30 Second Theology 2026

Good morning, everybody. It is good to be with you on this Sunday, where everybody will be doing all sorts of things today—especially eating. I know for sure everybody will be eating something they told themselves they would not eat all year long. It’s okay. The calories don’t count today. It’s perfectly fine. It is the big game. Many of you will watch it, but most people, for sure, watch for the commercials. And I hope you know that they’re not just commercials.

I mean, there’s a science behind this. Did you know this? It’s not just people paying millions of dollars for ad placement. They have social scientists and experts who try to sell us, for 30 seconds at a time, something we may or may not need—from food to trucks to savings accounts to investment accounts.

And what are these things that are going to be sold this weekend? It’s your quick fix for getting out of the financial mess you’re in, because you’re going to get a free app that gives you a free $5 so you can bet on future sporting events and become rich.

I hope you don’t believe that. As a matter of fact, one of the growing trends among 25-year-old men and younger is a growing addiction to betting. There are people who are going to spend millions of dollars to try to get you addicted to something this week. Now, for months, we’ve been talking about how we engage the culture—music, movies, and social media.

How do we have a filter by which we engage? Because we have to engage the culture. You can’t just hibernate in your home. You have to engage at some level. So as we engage, what is the lens by which I look at things? Today is about how I have a lens when I’m bombarded with hours’ worth of commercials.

Some are funny, some are sad, but every one of them is trying to get a part of your heart and soul. Now, we don’t endorse any of these brands, but we are talking about a truth narrative that might be found within these commercials. I have a few friends who are going to help me. We have Sarah, Hailey, and Isaiah, who are part of our staff team.

We’re going to help walk through some of these commercials together. Here’s what I want you to do: lean into every one of them. Find the one that is your favorite—and why it’s your favorite. As we end this sports weekend, we’re going to start with an inspirational sports commercial.

Check this one out.

No one’s ever come back from a three-one agonizing defeat. Down five-one. We just got to get home. We’ve all been underestimated. Counted out.

In those moments, we felt like it was over. It wasn’t looking good for us. But it’s when we’re given no chance—what could come. It’s like we somehow found that last bit of strength, the will to fight right down to see if he’s okay. And then we did what no one thought we could, not even ourselves.

One night, we came back from the impossible. It’s still 52 years from being broken.

We found a way when it seemed hopeless. Against all odds, here we came back. We should have been long gone.

We did it time and time again. More and more. Right now, we’re fighting for something much bigger than a win or a championship. But have we learned anything from sports?

That no matter how far down we may be, we are never too far down to come back.

Man, I want to go buy a brand-new pair of Nikes and run through a wall for a coach or something. It’s like, no matter how far down we may be, we are never too far down to come back. And that’s not just a sports statement—it’s actually an accurate statement of a Kingdom truth.

The truth about who God is. Some of us walk down because of a situation. Maybe it’s a business or a relationship. Maybe you feel down because something just isn’t going your way, and it hasn’t gone your way for a very long time. You’ve put in hours, days, weeks, and months back to back where something’s not working, and you can literally say, “It’s over. I’m done.”

This relationship is over. I’m shutting down the business. Micah 7 actually talks about this. It says, “Do not gloat over me, my enemy. Though I have fallen, I will rise. Though I sit in darkness, the Lord will be my light.”

It’s this moment of reality. Some of us face something and think, “I don’t want reality. I’m trying to be positive. I’m trying to speak it into existence.” Yet some of us need to acknowledge that things aren’t going well. We have to acknowledge the truth, because that acknowledgment is not a moment of weakness—it’s a moment where God’s strength can swoop into our lives. It’s us stopping our own way of doing things.

This verse doesn’t say, “I never fell” or “I shouldn’t have fallen.” It says, “I fell, but I will rise.” This is the truth we see throughout Scripture. You see it in the stories of David, Ruth, Esther, Joseph, Moses, and Job. These are characters whose stories were not over. God was part of their lives, and there was a future ahead. God writes comebacks, not conclusions.

The greatest comeback is when Jesus comes to this earth, lives a sinless life thinking of you and me, and still goes to the cross. Physically, he’s innocent, but we were guilty. He took on our sin and our shame and died through crucifixion. Yet three days later, he rose again in power and glory.

The same power that raised him from the dead is in you and me. It’s available to us. Romans 8 says the Spirit who raised Jesus from the dead is living in you. He who raised Christ from the dead will also give life to your mortal bodies because of his Spirit who lives in you.

