"Lord, give me strength as I do what You ask of me this day."
- "The Test!": The moment when Isaac finds out that he's the one Abraham's been instructed to offer as a burnt offering. Earlier, he'd told Chris that he'd be accompanying Abraham to offer to God what would surely be one of their finest lambs...but now, as the understanding of what's really about to happen crosses his face, he drops the sticks he's been carrying up to that moment, approaches Abraham...and all that father and son can do is share a final hug. The melancholy music in the background only makes the scene more depressing.Abraham: My son...God will provide for Himself the lamb for the burnt offering.
- "He Is Risen!": Even if you already know how the story will turn out, Jesus's death is still hard to watch; specifically, the reactions of His mother and friends as they helplessly watch His execution. Mary's response, especially, since she's being made to watch her own Son's demise right in front of her.
- "John the Baptist": Chris plans to get John the Baptist out of his prison...only to arrive mere seconds too late, and he, Joy and Gizmo are forced to hide and watch helplessly as John is dragged out of his cell and taken away by soldiers to be beheaded on Herod's orders. The scene is made worse when John locks eyes with Chris during this moment; a minute later, after the soldiers disappear around the corner with John, Chris slumps in dejection.Chris: Why does it have to end like this?!
- "Job": The episode's modern-day plot begins with the revelation that Chris's grandfather has died; as Gizmo outlines for Joy's benefit, it's the latest in a string of terrible and escalating incidents that have happened to Chris that week (preceded by, in order: the loss of the class's pet iguana when he was tasked to care for it, a tree crashing through his bedroom roof and breaking his arm during a storm, and him being robbed of money he saved from his paper route). The loss of his grandfather is the one that hits Chris the hardest, though, and right from the beginning up to the time Joy finds him in his tree-house, the somber atmosphere can be both seen and felt right throughout as we realize that Chris—usually quite stubborn and determined—is giving up.Joy: Sorry about your grandpa.Chris: Why are all these bad things happening to me when I try so hard to be good!?Joy: Chris, sometimes—Chris: I'm just gonna stop trying! (in a softer, broken voice) ...my grandpa died.
- "Peter's Denial": When Chris denies even knowing who Joy is in order to save face with a bunch of cool kids that he wants to hang out with, Joy's response is...heart-wrenching, to say the least. Her subsequent What the Hell, Hero? speech to him a moment later really brings it home, and you can see the pain on her face and hear her voice break as she expresses just how badly she's been affected by Chris's betrayal.Chris: Joy, those guys don't think the chess club is very cool, and you know how much I wanna—Joy: And that makes it okay to pretend you don't (voice cracks) ...know me?
- A little later in the same episode, Peter's own Heroic BSoD as he realizes just how badly he screwed up by denying his best friend Jesus mirrors Joy's own earlier grief at being denied by her best friend Chris.
- "Naaman and the Servant Girl": In one scene shortly after the kids arrive via Superbook's time travel, Naaman is seen with his wife, who's carefully bandaging his leprous sores, and what follows is a bit that demonstrates how badly they're both affected at the way the disease is affecting not just Naaman himself, but their marriage. It doesn't help that Naaman, described by his servant moments earlier as a mighty man of valor, sounds so deep in despair at how he's been robbed of the simple pleasure of just being able to touch his wife.Naaman: My time is short.His wife: Do not speak of such things.Naaman: I've led tens of thousands of men to victory in countless battles for Syria. Yet with all my wealth and power, I can do nothing against an unseen enemy that does...this...(he reaches for his wife's face, but keeps his hands just inches away from her skin)Naaman: ...so that I cannot even touch the ones that I love.(his wife turns away with a sob, while he himself looks despondent)
- "Lazarus": For much of the episode, Joy is feeling very bummed out over the fact that she'd failed to make it in time to escort a little girl to an amusement park as she'd earlier promised to do. She subsequently beats herself up over her view that, if she'd made it in time before the bus left, she could've convinced the girl to go and have fun. Her depression isn't helped too much when she sees Jesus delaying to go and heal the sickly Lazarus, especially after being informed by Gizmo that the only time Bible-era messages about sickness were relayed was if the sick person was at death's door.Joy: (sighs) Timing is everything.
- "Peter's Escape": Throughout the episode, Joy has been struggling with the reality of suffering and injustice in the world, which she'd earlier seen through a virtual-reality helmet while using it as part of a school assignment. At the end, having learned about the power of prayer from seeing how the Christian believers' prayers delivered Peter from prison, Joy decides to engage in a prayer of her own...Joy: Dear Lord, today I was doing homework, and I saw how hard life is for lots of people. There's the poor, and there's cruelty and sickness...it makes me upset, and I don't know what I can do to help change it. (starts tearing up) So I'm asking...I'm praying...that Your will be done.
