Erik Raymond wrote an interesting post about President Obama’s State of the Union address and how it relates to preaching from the church pulpit.
As much as I love technology, I am sad to see the art of public speaking traded-in for flashy intro videos, edgy PowerPoint presentations and film snippets.
I’m all for these things. A good public speaker knows how to use these things to enhance and highlight what’s being said. In an attempt to be hip and cool and edgy, some ministers have let these things make them lazy.
Tools can do that sometimes. Like what automatic spell check has done to my spelling.
Here’s what we can learn from last month’s State of the Union address:
5 Things Ministers Can Learn from President Obama
(via Erik Raymond)
- Your audience isn’t stupid.
Expect them to listen, but only if you have something worth listening to. - Persuasive presentations are still effective.
Otherwise President Obama would have just blogged the State of the Union. - Preparation matters.
Teleprompters, PowerPoints and sermon notes are fine, but you still need to know your stuff and your audience! - Fear is good.
My grandmother used to ask if we were afraid before a theater production. When we said, “Yes,” she would reply: “Good. It means you’re alive.” Fear means you care enough about what you’re going to say that you don’t want to mess-up. Embrace the fear. If you don’t have any fear, you need more of number 5. #next - Passion comes from the heart.
You can’t teach it. You can’t practice it. It comes from deep down and no where, else.
What great points!
If your’e a pastor and you feel like you don’t have enough passion behind your message, don’t be afraid to find someone in your congregation who does. Being a pastor isn’t a job, it’s a calling.
Erik sums it up best:
What an indictment this is to us who bye the lie that preaching is irrelevant. No, boring is irrelevant. And so is tired, lazy, unprepared, unmoved, wimpy guys who have nothing to say.
Be encouraged or be convicted as need be. I know I am.
#Amen
[via Ordinary Pastor | Image via Rachel James]
Tre Lawrence says
Good points. There are a few things we pastors can glean from his speech.
Eric Dye says
Indeed!