Good laugh!

I'm headed home to my honey in just a few minutes, but I had a good laugh this morning in the final session at the Global Advance Pastor's Forum near Branson, MO. I was seated beside my friends, Pastors Phil & Melody Nordstrom as the distinguished professon, Dr. Roy Fish (Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary's school of evangelism is named after him!) was about to speak for the final time at this retreat, but his mic wasn't on. The audio engineer had turned the volume way up trying to pick up his voice to no avail, and finally came up front and switched on the mic, which then boomed with Dr. Fish's voice. He hesitated just a moment and then said, "It's loud, but not so clear".

Melody immediately quipped, "reminds me of a lot of sermons I've heard"!

After I finally quit laughing, I realized that a lot of us preachers are guilty as charged. I know I am. But it made me ponder: what makes a sermon only loud and not so clear?

I've got 2 extremely important messages coming up in the next 2 days, as I try to bring some comfort to a precious family who lost their 4-year old son in a tragic accident caused by a drunk driver, and then help launch our newest campus in South Bend, IN and one thing is for certain: I don't want to be loud but not so clear!

I think clarity is enhanced by:

• having one point and staying on it
• using stories or illustrations that, like a window, let in light on the subject
• using Scripture accurately
• talking to people, not at or about them
• NOT going on and on

Those are just my thoughts. I'll bet listeners have some good ideas, too. Can you help me? What suggestions do you have so I can be a clear communicator?