Delivery

Topical Preaching – Part 2

/ Peter Mead / 1 Comment

More food for thought on the issue of topical preaching.  As I wrote in part 1, it is possible to preach a sermon that is both expository and topical.  Yet generally speaking I urge people to stay in one text.  Why?

There is always more in one passage than you can preach in one sermon.  While it is possible to get the main idea and preach it effectively, that does not mean that you exhaust a passage by doing so.  By staying in one text for the whole message you give yourself a better opportunity to dig deeper in that passage.  We tend to assume people understand something when we should explain it further.  We tend to assume people apply principles when we should apply more explicitly.  Preach in such a way that people see the value of spending some time in a passage, rather than finding a superficial nugget and rushing on to another. 

Most wild safaris in the backseat of a concordance are unhelpful.  It is easy to open a concordance and find several other passages that have at least one word in common with the passage you’re preaching.  It’s common for new preachers to fill time in this way (you can’t be criticized for being unbiblical if the message is full of Bible verses!)  I’ve heard messages where we’ve been taken on a wild Scriptural safari, bouncing along uncomfortable roads to disconnected texts, catching a brief glimpse of something and then revving the engine for another ride.  More often than not these glimpses at other verses add nothing to the message or to our understanding of our “target passage.”  There are occasions when citing or reading other verses is helpful (see future post), but evaluate carefully before stealing this time and energy from your specific text.

It is stretching, refreshing and helpful for you and your listeners to soak in a specific passage rather than skimming over the surface of the old familiar favorites.  Preach your text!

Where to Place “The Reading” – Part 2

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In part 1 we considered the importance of establishing and underlining the biblical authority of a message.  We underlined the importance of a commitment to expository preaching and the need to reinforce that commitment through attitude and action throughout a sermon.  Now some thoughts on reconsidering the traditional placement of the reading before or at the start of the message:

In some sermons the reading “up front” would be ideal.  If you think through the options and conclude that this would be best for audience, for sermon flow, etc., then do not become a rebel against tradition for the sake of rebellion. Reading first is a good option with much in its favor.

If the tension of the sermon is tied to the unfolding of the text, then perhaps reading the passage as you proceed would be better.  It may be helpful for the sake of clarity if the text is read in its entirety first.  However, this does run the risk of dissipating any tension in the sermon.  A sermon without any inbuilt tension can be as dull as a predictable joke (although with more value).  If the text is a narrative, then it is probably better not to read the resolution of the inbuilt tension before telling the story.  If the sermon contains an element of intrigue, then it also may be wise to split the reading throughout the sermon.  If reading the text and then stating the big idea (or even just the “subject” half of the big idea) leaves listeners feeling as if they could leave at that point because they know what is coming, then perhaps the reading should not have been completed at that moment in the sermon.

If tradition requires or expects an earlier reading, perhaps offer a helpful alternative.  If the text for the message would be best, then by all means have it read earlier.  However, if tension would be lost, select an alternative.  (Be careful also not to let worship leaders steal the tension of a sermon by their pre-message comments!)  For example, many New Testament texts rely heavily on one or two Old Testament texts.  So a sermon in 1st Peter could use a reading from the Old Testament such as Psalm 34 (if the passage is focused on the suffering of God’s people in “exile”) or Isaiah 53 (if the passage is focused on Christ’s passion).  Both passages were heavy on the mind of Peter as he wrote his letter.  If a passage is quoted in the preaching text, perhaps reading that passage in its context would be helpful.

Where to Place “The Reading”– Part 1

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Traditionally there are two options for when to read the Bible passage for a sermon. One is earlier in the service, the other is at the start of the sermon. Either of these may be ideal. Neither of these is required. While starting with the reading may help with establishing the authority of the sermon, there are other ways to achieve this goal. Furthermore, there may be good reasons not to start with the reading. Today I will make suggestions for underlining the biblical authority in a sermon, then tomorrow I will give reasons for considering the placement of the reading more carefully.

Decide to communicate the authority of Scripture throughout your preaching. The reading at the start of the message may help, but is not the only ingredient. In fact, reading the passage up front does not guarantee that biblical authority is communicated. Many preachers read a passage and then bounce off it to their own thoughts and message. It is important to commit to, and reinforce, the authority of Scripture in your preaching.

First and foremost, commit to expository preaching. The commitment of the expository preacher is not to a certain form of sermon, but to a philosophy that places the Bible in the main role. The Bible determines sermon idea, sermon content, suggests possible sermon shape, sometimes even sermon illustrations. The message comes from a study of the Bible and is communicated through a study of the Bible using a literal, grammatical, historical, contextual hermeneutic. Without a commitment to preaching an expositional sermon, the following suggestions will be of only minimal help. It is possible to preach a topical-expository sermon, but more of that in a future post.

