Delivery

Blinkers Off

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When preaching a narrative it is important to preach a whole story, but don’t wear blinkers.  I am referring to the beginning and end of the specific narrative in question.  We easily fall into the trap of believing that section breaks added in a contemporary version are actually inspired dividers that should separate two distinct texts.  In reality the Bible authors usually strung several stories together.  We may preach only one story, but we must be aware of the flow.

Take, for example, the story of Zaccheus as Jesus left Jericho in Luke 19:1-10.  This story is naturally paired with the other man who couldn’t see as Jesus entered Jericho at the end of chapter 18.  But I would suggest the flow goes back further.  There are a pair of prayer parables at the start of 18, the first connecting strongly with the end of chapter 17.  The second (Pharisee and Tax Collector) begins a flow of stories reaching into chapter 19.  After the shocking story of the two men going to the temple to pray, Luke illustrates the right attitude in approaching God with two stories – one positive and one negative.  First the little children coming to Jesus and then the Rich Young Ruler.  This ends with the challenge of how a rich man can be saved when such is impossible in human terms.  The answer is that it is possible with God (and Jesus goes on to explain how he will suffer and die in Jerusalem).  Then another pair of stories, two men who can’t see, one ends positively, the next?  You’d expect negative – it’s another rich man, this time a despised sinner, one worthy of condemnation by any standard.  But he is saved.  How?  By this same Jesus taking the wrath of the crowds on himself to save the man from probable posse justice.  Zaccheus the rich man is saved by Christ who takes it on himself.  The text flows from at least 18:9 through 19:10.

We need to take the blinkers off as we study the gospels and narrative books of the Bible.  We need to look for how the individual elements are tied together by a very purposeful author.  It will help us to understand what is being communicated.  Furthermore, it is worth thinking about sharing some of this with the listeners.  Not to overwhelm or distract from the message of the specific text in question.  But enough to clarify that the gospels were not written in NIV sections, and maybe even to motivate them to study the flow of the text for themselves.

Cut Unnecessary Intros

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This would apply to the whole sermon, but I am thinking specifically of stories, illustrations, humor, etc.  Many of us have a tendency to set-up an element of the sermon with an introductory comment.  There are exceptions to this advice, but generally speaking, don’t.  It is better to seamlessly slide into the story than it is to introduce it.  Think of people telling jokes.  When they begin, “Here’s one that will make you laugh,” or “This is a really funny joke,” the net result is almost always negative.  Much better to hear the story and be surprised rather than expecting something good or bad.  The same goes in preaching.  Don’t say, “Here’s a startling statistic I came across this week…” (Which usually means the preacher hunted for it online!)  Just give it.  Don’t say, “Here’s an illustration that will make this notion clear…”, instead just say, “It’s like…” and say it.

There are exceptions, sometimes it helps to wisely frame or set up some element of a message.  Most of the time seamless is more effective.  When you have this kind of content in a message, think through ahead of time which will work better.  Try it both ways.  Then go with the most effective for the listeners.

Using Statistics

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Some of us may never contemplate using a statistic in our message, others are drawn to them in every introduction they write.  Statistics can be effective, or they can be totally counter-productive.  I was just reading some advice on the use of statistics (not a preaching or Christian source, but helpful nonetheless).  He suggested you decide whether the statistic is being used to add credibility or to be memorable (a statistic will not do both unless it is stated specifically and then restated in relevant terms that can be remembered).  So here is James Humes advice in three points:

1. Reduce the number of statistics. It is better to use one than to use several.  Pick the best one and then communicate it effectively.  To use two or more will only confuse and undermine your goal.

2. Round the numbers in the statistics. Sometimes you will want to stay specific (to add credibility), but for a memorable stat, round the number.  (More than 25,000 is better than saying 26,315.)

3. Relate the statistic to the listeners. Numbers are hard to visualize, so restate your stat in terms they will understand (so many thousands of square miles is better stated as “about the size of …” an area they know, or so many millions of dollars is better stated as “dollar bills placed end to end, this would stretch from Seattle to Miami, or whatever).

Often statistics are of minimal value in preaching, but sometimes an arresting or startling statistic will help in setting up a message or a point in a message.  Be sure to use that stat wisely.  And one piece of advice that should be added for us as preachers of truth – be truthful, don’t twist, don’t falsify, don’t lie.  Integrity matters.

