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Every Friday, the Preaching Today Blog takes a look at the week that was—what people are watching, reading, listening to, and learning about…

Top Five Movies
1. Tropic Thunder (R)
2. The House Bunny (PG-13)
5. Death Race (R)
4. The Dark Knight (PG-13)
5. Star Wars: The Clone Wars (PG)

At the start of every new school year, The Beloit College Mindset List is published, offering a glimpse into the hearts and minds of the next generation. As expected, the list finds that this fall's freshman class is unique in how they see the world, hear the world, speak in the world, and experience the world.

Ron Nief, the communications director for Beloit, says faculty members, military officers, and ministers eagerly await the list, hoping to find effective ways to communicate with younger generations.

Click here to read "The Mindset List of the Class of 2012."

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Here's what people are watching, reading, listening to, and learning about...

Top Five Movies
1. The Dark Knight (PG-13)
4. Pineapple Express (R)
3. The Mummy: Tomb of the Dragon Emperor (PG-13)
4. The Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants 2 (PG)
5. Step Brothers (PG-13)

Here's what people are watching, reading, listening to, and learning about...

Top Five Movies
1. The Dark Knight (PG-13)
2. The Mummy: Tomb of the Dragon Emperor (PG-13)
3. Step Brothers (PG-13)
4. Mama Mia! (PG-13)
5. Journey to the Center of the Earth (PG)

Earlier this week, I posted an entry about a few stories to keep your eye on during the Olympics. My post was a wider look at the socio-political-personal human interest stories. Over at the Christianity Today liveblog, Susan Wunderink has posted her own entry on the faith of a few athletes involved in the Games. Check it out when you get a chance. Though we hear a lot of sports figures give a shout out to God, they rarely have such an international stage to do so.

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Every week, Preaching Today offers a batch of new sermon illustrations. It's a nice little mix of stories, quotes, statistics, humor, and scenes from movies or television shows. From time to time, the editors of Preaching Today want to take a moment to talk about how they might use a particular illustration in their own preaching.

Here's what people are watching, reading, listening to, and learning about...

Top Five Movies
1. The Dark Knight (PG-13)
2. Step Brothers (PG-13)
3. Mama Mia! (PG-13)
4. The X-Files: I Want to Believe (PG-13)
5. Journey to the Center of the Earth (PG)

Here's what people are watching, reading, listening to, and learning about...

Top Five Movies
1. The Dark Knight (PG-13)
5. Mama Mia! (PG-13)
3. Hancock (PG-13)
4. Journey to the Center of the Earth (PG)
5. Hellboy II: The Golden Army (PG-13)

Here's what people are watching, reading, listening to, and learning about...

Top Five Movies
1. Hellboy II: The Golden Army (PG-13)
2. Hancock (PG-13)
3. Journey to the Center of the Earth (PG)
4. Wall-E (G)
5. Wanted (R)

Here's what people are watching, reading, listening to, and learning about...

Top Five Movies
1. Hancock (PG-13)
2. Wall-E (PG-13)
3. Wanted (R)
4. Get Smart (PG-13)
5. Kung Fu Panda (PG)

By now many of you have probably witnessed the media storm surrounding Gloucester High School. Seventeen girls who attend the Massachusetts school are pregnant—more than four times the number of pregnancies of the previous year. Teenage pregnancy is nothing new. Seeing lots of pregnant teenagers is nothing new. But the possibility of some sort of pact that found the girls wanting to all get pregnant at the same time? That's new. Gloucester principal Joseph Sullivan told Time magazine that after a little investigation, he had learned that the girls were getting pregnant on purpose—even reacting to the news of positive pregnancy test with "high fives and plans for baby showers."

My, how the times have changed.

But just before I put together an illustration about the whole mess for Preaching Today, I learned that there might be more to the story.

Here's what people are watching, reading, listening to, and learning about...

Top Five Movies (according to box office returns)
1. The Incredible Hulk (PG-13)
2. Kung Fu Panda (PG)
3. The Happening (R)
4. You Don't Mess with the Zohan (PG-13)
5. Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull (PG-13)

Here's what people are watching, reading, listening to, and learning about...

Top Five Movies (according to box office returns)
1. Sex and the City: The Movie (R)
2. Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull (PG-13)
3. The Strangers (Rated PG-13)
4. Iron Man (Rated PG-13)
5. The Chronicles of Narnia: Prince Caspian (Rated PG)

As part of our ongoing theme of "Getting the Gospel Right," Preaching Today has posted the transcript of an interview with Haddon Robinson. In this episode of PT Talk, chief editor Brian Larson points out sections of the interview that have helped him the most in his preaching. Brian and I then take the opportunity to talk about some ways to use a story that's included in this week's fresh batch of illustrations. Click "Play" on the audio player to listen to PT Talk via audio stream. If you'd rather download the audio file so you can have it on the run, there is a link just below the player. The illustration that Brian Larson and I reference throughout can be found here. If you're not a member of PreachingToday.com, the illustration is not free. However, we go over it in the recording so you can follow along.

To download this episode of PT Talk, click here.

Here's what people are watching, reading, listening to, and learning about...

