May 16, 2012 By 3 Comments

You’re Communicating Important Information That Nobody Wants to Hear

The other day, I left Atlanta for Norfolk, Virginia on a Delta flight. As I stowed my carry on luggage and put my electronic in the off position (why don’t they use normal language?), the captain came over the PA to convey some seemingly important information.

He told me we’d be leaving from Runway #5, and we’d eventually cruise at an altitude of 38,000 feet.

Exactly what am I supposed to do with this information? How does this knowledge affect me in any way? Now, I’m sure those two bits of info are important to the PILOT or possibly the FAA, but why did the entire plane need to know that?

It was important to him, but not to us.

Tell me about the weather where I’m going. Tell me what the stock market is doing right now. Tell me who won the Celtics game last night. All of those things would be far more relevant to the cabin (why do they call it a cabin) of the plane.

Too much church communication, and even sermons, adopt this same model. We tell people information that matters to us, and expect them to care. Our communication or our preaching doesn’t intersect their real world, so the truthfulness or the accuracy of the information falls by the wayside because nobody cares.

If you want to communicate effectively, start with your audience. Step into their world and let them know WHY they need to know what you’re about to tell them.

In a sermon, while you’re preparation should always begin with the Bible, your sermon probably shouldn’t start there. Sadly, most people aren’t going to alter something in their life “because it’s in the Bible.”

When you’re sending an email, make sure it’s about them, not about your runway or the altitude. (You might want to pick up this cheap ebook from Improving Church called “Why Nobody Reads Your Church Email”)

Don’t be an airline captain, talking just because you have a microphone and are supposed to address the audience, and end up giving information that is accurate and important to you, but meaningless to everyone that hears it.

Filed Under: Communication, Leadership Tagged With: , , ,
April 4, 2012 By Leave a Comment

Don’t Communicate with Passion

Too many times, communicators rely on personal passion in their presentation, failing to understand that the audience doesn’t have built-in care.

You discover a truth, understand a principle, or buy into a way of thinking you believe would transform everyone. But just because it’s important to you doesn’t mean it’s important to your audience. Your audience doesn’t approach your topic with the same degree of care.  You think they aren’t connecting with your talk, but the reality is they aren’t interested in your topic.

Failing to understand this principle could cause you to ramp up the energy, passion and conviction even more, resulting in a further separation between you and your audience. Relying on passion might make you appear flat out strange. Too much passion might actually create a disconnect. Consider this scenario:

You strike up a casual conversation with someone at Home Depot before you know it, they are delivering a 10-minute dissertation on how proper ventilation of a basement promotes good health. They may be truthful, but their passion for a subject that you don’t really care about leads you to tell your wife, “Honey, that guy is weird.” Or you’re buying baby formula in the grocery store, and a mom with six kids in two triple-wide rocket buggys starts talking about how frozen breast milk is far superior and should be used to age 3. A great deal of passion actually keeps you from adopting that position.

In communication, you need to use appropriate passion. If you’re not excited about your topic, don’t expect your audience to be. But don’t overly rely on passion. Combine your appropriate passion with the appropriate amount of information – remember, some people don’t want to be inspired to change everything – they like things the way they are.

Make sure you add logos to pathos.

Filed Under: Communication, Leadership Tagged With: ,
February 28, 2012 By Leave a Comment

Jeff Foxworthy Wants You To Preach Better Sermons

Have you heard about Preach Better Sermons, a FREE online event with Andy Stanley, Dr. Charles Stanley, Louie Giglio, Perry Noble, Jud Wilhite, Vanable Moody and Jeff Foxworthy.  It’s happening on March 15 from 1-4 EST.  All of these communicators will be sharing practical information on preparation and delivery, all to help you become a better communicator.

Check out this short video with Jeff Henderson and Jeff Foxworthy, and be sure to register for the event.

Jeff Foxworthy Wants You to Preach Better Sermons from Preaching Rocket on Vimeo.

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December 8, 2011 By Leave a Comment

Pastor, Your Sermon Illustrations are All Wrong

It’s not secret that many churches are about 20 years behind the cultural curve, and trying to reach 2012 people with a 1980 style.  You might not think this stuff matters, but I GUARANTEE the people sitting in the pews do.  Every time they hear their pastor talk about things that don’t relate, the gulf between the spiritual and the real grows deeper.

Here’s one example.

