ILLUSTRATED SERMONS

The world needs illustrated sermons — powerful personal examples — of God’s love.

In John 17:21, Jesus prayed: “That they all may be one, as You, Father, are in Me, and I in You; that they also may be one in Us, that the world may believe that You sent Me” (my italics).

Think of it: Even in His final hours, Jesus was still yearning over lost humanity. And He was giving His church specific direction on how to win those lost multitudes. Consider His final words on the subject: “Be as one! Put aside all strife and division, that the world may believe in Me.”

You may think, “That sounds so simplistic. Is that really how the church is going to reach hardened hearts? Does simply loving each other truly provide supernatural power to combat hatred?”

The answer is yes, yes and yes — absolutely! According to Jesus, the powerful love of God is revealed most clearly to the world by the unconditional love between His people.

Right now, one of Satan’s primary strategies against the church is to plant division and strife. Everywhere I look in the Body of Christ worldwide, I am convinced hordes of demons have been sent on assignment within church walls. And their aim is to destroy the love of Christians for one another.

The devil’s strategy is subtle: He pits race against race and rich against poor in the Body of Christ. The racial strife, specifically, is being fed worldwide through television and other media. I have not seen such racial hatred spewed forth in years, and now it is infiltrating the walls of God’s house.

I thank God that Times Square Church was raised up with no color lines and no distinction between rich or poor. All who come through our doors are treated with the same respect and welcoming love. We have enjoyed God’s blessing for many years and I believe this is partly because we have obeyed Christ’s command to love one another as He has loved us.