Reinforce the message of the authority of the Bible through your attitude. Demonstrate a submissive approach to the text, an inquisitive approach, an open to learning approach. Through your attitude and comments throughout the sermon, demonstrate that the Bible is the source of the authority.

Reinforce the authority of the Bible by letting your Bible show. Don’t read the passage, then put your Bible down and preach from notes. This can give the wrong impression. I think it is helpful and important to let people see that you are reading from the Bible (even if you’ve memorized the passage). Don’t let the podium hide the Bible. Don’t just cut and paste Bible text into your notes. Preaching without notes, but with Bible in hand can really help reinforce your view of the Bible. (See earlier posts on preaching without notes.)

Default Mode Preaching – Part Last

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Just three more areas to think about and push ourselves in:

3. Gestures – Are you naturally dependent on certain movements?  You may not know, but check a video or ask a friend.  Like the voice, overplanning will result in unnatural “performance.”   However, evaluation and forethought may raise subconscious repetition to conscious appropriate variation.  Your goal is not to perform or to impress, but to communicate.

4. Relationship to the Pulpit – Do you hold it?  Do you lean on it?  Are you conjoined with it?  Perhaps it would stretch you to remove it for a Sunday, or preach from a different location.  Try preaching with your Bible in your hands, or use a music stand off to one side.  The podium can be an immense crutch for some, and a communication block for listeners.  Hide less, communicate more.

5. Ending – It’s easy to always finish the same way.  Pause for thought, straight into a song (them not you), punchy last line, thoughtful prayer, etc.  Any of these could be good if chosen purposefully.  Take the time to plan the ending of your next sermon properly so you don’t default to a landing in autopilot.

Default Mode Preaching

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Earlier this week I posted a couple of times about default preaching.  That is, the way we can easily settle into a routine structure or style of sermon.  For the sake of our listeners, it is good to try adding variation to our sermons.  Yet also for our own sake this is worthwhile.  Not only does pushing beyond default stimulate our growth as preachers, it also rekindles our sense of dependence on God.  How dangerous it is to settle into a pattern and risk preaching in our own strength!  Today and tomorrow I want to share a few more areas in which default can set in, and in which we can consciously stimulate our own “beyond default preaching” . . .

1. The Start – Do you always start with a funny story or interesting statistic?  Do you always begin with the thrilling phrase, “please turn with me . . .”?   What can you do differently to start your next message more effectively?  Remember to let your sermon purpose and the congregational need for the message loom large in your thinking.

2. Use of Voice – Basically the issue is appropriate variation.  Think through the message and recognize where emphasis should come from extra volume or power, and where it could better come from less.  What about rate of speech and tone?  Don’t get stuck in the default middle 20%, but consciously add appropriate variation.

Sunukjian’s 5-Step Intro

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Donald Sunukjian thinks through elements of the preaching process in fine detail. His book, An Invitation to Biblical Preaching, is full of real nuggets for the thoughtful preacher wishing to fine tune their methodology. For instance, consider his five step approach to an introduction:

1. Engage audience interest – develop a sense of need through use of humor, reference to personal or contemporary matters of concern.

2. Focus the message on either the Big Idea (deductive sermon) or the subject / question (inductive sermon).

3. Set the stage biblically – provide helpful background, context, setting, etc. If necessary review the sermon series. However, do not mention the chapter and verse yet. Once you mention it, they won’t be listening because they will be distracted by the hunt.

4. Preview the direction of the message as much as necessary – identify any major hunks or structural movements to come so the listener has a fair idea of what is to come.

5. Announce the passage – giving the chapter and verse, then allowing people to look it up before continuing. Wait quietly at this point, people aren’t listening to you anyway while they hunt, and your patience will motivate people to actually bring and open their Bibles.

    Moving Your Preaching Beyond Default­ – Part 2

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    There are many defaults that could be highlighted.  The fact presenter, exhorter and plodder are just three.  Perhaps you can give yourself another title to underline the tendency you see in your own preaching.  Then prayerfully consider how to push yourself beyond what is comfortable for you, or even what is affirmed by others. 

    The fact presenter needs to wrestle diligently with sermonic purpose and audience awareness.  The exhorter needs to purposefully engage with the full range of needs present in their congregation, as well as increase sensitivity to the intention of biblical writers.  The plodding passage guide needs to study not just for phrase-by-phrase understanding, but for a fuller understanding of the flow of thought and emphasis, not to mention creative means by which to structure the message.

