The Long Game
Summary of Sermon: The Long Game
In week 5 of the Talking Jesus series, Pastor Torry Sheppard brings a timely and tender word for those who’ve been faithfully sharing their faith—but are still waiting to see results. This message encourages believers to persevere when the work of evangelism feels slow, discouraging, or seemingly unfruitful—especially when it involves someone they love.
Pastor Torry opens by acknowledging a common, heartfelt question: What do I do when I’ve done everything I know to do? Whether it’s a child, a spouse, or a close friend, long-game evangelism often means walking with people for years without visible progress. And that can be exhausting. This message is a reminder that although the journey is slow, it’s sacred—and that God is still working.
A Hiking Story with a Spiritual Twist
To illustrate this, Pastor Torry tells a humorous and revealing story from a college trip to Utah, where he and a group of friends mistakenly knocked over the very rock stacks—called cairns—meant to guide their hike through the desert. After getting lost, they realized they had been dismantling the very markers that were supposed to help them get to their destination and return home.
The story sets up the central theme: in the long, dry stretches of spiritual influence, we need markers of faith to keep us grounded and encouraged. Without them, it’s easy to lose our way. Evangelism is rarely instant. It’s a journey—and one that often requires more endurance than enthusiasm.
Part 1: Stacking Stones – Keeping Your Faith Alive
Drawing from Joshua 4, Pastor Torry reflects on Israel’s entrance into the Promised Land. After God parted the Jordan River, Joshua instructed the people to gather twelve stones as a memorial. These stones weren’t just for celebration—they were for remembrance. They told future generations: God was here. He moved. He delivered.
What’s striking is that Joshua also set up a private altar in the riverbed—stones no one else would see once the water returned. Pastor Torry suggests these hidden stones were personal—a reminder for Joshua himself. Because even the strongest leaders are prone to forget God’s faithfulness.
Like Joshua, we need to “stack stones” along our spiritual journey—moments of answered prayer, miracles, or breakthroughs that we can return to when doubt creeps in. Sometimes the best way to encourage our soul is to remember what God has already done.
Part 2: Spiritual Influence Over the Long Haul
With our personal faith fortified, Pastor Torry shifts focus to how we can maintain spiritual influence when nothing seems to be changing. He outlines three key commitments that keep us in the game:
1. Prayer
Prayer isn’t passive—it’s powerful. It’s not just something we do while we wait; it’s part of the work itself. Citing James 5, Pastor Torry reminds us that the prayer of a righteous person is powerful and effective. He introduces five scriptural ways to pray for those far from God:
Ask the Father to draw them (John 6:44)
Bind the spirit that blinds them (2 Corinthians 4:4)
Pray they experience a relationship, not just religion (Romans 8:15)
Ask God to send people into their lives (Matthew 9:38)
Pray for wisdom and revelation (Ephesians 1:17)
These intercessory prayers become spiritual warfare—asking God to soften hearts, remove barriers, and awaken a personal hunger for Him.
2. Patience
Evangelism rarely moves at the pace we want. Pastor Torry challenges our “right now” expectations by reminding us that while God can move instantly, He often works over time. Just because something isn’t visible doesn’t mean it isn’t happening. Our patience mirrors God’s own—He was patient with us, and He calls us to be patient with others.
Patience doesn’t mean approval. It simply means we haven’t given up hope. It gives us the grace to stay present even when change is slow.
3. Persistence
Patience keeps us grounded. Persistence keeps us moving. Pastor Torry urges us not to pull back when results seem scarce. Citing 1 Corinthians 15:58, he reminds us that our labor in the Lord is not in vain. The breakthrough might not be immediate—but that doesn’t mean it isn’t coming.
To illustrate, Pastor Torry shares a deeply personal story about his mother. After enduring three painful disappointments—including his grandfather walking away from the faith—she received a prophetic word that God would restore all three. Two came quickly. But for thirteen years, she prayed for her father. And then, one Sunday, the phone rang. He had gone to church and made things right. No fanfare—just a simple sentence. But behind it were thirteen years of persistence.
Conclusion: Keep Playing the Long Game
Faithful evangelism isn’t always flashy. Sometimes it’s quiet, repetitive, and unseen. But it matters. If you’re carrying the burden of someone who seems far from God, don’t lose heart. Stack your stones. Pray with power. Be patient. Stay persistent.
Because your story may not be finished. And your faith might be the very thing God uses to bring someone else home.