Sermon Illustrations
Warning Label from Football Helmet Makers
Schutt Sports, a major supplier of football helmets for the National Football League, issues the following warning label on all their helmets and on their website's homepage (as of 2024):
WARNING …. NO HELMET SYSTEM CAN PREVENT CONCUSSIONS OR ELIMINATE THE RISK OF SERIOUS HEAD OR NECK INJURIES WHILE PLAYING FOOTBALL.
The warning label continues with some information about the symptoms for concussions and concludes by repeating the original warning: "TO AVOID THESE RISKS [OF PLAYING FOOTBALL], DO NOT ENGAGE IN THE SPORT OF FOOTBALL."
A visitor to the website can't access any content until he or she checks a box next to the words "Please indicate that you have read and understand [this warning label]."
Possible Preaching Angles: (1) Discipleship; Counting the Cost; Risks; Persecution—At least this company is utterly honest about the risks of playing football. In a similar way, the Bible is honest about the risks of following Jesus. In a way, the Bible says, "TO AVOID THE RISKS OF DISCIPLESHIP, DO NOT ENGAGE IN FOLLOWING JESUS."Of course the Bible also offers some amazing promises about the rewards of discipleship. (2) Leadership—You could also conclude, "TO AVOID THE RISKS OF LEADERSHIP, DO NOT BECOME A LEADER."