Preaching Seen

May 30, 2013May 20, 2013 / Peter Mead / Leave a comment

When we preach, we must aim beyond mere comprehension. Making understandable truth statements is important, but it falls short of the ultimate goal.

Our goal in preaching is not to offer a verbal form of written commentary – principles and doctrines and truths. Our goal is to go beyond that to the level of helping listeners engage with the text and the God of the text. This requires various things beyond the reading of a commentary, including relevance and targeted communication for the specific listeners before you. And it requires our aiming beyond mere comprehension.

How do we preach so that listeners not only comprehend cognitively, but also engage affectively? After all, every encounter with a person goes deeper than understanding what is said to a heart-level response to the person themselves. We always know whether we are drawn to and repulsed by any individual we meet. We always have a “first-impression” that takes some work to overcome with comprehension and thought processes. And since preaching the Bible is not merely about transferring information, it follows that we need to preach for more than mere understanding.

How do we do this? There are many factors, but let me share one:

Preach so that images form on the screen in the hearts of the listeners. When preaching narrative, do a good job at describing the characters and the action so that listeners can be drawn in and identify with the characters in their encounter with God. When preaching poetry, do a good job at describing the imagery and emotion of the writer so that listeners can be drawn into the situation of the poet and engage with them and their God. When preaching discourse, do a good job at describing the situation and the tension so that listeners can be drawn in and feel the force of the communication from the person presenting God.

Adequate preaching presents truths like a teleprompter. Great preaching makes the truth felt as it becomes clear, lucid and vivid on the screen in the listeners’ hearts.

Contagious Pulpit Boredom 2

May 15, 2013May 14, 2013 / Peter Mead / Leave a comment

Yesterday we pointed out that God is not boring and the Bible is not boring. So why is some preaching boring? Two more facts and then we’ll get to the heart of the matter. . .

3. Life is not boring. Even in a safe neighbourhood where nothing seems to happen and people may complain of being bored, life is not boring. With all its complexities, doubts, troubles, questions, issues, fears, hopes, changes, challenges and memories, life is not boring. As we preach we preach from the inspired text to people desperately in need of what God has to say through the Word to them. Preaching with relevance should not be so hard, as long as we are in touch with life and its challenges.

4. Church is not boring. Many churches are, in fact, boring, but church itself is not. God’s glorious plan to call out and redeem a bride for His Son, working with materials that are still very much “works in progress” to build a beautiful temple, that is anything but dull. Now when we turn church into our own little kingdoms and lose any real awareness of what God is doing, then church can become a dull place of petty politics and personal preferences, but church from God’s perspective is never a dull matter.

So why is there dull and boring preaching? It must be something to do with the preacher! Hate to say it, but perhaps this can be a nudge to ask God to search our hearts and show us if there is any of the sin of boring people with the Bible in us? Actually, why not pray and then ask a few folks? It could be delivery, it could be personal manner, it could be that all the enthusiasm we generate for conversation about sport and family evaporates when we stand to preach. It could be a lack of personal vibrancy in our walk with the Lord. It could be a lack of sleep (perhaps due to number 4 above!) It could be something easy to change. Or it could be that we genuinely are finding God and the Bible and life and the church to be boring. If so, let this post be your call to a sabbatical or urgent action. Boring people through preaching is too dangerous to let it happen even once more.

Contagious Pulpit Boredom

May 14, 2013 / Peter Mead / Leave a comment

It does not matter how true the truth you present from the pulpit, if you bore people with it, then you are doing damage.

Too much preaching is boring preaching. Sometimes it is due to the content, sometimes the delivery, sometimes the attitude, sometimes the preacher’s own personality. Whatever the reason, it should not happen.

1. God is not boring. Actually, God as a concept presented in a lot of theology has become personality-free. For many, He has essentially become an It, definable by a set of truth statements, but essentially unknown in his personhood. God has a personality. Our role as preachers is to pursue Him and chase Him and long to know Him more, so that we can represent Him effectively.

2. The Bible is not boring. How many classes and sermons and story times and lectures and presentations have turned the vivid and gripping self-revelation of God in His Word into a dull set of archaic moralistic tales? Sort of a set of ancient fables without as much of the talking animals as we might prefer. But the epic sweep of Scriptural history, the diversity of genres, the human personalities and the divine personality, the issues to wrestle with, the irony to catch, the pain to feel, the exhilaration to experience, and so much more . . . there is no collection of books like this one!

