Sermon Illustration
I'm not a preacher, but sermon illustrations always pop into my head. Then pop out. So I'll write them down. Free for all to use.
So, I went running-shoe shopping (an activity I dread). Unsure of my purchase, the sales assistant, Ollie, told me to take them home and wear them around the house. If I don't like them, I can return them, so long as they're resell-able. That is, I shouldn't wear them outside. But the only way for me to know for certain if they're the pair for me is to go for a run. Outside. But I can't do that. Therefore I have to make the decision on less information than I'd like (that is, just walking around the house), because I'm not allowed to soil the sneakers. If I do, then I have to keep them.
The analogy is probably pretty clear by now. It's a partial illustration of the Christian ethic of sex and marriage. When you're just going out with someone, neither of you will get a complete understanding of what the other is like. You might try living together, but if you do that, and break up, you're returning soiled goods. I'm sure you can see other parallels. I can't be bothered pointing them all out to you, and I'm sure you're clever enough to see them yourself.
So, I went running-shoe shopping (an activity I dread). Unsure of my purchase, the sales assistant, Ollie, told me to take them home and wear them around the house. If I don't like them, I can return them, so long as they're resell-able. That is, I shouldn't wear them outside. But the only way for me to know for certain if they're the pair for me is to go for a run. Outside. But I can't do that. Therefore I have to make the decision on less information than I'd like (that is, just walking around the house), because I'm not allowed to soil the sneakers. If I do, then I have to keep them.
The analogy is probably pretty clear by now. It's a partial illustration of the Christian ethic of sex and marriage. When you're just going out with someone, neither of you will get a complete understanding of what the other is like. You might try living together, but if you do that, and break up, you're returning soiled goods. I'm sure you can see other parallels. I can't be bothered pointing them all out to you, and I'm sure you're clever enough to see them yourself.
posted by The Borg at
5:33 PM
10 Comments:
The analogy is probably pretty clear by now.
LOL! It would *only* be clear to someone who is constantly thinking about sex... ;-)
By
Craig Schwarze, At
10:56 PM
Speak for yourself.
By
The Borg, At
11:04 PM
Oh, if you do you use it in a sermon or talk, please let me know.
By
The Borg, At
11:06 PM
Being totally committed to the shoes changes the experience of wearing them.
By
Anonymous, At
11:48 PM
Who's who in the illustration? Is the man the shoes and the woman the feet?
And what if the shoes feel like wearing other shoes?
And what if no one wants to wear a certain pair of shoes? Are those shoes any less shoes because no one has worn them? Is there a use for unworn shoes at all in life? They're certainly not fulfilling their functional design.
And what happens when the shoes get worn out? Do you just throw them away or do you stick with them until death or tinea do you part?
And what about the colour? If you choose white shoes because they look good on you, does that make you somehow hate black... shoes?
I have several pairs of shoes. Is that wrong? Are my feet being too promiscuous? After all my feet can wear different shoes but the shoes only have one wearer (polygamy?)
I think I've worn this illustration out... if you excuse the pun.
By
Neil Cameron (One Salient Oversight), At
12:02 AM
My favourite sermon illustrations are the ones that have seemingly nothing to do with the thing they're supposed to be illustrating.
A Pete Woodcock rant about tampon adverts comes to mind...
By
Cabernet Leather, At
12:14 AM
I may not use it in a sermon in the short term but I'd love to use it when I explain a Christian view of pre-marital sex to my students at College and in Youth Ministry. Is that ok?
Top job by the way - good analogy.
By
Anonymous, At
1:07 AM
You're so hardcore, most Christians would shy away from describing non-virgins as "soiled goods".
Incidentally, I can't be bothered returning shoes - it's too much bother. I just don't pay too much for shoes in the first place, and I apply portfolio theory that if I buy enough shoes, some will turn out to be decent.
When I find decent shoes, I also often go back and buy more of the same kind once the first pair wear out. Currently I am on revolving pairs of shoes from Rivers factory outlets (Riding motorbikes wears them out every 6 months if you wear them most days).
Applied to your analogy, I'm not sure this behaviour makes me a very good person - the relationship equivalent would be keeping one's own harem!
By
Anonymous, At
1:47 AM
I'm keeping the shoes, by the way.
I had a dream last might where I was buying lots of shoes, stealing some, lying about it, and then being reprimanded about having too many shoes...what could it mean?
By
The Borg, At
12:53 PM
In this context, I think the meaning is obvious. In reality, I think you just like shoes.
By
missmellifluous, At
6:18 PM
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