Paul, Sports, and Preaching
Illustrating sermons is an artform. It is one that I have always struggled with. So this is not being written by some expert in that part of sermon preparation.
However, there is something I have heard a fairly significant number of preachers say that bothers me. They will be getting ready to share a sermon illustration–maybe their second or third in a sermon–and they’ll say something like this: “Paul wrote about sports a lot, so I’m going to go back to the world of sports.” With that, they will launch into a story from some sport to illustrate the point they are making.
Now, let me say this: I am not against using sports for sermon illustrations. Often, some aspect of sports can help a concept stick in the minds of some people.
But there are some guys who want to use Paul almost as a crutch. They will run to the fact that Paul wrote about sports as their reasoning for illustrating with sports a vast amount of the time.
Is it true that Paul wrote about sports? Yes. But Paul wrote around half the New Testament (by number of books), and he mentioned sports about three times.
About three.
Preachers, Paul also used words from playwrights and poets. He also illustrated using the Old Testament. He referred to history.
In other words, Paul did not use sports so often that it is obvious that is what he relied on constantly. Instead, too many guys love sports, so they just use the fact that Paul ever used sports to excuse their reliance on them.
And, guys, may I remind all of us (including me): not everyone to whom we preach loves sports. There are some who don’t care. There are some who don’t understand them. There are some who think they are boring.
When you constantly run to them for illustrations, you are closing off that part of those who are listening to you.
Again, I’m not an expert on illustrating a sermon. I struggle with it.
But guys, please, don’t just use Paul as a crutch for your love of sports.
AUTHOR: Adam Faughn