Pastors

Recently I risked an unorthodox sermon introduction. I held up a large, green squirt gun and asked for three child volunteers. I said I had a mission for them, but I didn't say what the mission was. I just handed them the toy.

The first little boy examined the water toy and stared back at me with a puzzled gaze. After I coaxed him to take some action, he squirted his horrified mother sitting near the front.

I reclaimed the toy and announced, "You failed the mission."

Next I gave it to a bashful little girl. She also hesitated but then squirted me. Confiscation came with added expediency. "You failed," I decreed.

The look on the face of the third volunteer hinted he had a plan. A freckle-faced fourth grader, he confidently seized the soaker and launched a salvo of unholy water in all directions. I lunged for the toy and told him he too had failed the mission.

Then I explained that the mission had been to squirt Pastor Bill, who was sitting (hiding) off to the side. "Why do you think you failed ...

You have reached the end of this Article Preview

To continue reading, subscribe to Christianity Today magazine. Subscribers have full digital access to CT Pastors articles.

Log InSubscribe

Already a CT subscriber? Log in for full digital access.