And I Quote

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A well-planned, well-placed quote can explode like a firework.  Or it can fall as flat as old lettuce.  How can we make sure that a quote adds something to a message, or a movement within a message?

1. Make sure you are genuinely comfortable with the quote and its author. It is easy to undermine the moment by not knowing the author, or how to pronounce his name, or what the context was for the quote.  This can be particularly significant in a church setting where you would not want to quote certain people unawares.  It s important to know where the quote is from and what was really intended by it.

2. Strive to use quotes from well-known folks. Obscure characters from history, or unknown academics, tend to struggle for effective reception in church circles.  Sometimes it might be better to state that “One leader in the early church said . . .” rather than making people feel ignorant for not recognizing the name of Pseudo-Demoscrates of Alexusalem Minor the Younger.  If the author is not well-known, but the quote is effective, use it anyway, but be sure to check number 4 below.

3. Keep quotes punchy. A long quote is a long quote, but hardly ever an effective quote.  Keep it pithy and punchy so that it has impact.  There is a reason you don’t read your sermon (it doesn’t grab listeners), so don’t expect a long read quote to fair any better!

4. Verbally frame your quote. We shouldn’t pack a message with quotes and anecdotes.  It is better to have one well chosen quote than several that get close to the point.  When you have that one that works so well, that will support or clarify or drive home your point, then don’t waste it.  Don’t let it slip out in your flow of words and get missed by the listeners.  It is better to verbally frame it, to set it up so they are listening for it.  Perhaps pulling a card from your inner pocket or Bible, pausing and then reading it, will work much better than simply saying it from memory.  The goal is not to read, but to make sure listeners hear.  The movement, the visual element and the pause all help to highlight and press bold on your verbal quote.

Quotes can really add something to a message.  Or not. Depends what the quote is and how we use it.

Stage 8 + 1 – Delivery

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Just to finish off the series of posts looking back at previous posts on this site, let’s consider the issue of delivery. All the best work on preparing a sermon can be undermined completely by ineffective delivery. It’s not that we want to be professional or rely on our own abilities. Quite the opposite. We want to be the best stewards of the opportunity to minister God’s Word. So as part of that stewardship we put effort into improving our delivery skills so that the message is not blocked by our ineptitude in some area.

The goal of working on delivery is not to become something you are not, but to be better at being you. That is, the goal is a natural delivery, rather than a forced, a dramatic or a plagiarized delivery style. Be natural, but also be clear. If natural is monotone, or stilted, or boring, or constantly sniffing, or whatever, then work on it so that your natural style is more effective. In order to improve you will need to get feedback. Ask others for their feedback, and every now and then try to watch a video of yourself – it really does help!

Previously – I’ve called it 8+1 because the 8 stages are for preparation of a message, but really delivery is almost a ninth stage in the process. So the goal is to be yourself. You have your own personal style, but that is not an excuse! Present yourself appropriately, and watch your tone. In your delivery, be sure to give breaks, which will include planned pauses. On a practical note, think carefully before using powerpoint while you preach. And please think through your use of notes (see also part 2 and part 3). It is important to learn how to preach with passion, but try to keep the words short whenever possible. The challenge of being natural does not always feel natural, but somehow we need to make it look easy. Delivery is much more than just what you say (see also part 2). But more than all of this, remember that delivery skill is always ultimately trumped by genuineness.

Stage 8 – Message Details: Conclusions

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Haddon Robinson’s teaching and example always lurk in the back of my mind when it comes to conclusions. His teaching? “You can recover from a bad intro, but not from a bad conclusion.” His example? A consistent nailing of that last poignant and powerful line. Conclusions are easy – get to where you are going, review the journey briefly, encourage application of the idea and stop. But conclusions are hard – they are hard to give enough time for in preparation, they are hard to not modify and over-extend while preaching, they are hard to do well. The key is planning. First, plan to have enough time after preparing everything else in the message so that you can prepare the conclusion fully. Second, use that time and keep up the motivation in order to plan an effective conclusion. Third, generally stick to the conclusion you had planned when preaching, many extra thoughts become unnecessary extensions to a journey. Too many extensions will make the flight of the message uncomfortable and people will be reaching for the folded paper back in the pew in front of them!

Previously on this site – To put it simple, when you get to the end, stop. This is important, but you’ve got to know where you are going! Like flying a plane, your passengers value very highly your skill in landing the bird). The last line, as Haddon Robinson usually exemplifies is critical, so don’t miss that opportunity (although there are some opportunities to be missed). The main thing is to not short change the conclusion.

