Sermons
Have you ever preached a flat, uninspired sermon that did not connect with people? Monday, pastors reflect on the sermon that we preached the day before. I often try to reconstruct how I prepped for those rough sermons and avoid replicating them! I have found these three tips very helpful in preventing a flat sermon.
First, handwrite the text you intend to preach! I know that sounds ridiculous in this digital age. Dr. Jackson taught me this practice; now, I do it every week. Writing the text forces you to slow down and dwell on the text. Writing (bonus points for cursive!) also engages the creative part of our brain. This first step in sermon prep has become an essential part of prep for me.
Second, identify all of the characters in the text. Characters can be more than people; they can also be buildings, bits of geography, events, etc. After You have your list, ask some questions. Who or what has the most exciting part in this text? Who is in trouble? Who would you want to be or not be? Dr. Boone talks about this in his book Preaching the Story that Shapes Us, and it has been a game changer for engagement with the text. Allowing these people to be more than just flat characters on a page colors our understanding of the text and makes our preaching more interesting.
Lastly, identify the verbs in the text. Anna Carter Florence talks about this in her book Rehearsing Scripture. She says we can identify with action more than ideas. She uses this technique to interpret the story of the woman caught in adultery. She visualizes Jesus stooping down beside her, forcing the elder's eyes to go down and see her. The action statements led her to the reality that the simple act of stooping down humanized her, and the accusers had to see her. Actions are important; noting them will help bring the text alive.
Nothing is worse than preaching a flat sermon that no one connects with. When you connect with the text, your people are also more likely to. With a few strategies, you can preach more sermons that connect and less that fall flat.