Delivery

Delivery is More Than What You Say – Part 1

/ Peter Mead / 2 Comments

Any beginner’s course in public speaking will soon instruct that effective delivery is so much more than mere word choice. Any self-evaluation of early attempts at preaching will probably point to the same thing, and if it doesn’t, a helpful listener will soon point it out! Dr.Duane Litfin, president of Wheaton College, is the author of Public Speaking: A Handbook for Christians. In his chapter on delivery he lists six channels of non-verbal communication. It would do us good to evaluate our awareness of these channels as we seek to communicate effectively. The first three:

1. Proxemics – the perception and use of space. Not an easy subject to grasp, but specifically helpful in three respects. First, there is the issue of distance. Physical distance is related to psychological distance. Generally speaking we should minimize the distance between speaker and listeners. Second, Litfin mentions elevation. If you are elevated above them, this suggests that you consider yourself above them. If you are below the congregation (amphitheatre), then the dynamic is reversed. Usually it is better to be on the same level if possible. Third, obstructions. A blocked view means blocked communication. This can refer to floral displays, a bulky podium or even your notes. Let people see you.

2. Kinesics – technical terminology for body language. This incorporates gesture, posture, movement. There are very few rules, but make sure your physical action complements and reinforces what you say. Request feedback from listeners, and watch a video once in a while. Without knowing the term “kinesics,” people instinctively know what you are communicating nonverbally.

3. Eye behavior – small things, but very powerful in communication. Don’t look above people, don’t look past people, look at people. Select an individual and look them in the eye for a moment before moving to another person somewhere else in the congregation. If you have eye contact with one person, several people feel connected with you, but if you avoid eye contact, then all will feel left out. Consider the earlier posts on “no-notes preaching.”

Peter has responded to a comment on this post.

The Holy Spirit and Your Preaching – Part 2

/ Peter Mead / 4 Comments

Thankfully preaching is not just you and your listeners. It’s so much bigger than that. Your preparation is critical stewardship before God. Their openness to listen is also a vital stewardship of their opportunity. But there is also the Holy Spirit:

The Spirit of God is at work long before the sermon passes through the air. The work of God in the people of God is constant. Our privilege is to be a tool in that greater work. So long before we stand to preach, the Spirit of God has already been working in peoples’ lives – drawing them to Christ, convicting them of sin, disciplining believers, orchestrating life’s circumstances and so on.

The Holy Spirit is critical in the delivery of the sermon. The older writers referred to the “unction.” Today we might refer to the “anointing.” The fact is that true preaching goes beyond our preparation and ability (both of which require of us good stewardship), to have a contagious vibrancy that can only be credited to the delivery taking place in the power of the Spirit. This is not something that can be stirred up by our own pre-delivery ritual, but can surely be harmed by our character, motives, attitude – by sin.

The work of the Spirit continues after the sermon is finished. Thankfully it is not our responsibility to follow up on every individual in minute detail, convicting, encouraging, filling, urging, etc. When we lay our effort before the throne, God’s work presses on. Praise the Lord.

The Holy Spirit and Your Preaching – Part 1

/ Peter Mead / Leave a comment

When it comes to preaching, it is easy to refer to the Holy Spirit by way of excuse. How simple to bring in the Holy Spirit as an excuse not to do some difficult aspect of preparation, or to cover for a lack of attention to some aspect of the preparation process. This is very unfair. Preaching is a spiritual work, and so the Holy Spirit must be given His rightful place. Here are some thoughts that will probably stimulate other thoughts:

Preaching is our work and God’s work, not one or the other. Our responsibility for the mechanics of sermon preparation in no way negates the Holy Spirit’s role in the dynamics of sermon preparation. Likewise, the Spirit’s role in bringing fruit from the preaching event does not remove our responsibility to participate fully.

The foundational concern is the spiritual walk of the preacher. Everything that the Bible teaches in relation to the spiritual walk of a believer is also, and especially, true of the preacher. This relates to character, to life choices, to prayerful preparation for ministry and so on. This means walking in step with the Spirit, not grieving the Spirit, fanning into flame the gift of the Spirit, and living a life controlled by the Spirit.

