Lesson Goal
This lesson is designed to encourage preachers to be innovative and culturally relevant, to be a Greek to the Greek (1 Corinthians 9:20).
Lesson Intro
Jesus' preaching was innovative and different than the usual preaching in the synagogues of his day. Throughout church history art has been used in many novel ways to preach or illustrate the Gospel. Originality is not just a 21st century concept, but a very old idea. Creativity finds its origins with God, Creator of all things.
On the other hand, innovation ought to be limited to how to preach, not what to preach. Novel doctrines are dangerous and often lead into apostasy, heresy and cultism. However, innovation in the presentation of the timeless truths of Christianity is perfectly acceptable and even recommended. The Gospel never changes. The way we present it does. We must continually find ways to be a Greek to the Greek, and a relevant 21st century preacher to 21st century people. Same meat: different sandwich. Same Gospel: different times.
Lesson Plan
We will discuss a number of sermon techniques that have been used sometimes successfully and sometimes not so successfully, depending on their cultural context, a preacher's personality and talent, and how patient or spiritually mature a congregation is.
Lesson Body
A word of caution is in order. Not every church is ready for a change. A friend of mine told me about over a hundred people leaving his church because they added a contemporary service for the young. A few hundred years ago, organ music was considered sinful, because that was the music played in bars and houses of ill repute. Guess what they played before organ music. Yes, they played on stringed instruments. Today, organ music has been out of date for a long, long time. In some churches, introducing innovative preaching may require small steps, while in others it would have been good to have begun a long time ago.
1. Visual Innovations
Because our generation is so geared towards visual entertainment, digital television, computers and video gaming, it is wise not to neglect that in preaching. On the other hand, someone who sits in front of a computer all week, may not want to sit in front of a screen at church too. It's a judgment call. Not every church needs the video projector and the animated, audio-adrenaline-rush of Presentation software. Sometimes, those unskilled at using Presentation software are actually worse off, being overly distracted by each frame when it is not working well. And audiences can be so distracted by a slick audio-video animation that they actually almost totally miss the message. Of course visual innovation can be many things, such as: -
Bring in a live sheep or other small animal to illustrate a biblical point (put down water-proof plastic and straw to protect the floor).
Give the church an assignment during the week to be reported on by various ones the next week.
Show a short 3 minute film.
Use presentation software or old fashioned slides or overheads for visual impact of important points.
2. Audio Innovations
Our generation is spoiled by excellent quality surround-sound systems with earth-shaking subwoofers, and music that is full-bodied and attention-grabbing. Not every church can afford to go with the latest and greatest sound equipment, but if we are to be considered relevant, we need to think about this area. Yet audio equipment is not the only way to reach people through their ears. Some ways to be innovative in the area of audio are: -
Have a talented person sing a relevant song as special music in the middle of your sermon.
Play a brief audio presentation.
3. Tactile Innovations
Many people learn best by being able to touch things or be actively occupied. They need that hands-on experience or be physically involved in some other way. Here are a few ideas: -
Have people stand when they answer yes or no for a particular question.
Hand out small objects such as leaves, balloons or small bundles of wheat as an illustration.
Send people outside to gather evidence that God exists.
Do skits, pantomimes or puppet shows. The script does not have to be memorized, but people can dress up if they want.
Hand out surveys or even blank cards for people to fill in with ideas.
Hand out an envelope with a secret message inside.
Hand out a quiz.
3. Interactive Innovations
Because many people today spend so much time in front of a computer and a TV, actual human interaction is lacking in some people's lives. One of the few times of the week that people actually spend time in face to face human interaction, may be at church services. Here are a few ideas: -
Have the congregation break up into small groups to discuss an issue, and perhaps even have a representative of each group verbalize their consensus or give the preacher a written summary. It is important that the preacher does not monopolize the session, but gives the congregation plenty of time for genuine interaction. Keep the preacher's summary to a few short minutes at the end.
Do a coffee shop sermon. This can be a different way to use small groups in a sermon, if you have the ability to rearrange the church building into a coffee house style set up for the day. Serve real coffee, tea or other beverages, and perhaps even some cake or cookies, leaving room for note paper and pencils if you need them. Some churches do this once a month or so. Others have tried it and found that it did not work so well for them.
Ask questions of the congregation and have them give verbal feedback.