Top Five Movies (according to box office returns)
1. Prince Caspian (Rated PG)
2. Iron Man (Rated PG-13)
3. What Happens in Vegas (Rated PG-13)
4. Speed Racer (Rated PG)
5. Made of Honor (Rated PG-13)

Here's what people are watching, reading, listening to, and learning about...

Top Five Movies (according to box office returns)
1. Iron Man (Rated PG-13)
2. What Happens in Vegas (Rated PG-13)
3. Speed Racer (Rated PG)
4. Made of Honor (Rated PG-13)
5. Baby Mama (Rated PG-13)

Because of the horrifying tragedy in Myanmar (rescue officials think the death toll may climb as high as 100,000), many of us will probably want to lead our congregations through difficult issues like pain and suffering. We've gathered a few illustrations and tagged them as "Free" for the next 30 days to help you in your preaching. Most of these stories come from past tragedies—the tsunami that killed over 400,000 people, Hurricane Katrina, the attacks at Virginia Tech—and obviously speak to the heart of what we're watching unfold in Myanmar.

Every week, Preaching Today posts new illustrations - a mixture of stories, statistics, quotes, humor, and scenes from popular movies or TV shows. As a regular part of our PT Talk sessions, Brian Larson and I would like to take a moment to talk about how we might use some of our illustrations in a sermon. We decided to try this out on a classic: Master Violinist Goes Unrecognized. We felt it was the best illustration of 2007.

To hear us talk about specific and more abstract ways to use this illustration, click "Play" on the audio player below to listen to PT Talk via audio stream. If you'd rather download the audio file so you can have it on the run, there is a link just below the player.

To download this episode of PT Talk, click here.

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Here's what people are watching, reading, listening to, and learning about...

Top Five Movies (according to box office returns)
1. Street Kings (Rated R)
2. 21 (Rated PG-13)
3. Prom Night (Rated PG-13)
4. Nim's Island (Rated PG)
5. Leatherheads (Rated PG-13)

Here's what people are watching, reading, listening to, and learning about...

Top Five Movies (according to box office returns)
1. 21 (Rated PG-13)
2. Leatherheads (Rated PG-13)
3. Nim's Island (Rated PG)
4. Horton Hears a Who (Rated G)
5. The Ruins (Rated R)

Because we're well aware you're knee-deep in preparing sermons and meaningful worship gatherings for Maundy Thursday, Good Friday, and Resurrection Sunday, we've combed through all the materials in our database and put together a special Hot Topic on Easter. Click here and you'll find plenty of illustrations, images, and videos that deal with the death, burial, and resurrection of Christ.

Our sister site, FaithVisuals, has posted a list of what it feels represents the top media of 2007. You'll surely find some helpful videos, worship loops, and video curriculum to enhance your preaching and teaching.

Some of the richest theology concerning Advent is found in the songs we'll sing together in the weeks ahead. Theologians, professors, and preachers have much to offer, but both head and heart are often most moved by the work of musicians. It's maddening, isn't it? You slave over a sermon for hours on end, but it is only when the little girl with blonde curls stands up to sing "Away in a Manger" that the crowd swoons over the startling majesty of the Incarnation.

The Associated Press has just released the results of a pre-Halloween poll that asked people about their supernatural/spiritual/superstitious beliefs. You can find the results here.

The Acadia, a Navy ship retired from service in 1994 after 13 years worth of trips around the world, now rests in Pearl Harbor. Officials had planned to use the old ship for scrap metal or as a location for special military training. Local community groups in Hawaii have their own set of plans. They want to turn the Acadia into a homeless shelter.

From a Garrison Keillor podcast of “The News from Lake Wobegonâ€:

Courtesy of David Neff, editor of Christianity Today magazine

Jerry Falwell, who died Tuesday of heart abnormalities, was spiritually and mentally prepared to face his end, a New York Times article reports. Just a little over two weeks ago, Falwell preached a sermon on a man or woman being " indestructible" until they have finished God's work, and told his congregation he was at peace with death.

For those who like to refer to TV shows in their sermons, here are some recent findings on the TV shows most discussed in the workplace:

American Idol (Fox): 37%
Grey's Anatomy (ABC): 17%
24 (Fox): 11%
CSI (CBS): 10%
Lost (ABC): 8%
House (Fox): 8%

Taken from USA TODAY Snapshots (5-8-07; pg. D1)

Alex Rodriguez, third baseman for the Yankees, may be off to "the hottest start in baseball history," according to one New York Times article. As of April 22, Rodriguez has hit 12 home runs this season (more than the totals of eight teams), and he is two shy of breaking Albert Pujols's April record.

The secret to A-Rod's rediscovered success--for those familiar with his bootless postseason, which had him eighth on the batting list and booed on a regular basis--is Kevin Long. Long, who previously played and coached minor league baseball, replaced former MVP Don Mattingly as the the Yankee's hitting coach. Though his credentials are humble, Long is quickly proving that the right coach is sometimes all you need to get on the right track.

This might work as an illustration on Christ's guidance, or even the power of mentoring or discipleship.

