### **Introduction**
Video Ill.: Golf Buddies - The Skit Guys
We’ve been walking together through The Gospel According to Peanuts — discovering how Charles Schulz used the simple, everyday world of Charlie Brown and friends to point to deep spiritual truths.
Each week, we’ve unpacked a piece of the gospel message in a way that’s simple, memorable, and personal:
The Message – We all have a sin problem. We’ve all fallen short.
The Choice – What do we do about our sin? We can run from it or run to Jesus.
The Outcome – When we turn to Jesus, we die to self and find new life.
As we have reviewed parts of the gospel each week, we have also been challenged to discover ways that we can share that same gospel with our family, our friends, co-workers, and neighbors. After all, why wouldn’t we want to share the message of hope that fills our lives each day?
And so today, we come to the fourth part of the gospel story:
Once we surrender our lives to Christ — once we are found — what comes next?
We discover that the God who saves us is also the God who stays with us.
There’s a cartoon:
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Snoopy licks Lucy, and Lucy shouts, “Hey”.
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Lucy then chases Snoopy, saying “Get way from me with your ol’ wet tongue!
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Snoopy then goes up and licks Linus. “Hey cut it out!”
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Linus then yells at Snoopy, “Do you have to be licking people all the time?!”
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Linus continues: “If you’re not licking somebody’s hands, you’re licking somebody’s shoes!”
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Linus turns to walk away, “Stupid dog!”
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Snoopy thinks, “They all resent me because I’m so devoted!”
God is that devoted to us.
He is the One who rescues, helps, anchors, and loves us — always.
https://www.houndofheaven.com/poem
He’s what poet Francis Thompson called “The Hound of Heaven” — the faithful One who pursues us relentlessly with love and grace.
Let’s walk through that truth together.
### **I. God Rescues Us**
As we begin this morning, we’re reminded of a simple yet powerful truth: God rescues us — no matter what we have gotten ourselves into.
Consider this moment from Peanuts:
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Charlie Brown is bundled up in winter coat, gloves and fuzzy hat. He his walking across a frozen pond.
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Charlie Brown falls and slips
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WHUMP! Charlie Brown falls flat on his back.
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He lifts his head, questioning his situation.
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Charlie Brown: Good grief! I’ve got so many clothes on, I can’t move! I CAN’T GET UP!
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He struggles, but is unable to get upright.
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Charlie Brown: * Whew * It’s no use…. I’m doomed…. I’ll never get home. I’ll have to lie here until I freeze to death….
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Snoopy comes up and sees Charlie Brown on his back.
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Snoopy begins to push Charlie Brown across the ice while two other characters look on.
Charlie Brown: This is the most embarrassing thing that’s ever happened to me!
Isn’t that a picture of you and me?
We are out in this world, thinking we can take it on all on our own. We have this kind of arrogance that keeps telling us we are strong enough to handle whatever the world throws at us. We layer ourselves with self-reliance, pride, and independence. But sooner or later, we slip on the treacherous ice beneath us. We fall. And sometimes, we fall hard.
We continue to struggle, trying to do it on our own. But the more we struggle, the more we realize we cannot save ourselves. We finally succumb to the realization that we cannot fix it. We cannot set ourselves right. We need help.
And when we get to that point, ready to throw in the towel and give up, ready to yield to the elements, God comes alongside — not to shame us. Not to keep us down. But to rescue us.
As we saw earlier in our series, sin never fails to pay its wages. But there’s hope. God rescues those who follow Him, and live according to His righteousness. The Bible is filled with stories of God rescuing His people.
In 2 Peter 2, Peter vividly describes this reminding us that
God rescued Noah and his family from the flood
God rescued Lot from Sodom
And then Peter says in verse 9:
9 So you see, the Lord knows how to rescue godly people from their trials, even while keeping the wicked under punishment until the day of final judgment. (2 Peter 2, NLT)
You see, God is not distant. He is our rescuer.
He doesn’t just save us from condemnation and punishment at the final judgment, He rescues us daily from the pull of sin and the traps of this world.