Example Sermon
Title: "The Game Show"
Goal
To teach essentials about God in an exciting game-show format.
Intro
Today, we are going to learn about God, but we are going to do so in a different manner. I need 6 volunteers to be a part of the panel, 3 on the left and 3 on the right. Who would like to volunteer?
Plan
The quiz will ask questions about God, how Great God is, how good he is, how near or far, how God is one, how God is three in one, God's plan, God as creator and God as provider. When you are ready to answer a question, raise your hand, and I will ask you to give your answer. If you answer wrongly or cannot give an answer within 5 seconds, I will then pass the question on to the opposite team. May the best team win! Now to question 1...
Body
Why can't we see God? (A) Because he is spirit. (B) Because he is in hiding. Answer: A. God is spirit.
What is an example of evidence that proves God exists? (A) Creation. (B) Televangelists. Answer: A
Does God live somewhere in this physical universe? (A) Yes. (B) No. Answer: B. He inhabits eternity.
Is God quirky and unreliable? (A) No. (B) Yes. Answer: A. God is the same yesterday, today and forever.
Is God always fair. (A) No. (B) Yes. Answer: B. God is always fair, even when we don't think so.
Does God always do right? (A) Yes. (B) No. Answer: A. That's what righteous means.
What does it mean that God is gracious? (A) He's a good dancer. (B) He forgives us when we don't deserve it. Answer: B
What does it mean that God is near? (A) He lives in your street. (B) He fills heaven and earth. Answer: B
What does it mean that God is above all? (A) He is high and lifted up. (B) He is very tall. Answer: A
What does it mean that God is one? (A) Jesus is not God. (B) There are no other Gods. Answer: B
What does it mean that God is 3 in one? (A) God has a split personality. (B) The Father is God, Jesus is God and the Holy Spirit is God. Answer: B
Does the Bible mention that the Father is God? (A) Yes. (B) No. Answer: A. 1 Corinthians 8:4-6 and 1 Timothy 2:5-6.
Does the Bible mention that Jesus is God? (A) No. (B) Yes. Answer: B. Philippians 2:5-11, John 20:28 and the word Lord means the God of the Old Testament.
Does the Bible mention that the Holy Spirit is God? (A) Yes. (B) No. Answer: A. Acts 5:3-4 and 1 Corinthians 6:19-20.
Does the word Trinity mean (A) that there are 3 Gods, or (B) that God has a 3-way split personality? Answer: Neither. Both are heresies. Tritheism (3 gods) contradicts the concept that God is one, and Modalism (3 personalities) contradicts things like Jesus praying to the Father. The truth is somewhere in the middle.
Was Jesus' death on the cross actually a great victory? (A) Yes. (B) No. Answer: A. It was part of God's plan and the beginning of a great victory (Acts 2:23), providing a victory over death for us all (1 Corinthians 15:54-55).
Did God create (A) the heavens and the earth, or (B) just the earth? Answer: A. The first verse of the Bible says that God created the heavens and the earth, meaning everything.
Is science a big lie? (A) Yes. (B) No. Answer: No, science is not perfect, but neither is it a big lie. The Scriptures do not provide us with all the answers to archaeological discoveries, nor was it intended to.
Was God just a first cause, who wound the universe up and left? (A) Yes. (B) No. Answer: B. That is called deism. But the Bible reveals that God is creator AND sustainer.
Another name for God's current involvement in the universe is (A) Nanny, (B) Provider. Answer: B. God is Provider. His rulership of the universe is a loving rulership. God provides as we ask in prayer, yet his providence is always what is best.
Outro
Okay, let's add up the scores. The winner is team ______ with ______ points. I hope you had fun, but more importantly I hope that we all learned a little about God, how Great God is, how good he is, how near or far, how God is one, how he is three in one, God's plan, God as creator and God as provider.
Suggested Assignment
Try one of the suggestions in this lesson, but choose wisely. Choose something that you are pretty sure will not offend the cultural sensitivities of your congregation.
Lesson Outro
We discussed a number of sermon techniques that have been used sometimes successfully and sometimes not so successfully, depending on their cultural context, a preacher's personality and talent, and how patient or spiritually mature a congregation is. If you are interested in further investigation, many of these ideas were inspired by and are more thoroughly expounded upon in the book Bore No More by Mike and Amy Nappa (1995, Group Publishing).
