by Meredith Day
RIVERSIDE — Every Sunday, most preachers face an uphill battle.
Standing in front of people who spend an average of less than 10 minutes reading the Bible each day, they’re tasked with imparting meaningful, applicable truth. Their audience comes from every faith background imaginable, and their attention spans are much shorter than the 30 to 45 minutes allotted for the sermon. On paper, it seems like a next-to-impossible job.
But Rod Cooper, a professor at Gordon-Conwell Theological Seminary in Charlotte, NC, says those few minutes can have a redemptive impact for people who are searching for truth, and for those who already have a relationship with Christ.
In an On Target Evangelism Conference pre-session workshop Feb. 23, Cooper combined recent research, historical perspective and practical advice to help preachers understand how to better reach their audience through dynamic communication.
The most important thing to remember, he said, is to stick to the “big idea” of the message. Focusing the content around one main concept moves listeners toward a purpose, and closer to an application for their lives during the week. Big idea preaching also utilizes time effectively, and is forgiving of short attention spans.
“We’re living in a context right now where less is more,” Cooper said. “They don’t need more knowledge or content; what they need is clarity and focus.”
That kind of clarity also focuses on authenticity over hype. Modern church-goers are drawn to real, personal stories of how God has worked and is working. They need a vision for what knowing Him looks like, Cooper said.
“They’re saying, ‘Tell me stories of where God has intervened, of what He has done. Give me a reason to believe.’”
The stories of people who have been faithful, even without worldly success, present Christianity as verifiable truth, Cooper said. Instead of catering to the unrealistic world they live in, good communicators share concrete examples of how a relationship with God impacts a person’s life. No matter their view of faith or religion, listeners can’t really argue with someone’s story.
Cooper urged pastors to patiently build on the truth they teach, constantly presenting Christianity as “not just another voice in the marketplace, but the voice.” He also suggested providing opportunities for service, giving listeners the chance to live out the teaching they’re hearing every week.
Above all, Cooper said, keep in mind who you’re speaking to, and what your message means to them. One of the first questions a communicator should ask is: “What am I expecting God to do in the lives of people who are listening?”
Communication that is mindful of its context, centered on a big idea and focused on clear examples of God’s character is the key to reaching the increasingly diverse world with the hope of Jesus Christ.
