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This morning, I came across a New York Times headline that I found quite striking: “Bread or Roses?” The article used this phrase to describe the rise of the socialist movement once represented by Bernie Sanders, drawing a parallel to the recent election of Mamdani as mayor of New York City.
As a pastor, I believe that this kind of wordplay is valuable. The way pastors title their sermons in the church bulletin often determines how much attention and anticipation the congregation will bring to the message. Since I am usually in the position of listening to sermons, I understand well how titles shape the hearer’s expectations.
When pastors prepare their sermons, they should first determine the central theme and then craft a title that reflects that theme—preferably one that is fresh, engaging, and capable of stirring the congregation’s interest. Unfortunately, many sermon titles today are vague, abstract nouns that give little sense of what the sermon is actually about.
In this respect, pastors could learn a great deal from the headline writers of America’s major newspapers.
My Story (209) Father's Day Gift
