Musing –Preaching Techniques to use when Sharing the Gospel.

Hebraic Musing –Preaching Techniques to use when Sharing the Gospel.

Have you ever tried to tell someone about Jesus and find them tuning you off?  Ouch!  It makes me wonder if there could have been a better way to present the message!?  People are so bombarded with sales pitches from today’s proliferation of media advertising that when you start a Gospel-type message the unchurched people mentally think “What is he/she trying to sell?”  People today are more skeptical than ever.  They don’t want to be “preached at”; BUT they do not mind “talking with you.” 

Here are suggestions for “effective preaching” that might also apply when you have an opportunity to share the Gospel message with somebody.*    

1. Be open about your own struggle and weaknesses.  People relate to transparency and genuine confessions.  Jesus openly shared His agony – "Now my heart is troubled, and what shall I say?  'Father, save me from this hour'?  No, it was for this very reason I came to this hour.” John 12:27 NIV   People see a common bond when you share your own challenges.  Why is the sharing your testimony so powerful?  Because it starts by revealing your life before Christ.  I am a believer in a three part outline for sharing an effective testimony:  (1) What was life like before; (2) What happened when I accepted Christ; and (3) What has life been like ever since.  People can and will relate to events in your life; and you become “real” and believable.

2. Share you current progress and struggles.  As the apostle Paul frequently said, “Follow me as I follow Christ”.  We may not be a perfect model but we are trying.  Again, being “real”!  Before your listener can determine if the Bible is real, they want to know if you are real. 

3. Find an interesting way to present the message.  This is my favorite part.  The Bible and God’s message to His people is not boring, so let’s make it “entertaining”  Definition of “Entertaining” -- “providing (someone) with amusement or enjoyment” or “Capturing and holding the attention for a period of time”.    
Here are a few suggestions:

·      Vary your delivery.  Don’t let a monotone put your audience to sleep; it hides your own excitement.  God doesn’t speak to me in a boring monotone voice!  Imagine what Moses’ voice inflections were like when he repeated God’s commandments to the people in Exodus 20?  “And God spoke all these words:  ‘I am the Lord your God, who brought you out of Egypt, out of the land of slavery.  You shall have no other gods before me. …’”    And reciting long Bible references can become a sleepy lullaby!

·      Tell it in a picture or parable.  WWJD?  He painted pictures in parables and those picture stories in the Gospels are still fresh in my head.   An example -- "A farmer went out to sow his seed.  As he was scattering the seed, some fell…” Matt 13:3-4   Unforgettable!!!

·      Interject humor, and/or a touch of sarcasm.  It helps people put down their guard.  Jesus used it:
"Why do you look at the speck … in your brother's eye and pay no attention to…your own eye?”
And how about His zinger about people who strain out gnats and swallow camels? 
Why did Sarah say "God has brought me laughter, and everyone … will laugh with me."
And the best humor is found in real-life stories; especially telling stories about yourself!

I hope this helps us in fulfilling His final instruction to us – “Go into all the world and preach the good news to all creation.” Mark 16:15   Let’s keep it interesting and fun.

Points to ponder

If you are not a model for your message, you are not ready to preach it!

Does your “three minute testimony” utilize the above techniques?
Do you have your testimony ready?

♫“Just a spoonful of sugar helps the medicine go down, In a most delightful way…”♫

Yosef   a.k.a.  Joe Brusherd                          February 26, 2019  

Author: “Hebraic Insights – Messages exploring the Hebrew roots of our faith” 
“Biblical Marriage (by Yosef)”   Weekly “Hebraic Musings”

*   Inspired by “3 Ways to Keep Your Listener’s Attention as You Preach”  - Rick Warren,  Jan.15, 1019