The preparation process involves the Spirit at every step. Every stage of the process could be prefixed with the term, “Prayerfully. . .” We must prayerfully select the passage, prayerfully study the passage, prayerfully determine the author’s idea and so on. We should not work in a personal vacuum and then merely ask for God’s stamp of approval just prior to delivery.

(Ramesh Richard has a helpful appendix on the Holy Spirit and preaching in Preparing Expository Sermons which influenced this post.)

TIM in the Preacher’s Life

/ Peter Mead / Leave a comment

Does TQM mean anything to you? These three letters were indelibly marked on my brain in university. I studied business theory when TQM was a big deal. Total Quality Management. The letters are stuck in my head even though the theory is not. However, I’d like us to consider something that matters to us as preachers – TIM. Nothing to do with Paul’s apostolic representative in Ephesus. Total Integrity Management. As preachers we must manage our lives and ministries for total integrity. This reaches far:

1. Personal life. We must be people who are above reproach, living lives that bear the scrutiny of watching eyes. This relates to relationships, fidelity, private interests, hobbies, tax payments, internet use, everything.

2. Preparation for preaching. We should do the study and preparation that people believe we do, and that we suggest we do. There may be short-cuts, and some may be legitimate at times, but watch your integrity. It is legitimate to learn from other preachers, perhaps even to use their wording of an idea, or illustration. But when you take, give credit where appropriate. If you short-circuit your ministry by lifting entire sermons off the internet, at least be honest about it and don’t give the impression you’ve been poring over the text for yourself.

3. The sermon’s connection to the text. We must have the integrity to be sure that our message is legitimately derived from the text we use. There is no excuse for springboard preaching, where the text is a launching point for our own thinking.

4. Illustrational material requires honesty too. It is fine to make up a story, Jesus did it. But be careful not to be dishonest in doing so. You know how to convey a story so people know it is fictional. If you didn’t experience it, don’t act as if you did. If our integrity is compromised in a small story, it is compromised. Even if a story is true, but is very bizarre, be careful. No matter how much you affirm its veracity, if people doubt it, then your integrity is undermined. Is it worth it for that story?

5. Emotional manipulation is not our trade. If the text is genuinely moving, let it do its work. But we are not charlatans who play with emotions to manipulate responses from our listeners. You know if this is a temptation or not.

We need to go for TIM. Ultimately, your integrity is your responsibility. Besides you, only God knows what’s really going on. Ask Him to convict you by His Spirit and keep your TIM on track.

Tell Me Why I Don’t Like Mondays?

/ Peter Mead / 6 Comments

Donald Sunukjian suggests that for men, preaching is the closest we ever come to giving birth (ladies reading this – you’re right, we have no idea!) He talks about this thing growing inside and then finally coming out in an intense delivery, followed the next day by the post-partum blues.

Maybe some preachers always feel refreshed and revitalized after preaching. Maybe some can’t wait to get stuck in to work the next day. But for those of us that are sometimes spent after preaching, what should we do with our Mondays?

Many pastors traditionally take Monday off, partially for this reason. Sunday is the busiest day, but also preaching is a uniquely draining experience. So that’s a place to start. Consider rest after the emotional and spiritual exertion of preaching. While rest may re-energize, there are times when it merely exacerbates the lack of motivation. So rest, but also be active. Physical activity, exercise, has a definite effect on our emotional, mental and spiritual reserves.

Consider reading things that are “just for me” on Mondays. Spiritually uplifting, devotional, relaxing, unrelated to present sermon series kind of reading (my wife would probably suggest reading a novel).

Be extra wary of activity with a raised level of temptation. Internet surfing, movie watching, time alone, travel, etc. All are risky, especially when internally depleted. Some of these may be unavoidable (travel), or even helpful (a safe movie), but always be wary. Sin crouches and often pounces when we’re extra vulnerable.

Select your company carefully. Some people energize and motivate, while others drain and discourage. Watch who you’re with on a day that starts with depleted reserves.

Mondays matter, so plan them carefully. Then on Tuesday? You’re pregnant again.