Listen to what Paul said in Galatians 1:
4 [Jesus] gave himself for our sins to rescue us from the present evil age….(Galatians 1, NIV)
So yes — God rescues us from hell and death.?
But He also rescues us right now — from despair, from shame, from the grip of sin, and from the weight of our own helplessness.
**Key Thought**: God rescues the helpless. Even when we cannot stand on our own, He lifts us, carries us, and brings us home.
### **II. God Helps Us**
Well, second, this morning, I have some more good news: God doesn’t just rescue us once and leave us to fend for ourselves. He stays close. God helps us, daily.
You see, the world is constantly trying to steal our hope, drain our joy, and rob us of our faith. And often, it’s not through dramatic disasters — but through subtle, everyday losses.
Like our favorite blanket.
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Linus, without his blanket, yells at Lucy: YOU BURIED MY BLANKET?
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Linus, shaking Lucy: YOU CAN’T DO THAT! I’LL DIE WITHOUT THAT BLANKET! I’LL BE LIKE A FISH OUT OF WATER! I’LL DIE! I’LL DIE!
** Frame **?Linus, on his knees begging Lucy: TELL ME WHERE YOU BURIED IT! TELL ME!
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Linus is groveling at Lucy’s feet: Tell me! Tell me! Tell me! Tell me! Oh, tell me!
And that’s the end of the strip.
Lucy has buried Linus’ comfort, and Linus is left desperate and distraught.
We know that feeling, don’t we??
Satan loves to bury our joy — to hide our peace, to take what gives us security. He tempts us to compromise, distracts us with fear or busyness, and before long, our faith feels buried beneath the noise. We start to question, to doubt. We feel helpless.
But here’s the truth: God never leaves us in the dirt.?
He sends help — in His timing, and often in surprising ways. Sometimes in the form of a Snoopy dog.
The conclusion of this strip, from what I’m told, actually ran a couple of weeks after the first one. It went like this:
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Snoopy is digging.
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Snoopy, running to Linus who was digging with a shovel, is carrying Linus’ blanket.
Linus: MY BLANKET!
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Linus hugs Snoopy: OH SNOOPY! YOU FOUND IT! YOU FOUND IT! YOU FOUND IT! YOU FOUND IT!
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Snoopy is reclining on the roof of his house: Every now and then I feel that my existence is justified!
When we lose joy, when faith feels distant, when hope is buried — God sends help.
Through Scripture that speaks truth.
Through prayer that revives our spirit.
Through the Holy Spirit who comforts.
And through faithful friends who remind us of His promises.
The Psalmist declared in Psalm 46:
1 God is our refuge and strength,? an ever-present help in trouble.
(Psalm 46, NIV)
Sometimes God’s help feels like an Olympic moment from way back in 1992.
A Vision of Fatherly Love
Source: Jim Nicodem, "The Father Heart of God," Preaching Today, Tape No. 152.
https://www.preachingtoday.com/illustrations/1997/july/2492.html
Copied from Preaching Today
You see, at those Olympics, something special happened in Barcelona, Spain. Everyone in the world was talking about it. We all watched as a parable of a father's love was played out on international television.
As the gun sounded for the 400-meter race, Great Britain's Derek Redmond knew that his lifelong dream of winning the gold medal was in view. But as he entered the back stretch, Redmond was sent sprawling by the ripping pain of a torn hamstring. By an act of sheer will, he struggled to his feet in excruciating pain and began hopping toward the finish line.
Suddenly Derek's father bounded out of the stands, past a security guard. He threw his arms around his son. In a voice choked with emotion, he whispered, "Come on, Son, let's finish this together." The crowd cheered and wept as they watched the father half-carrying his wounded son jerkily down the stretch and across the finish line.
He doesn’t watch from the stands. He runs to us. We have that certainty that God is coming alongside us, to help us, to lift us up, even to carry us. He lifts us when we cannot stand, carries us when we cannot walk, and helps us finish when we have no strength left. He is our strength, our encouragement, our provider, even our help, when we need Him the most.
