Illustration of the Sermon. I feel very strongly that preaching should not be limited to oration. With the immense number of aids available today, a minister must take advantage of every possible means to improve his or her listener’s receptivity.
Without exception the main thrust appeared in our Circle Church bulletin on a special sheet that also includes space for taking notes. If there are terms that need defining, these will be explained on the insert as well. Statistics printed ahead of time eliminate the normal frantic search for a pencil or the writing of lists in too short a time. Even the sermon outline itself can be included.
Education statistics reveal that 10 percent of a subject will be remembered if listening is used alone, 20 percent if seeing is used alone, and 65 percent if seeing and listening are combined. It is absurd, therefore, to overlook the teaching impact of visual aids.
Back in the late 1960’s and early 1970’s, our overhead projector was constantly in use. It may have displayed the sermon outline, or it may have projected a biblical map on the screen for geographic clarification. We also used a slide projector to amplify. If I talked about a contemporary well-known figure, his image was flashed on the screen.
Multi-media presentations—light and sound happenings—the possibilities are endless. So many techniques are being used and initiated effectively by the secular market, and often to promote what is in essence anti-Christ. Why can we not be wise communicators as well?
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Sunday’s coming. Do you have your sermon ready? Is it relevant? Will it effectively motivate your congregation to walk more in step with the Master? What about that Sermon Series you’ve been thinking about? Or, what will you preach for your Easter Sermon, your Advent Sermon, your Christmas Sermon? David Mains and Mainstay Ministries can help. We offer a wide variety of Sermon Starters and Full Sermons that will give you Sermon Ideas to help you prepare for regular Sunday sermons, Mid-week Bible Sermons, and Sermons for special occasions. We also offer assistance as you create Topical Sermons, Sermons Series, and sermons for special times of the year. We have resources available to help you with Advent Celebrations, Advent Sermons, Christmas Sermons, Easter Sunday Sermons, Patriotic Sermons, and more.
For more information on how to create better Bible Sermons and how to turn Sermon Ideas into Sermon Outlines, and then into effective, meaningful Sunday Sermons, please click here to visit David Mains’ website.
You will also find a variety of resources for pastors and congregations at the Mainstay Ministries website. Just click here.
