How to Preach Today by Yao Agbenyo

Fast forward to life after the first decade of the 21^st century. Illiteracy has drastically reduced, many have been educated, and now have access to computers, smart phones and social media. Conferences are held online, in social media groups and pages. Knowledge has astronomically increased across all spheres. Consequently, most of your listeners today know more on any given topic than you could possibly deliver on a Sunday morning or during a church meeting. 

HOW TO PREACH TODAY

A brief introduction to the principles and practice of preaching in the 21^st century

E. Yao Agbenyo

What are the best preaching practices today?

How do I get my congregation to ask for more?

Why do my listeners sleep during my message? Is it demonic, or my congregation is just not spiritual enough?

How do I assess my message impact?

In this short article, Yao Agbenyo explores with you some of the best in-church preaching practices that will transform your ministry.

BACKGROUND AND INTRODUCTION

Most of your listeners today know more on any given topic than you could possibly deliver on a Sunday morning or during a church meeting. Years ago, up till the end of the twentieth century in the year 2000, even till the end of the first decade of the 21^st century in 2010,  local  preachers were, and remained almost the only source of information to many on matters of Scripture, Christianity, Faith, and Life in general. Preachers were the only Life Coaches that were. They were the final authority on many things in the lives of people. Is it same today? It took much more extra effort for congregations to get more information on life. They either ordered CDs from abroad, bought books, or attended paid conferences to sharpen their knowledge on a lot of things. Many in the 19^th and 20^th centuries remained uneducated, hence preachers enjoyed the monopoly of authority and knowledge. There was no pressure on preachers to learn ‘how’ to deliver messages then. You just needed to preach with a number of Bible reference texts, and that was it. No matter how monotonous, how dull, or uninteresting your message, you will have a committed congregation that would come every week to listen to you.

Fast forward to life after the first decade of the 21^st century. Illiteracy has drastically reduced, many have been educated, and now have access to computers, smart phones and social media. Conferences are held online, in social media groups and pages. Knowledge has astronomically increased across all spheres. Consequently, most of your listeners today know more on any given topic than you could possibly deliver on a Sunday morning or during a church meeting. Preachers should note therefore, that though the gospel of Jesus has not changed, the standard of holiness and righteousness expected to be delivered to our congregations has not changed, and should not, our culture, and times have changed. There is therefore a need to adapt quickly, and adopt modern and current practices that will make our listeners want to listen to us, which would ultimately increase the impact and impartations in the lives of our congregations.

 THE MATTER OF THE MOMENT

No matter what message is being preached, if the preacher is not on top of his message, content, and delivery, people will sleep. It has very little to do with the spiritual state of the congregation.

What then should a preacher do differently now to get his congregation asking for more?

1.      Go deeper than your congregation in everything; read more, pray more, listen to other preachers and make notes! Sometimes, sit down too and let another preach for you to listen! Be on top of your message.

2.      ALWAYS SPEND LESS TIME THAN YOU ARE GIVEN. People no longer enjoy long messages.

3.      Record your messages for personal assessment. Get others to assess your delivery, and be ready to make amends and corrections.

4.      Note down your topic and key points you’ll be asking your congregation to write down

5.      Get new stories every day.

6.      Practice voice modulation

7.      Exercise to feel more energetic and confident

8.      Add humour, but be mindful of excesses so your congregation does not become too used to them.

9.      ALWAYS speak within less time than you are given

10.   Aim at impact, and not the wealth of words. Jesus wasn’t a long talker, he focused on the impacts.

11.   Add proverbs, rhetorical questions, deepen, and lighten your voice appropriately; know when to shout, when to scream, when to whisper, and when to speak normally.

12.   Aim at adding something new every day; new stories, new words, new strategies, new approach. Never be predictable

13.   Maintain eye contact with your congregation. Master the stage.

14.   Get your congregation involved in your delivery by insisting on points they should note down, open the bible and read together with you. If they fail to read along, call them to it, call for chorus answers, and individual answers.

15.   Read more. Read everything, including circular knowledge, tradition, and other religions. You need all these to be able to refute arguments and help your congregation understand certain developments better. Are you abreast with the latest news, and songs in town?

16.   Raise arguments that you know your congregation has been battling with, refute, and leave some questions unanswered to keep the discussion going on even after the service.

17.   Appeal to the emotions of your congregation.

18.   Leave the stage when the applause is loudest.

NATURALLY SLOW SPEAKERS TO NOTE

Whereas speaking comes naturally to the sanguins and cholerics, introverted preachers like the phlegmatics, and melancholics have a more arduous task at speaking. Congregations find them slow, monotonous, and boring. These preachers could note the following for effective preaching. In the first place, speaking is an art, and could be learnt and practised.

1.      Write down your topic, and points you will ask your congregation to write down. Giving congregations points to write down will get them involved, prevent people from sleeping, and help you stick to time.

2.      Ask questions, both rhetorical and probing questions.

3.      Request the congregation to read along with you.

4.      Always bring an axiomatic statement the congregation will take home after your message.

5.      Learn to add humour to your message, but remember to be in time.

6.      Do not stand at one point while preaching. Learn to move around, and even touch one or two members of the congregation during your message.

7.      Research more into how to be the best of yourself to your congregation

OTHER MATTERS

No matter how small your audience, you are a leader, and a leader’s number one mandate is to produce more leaders. This will happen when you give people the benefit of the doubt, the opportunities to show what they have. Give people opportunities. That is how to mentor.

Others outside your congregation would want to listen to you. Get social media handles, cut some messages short and continue on your handles through short videos and interview, and live sessions.

Employ the drama approach. It is now yielding very good results. Allow the drama, spoken word, poetry, and music ministries to thrive. Do not silence them.

 

Conclusively, preaching in our time requires more from the preacher than used to be. It is therefore imperative to “study to show thyself approved….” as we have been admonished by the apostle Paul, if we are to leave our congregations in awe, calling for more engagements with us.

 

This write up is not enough to digest how to preach today. You may invite the writer for further discussions, workshops, and preaching sessions on this matter and more.

The writer is a communications strategist, Youth Life and Leadership Coach.

 

Thank you, and God bless you.

E. Yao Agbenyo

Youth Life and Leadership Coach

Youth and Future Incorporated

Tema,

Ghana, West Africa

+233(0)543 556 235

yaoagbenyo@gmail.com

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