Tomorrow we’ll add a couple more factors and try to get to the root of the issue: Why is some preaching dull?

Andy Stanley’s 7 Guidelines part 6

April 30, 2013May 10, 2013 / Peter Mead / Leave a comment

So to finish off Andy Stanley’s list of seven guidelines for preaching to the unchurched, here is number 7…

Guideline 7: Don’t go mystical . . . unless you want a new car.

I have resisted the urge to quote too much, so I’ve earned some quoting credit.

If you are serious about your weekend service serving as a bridge for those who are returning to faith or exploring faith for the first time, stay away from the mystical. Even if you are in a highly charismatic church, stay away from the mystical. You don’t live that way. Nonbelievers don’t live that way. So don’t preach that way. Mystical just puts distance between you and your audience.

Now, on the other hand, if you are into positioning yourself as “God’s man” or “God’s anointed mouthpiece” or other such nonsense, then mystical is the way to go. Mystical communicates that you have an inside track; you are closer to God than the people in the audience could ever hope to be. Mystical creates . . . mystery! And with mystery comes fear! And that puts you in the driver’s seat. Once you get your people thinking you are something special, they will treat you special. Throw in a little prosperity theology and in no time you will be driving in style, dressing in style, and the people close to you will never question your decisions. How could they? You are God’s man. It’ll be awesome.

Now, your spouse and kids will know you are a poser and a phony. But eventually your spouse will get so accustomed to the fortune and fame, he or she won’t say anything. Your kids, on the other hand, well, they’ll be a mess. But you’ll have the resources necessary to ensure they get the best treatment options available. Wear contacts. Avoid reading glasses. Get yourself an entourage, an Escalade, and some armor-bearers, and you will be good to go. Oh, one other thing. Stay away from the Gospels. Things didn’t go well for those guys. Stick with the Old Testament. The Gospels could be hazardous to your charade!

While many may not quite follow through to that extreme, there are many who offer a mystical charade as a means of multiplying the sense of authority in what they say. We need a radar for this kind of stuff in our own hearts and lives. Actually, we have a radar. He’s called the Holy Spirit. So while a false mystical approach can be so damaging, a humble walk with the One able to search us and know us is so important for communicators.

Transitions

February 26, 2013 / Peter Mead / Leave a comment

The bulk of preparation effort usually goes into the main content of a message. We wrestle with the text, we allow it to shape our theology, we think through how that content marks our lives, we ponder all this in light of who will hear the message. This is all work on the points, or movements, in a message.

Then perhaps we ponder illustrative material to help make sense of those movements. We consider how to introduce the message. We might even give some thought to how we will conclude it.

But often there is too little thought given to the transitions between movements in a message. These are represented by A, B, C on the diagram. Too little attention given to these little moments will result in too great a negative effect on the whole message. Great messages bomb because of poor transitions.

Here are some nudges to help us better transition during our preaching:

Introducing Effectively (A)

1. Emphasize clearly. The listeners need to know that you are moving from whatever introductory material you have given into the first movement of the message. You can do a star jump, pause for two minutes and turn to look at a powerpoint slide. Or you can be less awkward. Vocal variation can serve to underline your shift effectively: perhaps a pause, a change of pace, a variation in pitch. You can say, “So for my first point…” but that is probably hinting at dullness already. But something along those lines could be helpful: “So let’s see how the passage launches . . .” could work, as long as people catch what you just said (so think through how to add emphasis).

2. Preview appropriately. What is appropriate depends on the type of movement that will follow. If you are presenting a declaration and then supporting it, as in a typical deductive message, then you might be able to simply offer a preview of the point by stating it and telling what will follow (i.e.explanation, application, etc.). By previewing and then re-stating the point as you progress, listeners will spot the entry into a section of the message. If the point is the development in a narrative, then you may not want to give it all away at the transition. You need to decide how to make sure people are with you as you enter in. Perhaps a question that will be answered – some variation on “so what happened next?” might work.

3. Introduce confidently. Whatever you are about to say, convey confidence in how you introduce it. Don’t apologise. Don’t downplay in some supposed act of humility. “Oh, I guess I should probably say a few words about . . . ” Uh, no. “Just a disconnected story first before we get into . . .” Again, no. “I wasn’t sure where to start, so. . .” No.