Stage 6 – Message Idea

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One thing is certain in preaching. If your message idea is not clear, then listeners will synthesize and selectively remember. They will subconsciously choose their own highlight, the point that stood out to them, or the illustration they enjoyed the most. It is far better to do the work yourself and then present a clear, well-articulated main idea in the message. You start with the passage idea, remove any historically specific references (like Paul, Timothy, Roman Jail, etc.), take into account your sermon purpose and then look to phrase the message idea in a way that is memorable and relevant to your listeners. It doesn’t have to be an all-star big idea every time (it won’t be), but it is worth putting extra effort in on this one critical sentence. Once you have it, it will be boss of the message shape and the details – the next two stages. It may seem like a lot of work, but working on the idea is well worth the time and effort you put in.

Just recently we had three posts on ideas that stick – if you didn’t see them, check them out here 1, 2 and 3.

Set Off With Strength

/ Peter Mead / 1 Comment

Once you have your message mostly prepared and you begin to focus on your beginning, craft carefully.  It is worth setting off with strength into your message, it is worth beginning with a bang.  That first sentence should command attention and usually set the direction of the message.

Too many of us ease into a message.  It is tempting to take time with introductory humor or nice opening remarks.  “Nice” is not a great compliment, more a vanilla description.  Inexperienced speakers, in any context, tend to begin with a variation on “thank you for this opportunity” or “it gives me pleasure to address . . . ” or similar.  Dull.  Wasteful of these key moments.  Don’t.

I would make two suggestions, depending on context:

If you are in your own culture, begin with a bang. If you have some type of compliment or praise for the listeners, interject it later in the message where it will feel genuine rather than trite.  Give the impression that you intend to waste no time, but rather have something important to share.

If you are visiting another culture, provide a purposeful adjustment phase. I find it is helpful when speaking in a foreign context to begin with a few brief comments expressing my appreciation of their welcome, the heat in comparison to my cold country, or whatever.  I don’t want to undermine my message by beginning with excessive power that might suggest a foreign arrogance.  Neither do I want them to miss the important opening statements as they adjust to my accent.  This introductory phase is limited, purposeful and carefully designed.

The opening sentence of a sermon is critical.  Prepare it carefully, polish it purposefully and practice it repeatedly.

Don’t Jump Right In

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The first moments of a spoken message are critical.  In the first moments your listeners will make a lot of sub-conscious and conscious evaluations of you as a speaker, your apparent integrity, likeability, authority, etc.  One small but effective piece of advice is don’t jump right in.  Before you begin, take some time in a commanding pause where you stand before your listeners and make eye contact with them.  If you are leading the service, pause before preaching.  If you are introduced, then walk purposefully to the stage, put anything on the podium (Bible, notes, watch or whatever), then begin your “eye-contactful purposeful pause.”

This is not a hard and fast rule, but it is good advice.  I remember hearing Luis Palau speaking at a missions conference some years ago.  He was already preaching before he got to the steps up to the stage!  If you trust the sound crew to have your mic working, and if you have both boundless enthusiasm and a super-engaging dynamic persona, then feel free to do this too.  Otherwise, probably better to get set and pause.

One way of ensuring this pause is not rushed is to slowly internally state your opening sentence before you verbally state it.  It may feel strange, but if you begin this way with a calm confidence, listeners will be intently listening when you begin.  If you start like a runner at the gun, eyes down, still putting your notes down, etc., then it will take some time before everyone is listening (and perhaps some never will!)  The first moments of the message matter very much, so make sure nobody misses them.  Begin in a commanding and purposeful manner, don’t jump right in.

Solid Solitary Converts

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We’ve probably all heard about evangelistic preaching that has somehow manipulated the crowd.  I remember sitting in the back row of a meeting with a very famous preacher.  When it came to the evangelistic part of the evening, he presented the gospel.  Then when it was time for the altar call, somehow the gospel message morphed into “if you have done this before but still struggle with sin, come forward…”  Naturally the numbers swelled significantly!  It may look great on reports, but it is manipulative and dishonest if these people are counted as converts.

I’m not in any way suggesting altar calls are inappropriate.  In some situations they are highly appropriate.  But manipulation and dishonesty in preaching is always inappropriate.  The end does not justify the means.  Let’s be sure to preach the gospel and pray for thousands to respond, but rather than get clever with the call, let’s praise God for solid solitary converts!