Saturday, August 10, 2013

Humorous Delivery With Funny Sermon Illustrations

By Andrea Davidson


Funny sermon illustrations make services lively and help the preacher to put the readings in perspective. They may be used at the beginning, in the middle or the end of a homily. They lift the mood of the congregation and help the people to refocus after a long session. Experts have suggested that they are more memorable than the plain sermon and have a long lasting effect.

Each congregation is different and requires a different approach when illustrating. The stories fit mothers, fathers, children, adults, elderly, youths, etc. Depending on the context. Others are for general use and can be applied in a variety of situations. The choice of an illustration determines whether the people will follow your delivery and find it meaningful. It must be used at the right time and to the right group. Other differences regard various seasons in the spiritual ream.

The topics handled vary and determine how effective it will be. For instance, a story is told about a man who found his son sited in front of the house, with his head hoisted using his hands. He thought to himself what could be wrong with his son before asking. The son looked at him, and in a low tone told him that he too was fed up with his wife. This is an illustration that would fit a marriage scenario.

Some followers offer all manner of justifications for not attending church. One of them only attended once a year during Christmas. The pastor met him at the door and as usual welcomed him to the army of the lord. He then went on to enquire why he was absent all the year. He responded that he had enlisted in the secret service of the army and thus has been participating underground.

Another illustration used to teach people about paying attention in church says that a pastor always started his sermons with the words, The Lord Be With You. The congregation would answer back, And Also With You. This turned out to be a mechanical chorus. One day the microphone developed problems and the pastor said, There is Something Wrong with the Microphone. The congregation as usual said And Also With You.

Another illustration is used to show the important days a man goes to church. They are during baptism, on his wedding day and on the day of his burial. The progression of activity is hilarious since on the first day, water is thrown to him. On the second, friends use rice while during burial, they are fed up and have to use dust.

For pastors, a wife came home tired from Christmas festivities. The husband, who was a pastor, could not understand since it was he who delivered all the sermons and not the wife. You can imagine the shock when the wife said, It is me who had to listen to all of them.

Funny sermon illustrations help pastors to ground the reading of the day in real context. It makes the homily easy to follow and gives the faithful a new twist to the same old reading. This will give fresh meaning to an old verse.




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