Sermon Central
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How Do You Make This Thing Work? War Story
Contributed by J Jeffrey Smead on Mar 3, 2026 (message contributor)
The story is told ... about an Army sergeant ... who was caught near a beach ... by German artillery ... and managed to protect himself ... by moving to the water's edge.
While improving his position with a trench shovel, ... he came upon an ornate crucifix ... the kind that prosperous Italians often hung ... on their bedroom walls.
Two hours later ... in the midst of still another German artillery barrage, ... A United States Chaplain ... rolled into the water beside him.
A moment after that ... a German 88 shell landed ...just ten yards ... up the beach.
The Master Sergeant ... held up the muddy crucifix that he had been clutching for dear life since discovering it.
And turned to the startled chaplain and said, ... "My God, Sir, am I glad to see you!
How do you make this thing work!
The problem with a superficial religion ... one that has no commitment ... is that you will never know ... how to make it work.
This is very evident in our culture ... as it was in Paul's day.
People would rather not consider ... where they actually stand before God.
Maybe you are also like that.
You have never really committed your life ... to the Lordship of Jesus.
You have allowed him to be your Savior ... but have not allowed him ... to be Lord of your life.
If your faith is superficial ... it probably will not deeply effect ... how you live ... it will not impact you ... or those around you.
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