Cartoons in church life can do far more than raise a smile. They can draw people to the notice that matters in the bulletin, or open a sermon. They can also brighten the weekly email, thank a volunteer team, get a small group talking or mark a season of the church year. This guide brings together all the ways churches use cartoons, with links to a dedicated guide on each one. Each section gives a short overview, so you can see the possibilities at a glance and follow the link for more. Think of it as a starting point. It’s a map of ideas you can shape to your own church and your own way of doing things.
Why do cartoons work so well in church life?
Because a shared smile brings people together. Church communication competes for attention like everything else, and people skim notices, emails and posts in seconds. A cartoon earns a pause. Once someone has smiled at it, they’re far more likely to read the message beside it. Cartoons also stay with people. Someone may forget the details of a sermon or an announcement but still remember the picture, and with it the point it made. In addition, a cartoon can be a gentle way into difficult subjects, such as forgiveness, grief, doubt or the never-ending need for more volunteers. It names the feeling with kindness, which often makes the conversation that follows easier. 
Finally, cartoons say something about who you are. A church that uses them well comes across as warm, welcoming and human. That matters most to people who don’t know you yet. Many will look at your bulletin, website or social pages before they ever walk through the door. Churches and church groups come to CartoonStock for cartoon licensing regularly. Our catalog holds more than 750,000 cartoons by over 1,000 cartoonists, and we’ve drawn on that experience throughout this guide.
Do churches need permission to use cartoons?
Yes. Someone drew every cartoon, so using cartoons in church life needs the cartoonist’s permission, however you came across them. A license is that permission in writing, and it’s also how the cartoonist gets paid. A cartoon spotted in another church’s newsletter isn’t free to share, and putting the cartoonist’s name underneath is a courtesy, not a license. The good news is that getting permission is usually quick. At CartoonStock, the license follows the use, so the key question is simply where the cartoon is going. A printed bulletin, a sermon slide and a Facebook post are each a different use. Our friendly guide to cartoon licensing for churches explains how it works. It also covers what happens when one cartoon is heading for several places, and what you can and can’t change.
How can cartoons work in church bulletins and newsletters?
The bulletin is often where cartoons in church life begin, and for good reason. A bulletin is mostly lists, times and notices, and the eye slides past them. A cartoon stops it. Placed beside the item that matters most this week, it draws people straight to it. Alternatively, a cartoon in the same spot every week can become something people look for first. Cartoons can also make the harder asks easier to hear, from stewardship to volunteer appeals. Our guide to using cartoons in church bulletins and newsletters covers where a cartoon works best on the page and how to choose one. It also covers how to make sure it survives a trip through the church copier.
How can cartoons help in sermons and talks?
A cartoon can do many jobs in a sermon. It can open one, breaking the ice and framing the question the sermon will explore. It can mark a turning point, giving people a breath before the next part of the message. It can close one, sending people out with an image to carry into the week. Some preachers even return at the end to the cartoon they opened with, now seen in a new light. And on screen as people arrive, it can hint at the day’s theme before a word has been said. Beyond the Sunday sermon, cartoons can tie a sermon series together, bring a children’s talk to life or lighten a church meeting. Our guide to using cartoons in sermons explores these possibilities, along with ideas for churches that don’t have a screen.
How can cartoons work in church emails, websites and social media?
Online, everyone is in a hurry, and a cartoon can earn the pause that a message needs. In the weekly email, a cartoon can set a warm tone, spotlight one notice or become a “cartoon of the week” that people look forward to. On the church website, a cartoon can put visitors at ease on a “New here?” page or lighten a giving page. Some churches also refresh a home page cartoon with the seasons, which shows visitors the church is active and welcoming. 
On social media, cartoons often feel most at home. They can start conversations, carry Sunday’s message into the week or give your page a regular rhythm. Our guide to cartoons in church emails and social media has ideas for each channel.
How can cartoons help with church volunteers?
