168 By David L. Hansen E


ach week in every congrega- tion of the ELCA we gather together. Tere may or may not


be Sunday school. Sometimes wor- ship includes confession, and some- times not. Most churches have a “coffee hour,” but there are probably some that don’t. And while commu- nion is likely, even it isn’t certain in every congregation every week. But without fail, there will be


a sermon. Every week, it is the constant—we will read and hear the word, and we’ll talk about what the gospel means for our lives. If you talk to people who are


looking for a new worshiping com- munity, “good sermons” is oſten at the top of their must-have list. And for people leaving a congregation, they oſten cite “bad preaching” as one reason they’re unhappy. Considering how constant the


sermon is in our worship, preaching certainly varies from congregation to congregation. So what is a “good sermon”? I’ve heard pastors tell me what


a good sermon is, and I’ve heard professors tell me. But I’m far more interested in the people who actu- ally listen to sermons week in and week out. So I asked.


Without fail, there will be a sermon.


… I asked non-preachers to tell me what they value in a sermon.


38 www.thelutheran.org In a variety of settings, I asked


non-preachers to tell me what they value in a sermon. I received an ava- lanche of replies. Out of those, some recurring themes stood out.


Be yourself


Tis was far and away the most com- mon piece of advice given by my pool of sermon listeners. Be


yourself. Don’t try to adopt a voice and demeanor in the pulpit that is different from your personality outside the pulpit. While it may be helpful to learn from other preach- ers, don’t try to be like them. Be yourself. Tat includes the stories and


illustrations that are used. We’ve all seen books of sermon illustrations (now usually found on websites). We’ve all been tempted to “borrow” a story that isn’t our own. Don’t. Don’t use canned/prepackaged


sermon illustrations or stories that aren’t yours. If you use anecdotes, use your own.


Use your time


wisely


A preacher can make two errors in terms of sermon length. One is to preach too briefly, and the other is to


preach too long. Care to venture a guess as to which error is more likely? Tere is no one “right” length—


but your congregation’s time is valu- able. If they are going to give you the giſt of time and attention, make sure that you’re making the best use of it.


And if you have to choose between too long or too short, always leave them wanting more.


Preach with more than words


Your sermon is more than words. Whether you preach from a pulpit, from the chancel steps or in the aisle, be aware


of how you communicate with your body, with silence and with your tone of voice. Are you giving space with silence


for people to absorb what you have said or to respond? Is your movement energetic and


passionate? Is your body language reinforcing what your words are saying?


Give a souvenir


Whether you preach for eight minutes or 30, your sermon isn’t a large percent- age of your congre- gation’s week. Aſter


leaving an hour of worship, those who have been listening have 167 hours until you gather again. How will they remember your sermon? When I go on vacation, I always


come home with some sort of sou- venir—pictures of the experiences I’ve had or some sort of remem- brance of the things I’ve seen. Te image of a souvenir is a great


reminder—those who listen to ser- mons also need something to take with them, something to remind them of what they have seen and heard.


168 hours in a week ... Preachers: Use your time wisely


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