Delivery Dynamics: Are You You?

February 14, 2013 / Peter Mead / Leave a comment

One of the biggest challenges in sermon delivery is being yourself. Preaching is not about performing. It is not about taking on a new persona. A pulpit voice should be a thing of the past. People don’t trust performances.

Are you you? Three thoughts to ponder:

1. Being Natural Is Not Natural – When we walk up to the pulpit we step into an unnatural environment. People sitting in rows and looking up at us is not normal. Consequently, our presentation will be anything but natural if we just “go with the flow” and try to be ourselves. It takes work for movement, gesture, expression, voice, etc., to come across as natural and authentic. Remember, if people feel it is frozen, forced or fake, they will subconsciously not trust the preacher.

2. Breaking the Froze-Zone – The default reaction is to freeze. I have heard many people say something like this, “when I ran through it earlier it was so natural and free-flowing, but then I went to preach it and I froze.” That is normal. Our voices become restricted to a narrow zone of pitch with a constant level of volume and a clipped (often too rapid) pace. Our gestures become limited in variety and extent. Our expressions become as fixed as a wedding photo shoot, typically without the smile. Our movements become rigid and awkward. This is natural. Thus we need to work to break out of that fro-zone in order to come across without conveying nervousness and tension.

3. Don’t Be Too Much – Some people are more successful than others at breaking the frozen effect. They can end up going too far. While it is true that gestures need to be larger to look natural in front of a larger group of listeners, it is possible to go over the top. This can be physical excess, or vocal excess, or even content excess (beware of feeding off nervous energy and turning into a bad comedian). Dare I say it, some personalities are naturally over the top and putting them in a pulpit can make for an uncomfortable situation. If there is a chance that this applies to you, pray and then ask some trusted advisers. Not easy, but better to know than to unknowingly make others suffer.

Delivery Dynamics: Do They Trust?

February 13, 2013 / Peter Mead / Leave a comment

Delivery matters because communication does. We have considered two important questions: can they hear and will they listen? Another important consideration relates to how listeners perceive the speaker.

Do They Trust?

There are many factors that influence whether listeners will trust or distrust the speaker. For instance:

1. Eye Contact. You wouldn’t buy a car from someone who refuses to look at you. Shifty eyes are a real turn off. If someone wanted to tell you about a wonderful place they visited, but kept hesitating and checking some notes, you might be suspicious. Eye contact is massively important in the whole package of sermon delivery. Whatever we can do to maximize appropriate eye contact, let’s do it. Don’t skip around or you’ll seem flighty and untrustworthy. Don’t linger too long or you’ll communicate intimidation or intimacy. But do make and maintain meaningful eye contact with listeners if you want them to trust what you are saying.

2. Belief. Bert Decker’s book, You Have to Believe to be Heard, is well worth a read. We are able, as listeners, to perceive whether someone believes what they are saying. The signals are made up of multiple factors in tone, articulation, gesture, expression, posture, etc. If people perceive cockiness, that won’t help. But if they don’t perceive belief, they won’t trust.

3. Body Language. So what are some of these visual signals of conviction? If something is important, then not only should the words chosen reflect that, but the communication of our bodies should reinforce it. A confident and secure posture is important. Don’t stand awkwardly and squirm. Be seen. Don’t hide behind a heavy pulpit, be as visible as possible. Leaning forward tends to underline an important point. Appropriate gestures help. Leave the hands in pockets casual look for a casual illustration.

Delivery Dynamics: Will They Listen

February 12, 2013February 13, 2013 / Peter Mead / Leave a comment

Yesterday I pondered the question “Can they hear?” and thought about projection, pronunciation and pace. But that is only one layer of a bigger issue. Here’s a follow up question:

Will they listen? Just because people technically can hear the preacher, this doesn’t mean that they want to listen. Here are three factors to ponder:

1. Personal Warmth. Dogs can tell when they are not liked. So can congregations. If the preacher lacks personal warmth, then the listeners may feel more critical of the preacher, or they may tune out what they perceive to be a critical spirit toward them. There is no need to act like syrup and present a fake flattery (people see through that, of course). But genuine warmth and care is critical to creating a true communication connection.