**Key Thought:** So remember, when life buries our hope, our joy, our faith, God is already digging — restoring what was lost, reviving what feels gone, and reminding you that His help is always near.
### **III. God Is Steadfast**
The world is loud — chaos, fear, despair everywhere. But God is steadfast. He remains unshaken.
Much like Snoopy in this cartoon:
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Snoopy is dancing. Lucy and Charlie Brown are looking on.
Lucy: FLOODS, FIRE AND FAMINE!
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Snoopy is still dancing.
Lucy shouts: DOOM, DEFEAT, AND DESPAIR!
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Snoopy is still dancing.
Lucy says to Charlie Brown: I guess it’s no use. * Sigh *
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Snoopy is still dancing.
Lucy to Charlie Brown: Nothing seems to disturb him!
What a picture of peace in the storm. Snoopy doesn’t deny the chaos—he just refuses to let it shake him. And that is a glimpse of the God who calls us His children.
The storms may rage, the headlines may scream, the world may tremble — but God never flinches. He remains the same yesterday, today, and forever. He is our anchor in the storm.
Explorers Named Famous Geyser for its Predictability
Source: Adapted from Jen Wilkins, In His Image (Crossway, 2018), pages 97-98
https://www.preachingtoday.com/illustrations/2018/september/explorers-named-famous-geyser-for-its-predictability.html
Copied from Preaching Today
On a September afternoon in 1870, a party of nine explorers, eight army escorts, and two cooks made its way by horseback along the Firehole River in an untamed corner of Wyoming. Their task was to explore the mountains and valleys of an ancient volcano crater, an area known for geothermal activity. Nathaniel P. Langford, a member of the expedition, later recalled what met their gaze that September day:
Judge, then, what must have been our astonishment, as we entered the basin at mid-afternoon of our second day's travel, to see in the clear sunlight, at no great distance, an immense volume of clear, sparkling water projected into the air to the height of 125 feet. "Geysers! Geysers!" exclaimed one of our company, and, spurring our jaded horses, we soon gathered around this wonderful [sight]. It was indeed a perfect geyser … It spouted at regular intervals nine times during our stay, the columns of boiling water being thrown from 90 to 125 feet at discharge, which lasted from 15 to 20 minutes. We gave it the name of "Old Faithful."
But even Old Faithful sometimes varies a few minutes.?
Our God never does.
He is always faithful.?
Always present.?
Always true.
The Hebrew writer said it this way in Hebrews 6:
16 …[W]hen people take an oath, they call on someone greater than themselves to hold them to it. And without any question that oath is binding. 17 God also bound himself with an oath, so that those who received the promise could be perfectly sure that he would || never change his mind. 18 So God has given both his promise and his oath. These two things are unchangeable because it is impossible for God to lie. Therefore, we who have fled to him for refuge can have great confidence as we hold to the hope that lies before || us. 19 This hope is a strong and trustworthy anchor for our souls. It leads us through the curtain into God’s inner sanctuary. 20 Jesus has already gone in there for us. He has become our eternal High Priest in the order of Melchizedek. (Hebrews 6, NLT)
When we are being blown about by the winds, and tossed about by the waves in the storms of our lives, we hold tight to an anchor — someone that keeps us grounded — a steadfast, never changing, always with us enveloping us in His unfailing love, God.
No matter where we may go, no matter what storms may blow, no matter what challenges come our way, no matter what happens in our lives, God has always been, and always will be there for us. Paul reminds us in Romans 8:
35 Can anything ever separate us from Christ’s love? Does it mean he no longer loves us if we have trouble or calamity, or are persecuted, or hungry, or destitute, or in danger, or threatened with death? … 37 No, despite all these things, overwhelming victory is || ours through Christ, who loved us.
