#379. Michael Phelps sermon illustrations
Aug 17th by Jon
US swimmer Michael Phelps is going to make millions of dollars in endorsements. He is going to be on cereal boxes and late night talk shows and Got Milk commercials. He will never be lacking in funds, but I still fear that he has not tapped into the biggest potential market in the world – sermon illustrations.
Seriously, can you imagine the money Phelps could make if he earned $1 for every sermon that mentions him? I haven’t gone to church yet this morning or talked with any ministers, but I put my ear to the ground and through the crust of the earth could hear the illustration machine rumbling into operation. And it should be, he’s got an amazing story. Some of his feats would probably make a good sermon illustration. In fact, here are three you can have for free:
1. Never Give Up
On Friday, Phelps beat Milorad Cavic by 0.01 seconds. He had lost the race, it was virtually over, but Cavic decided to finish by reaching for the wall off the strength of his legs. Phelps pushed one last time, and the last half stroke propelled his arms forward. That one last push was heard around the world.
2. Be Patient
When he was 11, swimming experts predicted that Michael Phelps would one day rule the world of swimming. He’s 23 now, so for more than 12 years he’s been in the pool. He’s been patiently training and growing and learning under his mentor, Coach Bowman. He practically grew up in a pool and now we, the world, are seeing the dividends of that willingness to work hard all those years.
3. Do What You Were Born to Do
Michael Phelps could crush me like a small, sarcastic bug, but I have to say this. Outside of the pool, he’s kind of a goofball. When you see him in interviews, you are not struck by the degree of fear and dread he seems to give his competitors. But in the water, he’s a machine. Every part of him seems sculpted with a purpose, and that purpose is to win gold medals. You can’t help but watch him swim and feel you are watching someone do what they were born to do.
Comments
Robyn Collins gets the prize….
You, Jon, truly are the MP of blogging.
Although Jon, as one of the judges here, I will have to take off a small deduction for your bobble, in commenting that he could possibly get $1 for sermon illustrations. Not likely….so, not your best.
Also, and more significantly, though you have been diligent in your years of training and preparation for your event here, it’s going to be at least 3 tenths off for missing the most important element of your #379 routine, to wit:
4. Genetics
Be born with the DNA which will assist your trainers and coaches in molding your body into the perfect swim machine.
Biblical comparison character:
Samson (and I will deduct a tenth on myself for using a previously cited character in this competition.)
And Moon Rain, just to clarify…I am not taking issue with the fact that Phelps didn’t *mention* Christ. That is fine, and in fact, it seems fakey-fake when athletes fall on their knees pointing to heaven, etc. I’m not down with the Pharisees here.
It’s just that it made me sad that this fabulous human accomplishment was not connected to its real Source. If it were NOT about personal glory, I’m sure we would have an inkling as to where his hope and gratitude and strength come from. I could be completely wrong, but there is nothing in anything of the voluminous articles that have been written about the man, or the *hours* of interviews with him to indicate that he’s a believer. I was just thinking eternally, not temporally. That even this fabulous human accomplishment is filthy rags if he does not know where it came from. That’s all I was saying.
And I think it matters whether or not someone is a Christian. In fact, I would go so far as to say, that’s ALL that really matters about a person at the end of their 80 or 90 years here.
He would have made a buck during our service yesterday morning — $2 if you count both services, but I can only vouch for the first service mention of his name.
This blog attracts a lot of people.. haha.
Yesterday, my pastor talked about Michael Phelps. I also went to the pool and I heard so many people go, “Do it like Michael Phelps!”
Not only was Michael Phelps mentioned during the opening prayer, but our pastor managed to find a way to say ‘jock strap’ during the sermon.
heartafire, I’m with you. It always breaks my heart a little to see these people who are doing awesome things, who have so much influence, and who have no idea that they’re lacking the most important element of life: Christ. Watching Phelps on the Today show this morning, it occurred to me that it’s highly unlikely that he is a Christian, based on past events, the things he says and doesn’t say, etc. I was reminded of when Tom Brady was being interviewed last year during the playoffs. The reporter said something to the effect of, “So, you’ve got five Superbowl rings and a perfect season. Now what’s left? What more will it take to make your life complete? What else is there to make you feel fulfilled?” To which Brady replied, “God, I wish I knew.” His answer was right there, and he didn’t even know it. Heartbreaking, indeed. We idolize these athletes and celebrities for their accomplishments, the great works they do in Africa and the Dominican, the animals they rescue, etc., but at the end of their lives, none of those things will matter if they don’t have a relationship with Christ. It’s such a monumental waste, and it’s one of the saddest things I’ve ever seen.
