Something Different

Recently, I was guest pulpit supply at a location where I’ve ministered several times previously. My bottom-line message was about the need to better understand and attract Millennials to the church. Like many congregations, this one was graying and needed to address this issue. I was also prepared to give some practical illustrations as to how to go about doing this.

As I worked on the sermon, I decided to do something different. I felt I could better handle the topic if I approached the presentation by way of an interview rather than a sermon. So I called a member of the congregation and asked if he would feel comfortable asking me questions, which I would supply. I would still use a text from Scripture, but I just wanted a different format for the presentation, including allowing time for a maximum of two or three questions from the congregation at the end of what I had to say.

The truth is, the morning went quite well. I had even better attention than normal, and no one seemed all that upset that we had attempted something different.

Different? Well, not really.

Way back in the Scriptures, I recall Jesus being comfortable with the give-and-take of fielding questions. Our Lord was a great preacher/teacher. But He wasn’t limited to just one form of communication—lecture or preaching. Maybe all of us who tend to think of ourselves exclusively as preachers should get out of the rut we have gotten ourselves into.

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Please click here to visit David Mains’ Sermon-Coach.com website.

You will also find a variety of resources for pastors and congregations at the Mainstay Ministries website. Please click here.

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