I first met fine artist Michael Johnson at a now defunct gallery in Denver's Santa Fe Art District. He wasn't quite sure what to do with a pastor who liked hanging out with the art crowd, but a friendship developed rather quickly none the less.
One of the common ideas that we had were theme based art shows. My vision, which I'd still like to see happen one of these years, would be to have a section of Scripture, maybe one that ties in with a day like Christmas, Easter, or Pentecost, that is used as the basis for multiple artist to create something. Then, you have a worship service that opens with an art show featuring a wide array of expressions on the concept from the Bible that will be expanded upon in the sermon.
Michael and I decided to try out the concept on a small scale for my ordination. We began with the Scripture reading, talked about where it fit in the Bible, both in the specific context and as part of the overall story, and different angles the pastor might take in his sermon. Then, Michael went to work and created the painting that hangs in my living room today.
The ordination sermon was based on Deuteronomy 29:29, which reads: The secret things belong to the LORD our God, but the things that are revealed belong to us and to our children forever, that we may do all the words of this law.
The sermon itself focused on the essence of the pastoral ministry, and how pastors are to help people hand the things we don't understand over to God, and cling to that which God has revealed in Christ.