Churchtoons, cartoons from Church
Sunday, October 29, 2023
Send in the Clowns - literally
2 Corinthians 9:6-9, encourages us to give cheerfully. We may give out of guilt, fear of God's wrath, or in hopes of gaining more material blessings from God, or from some other motive that fails to truly be 'cheerful.' Perhaps cheerful giving is rooted in understanding that no matter who we give to or what we give is less important than the God who lets us connect with others through giving.
Friday, October 13, 2023
Pastor Awesome almost loves children
Tuesday, October 3, 2023
David just takes what he wants...do we?
King David's lack of consideration for Bathsheba after he forced her into sin betrays how he had lost his regard for humanity and began to see people as objects for his amusement. Bathsheba was simply sent home and ignored after David was done with her. It's not until David's reputation might be hurt that he has anymore communication with Bathsheba (2 Samuel 11). Who have you de-humanized this week?
Thursday, September 28, 2023
The way through sorrow
In John 16 Jesus warns His disciples that He will leave them and they will feel the sorrow of his absence. The sorrow is not minimized or explained away. Jesus presents the hard truth that they will feel sad, and mourn their loss. Knowing that sorrow is universal, Jesus offered His disciples hope by letting them know that He will return to them. How have you seen the power hope get you through your trials?
Thursday, September 21, 2023
Big Guy did it
Our need to explain why bad things happen, can lead us to place blame on others. David felt the pain of being the 'scapegoat' when his army's city was destroyed and the people taken hostage (1 Sam 30). Who do you blame when you experience 'bad' things? Do you blame those closest to you, or maybe someone who looks different from you? What would it be like if we accepted that we don't have the answers?
Thursday, September 14, 2023
How did THAT come out of my mouth?
Jesus famously exposed the hypocrisy of dietary restrictions placed by those who took little thought to how their words undermined the love of God and hurt the hearers (Matt 15:11). When considering how our words show a lack of love for God and neighbor, we might wonder how we even came to have such thoughts. Which of your thoughts fail to show love? Where did those thoughts come from?
Friday, September 1, 2023
Take my daughter. Please!
One way King Saul demonstrated his shortcomings was by trying to use his daughter to 'snare' his political and military rival, David (1 Sam 18). Sadly, we might see ourselves in Saul's willingness to use people, even his own children, to advance his personal power and agenda. Can you think of ways you might be using others, instead of loving them?
Thursday, August 24, 2023
Jesus and way the world works
Jesus often taught ideas that are contrary to our typical way of doing business. One example might be found in Matthew 5:33-37, where Jesus undermined His community's method of doing business by pointing out the fallacy and illogical nature of their oaths. Jesus knew that promises are empty if the soul is untrustworthy. What business practices do you think Jesus would stand against today?
Thursday, July 20, 2023
King Awesome
After years of political and spiritual turmoil, Israel's elders asked Samuel to give them a king, like the other nations. While a king could bring stability, God warned the people that a king would also bring problems like heavy taxes, wars, and forcing citizens into slavery. Many of us are willing to sacrifice God's love for stability. How do you choose stability over God's word, will, and Son? (1 Sam 8).
Wednesday, June 28, 2023
We ARE the Church
Peter describes the followers of Jesus as a building that relies on the foundation of Christ (I Pet 2). What does it look like when Christians follow Christ's commands and example to love and give rather than to hoard, seek power, and marginalize others? Do our critics have good reason to call the Church hypocritical when we fail to live like Jesus? Are we acting like the Church or are we playing church?
Tuesday, June 20, 2023
I don't have to hear you!
Matthew 15 tells of a woman who begs Jesus for a miracle, and Jesus ignores her. She persists and even accepts what appears to be an insult. Her faith is so great that she is not deterred and eventually Jesus not only provides the healing, but also praises her her faith and persistence. Maybe we've been like Jesus and ignored cries for help around us. Who do you refuse to hear?
Tuesday, June 6, 2023
I would see God
Many critics say that they cannot believe in an 'invisible God." When Phillip asked to see God, Jesus said that all Phillip needed to do to see God was to look at Jesus (John 14:8). Maybe the best way to see God is look at those who are acting like Jesus. Do your actions reveal God's nature to those who want to see God?
Monday, May 29, 2023
Memorial Day 2023
Wednesday, May 10, 2023
Awesome words
When John the Baptist asked for a clear statement of purpose from Jesus (Luke 7:18-27), the only answer given was to observe the works Jesus had done. The best thing for John's faith was to consider what Jesus Christ was doing instead of what was said. Do you spend more time talking about Jesus than living like Him? How can you demonstrate who Jesus is by your actions?
Wednesday, May 3, 2023
What to ask...
What kinds of questions would you ask a person who claimed to be God? When Jesus claimed to be God the religious leaders decided t to ask meaningless questions in the hope of getting a soundbite useful to their cause or to add to their status (Matt 22). Do you ask questions hoping to elevate your status at the expense of someone else? What kinds of questions could you ask?
Wednesday, April 26, 2023
Love of law or law of love?
Tuesday, April 4, 2023
Past the Palms...
When celebrating Palm Sunday, it's hard not to look beyond the day's triumphant entry and on to the night when many from the same group became part of a lynch mob (Mark 14). How do God's good people so quickly become angry enough to murder the very Son of God? Can you think of a time when you found yourself swept up a in crowd and began to adopt the crowd's emotion and bad behavior?
Wednesday, March 29, 2023
Loving in-bounds
Most Christians believe that they are called to love. In his letter, John compares the kind of love we should have to the love Christ showed us (1 John 4:7-12). We might remember that Christ gave His love to everyone, including those who were not behaving in the ways He prescribed. What limits your love for others? What gender, political, or personal expectations do you require to love another?
Tuesday, March 21, 2023
When your religion requires a temple
When Christ preached that the temple of God would be desecrated (and destroyed), the religious leaders were so angry the plotted to kill him (Mark 13-14). Their response makes us wonder if they were worshipping God or their ceremonies and artifacts. What would prevent you from worshipping God?
Wednesday, March 1, 2023
How do you measure God's love?
Most Christians eventually begin to wonder how much God loves them, and if they should perform certain acts to gain more of Gods' care and provision. In 1 Corinthians, we are reminded that God's ways won't make sense to us, and instead of comparing ourselves, we can accept the love God provides and let it motivate us to act out the gospel everyday. Can you think of times when you thought you needed to win God's love?
Welcome
Each of the cartoons on this site is an expression of a sermon I heard in church. As a cartoonist, my method of understanding complex theological topics is to boil them down to simple images.