I have discovered for me that the two parts of a message that are more difficult for me to prepare are the introduction and conclusion. Someone once told me that introductions were "the front porch" to the house. Well, for a good long season my "front porches" were bigger, better built, and more developed than the sermon itself.
Having sat through a number of sermons, I know that 9 out of 10 guys don't know how to end or conclude a message. I have seen the extremes - from no conclusion at all to a whole 'nother sermon.
I have come across several introductory devices that I now use on a fairly rotating basis in order to prevent staleness from settling in. Maybe one or more of these can help you.
INTRODUCTORY DEVICES
- Begin by asking a "penetrating question"
- Begin by giving pertinent facts
- Begin by describing a descriptive scene
- Begin by using an "astonishing/breaking news lead"
- Begin by using a quotation
- Begin by using a biblical illustration
- Begin by telling a story
- Begin by reading a related scripture to your text/theme
The idea of the introduction is to attract your people's attention to your theme and give them a reason to listen. Keep it simple and keep it short.
Your introduction should contain three specific items:
- your introductory device
- your transitional sentence tying the intro device to audience
- your propositional sentence
What are you thoughts?
It must be difficult to think of a different subject each Sunday and to keep the congregation interested in what you're saying.
ReplyDeleteAt the end of the day the main thing is that getting God's message across. I think you're doing a grand job Gregg.
Yvonne.