Several years ago, and in another congregation, I preached a sermon titled "Chutes and Ladders and the Kingdom of God." It was based upon a game we played countless times when our children were small, so as a family, it was great! But looking at that game as a preacher — as a theologian trying to proclaim good news to a hurting world — I came to recognize that "Chutes and Ladders" held a terrible theology. I would be the first to admit that the point of the game is not to teach theology, but pastors are always on the lookout for sermon illustrations, and my observation provided that for me.

For those not familiar with the game, players shake the dice and move their pieces along an S-shaped path. As with all these games, reaching the top is the goal. But in "Chutes and Ladders" there's a c…