Superman, Wonder Woman, and The Incredibles
Just thought I'd share a random sermon series idea.
I'm not even sure we're going to do this series, but sometimes we go off on these creative tangents during our Big Idea Meeting. This week was no exception. I'm fascinated by the genesis of ideas. You never know where you're going to get a sermon series idea.
Here's the etymology of this idea.
I was complimenting one of our staff members during Big Idea for being androgynous--exhibiting male and female characteristics. I meant it as a compliment--in the emotionally ambidextrous sense. Not the gender confusion sense. If you know me, you know that I don't like normality. That includes words. I don't like normal words. They're boring. I like abnormal words. They make you think about what you're saying and hearing! And I like using those abnormal words in abnormal ways. Anywho. Androgeny sort of became the word of the day.
Then during the meeting I pretended to deflect bullets ala Wonder Woman. See, I'm androgynous too! Then one of our pastors randomly said, "There were wonder women in the Bible." That became our quote of the day. And it got us thinking!
Enough etymology. Here is the idea.
A sermon series on gender. I think it could cut those some of the cultural stereotypes and be a celebration of masculinity and femininity. There are so many misperceptions about what it means to be a man of God or a woman of God. Some of them our propagated by our culture. And I hate to say, but some of them are propagated by the church. This series would cut through the confusion and redefine the role of men and women in biblical terms.
It'd be a three-part series that plays off the superhero metaphor.
Superman: what it means to be a man of God
Wonder Woman: what a woman of God looks like
Mr & Mrs Incredible: how both sexes can win the battle of the sexes
I have a hunch that this is one those biblical topics we don't talk about enough.
I'm not even sure we're going to do this series, but sometimes we go off on these creative tangents during our Big Idea Meeting. This week was no exception. I'm fascinated by the genesis of ideas. You never know where you're going to get a sermon series idea.
Here's the etymology of this idea.
I was complimenting one of our staff members during Big Idea for being androgynous--exhibiting male and female characteristics. I meant it as a compliment--in the emotionally ambidextrous sense. Not the gender confusion sense. If you know me, you know that I don't like normality. That includes words. I don't like normal words. They're boring. I like abnormal words. They make you think about what you're saying and hearing! And I like using those abnormal words in abnormal ways. Anywho. Androgeny sort of became the word of the day.
Then during the meeting I pretended to deflect bullets ala Wonder Woman. See, I'm androgynous too! Then one of our pastors randomly said, "There were wonder women in the Bible." That became our quote of the day. And it got us thinking!
Enough etymology. Here is the idea.
A sermon series on gender. I think it could cut those some of the cultural stereotypes and be a celebration of masculinity and femininity. There are so many misperceptions about what it means to be a man of God or a woman of God. Some of them our propagated by our culture. And I hate to say, but some of them are propagated by the church. This series would cut through the confusion and redefine the role of men and women in biblical terms.
It'd be a three-part series that plays off the superhero metaphor.
Superman: what it means to be a man of God
Wonder Woman: what a woman of God looks like
Mr & Mrs Incredible: how both sexes can win the battle of the sexes
I have a hunch that this is one those biblical topics we don't talk about enough.
10 Comments:
Hey Mark,
Can you describe your creative planning process somewhat? I was tipped off by your use of the phrase "Big Idea" meeting... I'm one of those people that hate meetings if they aren't productive and energetic, and I think our meetings cover everything all in one meeting. I've been thinking of suggesting to my pastor that we break it up and have an overall meeting and then subsequent focused meetings. What is the process you guys use for 1: creative planning (series, etc) and 2: yearly planning/vision.
Thanks!
Larry,
I'll do a post on our rhythm :)
Mark
Hey, how 'bout a week on animals? "Gleek: What it means to be an animal of God." Remember Gleek, the Wonder Twins' blue monkey?
Sorry, maybe my white chocolate mocha withdrawal symptoms are surfacing.
I absolutely LOVE the gender roles idea. Gender roles are things that are constantly tossed around in Christian conversations but those roles are never really defined by the church.
Plus, the superhero theme is just plain cool.
I love this idea Mark... I'm gonna be involved in leading/facilitating some discipleship with a group of people over the next few months, culminating in a trip to Latvia in the summer. Would like to use this idea at some point in team maybe, would that be cool?
Open-source Emma :)
Use any way you see fit!
Mark
Thanks!
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thought i would play around with some branding for this series.....this is my first attempt at any such graphic design work....
www.flickr.com/photos/75701945@N00/356451403
Sweet graphic :) Like the "vibe" a lot!
Mark
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