    Here are a few more ways to stretch yourself beyond default, whatever your default may be: 

    • How can you preach so that people will not just know the passage, but also experience it?
    • How can the message itself be constructed as a plot to be experienced by the listeners?  As preachers we can easily dissect a biblical plot (narrative) and end up preaching an interesting but lifeless set of parts.  We should let story be story, but more than that, how can we take a didactic sermon and add features of plot to it?
    • How can the message maintain tension or intrigue throughout?  This means careful consideration of how each point works within itself, and how they work in relation to each other.
    • How can the transitions be worked for maximum effectiveness?  How can they be smooth rather than clunky, clear rather than random?

    Laughter In The Pews – Part 2

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    A couple more thoughts on the use of humor in preaching:

    Beware of the temptation to stir response by using cheap-shots.  While effective humor is either natural or difficult to pull off, cheap-shot humor is actually quite easy.  It is easy to take cheap-shots at a culture or gender or certain occupations.  It is easy to get a reaction with such humor.  But think very carefully.  Just because people may laugh now, that comment could linger longer than you intended and ultimately become a significant distraction.  I recall one sermon I heard a few months ago.  In the space of two minutes the speaker managed to throw out two quick cheap-shots.  Both got a reaction.  One was at the expense of the president of a nation.  The other was at the expense of the main broadcasting company in another nation.  Both comments were ill-informed.  Both were borderline offensive to the two nationalities targeted.  Both left a bitter taste in the mouth.  Unfortunately for the speaker, those two nationalities formed 90% of his congregation.  Why is it that six months later I remember those one-liners so clearly, but can’t recall the “important” elements of the sermon?

    Laugh at yourself rather than at others.  In the example just described, the cheap-shots at other nationalities were only made worse by an apparent unwillingness to laugh at himself or his own culture.  Without making yourself out to be a fool, don’t take yourself so seriously that you elevate yourself over your listeners.  

    Where there is no humor, smile appropriately.  A sermon or occasion may not be conducive to the use of humor.  You may be personally challenged in the area of humor.  Or you may be in tough preaching situation, such as preaching through a translator in a foreign culture.  Don’t despair.  Look for opportunities to express joy and delight through well-placed and natural smiles.  God gave us smiles to communicate warmth, affection, connection and life.  Laughter often seasons a sermon effectively, but a natural smile should be a staple element in almost any message.

    Laughter In The Pews – Part 1

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    There are differing views on the place of humor in the pulpit.  For some, the somber reality of the occasion precludes any place for humor.  For others, humor is considered one of the most effective tools in the preacher’s toolbox.  I naturally find many reasons to laugh throughout the day.  So naturally there will be some humor in some of my messages.  Filter these comments through your own theology of humor and laughter in the preaching event:

    Joke-telling is a very complex skill, assume you don’t have it.  Hershael York would go so far as to instruct his students not to tell jokes.  I tend to agree with him.  Most people are not effective joke-tellers.  The necessary combination of clarity, timing, demeanor and so on require very fine tuning.  Often a joke will be placed at the start of a message, which is actually a risky moment for something that needs such precision.  I am not a joke teller.  I’m thankful that I know that.  If you think you are, then it is probably worth getting the honest opinion of several others (preferably those gifted in bluntness  and tactlessness) before you exhibit your skill from the pulpit! 

    Humor does not have to come from jokes.  Often the most effective humor relates to subtle comments, passing observations, sometime bizarre comparisons.  If an element of a passage is funny, simply recognize that and help others to see it (most Christians need help not to read the Bible with a stained-glass voice!)  An attitude of delight in a passage, a message and a group of people will often result in quite natural and appropriate humor during delivery.

    Delivery is More Than What You Say – Part 2

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    There are three more channels of non-verbal communication. Litfin’s introductory text, Public Speaking, gives a helpful summary of each:

    4. Physical appearance – Whether you like it or not, people infer a lot from how you look.  Be consistent with your message, your listeners and the occasion. The question is not if you will communicate by your appearance, but what you will communicate by your appearance.

    5. Facial expression – Over half of our non-verbal messages are transmitted through the face. Default should be relaxed and pleasant. Then vary according to what you are saying. You may be very expressive before delivery, then frozen during delivery. It is easy to inadvertently communicate hostility through a furrowed brow, flared nostrils, a tight jaw or squinting eyes. Bright lights can have a huge effect on our facial expression too. Be aware.

    6. Paralanguage – everything communicated by the voice apart from the words. The intonation can radically change the meaning, while keeping the same actual words. Thus it is important to use the voice carefully, fully and attractively. Attractiveness of voice, according to Litfin, involves articulation, rate, loudness, pitch and quality.