Pulpit Prayer

/ Mike Roth / Leave a comment

In Awed to Heaven, Rooted in Earth, Walter Brueggemann writes, “Alongside that substantive act of submission and petition, prayer at the opening of class is a heavily symbol-laden act, for it situates knowledge in the context of faith. It articulates a proper ratio of reason to faith and quite practically asserts that learning takes place with a cloud of witnesses who have believed and trusted before the present company and who believe and trust presently alongside the immediate body of teachers and learners. Thus prayer at the beginning of class in a seminary is not a mere convention – though it is that. It is an act of rightly framing the instruction of the day among a body of believers or would-be believers who are unafraid of the task of learning (xv).”

Though Brueggemann’s context is one between professor and student, I cannot help but think a similar dynamic exists between preacher and congregant. Preaching exists within the context of faith. It is both an expression of and call to faith. Therefore, in both the teaching of theology and the preaching of God’s word, prayer must rightly orient the moment. With this said, I wonder to what extent we prepare for prayer as preachers vs. ad-hoc? I must admit that prayer in my sermons need more advanced thought so that I might rightly introduce and conclude my sermons – in a cloud of witnesses, in the presence of the Lord. Perhaps then, a body of believers or would-be believers would be better prepared to courageously engage the Word of Life face to face.

Litfin’s Study of Paul’s Theology of Proclamation

/ Peter Mead / 6 Comments

Dr Duane Litfin, president of Wheaton, studied Paul’s theology of proclamation for one of his doctoral dissertations. His study reveals how Paul’s view of preaching contrasted with the first-century Greco-Roman rhetorician. The biblical focus for the study was 1Cor.1-4, where the issue is addressed most directly. The following points may give you a taste of his study and its relevance for us as preachers:

1. Language and ideas have the power to sway people. Paul knew that, and we must recognize the power of language and ideas in order to comprehend the reality of ancient rhetoric and the contrast with Paul’s preaching.

2. The ancient rhetorician tailored his efforts to achieve a result, whatever it took. Paul was different. Paul, like the rhetor, viewed the audience as a given, but did not take unto himself the task of inducing belief. For Paul, this was the task of the Spirit of God.

3. Paul proclaimed, and as a herald he announced, but it was not his task to persuade. So he would “placard” the cross before his hearers. He could not allow for the possibility of the listeners’ faith being a product of the preacher’s ability to induce faith by rhetorical technique.

4. Paul did not somehow disavow every element of rhetorical technique. It is clear in his letters, and in the speeches in Acts (if they are accepted as representative of Paul rather than Luke’s writing ability), that Paul did use various elements of rhetoric in order to communicate effectively. In fact, the ancient study of rhetoric was descriptive more than prescriptive, it was determined by observation of what effective speakers did. In light of this, Paul would not have had to study rhetoric in order to learn the skills he demonstrates. But he did put his own preaching in sharp relief to that of the rhetoricians. What was the difference?

5. Paul did not pursue the third step in persuasion. Persuasion theorists break down the process into five steps. (1) Attention, (2) comprehension, (3) yielding, (4) retention, and (5) action. Rhetoric placed heavy emphasis on step 3, yielding. Paul aimed his presentation at step 2, comprehension. Obviously, as people were persuaded by Paul’s preaching, an observer might credit him with the whole process. But in reality, Paul held back from any strategies that might induce a yielding in the hearts of his followers. Without making a cheap shot at ancient rhetoric as being mere manipulation, it is clear that Paul was wary of anything that might cause his hearers to come to faith based on his technique of persuasion. We should be wary of the same.

Peter has responded to a comment, and gives a link to a Litfin article.

Getting Specific Sermon Feedback – Part 3

/ Peter Mead / Leave a comment

Most preachers get too little sermon feedback that is any use to them.  However, it is possible to get too much.  Here are three more thoughts:

1. Most “feedback” is not very helpful.  After preaching, people feel obliged to make a comment if they speak to the preacher.  A simple thank you is always appreciated and usually appropriate.  Unfortunately for us as preachers, we will often get feedback that is of less value than that.  At one extreme we may get a comment like, “that was the best message I ever heard!”  At the other extreme we may get someone taking us to task over something we said, or something they thought we said.  Neither extreme is helpful.  After preaching we are usually vulnerable.  We tend to be emotionally drained and may struggle to handle high praise or strong criticism.