The number of households in America with children reached an all-time low in 2009.  And there are more homes with dogs than with children.

The makeup of the home has changed, yet preachers don’t factor this into their message.  Their sermon illustrations are all wrong.  They talk to moms and dads about their kids, when the majority of their congregation might be in a different stage of life.  All of the stories and illustrations center around the traditional family, even though the makeup of the congregation has changed.

Not too long ago, I attended a marriage conference.  More than one time, the speaker used an off-hand story about a dad coming home from work and getting into an argument with his wife about what’s for dinner.  While the principle he was teaching might have been correct, his application was from another decade.

Church leaders might be more likely to live in a traditional home with a mom, dad and children. So their perception is distorted…we think everyone is like us in many ways.  But our perception isn’t reality.  And as you’re talking about things that only relate to the traditional family, the people listening to you are watching you slowly lose touch.

A few weeks ago at Buckhead Church, Andy Stanley was encouraging people to volunteer for specific acts of community service.  He joked that if you had to work off a DUI you had come to the right church.  While that was a joke, it was another sign that my pastor understood the times and the community.  His illustration, even though it was funny, was relevant.  In one passing comment, he let thousands of people know that he understood reality.

Stats and data are not useless information for pastors and preachers.  Knowing who is sitting in your congregation should affect what you say and how you say it.

 

Filed Under: Communication Tagged With: , , , ,
December 1, 2011 By 1 Comment

Say it Correct Like

a lot (not alot)
all right (not alright)
check-in (not check in)
backup (not back up)
cannot (not can not)
CD or CDs (not cd’s)
email (not e-mail)
FAQ (not f.a.q.)
flyer (not flier)
information about (not information on)
internet (not Internet)
voicemail (not voice mail)

you’re welcome (not your welcome)

Filed Under: Communication Tagged With: ,
November 8, 2011 By 1 Comment

Dear Preacher

I may not be the typical church attender, but that’s exactly what I’ve been for the last five or six months.  For the first time since high school, I’ve simply been attending church.  I haven’t been the one delivering the sermons; I’ve been the ones listening to them.  I’ve been jotting down notes, listening to God through you and trying to make adjustments in my life based on what you say.  It’s probably always going to be tough for me to listen and not evaluate your delivery methods, but I’m trying.

With all that said, here are a few personal observations from someone who has been listening to sermons for the last few months.  This isn’t directed at anyone specifically – these are just general comments for anyone to speaks to an audience on Sunday.
  1. I’m trying my best, but it’s really hard to process all the information you’re giving me.  Maybe one point is better than five.
  2. Maybe you think this is shallow, but I want you to make me laugh.  I’m more engaged when I laugh.
  3. Sometimes, I know what God wants me to do, but I don’t know how to do it.  I appreciate it when you give me an action step that I can take.
  4. When you use real life examples, it shows me that you’re living in the real world.  If I feel like you understand my situation, I’m far more likely to respect what you’re saying.
  5. I consider myself a pretty smart person, and I like learning, but there are times when I wish you would stop talking.
Filed Under: Communication
October 7, 2011 By Leave a Comment

How I Use Evernote to Keep Track of Nearly Everything

One of my favorite organizational tools is a free program called Evernote.  It’s simple,  powerful and free. Here’s why I use it on a daily basis.

  • All of my notes are synced across my iPhone, iPad, an app on my computer and a website accessible from anywhere.
  • The search feature is powerful – it searches inside PDFs and recognizes handwriting.  I can find stuff fast.
  • When I’ve got a dry erase board full of meeting notes, I simply snap a picture with my phone and email it directly to Evernote.
  • I use a document scanner to scan bills, statements and artwork from my kids and save it all in a home folder.  I don’t have to keep track of papers, and all that stuff is instantly available.
  • You can tag things and put them in notebooks (like folders).  I have notebooks for blog ideas, blog posts, meeting notes
  • I actually pay $5 a month for the premium version which allows me to store PDFs, Word document and other files.
  • I use a keyboard shortcut on the web to paste stuff into Evernote all the time.  When stuff goes into Evernote, I put it into a default notebook called !Inbox (Thanks, Michael Hyatt).  I tag it and organize it more later.
  • I created an Evernote email address, so I can forward articles, emails, pictures or anything into Evernote from my email program.  Super easy.
  • I’ve got about 1,400 individual notes in Evernote right now, and the more I use it, the more powerful it becomes.