- Fortunately, this then leads into a Heartwarming Moment as Chris and Gizmo join Joy in praying the Lord's Prayer, with the Spirit of God shining over the house...and then we see that their household isn't the only one in Valleyview praying that same prayer, as similar lights shine all around.
- "Paul and Barnabas": Acts 15:36-41 tells briefly of how Paul and Barnabas had a falling out because Paul was against Barnabas bringing the young John Mark with them on their travels, after Mark had previously lost courage and didn't go with them on a previous missionary trip. In this episode, we get to see how the contention started (from the moment Mark witnessed Paul's blinding of the sorcerer Barjesus), and the regret in Barnabas's face as he decides it's better for them to part ways if Paul insists on refusing to give Mark a second chance (like how Paul himself had gotten a chance to atone for his actions as Saul of Tarsus). What makes this moment more bitter is that the episode doesn't give any indication that the two friends ever properly reconciled after that quarrel.Barnabas: Paul, everyone deserves a second chance.Paul: A chance to do what? Abandon us again as he did in Perga?Barnabas: Paul, be reasonable!Paul: No! I will not have him with us, Barnabas!Barnabas: He is a good man.Paul: (glares at Barnabas, but stays stonily silent)Barnabas: (with a resigned look) Then he can go with me, and you and I will take separate paths.(Barnabas walks off. Paul sighs as a forlorn look comes over his face)
- Fortunately, the episode has something of a Bittersweet Ending, as while Paul and Barnabas aren't shown reconciling onscreen, Paul does eventually gain enough confidence in Mark to take him along on a later trip.
- "The Birth of Moses": While staying with Miriam's family, Joy wakes up during the night to hear Miriam's mother Jochebed sobbing even as she's wrapping baby Moses in bed-cloths, fearful for what might happen to him if Pharaoh's men get hold of him and carry out the king's murderous decree against all Hebrew baby boys. Although Miriam was successful in hiding Moses from the soldiers earlier that day, Jochebed knows they can't keep up charades forever and it'll only be a matter of time before Moses's life will be forfeit.Jochebed: They took Sarah's boy, Zacharias, today. And nine others that we know of, perhaps more. (sobs) I'm proud of what you did today, Miriam, but your father is right—we cannot keep this up forever. (breaks down again)
- "Isaiah": There's a moment near the beginning of the episode when, while bringing some snacks for the kids, Phoebe overhears Chris talking about his grandfather, her father, and how he used to take Chris to church—but they themselves, as a family, never went to church together, and Chris wonders aloud if Phoebe stopped believing in Jesus. Phoebe is visibly affected on hearing this, even wiping away a tear from her eye. The weight of this moment becomes greater if you've been following the events of previous episodes that focus on Chris's family; Chris's grandfather was very well-loved by both him and Phoebe, and his death affected both of them hard. And then, at the end of the episode, we get to see why Phoebe wept: she admits to Chris that she drifted away from God once she went to college, even though Crispin (who was courting her at the time) encouraged her to continue attending church, but now—after seeing Chris's interest in being baptized—she also wants to re-establish her old relationship with God.Chris: Mom...I think God misses you.Phoebe: Chris...watching you this past while, you've really made me...I miss Him too.
- "Jesus—Friend of Sinners": At the beginning of the episode, it's revealed that Joy's been so caught up in her various church-related activities that she's neglected a longtime friend of hers, Jolie, to the point that one of those activities is going to clash with Jolie's upcoming birthday party, for which she'd previously sent Joy an invitation. After Joy frankly admits to having been so busy, Jolie seems to accept the explanation...but it's obviously a resigned acceptance, as Jolie's response makes it clear that she's quite hurt.Joy: I've just been so busy with all these commitments I've taken on, and—Jolie: And you no longer have time for your old non-church friends.
- "Paul Keeps the Faith": It's hard not to feel for Joy and sympathize with her fearful response after she gets the news that her mother, having collapsed sometime prior, may have to stay in the hospital for a while. Anyone whose parent may have fallen ill suddenly (and in some cases terminally) can certainly relate to the questions she has during her moment of unthinking grief.Joy: This isn't supposed to happen—my mom, in this place! What if the doctors can't figure out what's wrong? What if she doesn't get better?
- "Love Your Enemies": The scene where Stephen is stoned to death for his calling out of the Jews on their role in killing Jesus. It's even more painful because, even as the people spew their hatred against him, Stephen's final words are a plea to God not to hold it against them...and the kids are just within the crowd and can only look on helplessly and with horror in their expressions.Joy: ...I can't watch... (turns and walks away weeping)
