Sunday Sermon Summary

Every year on the Sunday following the Super Bowl, Pastor Ken does a sermon about the commercials. He talks about the commercials and uses scripture to relate real life to The Bible. He has actually become very well known, in our area, because of this sermon; and last year he was on the local news. Today when my family arrived at church at about 8:45, the local news station was there ready and waiting.

This year he chose 7 commercials to discuss....he had given the congregation an opportunity to text or e-mail him our favorites. He used the top 3 and then 4 that he just liked. The scripture this week was from Ephesians 4:17-24....Message translation!

17 -19And so I insist—and God backs me up on this—that there be no going along with the crowd, the empty-headed, mindless crowd. They've refused for so long to deal with God that they've lost touch not only with God but with reality itself. They can't think straight anymore. Feeling no pain, they let themselves go in sexual obsession, addicted to every sort of perversion.
20 -24But that's no life for you. You learned Christ! My assumption is that you have paid careful attention to him, been well instructed in the truth precisely as we have it in Jesus. Since, then, we do not have the excuse of ignorance, everything—and I do mean everything—connected with that old way of life has to go. It's rotten through and through. Get rid of it! And then take on an entirely new way of life—a God-fashioned life, a life renewed from the inside and working itself into your conduct as God accurately reproduces his character in you.

Here are the top 7...

7. The Hulu commercial featuring Alec Baldwin. The basic idea of this commercial was that hulu would turn people's brains into mush....How many of us would turn off our computer or TV off even if we knew it was turning our brain into mush? The key phrase in this commercial was Hulu is an evil plot to destroy the world-ENJOY! Ken used this commercial to reiterate how people, all people, do things that are not good for them....eat unhealthy things, shop on credit....people lose themselves in stuff. God wants us to enjoy life but not for the moment....for eternity!

6. Cheetohs commercial...in this commercial, there is a woman making judgements. Ken says that we have to make judgements as part of life, possibly when our safety or the safety of others may be of concern. He also said that sometimes a judgement is our choice....and that is not our place.

James 2:1-4

1 -4My dear friends, don't let public opinion influence how you live out our glorious, Christ-originated faith. If a man enters your church wearing an expensive suit, and a street person wearing rags comes in right after him, and you say to the man in the suit, "Sit here, sir; this is the best seat in the house!" and either ignore the street person or say, "Better sit here in the back row," haven't you segregated God's children and proved that you are judges who can't be trusted?

What is the basis of your judgement?

5. The Cars.com commercial. In this commercial, the character is depicted as a near perfect person who can do nothing but miraculous wonderful things....except when it comes to buying a car, where he then becomes as nervous as the average individual. Ken used this commercial to reiterate that we all fall short, and we need God's grace. Romans 3:22b-24

22even the righteousness of God through faith in Jesus Christ for all those who believe; for there is no distinction;
23for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God,
24being justified as a gift by His grace through the redemption which is in Christ Jesus;

4. Pepsi Max commercial....directed to men, Ken used this commercial to reiterate that it is okay to confess weaknesses. Go to God and ask for guidance and help. He also mentioned that oftentimes men tend to put on the "I'm Good" persona which can cause them to hold back from one another. It's okay to be weak, and it's okay to ask for help in your weakness!

3. This was the Bridgestone...Mr. and Mrs. Potato Head commercial. Mrs. Potato Head is complaining and talking incessantly while Mr. Potato Head is driving them along. With one sharp turn, he hits a bump which causes her mouth to fall off. She then puts on her angry Potato Head eyes while his Potato Head mouth turns into a smile, because she was silenced. Sometimes silence is better...Proverbs 25:24

24 It’s better to live alone in the corner of an attic than with a quarrelsome wife in a lovely home. Ken said the word "wife" could easily be replaced by "husband", "brother", "boss", etc.

Paul said the following in Phillipians 2:14-15

14 Do everything without complaining and arguing, 15 so that no one can criticize you. Live clean, innocent lives as children of God, shining like bright lights in a world full of crooked and perverse people.

2. The Etrade commercial starring the adorable talking babies. I have to admit that this one was my favorite. I laughed A LOT and LOUD....yes even in church! One thing that one of the babies says is "Take control and rise up". Ken says that as a christian you have to give up control and submit your life to Jesus Christ....Hebrews 12:9

9 Since we respected our earthly fathers who disciplined us, shouldn’t we submit even more to the discipline of the Father of our spirits, and live forever?

And the # 1 requested commercial was......drum roll please....The Doritos commercial....Wanna know the future? This is where they use the crystal ball to "tell" the future by actually throwing it. God wants us to pay attention and just look around to see where He is and what He is doing....you can see Him working right in your midst if you pay attention. Proverbs 29:18

18 If people can't see what God is doing, they stumble all over themselves; But when they attend to what he reveals, they are most blessed.

Which Super Bowl commercial was your favorite? What scripture can you relate to it? I have to admit that I didn't watch one Super Bowl commercial during the actual Super Bowl, but I did enjoy watching these 7 in church (of all places) this morning; but what I enjoyed most was what God told me through them.