Joking from the pulpit

I don't know how many can identify with this, but I have evoked hearty laughter while preaching at the graveside. Folks loved it. The family appreciated it. There was nothing flippant or disrespectful.

That said, I'll also concede that humor is like fire: a dangerous servant and a fearful master. It is very easy for humor to go too far and to lead people into ungodliness. An extreme example is professional comedy. Why are they so filthy? Less extreme, but wrong nonetheless, can easily be found wherever humor gets out of hand.

 

I never have at the grave side, but have evoked laughter in the funeral itself, and was told by the families that I really helped them, through their time of sorrow ,just because of the humor I spoke of about their loved one who had passed. If they died in the Lord, they are better off than we are is my belief. Usually the families are so uptight, they need a "little" humor.

 

It depends on the purpose of the jokes. If it brings focus, then yes. If it is just the pastor is being random, then no. Get on with the message.

 

Is anyone "called " to be a comedian in the pulpit ?

 

I certainly am not! I couldn't tell a joke to save my life...
Just ask everyone that knows me...

Now a funny life situation, illustration... yeah.. but not a joke

 

The very first thing my pastor does on a Wednesday night is tell us a few funnies and what he calls pastor's corn. For example last night he had quotes from little kids about angels and a short story about a boss that wanted power and for his workers to start respecting him. So he put a sign on his door that read, "I AM THE BOSS". So then he was told he had a call from his wife telling him to give her back her sign.

Anyway, we then go into letters from our missionairies, take prayer requests and praises, sing a couple of hymns, and then he goes into his message.

I don't see anything wrong with this humor or with the format he uses.

 

ok ok ok, we get it Rippon, you do not see a need for humor. It is rather simple, when you preach don't use it.

However, you have no grounds Biblically to stand on to make that a standard for anyone else.

 

Let's hear some biblical examples of humor in sermons .

 

Just exactly where in the Bible does it say that humor is forbidden in a message? Where does it say that, "God's people shall not laugh in church."

Come on. Lighten up a little.

 

If joking ( appropriate joking in the estimation of many here ) and laughter in the preaching of a sermon is an essential element of sermonizing I would think that some biblical citations could be furnished . If nobody can produce such , mabe it's not a biblical idea .

 

Man is created in God's image. I cannot help but believe, as God gave us the ability to laugh and enjoy things, that He does as well.

We are not given the "Lord's Sermon" in Scripture. There is no one Biblical blueprint for a sermon--leaving all else in the realm of the sinful.

Also...it's been said a bunch already...no one here is arguing that a sermon cannot exist without humor. No one is saying it's esssential. But is it a part of what I do? Often times, yes.

Yep.

 

How about Matthew 7:3-4?

Seems humorous to me to think about looking for a tiny speck in somebody else's eye when I have a beam in mine. I imagine the guy with the speck ducking a lot.

 

I'll concede that sarcasm is a form of humor , but I bet there were no laughs at that utterance of the Lord .

 

SBCPREACHER , said " where in the Bible does it say that humor is forbidden in a message ?" It doesn't . The Bible also does not say that gymnastics a la of the Billy Sunday variety was forbidden . Nor does the Scripture say that histrionics in the manner of Benny Hinn is forbotten . But you can glean from the Bible certain principles .

BTW , a number of Calvinists may disagree with me on my stance regarding this issue of humor in the pulpit . But I find it curious that many on this ( not all ) thread probably would not preach on election -- though it is plainly taught in the Bible . Yet those same folks insist that being funny in the pulpit is perfectly biblical ( even though no documentation for that contention has been presented ) .

 

Sorry, you can't begin to make that assertion.

Your best argument seems to be an argument from silence. Rather shaky ground for an argument, isn't it?

PastorSBC said it best, I think.

 

Why is a sense of humor an issue, God has one and it comes through in scripture. It even comes through in real life. If we are be real like Christ then we need to be relevent like Christ and I believe that includes the use of humor. Besides, scripture instructs us to be merry in our heart and we need to make sure our people understand that. Sometimes the best way is to crack a joke or two.

Here is the MOST IMPORTANT point in this whole thread. Are you ready?

If you do not think that jokes and humor are appropriate to preaching or to your personality the by all means do NOT use it. Do what God has given you the peace to do.

If you think that jokes and humor are appropriate to preaching and to your personality, then use them as you desire.

However you feel, don't throw rocks at the other side because they disagree with your position. Just love them and join hands and lets win the world together, arm in arm without fighting.

See, isn't that simple?

:thumbs: :applause:

 

If you study the "science" of humor, part of what makes us laugh is the shock. (Sadly, many modern comedians simply go for the shock and nothing else.)

So, often times I will use a joke (sometimes a real life example) about words being used in unexpected ways. I always try to make it relevant to the message, a former message, or in general.

One example in real life is that I was asked if I would drive a charter bus for a Japanese cruise ship. I agreed, studied up on my Japanese phrases, and on the appointed day, I drove to the ship, prepared to greet them in Japanese.

Well, the first tourist got on the bus, and he didn't look very Japanese. So, I simply said, "Hi, how ya' doin'?", to which he replied, "G'day, mate!"

It turns out that these were a bunch of Australian tourists on a Japanese cruise ship.

What was said was "Japanese cruise ship", what I heard was "Japanese tourists". It illustrated the point that I was making that day that it's important to listen to exactly what is said.

 

Wouldn't preach on it? Of course we preach on it! We just twist and distort it until it comes out looking Arminian.

Then we make jokes in the pulpit about Calvinism.

Q: What did the Calvinist say when he fell down the stairs?

A: Thank God that's over with.

 

Didn't Motley Crue sing a song about "Jokin' in the Pulpit?"

Never mind...that was "Smokin in the boys room"