“Staying Fresh”
“God has sent me to help his church and to tell his secret plan to you Gentiles. He has kept this secret for centuries and generations past, but now at last it has pleased him to tell it to those who love him and live for him, and the riches and glory of his plan are for you Gentiles too. And this is the secret: that Christ in your hearts is your only hope of glory. So everywhere we go we talk about Christ to all who will listen, warning them and teaching them as well as we know how. We want to be able to present each one to God, perfect because of what God has done for each of them. This is my work, and I do it only because Christ’s mighty energy is at work within me.”
Colossians 1:24-29, TLB
One of the great challenges facing a pastor today has to do with STAYING FRESH with regard to his preaching. He needs to be interesting, relevant, and inspiring. This is especially true in the light of television and radio. Let’s face it, pastors are competing with outstanding communicators. He must do all he can to avoid staleness in the pulpit at all cost.
Some folks take sominex to get the sleep they need, while others go to church and partake of sermonex!
E. C. McKenzie said, “A good sermon helps people to two ways: Some rise from it greatly strengthened; others wake from it greatly refreshed.”
I don’t know where you might stand on that, but I do know that much can be said in just a few moments. Wise is the preacher who is aware of the attention span of his audience.
The Chapel Hero
They gave him 20 minutes, but he finished up in 10.
O, there’s a prince of speakers, and a servant unto men.
His diction wasn’t much; he hemmed a hawed a bit,
But still he spoke a lot of sense, and after that he quit.
At first we sat plum paralyzed, then cheered and cheered again,
For they gave him 20 minutes and he finished up in 10!
Well, how does a preacher hold his hearer’s attention? How does he keep from being stale, irrelevant, and boring?
This especially difficult if he has pastored for any length of time at one church. He has to be fresh and sharp every Sunday. Today he is competing with the likes of D. James Kennedy, Charles Stanley, and Robert Schuller. People in the pews tend to make comparisons. They expect a great deal from their pastor.
On average I prepare and deliver about 150 sermons each year. It doesn’t take a mathematician to know that in ten years, that means 1,500 sermons. What a challenge to stay fresh!
I suspect that is one reason why some pastors move so often. They can keep repeating the same sermons.
Of course no matter how hard he tries, someone is going to be bored or unhappy with the preacher’s style, mannerisms, or subject matter. (man who counted the number of times a preacher pushed his glasses up on his nose). He can take comfort in the fact that even the best communicators in the nation have their critics. For example, President Ronald Reagan, who was called, The Great Communicator, had to deal with those who poured over his speeches with a magnifying glass in hand.
I have on occasion, observed those in slumber while preacher. I have always attributed it to lack of sleep, illness, or growing pains (as in the case of teenagers).
HERE’S WHAT PREACHERS CAN DO!
1. Use Gimmicks—I must confess that in the early days of ministry, I was probably guilty of this. It isn’t long before these sorts of things begin to disappear.
2. Theatricks—for example, jumping up and down on a table to act out the story of Zaccheaus (I actually saw an evangelist do this). Of course, we should be careful in judging others regarding their motives, but some things are better left in the theatre.
3. Telling Jokes—A pastor was visiting a family one day. He knocked on the door but no one answered it. He knocked again and again, but still no answer. He thought he heard someone inside but they just wouldn’t answer the door. Finally he wrote a note and slipped it under the door. It was Rev.3:20: “Behold I stand at the door and knock. If any man hear my voice and open the door, I will come in.” Four days later he received a note in the mail and it was Genesis 3:10: “I heard the sound of thee in the garden and I was afraid because I was naked and I hid myself.”
Don’t get me wrong; humor has its place in a sermon, but if it has too prominent a place, congregations will catch on and be turned off.
WHAT A PREACHER SHOULD DO
1. Read a lot—fill his mind with God’s thoughts by studying the Bible and reading good Christian literature. Even wholesome secular literature can be helpful.
2. Listen—to people in his congregation as they share their needs, hurts, and concerns—but no suggestion box, if he is wise!
