that has held up human beings across every continent and culture for two millennia of difficult times of poverty, disease, pain, hardship, [and] death itself: ‘Christ is risen. He is risen indeed.’ ¹⁰

“Alleluia, alleluia, give thanks to the Risen Lord,
Alleluia, alleluia, give praise to His name.”

Brothers and sisters in Christ, we have a living hope that that isn’t based on wearing a mask, or standing 6 feet apart or limiting gatherings to 10 persons, or the development of anti-virials or even a vaccine.

Our living hope is based upon a relationship with the Living Lord Jesus, who “is able, more than able to accomplish what concerns me today
He is able, more than able to handle anything that comes our way
He is able, more than able to do much more than we could ever dream
He is able, more than able to make us what He wants us to be.” ¹¹

Amen.

PRAYER

(I encourage you to stop and pray as you feel led).

SPECIAL SONG

I Will Rise

Chris Tomlin / Jesse Reeves / Louie Giglio / Matt Maher

There’s a peace I’ve come to know
Though my heart and flesh may fail
There’s an anchor for my soul
I can say “It is well”
Jesus has overcome
And the grave is overwhelmed
The victory is won
He is risen from the dead
And I will rise when He calls my name
No more sorrow, no more pain
I will rise on eagles’ wings
Before my God fall on my knees
And rise
I will rise
There’s a day that’s drawing near
When this darkness breaks to light
And the shadows disappear
And my faith shall be my eyes
Jesus has overcome
And the grave is overwhelmed
The victory is won
He is risen from the dead
And I will rise when He calls my name
No more sorrow, no more pain
I will rise on eagles’ wings
Before my God fall on my knees
And rise
I will rise
And I hear the voice of many angels sing,
“Worthy is the Lamb”
And I hear the cry of every longing heart,
“Worthy is the Lamb”
And I hear the voice of many angels sing,
“Worthy is the Lamb”
And I hear the cry of every longing heart,
“Worthy is the Lamb”
And I will rise when He calls my name
No more sorrow, no more pain
I will rise on eagles’ wings
Before my God fall on my knees
And rise
I will rise

©2008 sixsteps Music | spiritandsong.com | Thankyou Music | Vamos Publishing | worshiptogether.com
CCLI License No. 1843349

CLOSING SONG

It is Well with My Soul

Spafford, Horatio G./Bliss, Philip P.

When peace like a river, attendeth my way,
When sorrow like sea billows roll;
Whatever my lot, Thou hast taught me to say,
‘It is well, it is well, with my soul.’
It is well, with my soul,
It is well, it is well, with my soul.
Though Satan should buffet, tho’ trials should come,
Let this blest assurance control;
That Christ has regarded my helpless estate,
And hath shed His own blood for my soul.
It is well, with my soul,
It is well, it is well, with my soul.
My sin, O the bliss of this glorious tho’t,
My sin not in part but the whole
Is nailed to the cross and I bear it no more.
Praise the Lord, praise the Lord, O my soul!
It is well, with my soul,
It is well, it is well, with my soul.
O, Lord haste the day when my faith shall be sight,
The clouds be rolled back as a scroll;
The trump shall resound and the Lord shall descend,
‘Even so’ it is well with my soul.
It is well, with my soul,
It is well, it is well, with my soul.
Public Domain
CCLI License No. 1843349

SCRIPTURAL BENEDICTION

May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, so that by the power of the Holy Spirit you may abound in hope.
Romans 15:13

1 source: http://www.jokebuddha.com/Hopeless#ixzz6MEkNelM5

4 From hymn “My Hope I Built” written by Edward Mote 1834.

5 Jeremy W. Peters, “Bloomberg Plans a $50 Million Challenge to the N.R.A.”
The New York Times (4-15-14) https://www.preachingtoday.com/illustrations/2014/june/5063014.html

6 The God Who Reigns over the Coronavirus 13-14

7 Todd Wilson, “The Gift of the Son: Everlasting Father,”
sermon on PreachingToday.com
https://www.preachingtoday.com/illustrations/2017/december/8121117.htm

8 Jaws, (1-15-12); IMBb, Jaws Trivia (Universal Pictures, 1975)

9 Bill Donahue and Russ Robinson, Building a Church of Small Groups.
[Grand Rapids: Zondervan, 2001), p. 61

10 John Ortberg, in the sermon “Resurrection: Metaphor or Miracle?” Menlo Park Presbyterian Church (Menlo Park, CA) (preached 4-12-09) https://www.preachingtoday.com/illustrations/2010/march/1032910.html