Media Outreach

14. The lowest form of communication is predictability.

When our listeners over time are able to predict what we will say or do, then we are operating in the lowest of communication and probably do not know it. Years ago, my wife and I use to attend a church where on the second hymn and the second verse, we would be asked to stand in the auditorium. The order of the worship service had become so predictable that people checked out mentally.

I challenge you to “mix things up” from time to time in your local church service.

• Where does it say in the practice book that the sermon has to always be at the end of the service?
• Where does it say that you have to always preach a different sermon each week?
• The point is that people become disengaged with what is always done the same way.

On one occasion, a pastor friend of mine told me that he preached the same sermon several times in a row to illustrate to the people that before they moved forward “in truth,” the Lord wanted them to be sure that they had learned the previous truth first. Take some time to reflect how you can become more creative in the worship service in order to have greater attention from your hearers.

By: Dr. James O. Davis, Founder of Cutting Edge International and Second Billion Network

We will continue this series next month. Join us then!