If I had my way, we'd ban three-point sermons.
As far as I can tell, Jesus didn't preach any three-point sermons. So why do we teach that in homilectics again? I'm being somewhat facetious. We shouldn't ban three-point sermons. As long as they don't alliterate :)
We need lots of different kinds of sermons because there are lots of different kinds of learners. That is educational theory 101. But let me zoom out and make an observation: I think linear sermons worked in the modern era with a left-brain orientation. They don't work as well in the postmodern era that is moving toward a right-brain orientation.
I think preachers need to take their cues from Jesus. Jesus preached in parables. There are fifty-three of them in the gospels. Each one is a masterpiece in how to communicate to the right-brain of listeners. You've got to use metaphors and tell stories that capture the imagination. For what it's worth, I think there are three keys to a great sermon: metaphor, metaphor, metaphor.
Ingmar Bergman, the Swedish filmmaker, said, "Facts go straight to the head; stories go straight to the heart."
Sermons need to be both/and. They have to use facts that inform the left-brain and tell stories that inform the right-brain. But Jesus targeted the right-brain. For what it's worth, most of his parables are less than 200 words! He said so much by saying so little! He didn't make "points." He told stories that made the point. Sometimes he connected the dots for his listeners. But sometimes he refused to connect the dots for people! He made them come to their own conclusions.
Maybe we ought to preach some messages that don't have conclusions?
Leonard Sweet says, "Points no longer make points." I love that. Why? Because there is a shift in the way people are relating to God. I think most people during the modern era had a left-brain relationship with God that was intellectual. Nothing wrong with that. The more we know God the more we can worship Him. We ought to be spiritual intellectuals. But we've neglected the right-brain relationship with God that is experiential, mysterious, and imaginative.
Long story short, we need some more right-brain preachers who are serious about right-brain discipleship.
As far as I can tell, Jesus didn't preach any three-point sermons. So why do we teach that in homilectics again? I'm being somewhat facetious. We shouldn't ban three-point sermons. As long as they don't alliterate :)
We need lots of different kinds of sermons because there are lots of different kinds of learners. That is educational theory 101. But let me zoom out and make an observation: I think linear sermons worked in the modern era with a left-brain orientation. They don't work as well in the postmodern era that is moving toward a right-brain orientation.
I think preachers need to take their cues from Jesus. Jesus preached in parables. There are fifty-three of them in the gospels. Each one is a masterpiece in how to communicate to the right-brain of listeners. You've got to use metaphors and tell stories that capture the imagination. For what it's worth, I think there are three keys to a great sermon: metaphor, metaphor, metaphor.
Ingmar Bergman, the Swedish filmmaker, said, "Facts go straight to the head; stories go straight to the heart."
Sermons need to be both/and. They have to use facts that inform the left-brain and tell stories that inform the right-brain. But Jesus targeted the right-brain. For what it's worth, most of his parables are less than 200 words! He said so much by saying so little! He didn't make "points." He told stories that made the point. Sometimes he connected the dots for his listeners. But sometimes he refused to connect the dots for people! He made them come to their own conclusions.
Maybe we ought to preach some messages that don't have conclusions?
Leonard Sweet says, "Points no longer make points." I love that. Why? Because there is a shift in the way people are relating to God. I think most people during the modern era had a left-brain relationship with God that was intellectual. Nothing wrong with that. The more we know God the more we can worship Him. We ought to be spiritual intellectuals. But we've neglected the right-brain relationship with God that is experiential, mysterious, and imaginative.
Long story short, we need some more right-brain preachers who are serious about right-brain discipleship.
7 Comments:
Mark, I keep hearing this and to be honest, I tend to agree HOWEVER I have to be honest, I don't understand the one point message.
For example, I am preaching this week on Unanswered Prayers. Basically I am talking about why God says no at times.
I have about 4-5 things I want to talk about. Should I have only chosen one? Should I have done a whole series on unaswered prayers(didn't want to spend that much time on it.).
Most preachers that say they do one point messages actually do points from what I have heard.
a perfect example is Ed Young. He says he is a one point guy but it is obvious he uses 3-4 points every time.
Can you explain the how to's of this in another post?
Great Observation Gary!
I think every message does have lots of sub-points, but to me it boils down to having "one big idea" not "three big ideas." Every sub-point ought to substantiate that one big idea so that is what sticks in people's memories.
Messages and series vary in terms of being more right-brain or left-brain. For example, our Creed series a few years ago was a left-brain doctrinal series. And there is nothing wrong with that. But I think it has to be counter-balanced by a right-brain series.
Here are a few helpful ways to think about "one-point preaching."
1) Make sure you have one main idea or big idea that you want to communicate. Hammer it :)
2) Resist the temptation of trying to do too much with one sermon. If you need to, break up your sermons into series.
3) Less is more. Try to say what you have to say in as few words as possible.
Here's the key question: if people only remember one thing what do you want it to be? That is your big idea.
And the truth is, they'll probably only remember one story or one idea anyway :)
My two cents,
Mark
Good stuff. The one main point is something we stress big time.
I have heard Andy explain the one point sermon over and over and never totally understood what he was saying.
You made a lot of sense just now.
Funny, isn't the last sentence "Long story short..." the "point" you're trying to make?? ...or, not make? =D
i think the one point message can have lots of examples, stories, and even some subtle sub points. but it's the one thing that people will remember...the one point that matters most. when you ask a 5 year old what they leared, their answer is the one point. i think it destroys a message when point number 2 and 3 are totally different thoughts...too many sermons don't just change gears, they totally change lanes.
on a second note, i'd say that we need to use some left brain stuff as well. i'm a big fan of creativity, but there are still some left brain people out there. this is where i see the value in having some different communicators from time to time. and teaching different kinds of messages that connect with different kinds of people.
Mark, great 3 points on making the 1 point :) As humans, having 1 big take-away to work on in coming week sure makes is more doable.
you say there are 53 parables spoken by Jesus. i find 39, where are the other 14?
Wondering in Texas
Post a Comment
<< Home