A popular cellular telephone carrier launched an advertising campaign a few years ago with the intriguing tag line: “Can you hear me now?” The campaign drew a lot of attention, especially from cell phone users from other service providers that experienced dropped calls, unintelligible transmissions, and other anomalies.
I thought of that campaign recently when I listened to a preacher at a church I attended as a guest. Though he started speaking in a rather even tone, very soon he began raising his voice to the point where his delivery became more yelling and less talking.
As I watched the members of the congregation, I could see some squirming. Of course, I don’t know for certain that the squirming directly related to the shouting from the pulpit. But, I’m fairly certain that the shouting didn’t really help the pastor get his points across.
An important component of effective preaching takes place after you’ve developed your sermon. The manner in which you deliver what God has laid on your heart definitely influences the way that those in your congregation will receive your words.
I discuss some more of my thoughts on this topic in Podcast No. 196. To listen to my suggestions, just click the link on this page that will take you to my Sermon-Coach.com website. From there you can click and listen to what I have to say on this important subject.
I want to continue to call your attention to my new book, The Sermon Sucking Black Hole—Why You Can’t Remember on Monday What Your Minister Preached on Sunday. You may pre-order this book at Amazon.com by clicking here.
This book gives information about how to make your sermons memorable. And, it also gives some solid tips to the people sitting in the congregation to help them remember what you’ve had to say. I’m sure you agree that, as ministers, we do want the people we serve to remember what we say when we share what God has laid on our hearts.
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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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