Communication

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Not all sermons are created equal. Sometimes you preach because you want to inspire, to persuade, to open minds and hearts, to exhort, to remind, to encourage. Other times you preach because you really want your listeners to apply what they hear to their own lives. During this type of sermon - when church members need to move your message into long-term memory and use what they hear - you have to preach in ways the brain learns best.

The following four easy preaching strategies help listeners remember what they hear. These techniques take no more than a minute or two of time, and they can make all the difference between a message that quickly fades from the mind and a message that sticks long after the church service is over.

1. Use a “sticky” phrase: In his book The Tipping Point, author Malcolm Gladwell labels “sticky” any information that is easy to remember. Usually these are short, rhythmic, repetitive-friendly phrases. “Let go and let God” is an example from Alcoholic’s Anonymous. “To everything there is a season” (Ecclesiastes 3:1) is another example. The Bible is full of sticky phrases.

Use a short verse from scripture - or make up a sticky phrase - that captures the heart of your message. The important thing is to repeat the phrase a few times as you talk - and have your listeners repeat it also. It’s the reason that the traditional “call and response” preaching strategy works so well, where you say a scriptural verse and the congregation repeats it: “Give and it shall be given unto you - say it with me now - give and it shall be given unto you.”

“Seeing then that we have such hope, we use great plainness of speech.” 2 Corinthians 3:12-13.

2. Have them write it down: Whenever I visit my brother in Southern California and go to church with him (Saddleback Community Church in Lake Forest, CA), I am reminded of the power of the printed word, namely, the words that I print as I listen to the weekly message. At Saddleback, each listener gets a small, note-taking page and pencil. The important words are missing from the page and, during the sermon, the congregation is encouraged to write in the missing words. Afterwards, I hang the note-taking page on my refrigerator as a reminder of what I heard. Interestingly enough, I am usually able to repeat most of the message later because I remember better what I have written rather than what has been written for me.

Even if you can’t provide a note-taking page for each church member, scratch paper or index cards can serve the purpose. When your listeners write the important words or phrases, they remember your message longer. You can tell them: “This is profound so write it down!”

“And he asked for a writing table and wrote.” Luke 1:63.

3. Paint a mental picture: Jesus taught in parables for a reason. The human brain thinks in pictures, and stories stick because they create mental images of what is being heard. We remember the images in our minds longer than the words. Metaphors and analogies also create mental pictures, that is, they use something we are familiar with to represent the concept being learned: “the Lord is my shepherd.” Psalm 23:1. “The kingdom of God ... is like a grain of mustard seed.” Luke 13:18-21. Use stories as often as you can to illustrate your message.

“And He began to teach by the seaside ... and He taught them many things by parables.” Mark 4: 1-9.

4. Have them teach it: The best way to remember anything is to teach it to someone else. Invite your congregation to do just that. Encourage them to go home and tell a family member or friend what the weekly message was. A simple phrase to remind yourself of the power of teaching is this: “You master what you teach.” When you preach, you are mastering your own message. When your listeners teach, they are doing the same.

“Go ye therefore and teach.” Matthew 28:19.

Final Thoughts: When your message matters, and you want your congregation to remember and apply what they hear to their own lives, use one of these quick, easy memory strategies to make your message stick.

About the Author: Sharon Bowman is the author of “If Lazarus Did It, So Can You! Resurrecting the Learning in Your Churches, Schools, and Homes.” Log onto www.Bowperson.com for more information about her books and free articles. You can email Sharon at [email protected].

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