38 And I am convinced that nothing can ever separate us from God’s love. Neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons,[p] neither our fears for today nor our worries about tomorrow—not even the powers of hell can || separate us from God’s love. 39 No power in the sky above or in the earth below—indeed, nothing in all creation will ever be able to separate us from the love of God that is revealed in Christ Jesus our Lord. (Romans 8, NLT)
**Key Thought:** God is our anchor — steady, strong, and unshakable, no matter what comes.
### **IV. God Loves Us Unconditionally**
Finally, this morning, we come to one of the most beautiful truths of all: God’s love isn’t earned. It’s not based on performance or perfection — God loves us unconditionally.
Charles Schulz illustrated this truth in one of his simplest, yet most powerful Peanuts moments:
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Charlie Brown and a friend are walking along. Snoopy comes running up to them.
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Snoopy hugs the friend, who wonders what is going on.
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Snoopy then heads toward Charlie Brown.
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As Snoopy hugs Charlie Brown, Charlie Brown says: He loves people!
A Dog Is The Only Thing On This Earth That Loves ...
By Sermon Central
Copied from Sermon Central
Someone has once said that “A dog is the only thing on this earth that loves you more than he loves himself.”
There’s nothing quite like the joy of a loyal dog — that waggly tail, that eager excitement when you come home. It doesn’t matter if you’ve been gone five minutes or five hours — that love is real, faithful, and constant.
But even that love is only a small glimpse of the far greater love God has for us.?
Simple. Sincere. Undeserved.?
And completely unbreakable.
In John 3:16, Jesus says that God so loved the world that He sent Jesus as the fix for our sin.
Not because we earned it. Not because we deserved it.
But because love is who He is.
In 1 John 4:9-10, John reminds us that God doesn’t just love us — God IS love.
In 1 John 3:1, we see God’s love for us:
1 See what great love the Father has lavished on us, that we should be called children of God! And that is what we are! (1 John 3, NIV)
I love that word — lavished.?
It means poured out, heaped up, overflowing.?
That’s how God loves — freely, fully, and forever.
No matter where we’ve been.?
No matter what we’ve done.?
No matter how far we’ve run.
God’s love never gives up. He chases us down like a faithful hound of heaven, and when He finds us, He wraps us in His arms and never lets go.
**Key Thought:** God’s love does not wait for us to be lovable. It finds us, embraces us, and never lets go.
### **Conclusion: The Hound of Heaven**
As we’ve seen in this series, the gospel can be summed up in four powerful truths:
The Message – We are all sinners, broken and in need of grace.
The Choice – We must decide what to do with that truth — ignore it, hide it, or run to Jesus for forgiveness.
The Outcome – When we turn to Him, we die to our old selves and rise to new life.
The Promise – And in that new life, we discover a God who rescues, helps, anchors, and loves us without end.
That is the good news — and it is not just a story we hear. It is a story we live.
Over a century ago, Francis Thompson wrote of running from God — down nights and days, through distractions and fear — only to realize that God’s love had been chasing him all along. He called it The Hound of Heaven — a picture of God’s faithful pursuit.
Charles Schulz echoed that same truth in his own way — through Snoopy’s loyalty, his joy, his persistence. Like a faithful hound, he shows us a glimpse of the God who never gives up on us.
So no matter where you are today —
No matter how far you’ve run,
No matter how many times you’ve fallen —
God’s love is chasing you.
He will not stop until He brings you home.
All He asks is that you stop running — and let Him catch you.
Because when grace catches you…
When His mercy lifts you…
When His love wraps around you…
You’ll know what the gospel truly means.
And once you’ve been changed by that love, you have a message to share.
You may not have a microphone, but you have a life — a life that tells the story of what God has done.
You may not draw comics. You may not preach sermons. But you have something just as powerful — your story.
How God has changed you.
How He rescued you when you were flat on your back.
How He helped you when you were weak.
How He anchored you in the storm.
How He loved you when you felt unlovable.
That story — your story — preaches.
You don’t have to have all the answers.
You just have to point to the One who changed your life.
Because when your life reflects God’s grace — as singer Zach Williams sings, That’ll preach.
Video Ill.: That’ll Preach by Zach Williams
