The sermon introduction discusses the idea of the church acting as a 'trailer' for Christianity, aiming to live in such a way that it entices others to want to learn more about the faith.
Are you the kind of person who enjoys watching the trailers for upcoming movies? Maybe you get to the theater early especially to see those trailers on the big screen. Trailers are tasters, short film versions of the soon-to-be-released feature, and they usually include the best special effects or the funniest scenes or the most romantic moments, depending on the film, of the upcoming feature.
Now, watch those around you in the theater at the end of each trailer. If it has done its job, usually one person will turn to the other and “I want to see that movie.” This is a great metaphor for the church. If we do our job well, people will say, “I want to see the world they come from.”
I’ve mentioned a few times over this series that, even though not every believer is a gifted evangelist, we still need to take seriously our calling to alert others to God’s reign and rule.
Try to think of God’s rule, the Kingdom of Heaven, the coming New Creation, as the main feature. As a massive, glorious blockbuster film. Our lives should be like trailers, giving people a taste of the full thing.
Theologian Lesslie Newbigin put it this way, “[the church] exists for the sake of those who are not members, as sign, instrument, and foretaste of God's redeeming grace for the whole life of society.”
“[the church] exists for the sake of those who are not members, as sign, instrument, and foretaste of God's redeeming grace for the whole life of society.”
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