Attractive refrigerator magnet sermons

The ancient Greek word "παραλογίζομαι" ≈ "reason falsely" is used often by Aristotle in his work On sophistic refutations. Paul uses this word in Colossians - a book that uses many Aristotelian words. Apparently "false reasoning" in "teaching" was a problem at the church at Colossae.

Colossians 2:4 And this I say, lest any man should beguile you with enticing words. [kjv]

τουτο λεγω ινα μηδεις υμας παραλογιζηται εν πιθανολογια [gnt]

… decipiat … subtilitate sermonum [v]

The Latin for "enticing words" is "subtle sermons".

One meaning: Beware lest anyone use false reasoning on you with subtle sermons.

More: Colossians 2:1-23 Philosophy and false reasoning through subtle sermons

More: Aristotle

In the technology field, end-users will often do things you never thought possible. This can be a source of frustration for IT (Information Technology) support workers. The most common error by the user is sometimes called an "id-ten-t" error by people in the field.

You might find the setting # user=Id-Ten-T in a config file. The term "id-ten-t" is short for "id10t" and can be written as "ID10T". This lets other technicians know the source of the problem.

More: Not thinking about an idiot being a layperson

A "refrigerator magnet sermon" is a sermon that is quite "attractive" but contains little meaningful content. Such sermons can be preached in any church. A euphemism for a "refrigerator magnet sermon" is ARMS (Attractive Refrigerator Magnet Sermons).

When someone asks you what you thought of the church or sermon, you can say:

Your church has real open ARMS.

I felt welcomed with open ARMS

That preaching was an great example of open ARMS.

Note: A "refrigerator magnet sermon" not of the polarity of the congregation is "repulsive" unlike actual magnets where opposite poles attract.

A "refrigerator magnet sermon" may use personal details to make points rather than the scripture itself. Such is a slippery slope.

There was "no room in the inn" or "no room in the guest room".

Like Hilbert's infinite hotel paradox (which never runs out of rooms), there is always room in the "dog house".

A "refrigerator magnet sermon" can be contrasted with a "carnival mirror sermon".

A "mirror" is a device that reflects an image that is seen.

A "carnival mirror" is a mirror that distorts what is seen. Other names include the "fun-house mirror" or "distorting mirror".
A "carnival mirror sermon" is here defined as a sermon that distorts the meaning in the Bible. A complete "carnival mirror sermon" is a sermon that appears to promote the exact opposite of what, on careful analysis, the Bible actually says.

A related topic might be "smoke and mirrors".

More: Carnival mirror sermons

Matthew 5:13 Ye are the salt of the earth: but if the salt have lost his savour, wherewith shall it be salted? it is thenceforth good for nothing, but to be cast out, and to be trodden under foot of men. [kjv]

υμεις εστε το αλας της γης εαν δε το αλας μωρανθη εν τινι αλισθησεται εις ουδεν ισχυει ετι ει μη βληθεν εξω καταπατεισθαι υπο των ανθρωπων [gnt]

pigs	sheep
bad salt black pearls	good salt white pearls

Paraphrase: You are the salt/fruit/harvest of the earth. But if the salt/fruit/harvest is a bad bloom, how will it be salted? It is not effective. But if it is not thrown out (cut off), it is trodden down by men (pigs).
The "pigs" are recruited to be "leaders" and "influence" others to achieve the goals of the "birds".

Here is as ARMS (tongue-in-cheek) paraphrase. Think Monty Python.

You are the refrigerator magnet sermons of the earth. But if the refrigerator magnet sermon is not attractive, how will it stay on the refrigerator? It is not worth it's salt. But if it is not thrown out, it will fall off the refrigerator and be trodden down by others, perhaps causing men to slip and have a great fall (like the house built on attractive but not solid sand).

Advice: Before you pick up those refrigerator magnet sermons off the floor, make sure they are not bird droppings.

More: Matthew 5:13: Salt of the earth

The rest of the content here consists of ideas for "refrigerator magnet sermons" to help your church have "open" ARMS.

More ideas will be added as they are encountered.
Some related topics include the following.

Luke 19:3 And he sought to see Jesus who he was; and could not for the press, because he was little of stature. [kjv]

και εζητει ιδειν τον ιησουν τις εστιν και ουκ ηδυνατο απο του οχλου οτι τη ηλικια μικρος ην [gnt]

… turba … statura pusillus … [v]

The word slide is from "young" "age" in Greek to "short" "height" in through Latin and then into English.

The Greek "crowd" changed to Latin "turmoil" or "mob".

The ancient Greek words "ἡλικία" ≈ "age, maturity" and "μικρός" ≈ "little of, brief, young" and "ὅχλος" ≈ "multitude, crowd, mob".
The Latin words "statura" ≈ "height, size, age" and "pusillus" ≈ "very small, tiny" and the Latin word "turba" ≈ "turmoil, mob, multitude".

Discuss: What important parts of the story can be easily omitted by focusing on "short height" as part of a "refrigerator magnet sermon"?

More: Whisper game

More: Luke 19: A short discussion on stature