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I was surprised by the response I received recently after a sermon. Maybe I should not have been. However, it was the first sermon of 2026, a few days after the New Year. Between Christmas and New Year, my preparation schedule was a bit off. I prepared the bulk of the sermon on the Saturday before I preached it. It was also the last sermon in the series, so I was looking forward to the next series. On Saturday afternoon, between the lack of preparation and series change, I thought the sermon would be a throwaway kind of message. Spending the late Saturday afternoon and evening preparing was not ideal but was the necessary method.

The sermon was from 2 Corinthians 5:11-21. This is the gospel message and the ministry of reconciliation that believers have been given. I was praying that it would go well as the last songs were being sung, then I preached it. If I could use baseball terms, I thought I hit a single that morning. I didn’t even share everything I wanted to, and I even went a little long. The challenge from the passage was to live for Jesus who died for us and to be involved in the ministry of reconciliation. Goals were given as a church, and following NAMB’s Who’s Your One campaign, the challenge was to identify one person to pray for this year with the intent to share the gospel.

The people loved it. This helped me remember counsel from the past that the power is not in the messenger but in the message and the One who gives the message. Further, God’s Spirit stirs up His people to take the challenge of sharing the gospel. They must hear this preached and taught, and pastors must lead in action of sharing as well.

I don’t know what will come from this. However, the simple gospel simply preached still has power to change the lives of believers and unbelievers. May God help us in His mission!