3. Stay abreast of the times—know what issues people are facing, such as the economy, threat of war, health concerns, retirement, employment, etc.
4. Be alert—look for ideas and illustrations everywhere.
5. Be balanced—no pet themes; avoid repetition.
6. Be himself—don’t try to imitate some preacher; God wants to communicate through your unique personality.
7. Study the lives and sermons of great preachers.
8. Attend conferences—they will inspire and renew the passion for ministry and the desire to present God’s truth.
9. Speak with simplicity and clarity—in as brief a time s possible.
10. Leave room for the Holy Spirit to edit as He desires—even to the point of changing directions completely if you sense the call to do so.
11. Spend time in prayer—seeking God’s direction as to Scripture and subject.
12. Ask for the prayers of the church. This will build a team concept; their level of support and patience will increase.
13. Preach the Bible! Center on it’s great themes. Preach it with conviction and authority. Always tell the whole story—that people are sinners and in need of salvation. Good sermons always end on a note of hope. Tell them that God loves them and wants them to be with Him forever.
ALL OF THESE THINGS A PREACHER SHOULD DO, and more, if he wants to be an effective communicator of the Gospel. But, as valuable as these things are, they are of little use unless they are under the anointing of the Holy Spirit! The pastor can do without any of these techniques, but he cannot be without the power of God.
1 Cor 2:3-5
3 I came to you in weakness and fear, and with much trembling.
4 My message and my preaching were not with wise and persuasive words, but with a demonstration of the Spirit’s power,
5 so that your faith might not rest on men’s wisdom, but on God’s power.
NOW, YOU MAY BE THINKING, All of this is interesting, but what does it have to do with me? I’m not a preacher. Well, I’m glad you asked that, because it has EVERYTHING to so with you! For just as a pastor must be concerned about how well he is communicating the Christian message, so also should every believer. Amen?
Please allow me to ask you a few questions:
1. Is your testimony up-to-date?
2. Do others find your Christianity exciting?
3. Does what you say about your faith capture and hold the attention of others?
4. Is the witness of your life bearing fruit?
1Thes 1:2-8
2 We always thank God for all of you, mentioning you in our prayers.
3 We continually remember before our God and Father your work produced by faith, your labor prompted by love, and your endurance inspired by hope in our Lord Jesus Christ.
4 For we know, brothers loved by God, that he has chosen you,
5 because our gospel came to you not simply with words, but also with power, with the Holy Spirit and with deep conviction. You know how we lived among you for your sake.
6 You became imitators of us and of the Lord; in spite of severe suffering, you welcomed the message with the joy given by the Holy Spirit.
7 And so you became a model to all the believers in Macedonia and Achaia.
8 The Lord’s message rang out from you not only in Macedonia and Achaia-- your faith in God has become known everywhere.
HOW TO KEEP YOUR TESTIMONY ALIVE
1. Spend time in the Word—daily; it will refresh your soul.
2. Spend time in prayer—asking God to keep you alive spiritually. We have an enemy that wants us to grow stale in the way we live and communicate.
3. Be enthusiastic about what you believe—make it personal; people will always come to watch a fire burn.
4. Let God’s message flow through your personality, i.e., your redeemed personality. There are some who respond only to you.
5. Don’t quit when it seems that no one is listening. Body language is important, but it can also be deceiving.
6. Watch for opportunities—someone is hurting or confused or in a time of crisis.
7. Keep your life clean—credibility is crucial!
8. Ask for the prayers of the church—they will help us with fear, intimidation; we will feel as though we are part of a team effort.
9. Above all, depend on the Holy Spirit. We are sowers, tellers. The Spirit of God does the convicting and cleansing. He alone can transform the human heart.
I don’t know about you, but I want a FAITH that is ALIVE—contagious—one that makes a difference. Our prayer ought to be, “Lord, help me. Help me to be the kind of person whose life and lips speak volumes to those around me. Build into me a faith that inspires—that draws people to the Savior. Amen.
