Preachers are always on the lookout for good stories. That’s because, when they are told well, stories are great at grabbing people’s attention.
Stories don’t usually prove a point, but they can be dynamite when it comes to illustrating or emphasizing what’s being said.
What’s awkward is when a story is told, especially a long one, that doesn’t really connect with the rest of the sermon.
Some people don’t follow sermons all that closely. But those who are serious listeners are frustrated when a long story doesn’t fit what’s being said. It’s more like the minister knew this was a good story, or a really funny one, and he/she was dying to include it in a message as soon as possible and just couldn’t put it off any longer.
Recently, my wife and I heard a man preach, someone both of us consider a good communicator. As we drove home from the banquet, we both commented on his presentation. We agreed that his message had a key thrust, but both of us wondered what his key illustration had to do with the basic point he was making. We concluded that he had used this story before and knew it to be effective, so he decided to include it in his remarks.
Did this strategy work? Probably for most of the people in attendance it did.
Did this strategy work for us? Not really!
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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.
