Using Cartoons in Sermons: How to Open or Illustrate a Talk

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Using cartoons in sermons opens up more possibilities than you might expect. A cartoon can open a sermon, sharpen a point in the middle, send people home with an image to remember, or carry a theme across a whole series. This guide explores the ways churches are using cartoons in sermons and talks. It also shares ideas for finding one that fits your message and your congregation.

This post is part of our guide, Cartoons in church life and ministry (coming soon).

Why use a cartoon in a sermon?

Because a shared smile brings people together. In the first minutes of a service, attention is still settling. So a cartoon that gives everyone the same moment of recognition can make a room ready to listen.

Cartoons also tend to stay with people. Someone may forget the details of a sermon but still remember the picture, and with it the point it made. When the subject is a hard one, such as forgiveness or grief, a gentle cartoon can offer a kinder way in. That’s the heart of using cartoons in sermons: they help a message land and linger.

Where can a cartoon fit in a sermon?

Almost anywhere, depending on the job you want it to do. Here are some of the places churches are using cartoons in sermons.

  • As an opener. A cartoon on screen as you begin can break the ice and frame the question your sermon will explore. A line like “We’ve all been there” turns the laugh into recognition, and recognition into your theme.
  • At a turning point. Many sermons move from a problem to a response. A cartoon that captures the problem can mark that moment, giving people a breath before the next part of the message.
  • As a closing image. Ending on a cartoon can send people out with something to carry into the week. Some preachers like to return to the cartoon they opened with, now seen in a new light.
  • Before the service begins. As people arrive, a cartoon on screen can hint at the day’s theme. It may even spark conversation in the pews before a word has been said.

What else can a cartoon do in a talk?

Beyond the Sunday sermon, there are plenty of other doors a cartoon can open.

  • Tie a series together. A cartoon for each week of a sermon series can give it a recognizable thread that people look forward to.
  • Start a conversation. In an all-age service, a youth group or a midweek talk, you could ask “What’s going on in this cartoon?” That way, people start talking before you share your own thoughts.
  • Bring a children’s talk to life. A simple cartoon about a Bible story can hold young attention and give children something to describe in their own words.
  • Give people something to take home. Printing the sermon cartoon in the bulletin lets people keep thinking about it during the week. Our guide to using cartoons in church bulletins and newsletters has ideas for that.
  • Lighten a church meeting or event. Talks at a men’s breakfast, a leadership evening or an annual meeting can all benefit from a cartoon that gets people smiling.

How can you find the right cartoon?

One way in is to start with the idea you most want people to leave with. Then look for a cartoon that points toward it. To make that easier, we put together the Faith Collection (coming soon) for churches. You can browse it by sermon theme, such as forgiveness, gratitude, generosity, patience, prayer and community. It also covers church life and Bible stories, from Noah’s ark to the choir.

Some preachers like to try a cartoon on a friend or colleague first, just to see the reaction. Others simply trust their instincts. You know your congregation and what will make them smile. You can also read more about how CartoonStock works with churches on our page for churches.

What helps a cartoon work on screen?

Room to be seen. A cartoon often reads best when it has the slide to itself. Also, a quick look from the back row will tell you whether the caption is easy to read. Reading the caption aloud is a nice touch too, especially for anyone who finds the screen hard to see.

You’re welcome to resize the cartoon and change the caption’s font and size to suit your slides. The one thing to keep is the cartoon itself, uncropped and with the cartoonist’s signature visible.

If your service is livestreamed, or you share your slides online afterwards, our friendly guide to cartoon licensing for churches explains how licensing follows the use. And if you’re unsure, tell us your plans and we’ll help.

Questions about using cartoons in sermons

Can a cartoon work in a serious sermon?

It can. In fact, using cartoons in sermons on hard subjects can be where they help most. A cartoon doesn’t have to be laugh-out-loud funny to be useful. A gentle, thoughtful one can open up a difficult subject and help people feel that the struggle is shared.

Our church has no screen. Can we still use a cartoon?

Yes. You could print it in the bulletin or order of service and invite people to look at it at the right moment. Some churches also pin a printed copy near the entrance or on the noticeboard for the week.

What if nobody laughs?

Then the cartoon has probably still done its job. After all, a quiet smile or a nod of recognition can be just as valuable as a laugh.

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