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A big challenge for the preacher is to quickly connect with the congregation early in the sermon.
In this episode, Smith and Southerland five proven ideas to instantly connect with your audience of sermon listeners.
(Don’t miss the special announcement at the end!)
Action Step: Pick one of these ideas that you haven’t tried before and go for it this Sunday.
What are some strategies that you use to instantly connect with your congregation? Leave your comment!
7 April 2009 at 9:09 am
I often use recent real life story in order to quickly connect with the congregation. It may be something that has happened to me. Many times it may be humorous.
10 April 2009 at 5:07 am
I made a flash card of these 5 to keep on my desk to review at the end of the week, before Sunday. I noticed that most of these strategies make me a hit with my kids at bedtime. But I will seek to employ # 5 soon, get real and strike a chord. Thanks guys.
10 April 2009 at 6:11 am
Thank you for the five ways to connect and all you do to help me to be a better preacher of the gospel. Your passion for preaching Christ is greatly appreciated.
10 April 2009 at 8:40 am
Thanks for your good job.
I use to bring daily-family situations to the sermons from tv, radio, news papers, and people’s comments in a “as-a-result-of” what is written in the Bible; in the Bible we read what could result in what is happening right now if we do not do as it is written. There is a reason, and by no surprise, we find it in the word of God; I communicate it more directly than sermonic without pointing or accusing the audience. I think it is within our decision.
17 April 2009 at 6:09 pm
Hey, I used the “I don’t want to preach at you/this isn’t really a sermon as much as it is…” method this past Easter Sunday and it really worked! Even though I felt like it was one of my weaker sermons, people were engaged and responsive. We had 6 people make decisions for Christ, one for the first time (this in a small church of 130 people!)