Ever looked out at your congregation mid-sermon and seen glazed eyes, heads nodding, or worse... someone scrolling their phone? If you're preaching with any regularity, you've been there. The questions isn't whether people will lose interest. The question is: what are you going to do about it?
Here is the distinction that changes everything: Teaching assumes people are interested. Preaching assumes they are not, and it is your responsibility to make them interested.
You can't control someone's affections or make them care about the music or the sermon or any other part of the Sunday experience. That's the work of the Lord. But you absolutely can make them care about what you're saying. And if they're not tracking with you, you're not providing much for the Spirit to use in the moment.
This episode unpacks specific mechanics you can lean on that keep people engaged.
Sermons aren't measured in minutes. They're measured in minutes beyond people's interest. Even a 15 minute sermon can lose people and so you can leverage introductions, illustrations, and vocal dynamics to keep people locked in.
Mention Resources
The Preaching Lab
Preaching Evaluation Form
Related Episodes
Preaching Through Introductions
Preaching Through Illustrations
Preaching Through Vocal Dynamics & Body Language
Evergreen
Discover all of our free resources: https://faithfruit.us/podcast-links
Additional questions about this topic? Email us at info@faithfulandfruitful.com.
Preaching Through is powered by Faithful & Fruitful, leadership resources for pastors so they can have a faithful and fruitful ministry over the long-haul.
Stuff You Should Know
If you've ever wanted to know about champagne, satanism, the Stonewall Uprising, chaos theory, LSD, El Nino, true crime and Rosa Parks, then look no further. Josh and Chuck have you covered.
Dateline NBC
Current and classic episodes, featuring compelling true-crime mysteries, powerful documentaries and in-depth investigations. Follow now to get the latest episodes of Dateline NBC completely free, or subscribe to Dateline Premium for ad-free listening and exclusive bonus content: DatelinePremium.com
Betrayal Weekly
Betrayal Weekly is back for a new season. Every Thursday, Betrayal Weekly shares first-hand accounts of broken trust, shocking deceptions, and the trail of destruction they leave behind. Hosted by Andrea Gunning, this weekly ongoing series digs into real-life stories of betrayal and the aftermath. From stories of double lives to dark discoveries, these are cautionary tales and accounts of resilience against all odds. From the producers of the critically acclaimed Betrayal series, Betrayal Weekly drops new episodes every Thursday. If you would like to share your story, you can reach out to the Betrayal Team by emailing them at betrayalpod@gmail.com and follow us on Instagram at @betrayalpod and @glasspodcasts. Please join our Substack for additional exclusive content, curated book recommendations, and community discussions. Sign up FREE by clicking this link Beyond Betrayal Substack. Join our community dedicated to truth, resilience, and healing. Your voice matters! Be a part of our Betrayal journey on Substack.