2. Prideful Attitude. Many people have a sensitive radar when it comes to personal pride. They can spot any hint of it in others (even while being oblivious to their own profound problems with pride!) So be careful not to show off, to drop names, to seek to impress, to be proactively self-conscious. When listeners thinking you are prideful, they tend to stop being good listeners.

3. Provocatively Annoying. Not to put too fine a point on it, don’t be annoying. I could list any number of habits that preachers might develop that might annoy their listeners, but the best way to find out is to humbly ask a few trusted listeners and be willing to listen to them. It could be a matter of a gesture, or a vocal habit, or a strategy for interaction, or whatever. It would be a shame for people to choose not to listen to your message because something you are doing is annoying to them.

Can they hear? Will they listen? Two key questions in considering the dynamics of delivery.

Delivery Dynamics: Can They Hear?

February 11, 2013 / Peter Mead / 1 Comment

I have been pondering the issue of sermon delivery again today. Part of the reason is that I am leading a workshop on the subject this evening. I don’t want to go over the whole rationale for even engaging the subject. I know some are prone to suggest that to give any consideration to delivery is to fall into entertainment and performance, or to fail to trust the Spirit of God. Maybe I’ll come back and offer some thoughts on why that is not the case. But for now I’d like to offer a basic pairing of key issues:

Can they hear? If the people in the meeting cannot hear what is said, then communication is not happening. No amount of good content will overcome the fundamental flaw of not being heard. Three factors to consider:

1. Projection. The preacher needs to project their voice. Even if you have a microphone, preach as if you don’t (without shouting) and let the experts on the sound desk adjust accordingly. Some people assume a microphone will pick up and amplify sound that barely has the strength to make it across the few inches to the black foam. Shouting and straining may harm your vocal clarity and make it so listeners don’t want to hear you, but lack of projection can be just as frustrating.

2. Pronunciation. You don’t need to put on an accent that is not your own. You are preaching, not reading the news. But be lovingly sensitive to those present, and adjust as necessary to allow them to make out the words you are saying. Mumbled words are not casual, they are unloving. Practice moving the mouth a little more and make sure the words and sounds are articulated.

3. Pace. You will often hear people talking about how the pace should not be too quick. It is certainly possible to overdo the pace, but the human mind can cope with quick speech. That is, as long as the words are distinct, and the pace is not sustained for too long. So beware of going too fast, but also recognize that some listeners cannot tolerate it when a speaker goes too slowly, either.

Tomorrow I’ll probe another question that will take us to a new level on the issue of delivery dynamics.

Truth Through Personality 5

December 10, 2012 / Peter Mead / Leave a comment

The preacher preaches, and so the preacher matters. A personality that doesn’t reflect the fruit of the Spirit, the character of Christ, is a personality undermining the truth being proclaimed. So let’s finish the list…

Faithfulness – The issue with faith is always the object. We can’t have faith in ourselves, our skills, our preparation, our training, our gifting, etc. And we can’t place our faith in the audiences, whatever their size. Our faith has to be in God. This points back to patience, but it is more than that. Not only do we keep pressing on over time, but we also need to demonstrate faithfulness in every circumstance. We may be preaching to hundreds or thousands one day, and to a handful the next. Our faithfulness should show in both situations. We are trusting God and giving our best to the tiny gathering, and we are trusting God not the occasion with the larger gathering.

Faithfulness in preparation means we don’t offer shoddy sermons. Faithfulness in accepting bookings means we follow through. Faithfulness in delivery means we give ourselves fully, even if it does mean being wiped out at the end.

Self-Control – It is so easy to do damage with your words. You can say too much, violate privacy, twist the truth, deceive, belittle others, etc. And all before you pause for thought. Self-control is a critical fruit of the Spirit for biblical preachers. Keeping a tight rein on our tongues is so important. I read somewhere about the ancient wisdom that the human tongue is like an arrow, not just a sword. That is, if you unsheath your sword to kill your friend, he may plead with you, beg for mercy and you may return the sword to its sheath. But once an arrow is shot, you simply cannot return it to the quiver, no matter how much you want to do so.

Joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, gentleness, faithfulness and self-control. The fruit of the Spirit. Required for preachers. But one is missing . . . tomorrow.