to follow Jesus every day of their lives,
you need to make Jesus part of your
everyday life.”
These crafted, simple statements
are easy to remember and help your
listeners carry the message with them
when they leave the building.
If you can’t summarize your
message in a single, simple sentence,
you aren’t ready to preach it.
2. Be Shocking. Jesus often used
outrageous examples, exaggerations,
or shocking statements to get
people’s attention. These statements
were not all meant to be taken
literally, but they got the point across.
For example, Jesus didn’t mean
that we literally have to rip out our
eyes and amputate our hands for
causing us to sin (Matthew 5:29-30).
Otherwise, all Christians would be
blind amputees.
Another great example from Jesus
is when he said, “Blessed are the
poor” (Matthew 5:3).
That must have caught his
audience by surprise. People don’t
associate being poor with being
blessed. Most people think, “Blessed
are the rich.”
Jesus said unexpected things
that shocked people to help us all
remember his point.
3. Be a Storyteller. Jesus was a
master storyteller. “He told them many
things in parables” (Matthew 13:3).
Think about all of Jesus’ parables:
The prodigal son, the good
Samaritan, the lost sheep, the sower
and the seeds, and more.
Jesus knew how to weave a story
to communicate his message in a
memorable and powerful way.
Jesus could have said, “Love
everyone like they are your
neighbor.” Instead, he told the story
of the good Samaritan.
Jesus could have said, “God wants
to save all lost people.” Instead, he
told the story of the lost sheep.
Jesus could have said, “Not
everyone who hears my words will
follow me.” Instead, he told the story
of the sower.
People don’t always remember my
sermons, but I am always surprised by
how much they remember my stories.
Years after I tell a story and forgot
that I ever shared it, people have
reminded me of it.
Stories are powerful. The good
ones stick with us the rest of our lives.
Jesus knew this and used it to help us
remember his teaching.
So here’s the bottom line: If you
want to preach an unforgettable
sermon, preach like Jesus.
Pastor Lawrence Powell of Agape
Church in Rahway, NJ says:
1. Be an Active Student of the
Word. Be diligent in study so as to
accurately preach and teach the
word of truth (2 Timothy 2:15). Study
not just for a sermon but for personal
growth and development. It’s vital
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