Oh, I’ve got a good one. My husband has not yet preached a Phelps reference during this Olympics, but after the Athens Olympics, he used this.
If I (my husband) were going to have a swimming contest against Olympic gold-medalist Michael Phelps, and we were swimming from the coast of California to Hawaii, who would win, me or him?
Everyone puts their bets on MP.
My huband: WRONG! It’s too far! The world record for distance in swimming is only 100-some miles (he actually had the stat, I don’t), and the coast of Hawaii is 2390 miles! Not even Michael Phelps could swim that, and he is the best swimmer in the world!
Meaning: It doesn’t matter how good of a life you lead, you cannot get to heaven by your own abilities or merits. You must have a relationship with Jesus to get you there.
Now that’s a gold-medal illustration. I’m sure it will come up again soon after this Olympics.
This really happened at my men’s ministry meeting Friday. We are reading Chasing Daylight by Erwin McManus :
Pastor: Have any of you all ever given up on something that you wish you hadn’t?
(I raise my hand) Me: Track
Pastor: You’ve been watching the Olympics, haven’t you?! Hey, guys have you all been watching Michael Phelps!?
Sidetracked conversation ensues … in the middle of Pastor’s teaching. But since Pastor started it, not going along with it would be showing defiance to spiritual authority, right?!
I’m just waiting for a hip hop artist to use.
“Gettin’ all Michael Phelps on you, son!”
or …
“Got more gold in my mouf than Phelps got on his neck!”
or …
PJ, I’m sure you could come up with more of these all day long.
Lauren, I totally agree! I’ve said for years that the word “exegetical” sounds like a dirty word. I think I’ve even used it as a curse word. =)
And Phelps was totally name-dropped at church yesterday. My pastor owes the kid big $$….
Ha! I used the one about his goggles filling with water and us walking by faith not sight with my youth group.
Nice.
I just love that everyone on TV conveniently forgets that our golden boy was convicted of a DUI. I’d like to see THAT in a sermon!
Okay, so I must mention this:
Did you guys see the five minute long piece on NBC showing Michael Phelps and pointing out different parts of his body. (Large wingspan, long torso). Well, after going through the whole list, the narrator said “Flat bottom”. The narrator didn’t even mention what a flat bottom had to do with swimming. I laughed a lot so I thought I would share.
Okay, I did it. I worked Michael Phelps into my sermon yesterday about keeping your eyes on your goal. I have never been more ashamed…LOL!!!!
In my defense, my brain was fried after a week at kids’ camp (and yes, I tried to pick out the different “types” of counselors based on the SCL guide!) and the only other “person” I could come up with as an example who keeps an eye on their goal…was my dog when she wants a treat. Do I get to keep my $1 because I compared my dog to Michael Phelps?
Robyn collins, I loved what you said b/c Jon really is the MP of blogging.
Anonymous – “I’m just waiting for a hip hop artist to use.
“Gettin’ all Michael Phelps on you, son!”
I laughed so loud on this my neighbors must be wondering what’s wrong with me.
Okay, Stacy from Louisville – you got me. You crack me up!
And, I, too, feel cheated. There were no MP references in our sermon.
I heard 3 MP references yesterday.
Church sermon, Sunday school, and youth group.
Oh yeah.
haha! I had an Olympic related sermon on Sunday. Shockingly, the passage in Hebrews 12 wasn’t used!
I thought anything sport related was instantly tied in with Hebrews 12?
Does talking about Australian star Stephanie Rice in a sermon count?
First time reading the blog and I dig it.
Great line BTW “David, his brothers laughed when he walked onto the battle field and stopped laughing when he walked off it with Goliath’s head.”
People in general and Christians in particular tend to make fun of methods, but it’s hard to argue with results.
Yep you nailed this one, so of course I read this before I went to the Sunday night service and SURE ENOUGH they brought up Phelps and I had to hold back a giggle…oops!
DUDE! Our pastor totally talked about Phelps last Sunday, lol!
And my first thought was – I wonder how many other churches are hearing something about him during their sermon!
we had one today! our pastor talked about devotion and used an olympic athletes devotion to his sport, M. Phelps style.
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