2. Process it all at the throne of grace.  I got into a healthy habit as a young preacher when I was serving on the OM ship (see www.omships.org).  After preaching I would head to my cabin, lock the door and boldly approach the heavenly throne.  I knew I couldn’t handle the extreme feedback.  I knew I didn’t want to let pride creep in from the exaggerated praise, or despair from the criticism.  So I would bring every comment I could remember and place it before the throne.  If there was criticism, I would need God’s grace to process it and discern what was fair and helpful.  If there was praise, it would really be His anyway.

3. You can get too much good feedback.  Even if you are appropriately handling the post-sermon comments and have in place a way to get genuine and constructive feedback, you can still get too much.  It is good to listen to yourself, or watch a video.  It is good to get input from others.  I would suggest you do this regularly, but not all the time.  Constantly processing genuine feedback can become a draining experience.  Constantly listening to yourself can be like going twelve rounds with a young Tyson.  It’s worse than that.  You can be your own harshest critic.  So get regular feedback, but give yourself a rest from it too.  Do your best, keep improving as a good steward, but rest in the Lord at the same time.

Getting Specific Delivery Feedback – Part 2

/ Peter Mead / 2 Comments

It is a good idea to periodically ask a group of people to observe your preaching and give feedback in the areas mentioned in the previous post.  There is another way.  I do think it is good to involve others sometimes, but you cannot do that all the time.  One thing that is relatively easy to do (in many places), but is generally neglected, is to record the message on video.

Obviously in some churches there may be nobody with a camcorder of any kind, in which case this post is irrelevant.  But it is increasingly common for people to have camcorders of some kind.  Simply set up the camera in an inconspicuous location and record the message.  It can be at the back or in a pew (to get the perspective of a listener).

Record the message, then when you are on your own, watch it.  This way you can observe yourself.  It could be a painful experience, but it is truly no pain, no gain.  You may find that you have a repeated gesture or a verbal pause.  You may find that the feedback from others is actually true!

I am convinced that if some preachers would just see themselves once, they would make significant changes as a result.  A lack of movement will send you to sleep while watching, or too much movement may make you seasick.  Those elbows locked into your hips do make you look like a T-Rex.  That gesture does look like a werewolf in the Thriller video.  Who injected anaesthesia in your left arm?  Did you know your eyelids flutter when you’re making an important point?  Did you know your thumbs look so huge from the congregation’s perspective?  Did you know you said “umm” every four seconds for the first five minutes?  Did you know you often don’t complete the sentence?  Did you know . . . well, you will once you watch the video!

Oh No! It’s Friday, and Sunday’s Coming!

/ Peter Mead / Leave a comment

While some preachers may be so structured that every preparation is perfect, most of us are not able to create such a vacuum to live in. To misquote Tony Campolo, “it’s Friday, but Sunday is coming!”  For preachers this may not be a cry of hope, but of concern.  What are those final stages of preparation that often get short-changed?  Our Lord understands and is gracious to us when life hits.  However, it would be helpful for us to be aware of these things and adjust our preparation so these things are not always cut-short or omitted altogether:

1. Conclusions matter – As someone has said, you can recover from a bad introduction, but not from a bad conclusion.  That final few moments of the sermon are critical, but often get very little preparation in a tight schedule.  Without preparation the conclusion will be forming during preaching, which often means an over-extended sermon with multiple failed landings (an experience no passenger enjoys!)

2. Cut the fat – Usually the sermon manuscript on Friday will be longer than it should be by Sunday.  While first-time preachers worry about filling the time, experienced preachers should worry about removing the fat in the sermon.  As Dave Stone put it recently, there’s a huge difference between taking on a big-burger challenge and eating at a fine restaurant.  People don’t enjoy forcing down two pounds of ground beef.  They would much prefer a well-prepared 7 ounce steak that they can handle.  So before you preach the sermon, cut the fat, give people a carefully prepared portion.

3. Check the balance – It is important to review the balance of the sermon to make sure the weight is distributed appropriately.  You probably don’t want four illustrations in one point of the message, and none in the other points.  Make sure there is appropriate intensity and passion, but also moments of relief or listeners won’t be able to stay with you.  Be careful to allow an idea (or sub-idea) to develop fully – give the necessary time to explain, support and/or apply the idea in each point.  Before preaching the message, make sure it is balanced.  Don’t preach a Popeye sermon: really strong in the forearms, but lacking everywhere else.