Tag: Jesus

Categories
cartoon Sermon Notes Sketch notes

Tame Your Brain Sermon Sketch Notes: Breaking Strongholds

Sermon Sketch notes from February 17, 2019. Notes based on a sermon by Steve Southards on taming your brain.

Sketch notes Copyright © 2019 by Kevin Spear. Sermon Copyright © 2019 Steve Southards

There are lies we believe all the time.

  • We think we’re not good enough
  • We think we’ll be happy once we get something or once someone accepts us
  • We think we are victims of our thoughts and circumstances and nothing will ever change
  • We think we are too young or too old and that it’s useless to try

For me, yesterday’s sermon from my pastor was a good reminder we can get stuck in a lie and deceive ourselves into believing it. You may disagree with me or the faith I claim. And that’s okay. For me, scripture is the cornerstone of my belief.

  • It has allowed me to see the good in others and myself
  • It has shown me my selfishness and where I need to change to love others

The renewal of my mind allows me to

  • Replace anxious thoughts with peace-filled thoughts
  • Replace earthly concerns with eternal concerns
  • Acknowledge reality while seeing the glass half-full versus half empty

May you have a blessed day today!

I recorded these notes at Salem Church of God, Clayton, Ohio.

Categories
Sermon Notes Sketch notes The Gospels

Sermon Sketch Notes: Restored Over Rejected

Sketch notes of a sermon based on John 8:1-11
Notes Copyright © 2019 Kevin Spear. Based on a sermon copyright © 2019 by Steve Southards

Here are sermon notes I took on Sunday, February 10, 2019.

Sketch notes of a sermon based on John 8:1-11
Notes Copyright © 2019 Kevin Spear. Based on a sermon copyright © 2019 by Steve Southards

When I was a teen, I thought I was the only one who felt rejected. I had the classic Charlie Brown Syndrome. Maybe that’s why I loved reading Peanuts so much.

But not that I am older, I’ve learned almost everyone has felt rejected at times. We’ve all had past experiences, internal wounds, bad habits and external voices that make us feel inadequate from time to time.

I am glad I have learned there is restoration. We can be restored to a new and bright future. We can be restored from our past, through our pain and begin to takes some steps forward.

Thanks to Pastor Steve Southards at Salem Church of God, for an inspiring message!

Categories
Adobe Photoshop Bible Christmas holiday The Gospels

The Christmas Story in a Speed Drawing

This year, I had the chance to illustrate the Christmas story for a family party. I narrated the story from Luke 2 and Matthew 2 in the Bible. 

May you have a merry Christmas!

Categories
church cartoons webcomic

The great church seating controversy

cartoon of a big man talking to an intimidated, seated man. He says, "Welcome to First Church. Now get out of my seat!"

It has always fascinated me how good people can get caught up in petty things like saving their seat at church. In extreme cases, it can even lead to violence like this example.

At one of the churches I attended, there was a legend about an elderly lady that would hiss at people if they were in her seat. One Sunday, a friend’s family was about to sit nearby. The dear old sister looked up, then commented, “It’s okay if you sit there. It’s Brother So and So’s seat, but he passed away this week.”

It runs contradictory to what Jesus himself taught:

“But when you are invited, take the lowest place, so that when your host comes, he will say to you, ‘Friend, move up to a better place.’ Then you will be honored in the presence of all the other guests.” Luke 14:10 NIV

So you can have my seat. But I can’t guarantee a dear old sister won’t hiss at you.

I created this cartoon for the September 2016 CHOGNews.

Related articles
Categories
children's ministry cartoons

Why We Need More Unorthodox Children’s Ministry Teachers

Close up of cartoon 1388

Cartoon of a man talking about a teacher. He says, “Mrs. Jones is an unorthodox Sunday school teacher, but the kids love her sword swallowing act."Standardized tests have become the bane of school teachers for a good reason. It’s difficult being creative when you are hammering your students with facts and figures for the next critical test.

Thankfully, standardized tests haven’t come to children’s ministry. Now there is a need for scripture memorization and biblical literacy. However, we must balance the need for knowledge with the need for creative storytelling.  Children’s ministry workers need to remember when we tell a story creatively, it can bring the lesson to life.

We are all wired to tell and hear stories. After all, Jesus taught in parables as he also taught the scriptures.

As I look my old cartoon, I’m wondering what Bible story would involve sword swallowing. I’m not encouraging any student or teacher to take up sword swallowing. I’ll leave that up the professionals like Mrs. Jones. All the same, if you had the opportunity to use a sword swallower, which Bible story would you think could fit the bill?