Preaching is risky business. Every week those of us who heed
the call to open the Bible and share what we are learning have fifteen to
thirty minutes to make absolute fools of ourselves. We have those unscripted
moments when we say things and in our heads we hit “pastor rewind” and think,
“did I actually just say that?” Something comes out that sounded awesome in the
study that sounds awful in front of a congregation. Here are a few insights
from a champion mistake maker…
There are three parts of the proclamation you have to
understand. What you mean to say; what you actually say; and what they hear.
“What you mean to say” is the intention of the communication. This is the core
idea you seek to convey. “What you actually say” are the actual words that come
out while you speak. “What they hear” is the entire communication package,
verbal and non-verbal, that makes up the message they perceive.
“What you think you say” is what is planned while you hammer
away at your computer, exegete the scripture, and carefully craft the central
thought of the message. Andy Stanley has taught me that the message you deliver
needs to be able to be stated clearly in one, simple sentence. In our culture
of forty-character communication, the clearer and cleaner the idea, the greater
chance it has to stick. Now as highly educated, over researched parsers of the
original language sometimes what we think is clear, is actually so complicated
that we aren’t even sure what we said. As one preacher said, “if it’s a mist in
the study it will be a fog in the pew.”
“What you actually say” are the words, sentences, and
paragraphs that make up the message, sermon, or presentation. Here is where it
gets tricky because in the “preaching moment” when words are flying, thoughts
are compiling, and adrenalin is pumping occasionally what we actually say is no
where near what you thought you were saying. This is when the ice gets thin and
the opportunity to have “preacher rewind” becomes an ever-present reality.
If the first two were tough, realizing “what they hear” is
nearly impossible. No matter how close you are to the people you communicate
with, no matter how well you understand their lives and situations you really
have no idea what filter they are bringing to worship with them. What seems
like a simple challenge to you can seem insulting to them. What seems like an
exhortation becomes a condemnation. My preacher professor, Dr. Bill Turner,
used to say this is why you need to be in prayer before, during, and after each
message, that God would intercept and interpret what the people hear in order
to meet them where they live.”
Next time I will share what I do to try to be faithful to
this “risky business.”
Peace,
Marty
