Sermon Illustrations
TV Ad on the Futility of Do-it Yourself Salvation
A Lowe's [Hardware] commercial shows a proud do-it-yourselfer installing a new ceiling fan in his family's living room. After he proudly gives the fan one last little turn, climbs off the aluminum ladder, and steps aside to turn on the switch. After he turns it on, he stands with his hands on his hips, satisfied with his brilliant, money-saving work. Within a second of the first rotation of the blades, the central motor sparks and the entire fan crashes to the floor, crushing a small table on its way down.
The scene cuts away to the outside of the house, looking at the clear bay window of the room where the man stands. It's quiet and bright outside. Suddenly, the ceiling fan comes flying through the picture window and lands in the yard, disrupting the peaceful moment. The words flash on the screen: "Need help?" An online version of the ad includes these words from Lowe's: "Installation can be tricky. Come to Lowe's. We've got all the tips and tools you need to get the job done right."
Possible Preaching Angles: Yes, some people are true do-it-yourself workers, but when it comes to salvation, all of us are like the guy in this video. The reality of our lives is that doing it ourselves never works. We are in desperate need of help. The Good News of Jesus is that he does for us what we cannot do for ourselves.