On the Sermon #3: Finishing where you started, except not.
This is part #3 in a series called "On The Sermon".
I don't know a whole lot about music, but I do know that there's this idea that, to finish a song, it's often satisfying to finish it by 'resolving'. In other words, it's good to finish the song by ending with the chord you started with. Some songs purposefully don't resolve, but I'm a big fan of the songs that do. They provide a certain satisfaction. It's like coming home after a long trip. It puts you at ease.
The thing about coming home after a long trip is that when you get home, it's the same and yet at the very same time it's different. You've just recently seen different places and upon arriving at the home you knew so well, it suddenly feels different. You are more aware of its beauty or possibly its imperfections. Maybe it feels even more like home, or maybe it's missing something that, because of your travels, you now realize should be there.
Every time we give a sermon (or any public speech) we ought to be taking people somewhere. We ought to tell stories and illuminate passages in a way that feels very much like a journey. But whether we bring our audience to tears with compelling stories of compassion or sorrow or we make our audience laugh at dumb things we've done while driving down the interstate, we must be careful never to leave our audience stranded at the Grand Canyon or whatever other destination we take them to.
Don't take your audience somewhere and leave them there. Take your audience somewhere and then bring them back home.
When you listen to a great song with all of its musicality and lyrical genius, hearing that final chord doesn't cause you to go on about your day like you never listened to the song in the first place. No, hearing that final chord gives you permission. It brings you back home and gives you permission to take it with you. It sits in your head the rest of the day on repeat, bouncing around up there shaping the way you live that day.
When giving a sermon, finish where you started, but do so in such a way that it doesn't look the same anymore. Cause that final chord to rattle around in the hearts and minds of your audience so that they just might live a little more like Jesus that week.
Note: This is a series on the Sermon... This is part 3 of many. Keep on the lookout for more updates.
Disclaimer Part 1: I'm no expert. I've given just enough sermons to know how difficult they are to give and how much I have to learn (a lot!).
Disclaimer Part 2: Public speaking is a passion of mine. While none of these tips are all-encompassing, the tips will offer unique and, I think, helpful reminders/lessons for how to best engage your audience.
The thing about coming home after a long trip is that when you get home, it's the same and yet at the very same time it's different. You've just recently seen different places and upon arriving at the home you knew so well, it suddenly feels different. You are more aware of its beauty or possibly its imperfections. Maybe it feels even more like home, or maybe it's missing something that, because of your travels, you now realize should be there.
Every time we give a sermon (or any public speech) we ought to be taking people somewhere. We ought to tell stories and illuminate passages in a way that feels very much like a journey. But whether we bring our audience to tears with compelling stories of compassion or sorrow or we make our audience laugh at dumb things we've done while driving down the interstate, we must be careful never to leave our audience stranded at the Grand Canyon or whatever other destination we take them to.
Don't take your audience somewhere and leave them there. Take your audience somewhere and then bring them back home.
When you listen to a great song with all of its musicality and lyrical genius, hearing that final chord doesn't cause you to go on about your day like you never listened to the song in the first place. No, hearing that final chord gives you permission. It brings you back home and gives you permission to take it with you. It sits in your head the rest of the day on repeat, bouncing around up there shaping the way you live that day.
When giving a sermon, finish where you started, but do so in such a way that it doesn't look the same anymore. Cause that final chord to rattle around in the hearts and minds of your audience so that they just might live a little more like Jesus that week.
Note: This is a series on the Sermon... This is part 3 of many. Keep on the lookout for more updates.
Disclaimer Part 1: I'm no expert. I've given just enough sermons to know how difficult they are to give and how much I have to learn (a lot!).
Disclaimer Part 2: Public speaking is a passion of mine. While none of these tips are all-encompassing, the tips will offer unique and, I think, helpful reminders/lessons for how to best engage your audience.
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