54
SERIAL
Preaching problems
ADVICE FROM OUR PANEL
THE SCENARIO
I have always felt a preacher ’ s job was not to entertain but to deliver God ’ s word faithfully , and this I have tried to do over my many years as a preacher . Lately I have begun to fear I am boring my congregation – they seem fidgety and disengaged . I don ’ t know if this is because people have lost the ability to concentrate and listen to simple words without images and music and jokes and so on , or if I have – forbid the thought – indeed become boring . Do you have any advice for me ?
RICHARD LITTLEDALE
Karl Barth used to tell his students that they should ‘ aim their guns above the hills of relevance ’. One of the things this means is that whilst fads come and go , the preacher ’ s calling to apply eternal truth to temporal reality abides . This is not an excuse to be boring , but a reminder that preaching is about tomorrow , and the day after tomorrow – not just about today . Of course , if the preacher is boring , then he or she won ’ t help for today , tomorrow , or any other day ! If you can bear to , have a listen to a one of your own sermons . Does the tone of your voice vary so that it creates an interesting ‘ soundscape ’? Do you vary your volume and pace ? These things can help to alleviate monotony . What about content ? Are there illustrations from the world beyond the church inhabited by your listeners ? Simply inserting jokes is a bit like opening your food cupboard and throwing in ingredients ‘ just to make it interesting ’. If jokes are not your thing then tell stories . If stories are not your thing then find interesting facts . By all means illustrate – but do so in a way that suits you .
SOMETIMES IT IS NOT THAT PEOPLE DON ’ T WANT TO HEAR ABOUT THIS , BUT RATHER THEY DON ’ T WANT TO HEAR IT LIKE THAT .
Richard Littledale
Richard Littledale is the minister of Teddington Baptist Church , and has always had a lively interest in innovative communication . He has written several books on preaching as well as two children ’ s stories . He is a radio broadcaster and runs a busy blog at richardlittledale . me . uk .