RED IS IN… RED IS SIN…

WHAT ABOUT THOSE RED SHOES, HUH?

I made a big hooplah about those shoes this Easter. Was I being narcissistic? Was I being superficial? I’ll let you decide!

Actually, they served as a METAPHOR for Easter… My MANTRA:
“RED IS IN… RED IS SIN!” (try saying it real fast 5 times & you’ll get it).

What was I up to?

“Come now, let’s settle this,” says the Lord.
“Though your sins are like scarlet,
I will make them as white as snow.
Though they are red like crimson,
I will make them as white as wool.
(Isaiah 1:18 NLT)

I was trying leverage humor to open the door for life change. I have written an article about the use of humor & creativity in preaching that I will post later this week.

Some people LOVED the shoes. They asked me where I bought them (http://www.zappos.com/adidas-running-climacool-ride-red-metallic-silver-running-white). They were especially a hit with the kids! That’s worth it.

Some people HATED the shoes. I knew they would. No one was rude, but they were gentle in their joking! I didn’t mind it at all. Many were friends who have come to expect something shocking… They give me a hard time, and I always have fun with them. Anyone that would be seriously, angrily turned off by the shoes probably won’t like Keystone anyway.

I leveraged the extreme emotions to unlock honesty. I said at one point, “If I was trying to be cool, I wouldn’t have worn these RED shoes! I know I lost 1/3 of you the minute you saw them!” The place erupted in laughter!

The MAIN MOMENT came at the end… We rounded the message with the message RED IS SIN.

You see, the blood of Jesus TRUMPS our sinful, cursed blood.
HIS RED transforms OUR RED.

And he took a cup of wine and gave thanks to God for it. He gave it to them and said,“Each of you drink from it, for this is my blood, which confirms the covenant between God and his people. It is poured out as a sacrifice to forgive the sins of many.
(Matthew 26:27,28.)

The result? Hopefully, a CLEAR, RELEVANT, and inescapably BIBLICAL presentation of the good news found in Christ.

How can we take common, everyday things and present Jesus to our friends?
Let’s get CREATIVE!