Asking for help is hard, and so is being asked. Most volunteer appeals sound much the same, and people learn to read past them. A cartoon changes the tone, saying “we know this is a big ask” with a smile. Cartoons can help at every stage of volunteering. They can draw people to a sign-up sheet and soften a reminder that might otherwise feel like nagging. They can also turn a thank-you into something people remember. Our guide to cartoons for church volunteers covers recruiting, reminding and thanking, including ideas for volunteer appreciation Sunday.
How can cartoons start conversations in small groups and youth ministry?
A cartoon is open to interpretation, so there’s no wrong answer. That makes it ideal for getting a group talking, whether people have been coming for years or this is their first week. A cartoon can work as an icebreaker, sit alongside the week’s passage or carry Sunday’s sermon into a midweek group. Young people often respond to humor straight away, so cartoons are a natural fit for youth groups, retreats and camps too. Our guide to cartoon discussion starters includes simple, open questions leaders can use. For example: “Which character do you relate to most?”
How can cartoons help through the church year?
Every season has its own message, and cartoons can help a church speak to each one in its own voice. In Advent, a cartoon can acknowledge the December rush before inviting people to slow down. At Christmas and Easter, it can make an invitation feel warm rather than formal for visitors. In Lent and at Thanksgiving, a gentle cartoon can open up reflection and gratitude. The quieter weeks count too, from Pentecost to back-to-school Sunday. Our guide to cartoons through the church year explores ideas for each season, and for planning ahead. 
How can cartoons help in clergy training and leadership courses?
Church leaders face situations everyone recognizes, from the meeting that runs an hour over to the budget nobody wants to discuss. In training, a cartoon can name those moments with a smile. It can also make harder subjects, such as burnout, conflict and criticism, easier to raise among colleagues. Cartoons can open a session, introduce a case study, prompt reflection or bring personality to an online course. Our guide to cartoons in church leadership training covers ideas for training days, clergy courses and online programs.
Where can churches find the right cartoons?
For cartoons in church life, a good place to start is the Faith Collection (coming soon), which we put together for churches. It gathers cartoons about church life, Bible stories and everyday faith, from Noah’s ark and Sunday school to the choir, the potluck and the church sign. You can also browse it by sermon theme, such as forgiveness, gratitude, generosity, patience, prayer and community. And if you ever need something broader, the full catalog is one click away from the collection. To learn more about how CartoonStock works with churches, visit our page for churches. If you have a question about your own plans, get in touch. We’d much rather hear from you than have you guess.
Questions about cartoons in church life
Where should a church start with cartoons?
Wherever feels most natural to you. Many churches begin with a cartoon in the bulletin or the weekly email, since those reach the most people each week. Others start with a sermon or a small group. There’s no right order, so pick the place where a smile would help most.
Do cartoons suit every church?
Every church is different, and only you know your congregation. The range of cartoons is wide, from gentle and thoughtful to laugh-out-loud, so most churches find something that fits their own tone and tradition.
Can one cartoon be used in more than one place?
Yes, with a license for each use. If you know before you license that a cartoon will appear in several places, tell us and we’ll help you cover them all. Our friendly guide to cartoon licensing for churches explains more.
All guides in this series
- Cartoon Licensing for Churches: A Friendly Guide
- How to Use Cartoons in Church Bulletins and Newsletters
- Using Cartoons in Sermons: How to Open or Illustrate a Talk
- Using Cartoons in Church Emails, Websites and Social Media
- Cartoons for Recruiting, Reminding and Thanking Church Volunteers
- Cartoons as Discussion Starters for Small Groups and Youth Ministry
- Cartoons Through the Church Year
- Using Cartoons in Clergy Training and Church Leadership Courses
Prefer to start with ideas?
Cartoon ideas for your church
✓Practical ideas for bulletins, sermons and notices
✓Examples from the Faith Collection
✓Seasonal ideas four times a year
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