Comments on: “Ripped from the headlines” sermon illustrations.

By: freekat

freekat — Sun, 20 Dec 2009 11:37:00 +0000

Nemo – the best redemptive, father loving child sermon I’ve ever heard.

By: Staci

Staci — Tue, 27 Oct 2009 19:47:19 +0000

I was in a leadership training program for 9 months a few years ago. One of our assignments was to write a paper on which is more important–the message, or the method? We all wrote what we thought would be the right answer (aka what we thought our director would like to hear). After we all read our papers aloud, he told us his answer (and had Scripture to back it up). They are both EQUALLY important. Without the message, there is no truth. But without the method, the message will never been carried to those who need it. They go completely hand-in-hand. The question is…how do you find the equally important balance?

By: Elizabeth Nokleby

Elizabeth Nokleby — Tue, 27 Oct 2009 01:18:26 +0000

This reminds me of a friend telling me his pastor used a sermon illustration talking about how gracious Beyoncee was to Taylor Swift during the awards ceremony fiasco with Kanye West, he said several people just looked around at each other like "who is Beyonce? Is it a group?" I love when pastor's use sermon illustrations from outside of christian culture and everyone else acts like they have no clue.

By: Katie

Katie — Mon, 26 Oct 2009 04:48:29 +0000

Selah,

I love that you go to my church!!

By: Rachel

Rachel — Sun, 25 Oct 2009 16:16:24 +0000

Haha…Clayton King at Newspring just dropped a Balloon Kid reference! Love it!

By: Iya

Iya — Wed, 21 Oct 2009 14:40:07 +0000

We love the Gators here in FL, my pastor more than most. In his sermons he somehow manages to incorporate the Gators. Sometimes it works, but mostly it's good for laughs. I remember this other time when the Youth Pastor preached. I've forgotten the title, but i distinctly remember him talking about one of Liam Neeson's really cool quotes from the movie 'Taken' : I don't know who you are. I don't know what you want. If you are looking for ransom, I can tell you I don't have money. But what I do have are a very particular set of skills; skills I have acquired over a very long career. Skills that make me a nightmare for people like you. If you let my daughter go now, that'll be the end of it. I will not look for you, I will not pursue you. But if you don't, I will look for you, I will find you, and I will kill you.

Maybe he was talking about us being awesome Godly ninjas who would not give up in our pursuit of justice for the oppressed? Skillful prayer warriors battling for the lost?? I could paraphrase it thus (I think, using 'thus' makes me sound smart; imagine saying this to the devil on behalf of someone you're praying for):

I know who you are. I know what you want. If you are looking for ransom, I can tell you I don't have money. But what I do have are a very particular set of skills; skills I have acquired over a very long and fruitful walk with Jesus. Skills that make me a nightmare for you and your posse (do people still say posse??). If you let [insert name of the lost or least here] go now, that'll NOT be the end of it. I WILL look for you, I WILL pursue you. And I WILL find you, and I will slap you upside the head with the power of Jesus that lies in me. Take that!!

By: Joni Ruhs

Joni Ruhs — Wed, 21 Oct 2009 13:40:37 +0000

No matter what I think of a "relevant" song, movie clip, headline used in church(used well or not),when I hear or see it later, my mind goes back to that sermon or gathering time and I remember a point that struck me. I will admit there are some references that are WAY out there but it still gets you thinking–one way or the other.

Like the time a former pastor retold the news story of the enraged man who tried to throw a woman off a bridge out of road rage screaming "b**ch! b**ch! b**ch!" at her–and said it as a part of the message. Can't remember his point but I remember it was the first time my friend's parents came to visit the church. They came back and stayed for several years!

By: Becky Miller

Becky Miller — Tue, 20 Oct 2009 19:50:16 +0000

Best or WORST? When I was going to a church in Tulsa, the pastor preached an ENTIRE SERMON from Top Gun. The movie. With Tom Cruise. And he illustrated every one of his 5 points (because all good sermons should have 5 points) with CLIPS FROM THE MOVIE.

I wish I were making that up. It sounds like the sort of scenario you would make up, Jon. Well, if I added unicorns.

If any church were to have a worship eagle, it would be that one. It was a crazy place. We finally left and went to a normal church.

By: John MacMillan

John MacMillan — Tue, 20 Oct 2009 17:56:49 +0000

Sometimes it's really important to make these references though. I remember on September 16, 2001, our minister got up and said "You know, on Monday afternoon, I had this sermon locked up. The scheduled reading was the Prodigal Son, one of the easiest passages in the Bible to preach on. Then I saw the news on Tuesday morning." (Sept 11th)

By: Amy

Amy — Tue, 20 Oct 2009 06:48:42 +0000

I cant lie. i love current events in sermons. My pastor did use Michael Phelps examples and constantly uses Football references. (I dont get those..Heh).
I dont think my pastor talked about balloon boy but i was teaching kids church.
And all I remember from the Michael Phelps one is my pastor looking at a lot of the teenage girls trying to..make a point or soemthing. Haha