You Should Experience This Preaching Blog
You’re a preacher, so you should read this blog.
And because you’re a preacher, you should also pray.
You should read Scripture daily.
You should read books about preaching.
And by now, you should be feeling annoyed with me! : )
Our Resistance to Being Told What to Do
I’m guessing you know why.
Because we don’t like to be “shoulded.”
Most of us are aware that using the word “should” isn’t the best approach.
When we’re told we “should” do something, we feel defensive and shamed, like we don’t know what we’re doing or that we can (should) do better or be better than we are.
It makes us wonder who in tarnation the other person thinks they are to be taking away our God-given free will to make decisions for ourselves! (Exclamation mark included! Frustration! Annoyance!)
Notice the difference when the “shoulds” are removed.
Read this blog.
Pray.
Read Scripture daily.
Read books about preaching.
Without context or hearing a tone of voice, those sentences could be interpreted as either commands or suggestions.
Both sound softer than “you should,” but the speaker is still acting in the expert role. The speaker is assuming “I know better than you do.”
Even though those commands/suggestions are not “wrong” because they are practices most of us would agree is foundational for preachers, there’s a perceived imbalance in the relationship.
The speaker implies ”I know something about you that needs to be fixed.”
It’s presumptuous and disrespectful to you as a person.
In addition, the list can feel like yet more things to add to an already overburdened day.
It can make us feel defeated and exhausted before we even try—even when we know that engaging those activities is likely to do the opposite!
While an occasional “kick in the pants” can spur us to take long overdue actions, generally commands—or even suggestions—don’t sit well.
Adults (and kids—have you noticed?) don’t like to be told what to do.
As a result we often “don’t do the things we ought, and do the very things we ought not.”
That includes the way we preach.
The Receptiveness cultivated by moving From Command to Invitation
Many preachers find their joy and inspiration to preach renewed and strengthened when they simply enjoy hanging out with God through prayer, reading Scripture, and when they grow in this art form by reading preaching books.
If you don’t engage those practices currently, I encourage you to experiment and notice the effects.
In addition, there’s a blog that I hope will be useful to you about preaching.
The blog has you first experience being shamed into or commanded to do things that are “for your own good” versus being given choices.
The format helps us experience that sometimes our sermons unwittingly work against the human need for autonomy because we’ve given listeners lists of things to do—even when we haven’t use the word “should” and even when that list is in service of the gospel.
I notice as a listener and as a preacher that adults are more likely to be transformed by the Good News when they experience choices and an invitation.
How about you? What have you noticed?
Do you feel a difference in your body? Your heart? Your willingness to engage?
In the italicized paragraphs, your insights, experience, and decision are respected.
Your dignity to accept or turn down the invitation is honored.
You are affirmed as a capable human being who knows yourself better than I do.
How does this tone make you feel compared to “shoulds,” commands, or suggestions?
Offering choices and invitations is more effective than commands.
But creating an experience of choice and invitation (as this blog is attempting to do) is the most effective yet.
From Invitation to Experience
The tempting thing about lists is that they are clear, easy-to-understand, concise bullet points.
They pack a punch with very few words (“The Ten Commandments” anyone?).
Offering choices that are truly invitational requires finesse.
They need to feel inviting.
We need to experience that the decision is really up to us.
We also want to see that saying yes brings more hope and possibility than saying no.
For instance, Jesus did tell people what to do, like “Love your neighbor like yourself,” but he seemed to get more traction when he invited people to experience loving their neighbor:
Feeding 5000 people from scarce resources
Healing the “unacceptables”
And stories!
Stories that brought people into being the lost sheep who is found; being the foolish, lost-soul of a child who returns home and is embraced by his waiting, hopeful dad; being the religious authority who chose not to love his neighbor yet is shown by that neighbor how love can still transform even the authority’s heart—if the authority so chooses.
Jesus brought people into an experience.
Sometimes he concluded the experience with “Now go and do likewise.”
But most of the time he let people decide for themselves what to make of it.
What none of those people left with was a to-do list, whether they were the stars of his parables, those who listened to them, the people who were healed, or the 5000 people who were fed from loaves and fishes.
They left with curiosity—and sometimes, confusion.
They also left with wonder and awe.
They left with gratitude.
They left with bellies full, hearts overflowing, and spirits and bodies restored.
They left with choices about what to make of the experience.
They left with invitations to cherish that Good News for themselves or pass it forward if they felt so moved.
They decided for themselves.
They might decide it meant absolutely nothing.
Or they might let the experience transform their minds so that they were able to discern the will of God.
Our sermons can help people vicariously experience what’s happening in scripture. Our events and support the rest of the week invite people to live and experience the Good News in real life.
You’re invited to Experience a Joy-Filled Preaching LIfe in Sermon Camp
Runs August 16-September 22
During the six weeks of Sermon Camp, you’ll experience:
finishing a sermon before the weekend
the Good News for yourself before you consider what to preach
respect for adapting the ideas and materials to your personality, schedule, and ministry context
comments from listeners that your sermons are more compelling
a community of preachers who are eager to learn
a sustainable sermon prep rhythm
the joy of preaching
If you register by end-of-day tomorrow, you can enjoy 10% off. I hope you’ll join us!