Don't Just Say It, Show It

Over at Forbes.com they have put together a map using data from the IRS to show where people are moving, county by county. Below is the map for Multnomah County. The black lines show people moving to the county and the red lines show people moving away. You can see quickly that Multnomah County is drawing far more people than it loses. If you were to click on Detroit or Memphis you would see the opposite where most of the lines are red.

When preaching, it can be difficult to show abstract concepts in a way that is clear and concise. This map tool is one example of how data can be displayed in a dynamic, stimulating manner to enable people to grasp the meaning quickly.

You could use this tool in a sermon to show the numbers of people coming to and leaving your area as a call to work for your church. If people are leaving, then how can your church be a stabilizing factor in a city that is bleeding people? If people are streaming in, then how can your church be a welcoming home for new arrivals?