Whoopee Cushion Life: A new sermon series featuring “Pull My Finger”
- Posted on January 24, 2011
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North Point Church in Springfield, MO started a new sermon series this month called "Whoopee Cushion Life". Here are the titles and the promo from the church's website:
January 15/16 - “Pull My Finger” - Sex! Sexual sin and how prevalent it is. How many people suffer from it. How dangerous it is. What the bible says about lust. How easy it is to get caught up into porn, an affair, and how easy it is for our kids to get into it.
January 22/23 - “Silent but Deadly” - The dangers of keeping your stuff/sin a secret. Too ashamed or scared to get it out there. The enemy attacks best when you live in isolation. Habits, addictions, attitudes, sin! Sin loses some of its power when you get it out in the open.
January 29/30 - “Blame it on the other guy in the elevator” - Judgmental attitudes toward people who struggle. Pharisee attitude toward pet sins like addiction and sexual sin. Log in your eye attitude.
Feburary 5/6 - “He who smelt it dealt it” - Finding accountability with others to keep you on the right track.
And here's the promo video:
Whoopee Cushion Life Teaser from North Point Church on Vimeo.
OK... what's your gut reaction? Clever sermon series, or a little too over the top?
Would you do a series like this in YOUR church?
Why or why not?
Todd
Comments
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Dee Lauderdale on Mon, January 24, 2011
I’m all about catchy titles and series (probably too much) but two thoughts struck me when I read this. One is, it sounds like a church trying just a little too hard to be cool and two, it’s sounds rather juvenile.
Leonard on Mon, January 24, 2011
This seems like an idea that someone took that might be better served as an illustration for a point, not a springboard for a sermon series.
It seems like a hard right turn to make four weeks in a row… Just me, but I think there are more creative ways to build a series on the same topic without four weeks of fart jokes.
Mark Bordeaux on Mon, January 24, 2011
If the Spirit of God led our brother to preach on this and if it “communicates” with the intended audience all I can do is pray for God to use him and the series for His glory.
Personally, for our area it might be better suited for our middle schoolers. I would agree with Dee.
Jim Mitchell on Mon, January 24, 2011
Awesome. While better suited for youth group, it will certainly appeal to the men of the congregation and too often, worship services are made to appeal to women. It would be interesting to see what the results of this series happen to be. I would use something like this for a men’s retreat.
Matt on Mon, January 24, 2011
Personally, I think farts are hilarious and wish it wasn’t so taboo. But, I’m not sure about a whole series themed off of farts to communicate about sex. I personally wouldn’t be offended, but it does strike me as over the top.
Chad on Mon, January 24, 2011
I agree it is rather juvenile to use this type of humor. But it sure captures people’s attention. Folks from the community may visit just to hear what this is about. I’m not sure how the first title fits with the topic. I’m a firm believer that the title, no matter how catching, should have some connection to the message or I question its purpose. I really thought the second and third title were cleverly connected to the topic.
Michele on Mon, January 24, 2011
I live in Springfield and this is typical for the Pr. Tommy Sparger. He likes to think up over the top sermon titles to be outrageous and “edgy”. I think it’s in poor taste but worse his sermons are gospel-less. He draws people in and entertains them for an hour with his band that plays secular music during ‘worship’ and preaches a Christless, cross-less Christianity! It’s sad and much worse of an offense than his juvenile potty jokes!
Chris Elrod on Mon, January 24, 2011
Forget the series title…waiting for them to get sued for using the likeness of famous people and audio clips of television shows and movies without paying the proper licensing fees!!! None of that stuff is in the public domain.
jack on Mon, January 24, 2011
I’m a pastor who has spent the last few years doing the cool, edgy sermon thing (nothing as far out as this). Realized it was mostly fluff. I’m preaching through Romans this year verse by verse and am already seeing some spiritual maturity happen in my hearers’ lives…just saying.
bishopdave on Mon, January 24, 2011
I agree with Jim-better suited with youth group. Although as a parent I would gripe about using this as a springboard.
I agree with Chad—sermon titles should connect, and there are a couple that are clever.
Connecting romance/sex with flatulence? Uhhh…my gut response is it would turn me off.
How does this fit under, “...whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever things are of good report; if there be any virtue, and if there be any praise, think on these things.”
Craig Kackley on Mon, January 24, 2011
I could either take it or leave it But my personal preference doesn’t really matter. What does matter, to God specifically, are the THOUSANDS of lost people that North Pointe Church in Springfield has reached with the Gospel. Some might call it “fluff” because the theme is a little out there, but the content is heavy stuff. I say if a church uses a little humor to break the ice when dealing with the terrifying and challenging topic of sex, more power to them.
And who knows, when its all said and done maybe someone will be able to say, “Because of that fart series, God began to break the chains of sexual sin in my life.”
WIN!
Leonard on Mon, January 24, 2011
Just my opinion but there is a difference in being edgy and being silly. Just because something gets attention or even makes a point does not equate to being edgy.
Being edgy is not about making a point but rather about making wise moves that change eternity. When someone stands back and says, isn’t that the fart church? this will not be edgy but silly.
I do not know the pastor or the board or staff or elders, but I do know that sometimes we let ourselves fall in love with our ideas and how much our ideas push the envelope.
Barry Smith on Mon, January 24, 2011
Personally, I love it. I think we take ourselves too seriously. And to “Jack” above who tried the ‘edgy cool stuff’ and now is in Romans and finally seeing some ‘spiritual maturity’... SERIOUSLY? Dude, that is totally on you. Catchy titles and creativity are just that - CATCHY and CREATIVE! It has little to nothing to do with the content of the message and effectiveness of your church. Whether I go through an exegetical series on Romans or a series on farts… the spiritual maturity of my congregation is based on content and the entire discipleship process of my church (small groups, growth tools, etc, etc).
Dave on Mon, January 24, 2011
What has happened to the dignity of worship, the awe and fear of the presence of God? Not only is this over the top, in my mind this is a sad reminder of what the seeker approach is all about. It’s a dumbing down of the richest message in the world we have to give. I doubt if the hosts of heaven are chuckling at this. More likely, it is repulsive to them. (no pun intended). There is no reverence left….....
Alison on Mon, January 24, 2011
Uhhh, totally inappropriate.
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