From the Lewis Center for Church Leadership of Wesley Theological Seminary
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9 Things Preachers Should Never Say by Charley Reeb
Many preachers shoot themselves in the foot when they start off with hackneyed or formulaic phrases that fail to capture the fleeting attention of those in the pew. Charley Reeb, a Florida pastor known as a gifted preacher, outlines nine opening lines that good preachers avoid.
Preaching is challenging. When someone suggested to Winston Churchill that he ought to put his oratorical skills to use as a preacher, he replied, “I am not such a fool as to think that I could speak to essentially the same people about the same subject each week and keep their attention.” Indeed.
The preacher’s job is tough enough as it is without shooting ourselves in the foot. Here is my list of nine things preachers should never say.
1. Last night as I was watching Netflix
We’ve all had those crazy weeks when we were late getting a sermon finished, but we don’t have to broadcast it. If Netflix saved your sermon on Saturday night, don’t make it worse by telling your congregation about it. They will think you slapped the sermon together on your way to church. If you do reference Netflix, leave out the part about Saturday night!
Never forget that most of your listeners have survived a week of soccer games, angry bosses, deadlines, and overdue bills. What difference will your sermon make to their lives?
2. I have three points today
You want to kill your sermon before it starts? Tell your congregation how many points your sermon will have. They will begin anticipating how long your sermon will be and never pay attention to your message. “It took her ten minutes to get through point one! We’ve got a long way to go.” Keep them in suspense.
3. Let me tell you a funny story
Don’t ever begin a story this way. First, you remove the element of surprise, which is half the fun of humor. Second, your listeners will be the judge. If you tell them it’s funny, many of your listeners will think, “We’ll see if it’s funny or not.” Instead of experiencing the story, they will critique the story. If the story is funny let it speak for itself.
4. Our Scripture lesson for today is
Starting your sermon by reading the text is a big mistake. Many of your listeners are not waiting expectantly to hear a text of Scripture. It is unfortunate, but some of your listeners don’t even believe the Bible is inspired. They need to be convinced why they should listen to the text. Most listeners decide in about two minutes whether a sermon is worth listening to. I suggest spending that time telling them why they should care about your Scripture lesson and then read it.
5. Before I begin today
You begin your sermon the moment you open your mouth, so this statement doesn’t make any sense. What’s more, listeners want to know right off the bat where you’re going to be taking them. If you waste time giving more announcements or make an irrelevant joke about last night’s football game, there’s a good chance you will lose some of your listeners. As journalists like to say, “Don’t bury the lead.”
6. My New Testament professor said
We’ve all had professors who were like Yoda to us, but don’t make the mistake of assuming your listeners care about the insights of your seminary professors. This is what is known as the “Curse of Knowledge.” Of course you should allow the wisdom of seminary to guide your sermon preparation, but never forget that most of your listeners don’t share your frame of reference. They’ve survived a week of soccer games, angry bosses, deadlines, and overdue bills. What difference will your sermon make to their lives?
7. Let me illustrate
Just illustrate! Don’t preface your illustration by telling them it will be an illustration. See how ridiculous that sounds? Just give the illustration. Like humorous stories, effective illustrations have an element of surprise to them. Don’t steal your illustration’s thunder. A good illustration needs no introduction.
8. Did you hear the one about the priest, minister, and rabbi?
Steer clear of corny and canned jokes. Your sermons deserve better. I know, I know. What’s his name on television (the one with a big smile) tells a corny joke at the beginning of every sermon. If you want to emulate him, you have bigger problems. Every once in a while you may come across a good joke to tell but use those sparingly. The best humor comes naturally from your own observations, insights, and experiences of life.
9. For those of you who were not here last week, let me recap
Unless you’re really into guilt trips, don’t remind your listeners of their past absences in worship, especially at the beginning of your sermon. That’s not the best way to capture their attention. And those who were in attendance shouldn’t be rewarded with a long summary of previous sermons in a series. Recapping is fine as long as you are short and concise.
This article is adapted from Charley Reeb’s blog about preaching at charleyreeb.com. He is author of That’ll Preach! 5 Simple Steps to Your Best Sermon Ever (Abingdon Press, 2017). The book is available through Cokesbury and Amazon.
Related Resources
- 10 Things Great Preachers Do Differently by Charley Reeb
- Speak More Effectively by Asking Three Questions by Adam Hamilton
- The Missing Person in Worship Planning by Lovett H. Weems, Jr.
Read more.
How Best to Use Overflow Worship Space on Easter by Tom Berlin
Tom Berlin describes strategies for encouraging your regular attenders to worship in overflow spaces outside the sanctuary when additional seating is needed on Easter so that visitors will feel welcome and have a quality worship experience.
Increased worship attendance on Easter Sunday requires some churches to set up spaces beyond the sanctuary for overflow seating. Sometimes this is space just outside the sanctuary in the narthex or perhaps in an adjacent chapel. Other times churches have to use a fellowship hall or classrooms and transmit the service electronically.
If you need to use overflow space, make sure that the people seated there are not visitors, but regular worshipers.
Often, when overflow space is needed on Easter, it is the visitors who are placed there, because they may be the last ones to arrive. This is not the best way to ensure your visitors feel welcome and have a quality worship experience. If you need to use overflow space, make sure that the people seated there are not visitors, but regular worshipers.