If you’re a follower of Jesus, it is not over. His power can come in at any moment when we acknowledge our need for him. So how do we apply this? How do we apply a commercial like this? Scripture says it’s never too late for God to restore you, heal you, or pull you out of the hole you feel you’re in.

God isn’t finished. Your story isn’t finished. You don’t need a brand-new plan or a brand-new strategy alone. You need to say, “God, I invite you in where I’m down. I invite you in where I’m down and out, and I will trust you as I submit my life to you.” This story is not finished.

Our marriage, our kids—whatever it might look like—isn’t finished.

As we transition to the next commercials, notice how fast these happen. What about short, sneaky, heartstring-pulling commercials? Watch this.

Hey, Gracie. You know how our family has Daddy and Mommy and me?

Yeah.

That’s right. Pretty soon, you’re going to have a baby brother.

And a puppy.

Deal.

Man, what a fun commercial. In case you were wondering, maybe they gave this one to me because a baby’s on the way. I’m not sure. But this is such a sweet one. Commercials are honestly one of my favorite parts of the Super Bowl. Some are loud and punchy and funny, right in your face.

And some are sneaky. They slide in simple, honest truths. This one slides in this truth: love has a way of expanding the table.

My husband and I got married six years ago, and I became an instant mom. I have two bonus kids who are now in high school. A few short years later, we added one of our own—our sweet little Penelope. You’ll see her running around here sometimes. And as you can see, we’re expecting one more.

Our family is blended and growing. And that experience isn’t exclusive to us. A blended and growing family paints a beautiful picture of the family of God.

When we see real love, it grows. It’s never divided; it’s multiplied. Romans 5:5 says, “Hope does not put us to shame, because God’s love has been poured out into our hearts through the Holy Spirit.”

God’s love is poured out in all of us. No one gets less, and everyone gets more. God’s kingdom isn’t a zero-sum game. It’s a never-ending, everlasting pool of God’s eternal love.

Scripture shows us a God who keeps making room. He includes us, welcomes us, and adopts us into his family. Ephesians 1:5 says he predestined us for adoption to sonship through Jesus Christ.

That little girl understood something intuitively. She knew there would be more love when the table expanded. She didn’t ask, “Will you love me less?” She assumed there was room for more.

Jesus lived this out. He pulled up chairs to the table. He welcomed tax collectors, sinners, outsiders, children, and those on the margins. When people thought the table was full, he said, “Make room.”

Love doesn’t compete. It expands.

So what do you do with this today?

If you’re already sitting at the table, where do you need to make room? At school? At work? In your heart? Love doesn’t say, “I’m full.” It says, “Scoot over.”

If you’re not yet sitting at the table, what’s your next step? How will you step into the family of God?

Now is a great time to step into community. We’ve launched over 20 groups. For the men—if you like barbecue—there are groups that meet at Rudy’s. When you join a group, you gain people who encourage you, pray for you, and walk with you.

Some of you may be thinking, “This sounds great, but the people of God are messy.” And if that’s you, watch this next commercial.

[commercial dialogue cleaned lightly for clarity]

Some commercials exaggerate life, and some hit a little too close to home. This is about communication. Hearing is passive. Listening is intentional. Frustration grows in the gap between hearing and listening.

When we seek to understand, it’s an act of love.

James 1:19 says we should be quick to listen, slow to speak, and slow to become angry. Not quick to respond—quick to listen.

Jesus modeled this perfectly. He came close. He entered into our pain. “Jesus wept.”

Are you curious about the people in your life? When was the last time you truly listened?

As we transition to the next commercial, have you ever said something and thought, “I want to take that back”? Let’s watch this.

Don’t pour Coke on your laptop. That’s not the point. But our words travel faster and farther than we think. Scripture says life and death are in the power of the tongue—and sometimes the thumb.

God is love. And we are carriers of his love. Hate multiplies quickly, but love transforms deeply.

Romans 12 says, “Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good.”

Jesus followers are known by their love. Not by politics, reposts, or memes—but by love.

Our words shape worlds. The world doesn’t need louder opinions. It needs transformed voices.

As we go into the last commercial, ask yourself this: what would you prepare for if you knew the moment really mattered?

Some commercials unfold slowly. Discipline doesn’t make sense in the moment, but it produces something later.

Faithfulness looks ordinary until God reveals why it mattered.

True love prepares in advance.

Jesus lived this way. He carried what we never could.

So who are you preparing for?

One day, the reason will be clear. One day, it will pay off. Because love doesn’t just feel—love prepares.

Will you help me thank our speakers and production team? Great job, guys. It’s been a fun weekend.