During the holidays I went with my wife to a late-night Christmas Eve service. It began at 10:00 p.m. and dismissed a little after midnight.
The minister didn’t begin to preach until sometime after 11:00, and then he spoke for a good 25 minutes. Would you believe, he was WONDERFUL! I wouldn’t have wanted his late-evening assignment, but I left the church grateful to have learned from what he said.
His secret? His message was basically a series of stories. He told them incredibly well and carefully wove them around a single theme from Scripture based on the Christmas narrative. I couldn’t believe how effective his presentation was and how attentively everyone in that packed sanctuary listened.
At various points in his storytelling, those in the pews responded with immediate laughter or comments of affirmation. I mean, they were hanging on his every word.
Several times I also caught myself laughing about our Lord’s use of story and how Jesus’ stories not only kept the attention of the crowds, but also moved them emotionally.
I also reflected back on my own ministry and realized that some of my most effective sermons were when I relied more on stories than I do now.
I guess we’re never too old to learn!
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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, if you’re someone who plans well ahead, have you asked yourself what you will 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 Saturday or 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.
