The Power of Focus SERMON EYES


by PAUL BOEKER


Yes, I’ll admit that I’m a little weird. Along with a lot of other weird people, I think


"Moby Dick" is one of the world’s greatest books. Herman Melville not only told us more than we ever wanted to know about whaling, but he drew our atten- tion to a plethora of Old Testament Scriptures through ingenious allusions. He showed us what an effective sermon might look like in his chapter “The Sermon.” He gave us warning about the destruction vengeance will wreak on ourselves and others.


One of Melville’s secrets was to focus. Each short


chapter has a distinct focus: “Chowder,” “The Pipe,” “Sunset,” “Dusk,” “The Deck,” “The Life-Buoy” — to mention a few of the 135 chapters.


Melville’s secret can be applied to preaching. Don’t


look at a chapter. Don’t look at a theological state- ment. Look at an object. God has used many objects to illustrate and link spiritual lessons.


Once upon a time, desperate for an Easter ser-


mon series, and having just finished "Moby Dick" for the second time, I decided to try Melville’s secret of focusing. That year Easter sermons were on objects that showed up in the Passion stories and had signifi- cance in prophecy or in Jesus’ teaching. So we explored the significance of “The Nard,” “The Coins,” “The Donkey,” “The Kiss,” “The Stone,” and “Two Charcoal Fires” (Jn. 18 and 21). As an aside, I would recommend reading Frank Morrison’s “Who Moved the Stone” before your next Easter sermon.


A whole series could be written on “A Cup of Cold


Water.” How many times did a gift of water encourage someone or change their life or open their eyes to the possibility of a spouse? And altars — the phrase “built an altar” permeates the Old Testament. What is the significance of that formula? What is the application (Heb. 13:10)? Many events in the Bible are connected to a tree (or bush) or a river.


Jesus himself used garden objects or kitchen items


many times to illustrate the Kingdom of God. His brother James did the same, using items from nature.


“Book studies are rich and nourishing. But they are not always appropriate.”


Four objects are given special attention in regard


to Abraham’s sacrifice of Isaac. As I pictured that scene as painted in Genesis 22, I saw Abraham with a knife in one hand and a firepot in the other — but the text does not say “coals” or “firepot” or “tinder.” It says “fire.” Immediately, the idea of “The Fire of a Father’s Faith” came to mind and was the seed of a series titled “Famous Fires.”


The point is that you are focusing on an object


to show the revelation, transformation, and anticipa- tion that are linked to that object. You are preaching Scripture. But use the object to help give structure and memorability to your message. Take, for example, Abraham’s sacrifice. Main points could be “A father with fire on his mind” (Gen. 22:1-3); “A father with fire in his hand” (22:4-6); “A father with fire in his heart” (22:7-12); “A father with fire on the altar” (22:13-14); and “A father with fire behind him” (22:15-18). Incidentally, this is the last mention of Abraham building an altar and making a sacrifice. Oh, oh — another series: “The Altars of Abraham.”


What about swords? Who invented the sword?


Who used the sword? What word pictures are based on swords? Surely, youth would be more attentive if they are connecting truth to swords. Forty-five of the Bible’s 66 books mention swords! These are often figurative swords (sword of the spirit, sword of his mouth, sword of judgment).


[In the garden with Jesus, Peter raised his sword


and slashed at Malchus, severing his ear. Jesus touched Malchus and the ear was healed. I suspect that Mal- chus took the severed ear home as a souvenir.]


Book studies are rich and nourishing. But they are


not always appropriate. For a short summer series, for a camp ministry, for a lone message as a guest preach- er, for community opportunities (baccalaureate mes- sages, Good Friday services, Memorial Day services), focusing on an object is sometimes the best approach to grab the attention and heart of the hearer with the message of God.


Paul Boeker was a pastor for 23 years, administrator of


the Fellowship of Evangelical Bible Church for 15 years, and editor of Fellowship Focus for five years. Now retired, he and his wife Fayth volunteer in various ministries at Crosspoint Bible Church in Omaha, Nebraska.


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