As a gunman stormed Norris Hall at Virginia Tech University and began killing fellow students, the students in professor Liviu Librescu's classroom could heard the shouts and gunfire coming closer to their room. Realizing what was happening, Professor Librescu--a 76-year-old Holocaust survivor--urged the students out the window as he braced himself against the door.

Free downloads from BuildingChurchLeaders.com and ChristianBibleStudies.com:
Answering Tough Questions
God's Purposes in Our Suffering

Articles from CT Library:
When the News Intrudes
Ministry at the Makeshift Memorial

A sermon from John Piper:
The Supremacy of Christ in an Age of Terror

An article from sister site FaithVisuals.com:
Using Media When Dealing with Tragedy

On Sunday evening, when I walked out to my car and pressed the button on my fob to unlock the door, nothing happened. I tried again and again. Still nothing. On Monday morning, the mechanic said he would call me with an estimate. He did, and it was painful.

A recent New York Times article reports on multiple studies tracking the increasing secularization of Hispanic immigrants to America. Decades of research shows that more and more Hispanics are abandoning faith--and two-thirds of those who claim to have "no religion" profess to being former churchgoers.

One interviewee suggests American culture makes forgetting about God too easy: "We pray to God when we feel the need to, but when we come here to America we don’t feel the need.â€

A heartbreaking New York Times article tells of the mission of Colonel David Sutherland, commander of the American combat brigade in Diyala Province, Iraq. Sutherland and his brigade chaplain, Major Charlie Fenton, personally lay hands on and pray over the body of every dead or severely wounded soldier in their 5,000-strong unit.

While he will continue this ministry to the fallen, Sutherland had to realize his primary responsibility is to the men who remain on the front lines: "I needed this brigade to go on, and these soldiers needed to go on, for the living. Our reactions need to be for the people here, who need me and my soldiers to make the right decisions.â€

In 1981, Andrea Jaeger was the world's second-ranked female tennis player at the tender age of 16. Now, Jaeger claims to have been "relieved" when a shoulder injury ended her tennis career shortly after the 1983 Wimbledon finals. Why?

"I thought, 'Finally I can go and be me,'" she says, as reported in the February 2, 2007 issue of THE WEEK (pg. 8). What that looks like for her is serving the Lord as an Episcopal nun. She further explained her joy: "God gave me a gift to play tennis, but it wasn't my right to say whether I had it for 5 years or 50 years. It was his right."

This illustration could be useful for several sermon themes: calling, gifting, God's sovereignty, witness. Other ideas?

Our houses are bigger; our families are smaller; but Americans are still running out of room to put all their stuff. We currently devote a whopping two billion square feet to rental storage space, and 11 million U. S. households are renting storage units--an increase of 90 percent since 1995.

A New York Times article comments on the proliferation of junk and a new type of patient: the "pathological hoarder."

Subscribers to PreachingToday.com may also want to check out this illustration:"Americans Busy Storing Their Stuff."

In a front-page article in the Monday February 19, 2007, USA Today (the office copy made the rounds very slowly), titled Katrina "voluntourists" make labor a vacation, there is a useful phrase--"mucking out" a flood-damaged house--that has obvious relevance for sanctification, repentance, and so on. The photo accompanying the article shows a man dressed in white, chemical-waste protective gear and scraping a large white shovel along the floor of a ruined house. Article author: Larry Copeland.

I heard a phrase recently that could make a nice illustration or sermon idea. One of the other guys in the office said he was not driving on a particular errand because he wanted "to reduce my carbon footprint." I googled to find the meaning of the phrase and found the carbon footprint website.

Several phrases come to mind as possible uses in a sermon: gospel footprint, spiritual footprint, sin footprint, righteousness footprint. Other ideas?

"God is not on facebook. We hereby demonstrate that our souls are not enslaved to this vice."

So claims one student in a Chicago Tribune article on a new Lenten trend among college students--fasting from Facebook. Students assert that abstaining from their favorite social network is more difficult than giving up sweets or soda, and plan to use the extra time for prayer and "old-fashioned communication."

Evolutionary science doesn't care whether God exists--that's the battleground of theologians and philosophers. It does care, however, about why anybody would think he does.

A recent New York Times Magazine article wonders, "Are we hard-wired to believe in God? And if we are, how and why did that happen?"

The midnight wanderings of "ambulatory" children are disrupting marital beds nationwide, and a New York Times article shares stories of the co-sleeping pandemic.

One mother admits, “It’s just so oddly part of the routine. [My husband] and I wonder, will we ever sleep together again?â€

There's a new study out on narcissism among college students.

"We need to stop endlessly repeating 'You're special' and having children repeat that back," said the study's lead author, Professor Jean Twenge of San Diego State University. "Kids are self-centered enough already."

In this section of the blog, we'll be providing illustrations or links to stories for use in your preaching. Below is an example of what these will be like.

Brittany McComb had seen plenty of success. Having excelled in music, swimming, photography, and all her classes, McComb was prepared to graduate as valedictorian of Foothill High School in Henderson, Nevada.

But McComb had seen enough of success to know that it was not the answer. All her achievements had failed to grant her fulfillment and self-worth. So as she penned her valedictory speech, she shared the secret of true victory with her classmates.

Or, she tried to.