Pastor Perry Noble Uses Bench Press to Preach About Overcoming Worry
In a unique sermon illustration, Perry Noble, senior pastor of Second Chance Church, used a weight bench and barbell to deliver a message about overcoming worry.
Noble began by placing a 135-pound barbell on the stage, which, according to him, represents the “weight all of us carry in life.” He then explained that, while facing challenges is inevitable, these burdens can become overwhelming if we try to bear them alone.
To illustrate his point, Noble added weight to the barbell, which he initially proved he could lift by bringing it up to 400 pounds. He then jokingly attempted to lift the heavier weight, saying, “Ain’t no freaking way,” before putting the bar back down.
Noble then explained that the act symbolizes the limitations of relying solely on one’s strength to overcome worry.
“This represents the weight that all of us carry in life,” Noble said. “Everybody in this room is carrying a certain amount of weight… But you don’t have to carry it by yourself.”
In the sermon “Winning War Against Worry” on YouTube, Noble used the analogy of weightlifting to explain that relying on God’s strength and the support of fellow believers allows us to overcome challenges that might seem impossible on our own.
“The main thing I want to teach today is that God’s power plus God’s people equals winning the war against worry,” he said
Noble challenged the notion that individual faith alone suffices, stating, “I want to talk to the person out there… maybe you’re watching online going, ‘I don’t need the church. All I need is Jesus. It’s just me and Jesus.’ Well, I’m glad you’re that righteous, but not even Jesus was enough for Jesus,” he continued. He elaborated that Jesus sought the support of his disciples in a time of emotional distress.
Later in the sermon, Noble brought three individuals on stage to assist him in lifting the same barbell he previously demonstrated struggling with. Together, they were able to lift the weight with ease. He noted, however, that his analogy is one of his major lessons.