Handling overflow seating well is difficult but very important. You start with the disadvantage that no matter what you provide for overflow seating, it is not the preferable seating people expected in the main worship area. Everyone would rather be in the sanctuary. How are regular worshipers encouraged to choose the overflow space?
One way to do this is to ask members to “own” certain overflow spaces. Some Sunday school classes and other small groups can be asked through their leader, “You have 12 people in your small group. Could you ask them and their families to ‘take over’ one of the overflow spaces for Easter?” One good feature about this arrangement is that when people in the overflow space know each other, they enjoy the camaraderie, sing better, and do not complain as much about not being in the sanctuary. The whole experience becomes more meaningful for them, and they have the satisfaction of knowing they are contributing in an important way to the church’s mission to reach others for Christ.
In addition, having hosts for each of the overflow spaces is important. If there can be refreshments available in the overflow areas, this provides a bit of a treat for those sitting there not available to everyone. This gesture shows that the church recognizes the overflow seating is not ideal and wants to make the experience as fulfilling as possible.
This material is adapted from Overflow: Increase Worship Attendance and
Bear More Fruit (Abingdon, 2013) by Lovett H. Weems, Jr., and Tom Berlin and used by permission. The book is available through Cokesbury and Amazon.Related Resources
- Should You Add Another Easter Worship Service? by Lovett H. Weems, Jr.
- Overflow: Increase Worship Attendance and Bear More Fruit by Lovett H. Weems, Jr., and Tom Berlin
- Reaching Others Through Worship Video Tool Kit
Read more.
The Right Question:
Leaders do not need answers. Leaders must have the right questions.
Celebration is often a missing component of ongoing church life. It is important to notice and name representative examples of the good your community of faith accomplishes. Celebrate those things that all can rejoice in regardless of their level of participation. All can rejoice in lives changed and communities blessed through literally hundreds of church ministries. And remember always to celebrate what you want to encourage for the future. So, the right question is:
1. What do we celebrate here?
Want more Right Questions? Read Right Questions for Church Leaders.
Clergy Compensation and Taxes
While all receive income and pay taxes, there are some distinctive aspects of both for clergy. Our updated free video explores some of the important things that clergy should know about their income and tax responsibilities, including compensation, federal and state taxes, exclusions from taxable income, housing allowance, and much more.
Learn more and watch video now.
Overflow: Increase Worship Attendance & Bear More Fruit by Lovett H. Weems, Jr. And Tom Berlin Books
Worship attendance matters. Learn how to improve it, so that your congregation bears more fruit.Our churches exist to glorify God and to share God as revealed in Jesus Christ. Thus, worship is at the center of a congregation’s life. And improvements in worship tend to spur improvements in the church’s other ministries.
In Overflow, Tom Berlin and Lovett Weems share research-based insights, tactical ideas, and practices that lead to increased attendance. They instruct church leaders on the importance of paying attention to factors critical to worship growth, and demonstrate new approaches to worship planning. Berlin and Weems present church leaders with another resource that is foundational and practical, convicting and accessible. Overflow encourages and equips church leaders who yearn to see more people worshiping God.
Endorsements
“Overflow is both teaching text and helpful workbook, providing theological grounding and practical tools for clergy and laity who plan, lead, and assess worship. Worship matters! Tom Berlin and Lovett Weems help us to tend the heart and soul of the church, that worshipful space where souls are embraced and awakened by God.”[Bishop Hope Morgan Ward, North Carolina Conference, United Methodist Church]
“Perhaps you have wondered what could be done about the empty spaces in church. Or perhaps you have prayed that God would fill up your worship with praise and people. Weems and Berlin have addressed the dream of “overflow” by providing analysis, specific ideas, and creative thinking. You will be inspired to look differently at growth in worship. Weems and Berline state, “Worship is powerful…. In ways small and large, worship is key to the transformation of the world.” This book provides the dream and the plan for overflow in our houses of worship.”[Dottie Escobedo-Frank, Author of ReStart Your Church]
Available from Cokesbury and Amazon
Read "Overflow: Increase Worship Attendance & Bear More Fruit"
Worship attendance matters. In Overflow, authors Lovett Weems and Tom Berlin share research-based insights, tactical ideas, and practices that lead to increased attendance. They instruct church leaders on the importance of paying attention to factors critical to worship growth, and demonstrate new approaches to worship planning. Overflow is available in paperback and ebook.
Learn more now.
Quotable Leadership:
The truth of your experience can only come through in your own voice.[Anne Lamott]
Learn to Reach Others through Worship
Worship attendance is vital to the mission of the church. The Reaching Others through Worship Video Tool Kit provides resources and strategies to help you improve hospitality and worship attendance. Topics include: How Do People See Your Church?; Putting out the Welcome Mat; The Ministry of Greeting; The Sermon Series as Outreach Tool; and Ways to Improve Summer Attendance.
Learn more and watch introductory videos now.
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Editors: Dr. Ann A. Michel and Dr. Lovett H. Weems, Jr.
Lewis Center for Church Leadership of Wesley Theological Seminary
Connect with the Lewis Center:
Lewis Center for Church Leadership
Wesley Theological Seminary
4500 Massachusetts Avenue NorthWest
Washington, D.C. 20016, United States
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Lewis Center for Church Leadership of Wesley Theological Seminary
Connect with the Lewis Center:
Lewis Center for Church Leadership
Wesley Theological Seminary
4500 Massachusetts Avenue NorthWest
Washington, D.C. 20016, United States
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