Chlorine

Summary

The sermon interprets Twenty One Pilots’ “Chlorine” as a reflection on returning to Jesus and putting faith into practice. The preacher reads the song’s opening call, “Where are you?”, as Jesus reaching out to someone who has been away. The reply about “sipping on straight chlorine” is presented as a recognition of spiritual need and a desire to return.

Main Ideas

• Jesus as healer and cleanser: The preacher compares chlorine’s supposed uses in treating wounds, cleaning clothes, purifying water, and preserving food with biblical descriptions of Jesus healing, cleansing, purifying, and protecting people. He also presents Jesus as the foundation of creation and of a stable life.
• The church represented by Ned: The sermon reads Ned, the creature in the music video, as a symbol of believers and the modern church: curious and creative, but also timid, distractible, and prone to seeking messages that merely confirm what they want to hear. This is linked to the warning about “itching ears” in 2 Timothy.
• Belief must lead to action: A central lesson is that professing belief alone is not enough; faith should be visible in actions. The preacher connects this idea to openly declaring belief, obeying Jesus, applying what one learns, confessing wrongdoing, and being baptized.
• Baptism and ongoing obedience: Baptism is described as a spiritual new beginning and an expression of faith. The sermon also emphasizes that faith is not a one-time decision: believers should continually respond to what they understand God is calling them to do.
• The Bible as guidance: The preacher interprets the song’s reference to paper as an invitation to read Scripture and act on what it teaches. He closes by comparing a life built on Jesus’ teaching to a house built on rock.
• Testimonies of Tristan and Sandre: The preacher recounts Tristan’s account of crying out to Jesus during a car accident and later feeling called to be baptized. The preacher says he traveled to meet Tristan, studied Scripture with him, and baptized him. Sandre, who was present, was also baptized. Her later message described the experience as returning home to God and feeling free and protected.
• Joy in obedience: The sermon presents the baptisms and the joy visible afterward as evidence that obedience can bring encouragement and a sense of new life, rather than being merely a burden.

Practical Steps Emphasized

• Return to God and seek spiritual rest and help.
• Make faith visible through action: declare belief, obey, and apply what you learn.
• Consider baptism as an expression of faith and new life.
• Confess wrongdoing and take concrete steps away from actions that cause harm.
• Continue practicing faith through daily engagement with Scripture and repeated acts of obedience.
• Use the “armor of God” as a call to practice faith, righteousness, and truth—not as a set of magical protections.

Note on the chlorine analogy: The preacher uses chlorine as a metaphor for Jesus and makes broad claims about chlorine’s role in medicine, wound treatment, and the composition of matter. These claims are presented as part of the sermon’s imagery; several are chemically inaccurate or oversimplified.

Speakers and Sources Featured

• Justin — The preacher and narrator; also leads the baptisms and closing prayer.
• Twenty One Pilots — The performers of “Chlorine,” whose lyrics and music video are interpreted in the sermon.
• Tristan — Shares his account of calling out to Jesus and seeking baptism.
• Sandre — Shares her experience of baptism and returning to faith.
• Jesus — Quoted through the biblical passages discussed.
• Ned — A non-speaking character in the music video, interpreted as representing believers and the church.
• Congregation/audience — Responds during the sermon and baptism scenes.

Biblical passages cited or discussed: Mark 2:16–17; 1 Peter 2:24; Isaiah 1:18; 1 John 1:7; 2 Thessalonians 3:3; John 1:1, 1:3, 2:23–25, and 3:1–6; 2 Timothy 4:3–4; James 2:14 and 2:19–20; Romans 10:9–10; Isaiah 30:15–18; Ephesians 6; Matthew 3:16–17 and 7:24–25.