Sermon Illustrations

This story broke this week from the United Kingdom: " LONDON (Reuters) – Gone are the days of shepherds in tea towels and tinsel-clad angels. Britain’s competitive parents are forking out on luxury pashmina shawls and velour dressing gowns to make their child the star of the annual nativity play.

The rise in so-called "manger chic" has seen parents spend up to 150 pounds ($250) on arctic fur throws for children cast as sheep and ivory bridesmaid dresses for angels, according to department stores group Debenhams.

"The amount of money that some parents want to spend on their child’s nativity play appearance would enable Baby Jesus to leave the stable and check into a five star hotel," said spokesman Ed Watson.

Intense competition for places at good schools, concern about the future state of the jobs market and a drop in handcraft skills like sewing among time-pressed parents appears to be to blame.

But Debenhams is keen not to encourage the trend.

"While we applaud parents for wanting to do their very best for their children, we feel certain that the story of The Nativity can still be told using very simple materials," Watson said.

Related Sermon Illustrations

Related Sermons

  • "'the' Birthday Celebration

    Contributed by Maria Saunders on Dec 22, 2016
    based on 1 rating
     | 65,067 views

    It’s poor etiquette to attend a party and don’t bring the host/honoree a gift. We should feel privileged to receive an invitation to attend. Therefore, it’s extremely important that we bring the right gifts to the honoree.

  • The Sunday After Christmas Sermon Series

    Contributed by Dean Courtier on Aug 20, 2015
    based on 10 ratings
     | 51,859 views

    How did Christmas 2014 feel to you? Maybe your Christmas wasn’t all you expected. Now that Christmas is over, maybe the excitement has passed and life is already returning to some kind of normal. Whatever normal might be in your life!

  • Lessons Learned From Wise Men

    Contributed by Kevin L. Jones on Dec 5, 2013
    based on 11 ratings
     | 43,972 views

    Some important lessons can be learned form

  • A Light In The Darkness

    Contributed by Danny Janes on Dec 10, 2012
    based on 1 rating
     | 41,712 views

    Good sermon for first Sunday of Advent -- lighting of Prophet Candle. The theme of light vs. darkness is woven throughout the Bible. This is what the coming of the Light marked in our world.

  • The True Meaning Of Christmas

    Contributed by Chuck Sligh on Nov 27, 2016
    based on 1 rating
     | 34,725 views

    What is the meaning of Christmas. We enjoy the festivities, the gift-giving, the pageants and decorations. But they veil the real meaning of Christmas. Join is Sunday as Pastor Sligh preaches on the “The True Meaning of Christmas."