#727. Tangible Sermon Reminders

(John Crist, you fantastic, completely unexpected guest poster. This showed up in my email one day, and I thought it was very true and very funny. I hope you do too.)

For those of us that have been to a Christian conference, retreat or youth camp in the last decade, we know the power of the Tangible Sermon Reminder. The TSR usually occurs when multiple speakers are up against each other, all vying for your inordinately short attention span and space in your pre-worn journal. We’ve all been victim of the TSR and it usually takes the form of a small, post-sermon giveaway that is meant to drive home the sermons’ main point.

As Christians, we don’t remember any of the sermons we’ve heard in the last ten years but I ALWAYS remember the TSRs.

Traditionally, the TSR comes in many forms. It can be as simple as a small cross or as complex as a bracelet with six different colored beads on it, all representing a different stage of the roman road.

But with TSR competition heating up in the last several years, Christian conference speakers have taken TSR use to new heights. It usually happens after the closing prayer (any earlier and the speaker could risk loosing the attention of the audience) and it typically comes in the form of a small trinket or memento. Before you’re inspired to change your life as a result of this gift, keep in mind that it was purchased with your tithe.

Now, everyone please look under your chair and find out the three most common TSR’s of 2009.

THE NAIL:

Most common use: reminder for what Christ did on the cross, reminder of the consequences of sin.

Pros: cheap, easy to find, can send the youth intern to Home Depot to make this purchase.

Cons: will be confiscated at airport security, cannot be used with children under 13, could result in tetanus.

Application: put it on a necklace, hang it from your rearview mirror.

THE PROMISE RING:

Most common use: reminder that true love waits, reminder that perfect love is a circle…it never ends.

Pros: Girls can use it to deflect the advances of guys from the college ministry.

Cons: Christian who have ‘made mistakes’ in the past can’t have one.

Application: Wear it on your right ring finger.

THE ROCK:

Most Common use: reminder that Jesus is our rock, reminder that their are “goliaths” in our life that we need to kill.

Pros: Can be purchased by the pound, multiple rocks provide entertainment for A-D-D kids during ministry time.

Cons: makes really loud noises in the laundry when you leave it in your pants pocket, kids confuse Jesus with Dewayne Johnson (the wrestler).

Application: Put in on your mantle, use it as a cubicle decoration.

THE PUZZLE PIECE:

Most Common use: reminder that we’re are all part of the Christian body, reminder that we are worthless unless we have the other parts.

Pros: recyclable, no individual resale value.

Cons: only comes in quantities of 1000 or 3000, youth group kids try to fit their puzzles pieces together and when they find a match the guy says, ‘God must want us to hook up.’

Use: stick it to your bathroom mirror, tape it to the inside cover of your bible/journal.

Have you ever been TSRed?

Pastors are always looking for new TSR ideas, any suggestions?