Brett Kelly has written an unofficial guide to Evernote and it’s fantastic.  I highly recommend that you download this eBook and go through it.  It’s well-worth your time.

And start using Evernote today.

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September 13, 2011 By Leave a Comment

When They Say The Sermon Isn’t Deep Enough

Yesterday, I shared with you I responded to the few people that said that the music was too loud.  Today, let me tell you how we respond to the few people who say that the teaching isn’t deep enough for them.  Keep in mind that this complaint is fairly rare.  Here’s my typical response to this issue:

Thanks for your feedback about the teaching style at Oak Leaf Church.  I really appreciate your comment and wanted to take a quick moment to answer your concerns.

We didn’t begin Oak Leaf Church five years ago because Christians couldn’t find a great church to attend.  There are some GREAT churches in our area led by some GREAT pastors.  Instead, we wanted to start a church determined to reach the 75% of the population who did not go to church anywhere.  That single decision really affects much of what we do.

In 1 Corinthians 1:17, Paul writes that his goal was to preach the gospel “not with words of eloquent wisdom, lest the cross of Christ be emptied of it’s power.”  For me, preaching isn’t about how smart I am or how much I know, it’s about connecting people with the Gospel of Jesus.

J. Vernon McGee once said “Jesus didn’t say, ‘Feed my giraffes.’ He said, ‘Feed my sheep.’ Put the hay on the lower shelf so God’s sheep can get to it.” Every week, I prepare messages knowing that there are Christians and non-Christians from all walks of life in the service.   I heard someone once say that great teachers take complex material and make it simple, while bad teachers take simple ideas and make them complex.   I don’t always succeed, but I’m trying to be in that first list.

Simple sermons aren’t the same things as simplistic sermons.  We want to connect with people, making a deep truth understandable to those who haven’t grown up in church and those who don’t have religious education. Love God and love others – what some have called the great commandments – are really quite simple.  It’s following them that’s tough.

I’ve been a Christian for more than 20 years, and I’ve learned so much about the Bible.  I love theology – the study of God and I love discussing the deeper truths of Christianity.  I love reading books, taking classes and listening to sermons that deepen my faith and feed my soul.  We live in a day and age where this information is readily available.

I remember learning as a kid that Jesus loved me.  And like Paul challenged his readers, I’ve moved on from milk and learned to feed myself with the meat of God’s Word.  But I’ve never graduated from the deep truth that Jesus loves me and Jesus chose me.

I say all of that to say this:  We design our church services to be the front door to our church.  It’s a broad environment designed to help people take steps in their faith – it’s not designed to be the end-all and only source of teaching in your life.

On the weekend, we’re teaching Christians and non-Christians – young, old and everywhere in between, to take simple steps to follow Jesus.  We have several other environments designed to help you go “deeper” in your faith.  There are small groups that study the Bible – some go verse by verse.  In the summer, we offer classes on subjects like theology, church history, and books of the Bible.  These “next level environments” might interest you.

I’d be happy to connect you with someone who can get you more information on groups, classes, or service opportunities.  I’m also attaching a list of recommended sermons, books and resources that will help you grow in your faith.

Finally, there are several great churches in our area with preachers who teach verse by verse through books of the Bible.  I have the honor of calling several of them my friends and would be happy to recommend a church that might be more in line with your style.  At any rate, I’m happy to call you a brother in Christ.

Filed Under: Communication, Leadership Tagged With: ,
September 12, 2011 By 2 Comments

When They Say The Music is Too Loud

Churches aren’t immune from complaints, and one of the most frequent complaints we got had to do with the volume of the music.  It’s important to understand that people who complain about music volume aren’t bad people, and they aren’t necessarily opposed to the vision.  Still, it’s helpful to communicate why things are the way they are.  Here’s exactly how I responded when people asked about the volume of the music:

Thanks for your feedback about the volume of the music…we really do appreciate your opinion. I wanted to take a quick moment to let you know why it’s as loud as it is.

Part of the reason it’s loud is because the Bible is full of examples of people worshiping at a loud level in the Bible – like Psalm 150 that describes trumpets, cymbals and pipes.

Part of the reason is that we believe we have something that’s worth shouting from the mountains. People get loud at football games, birthday parties and concerts – so the fact that Jesus is alive and working seems much more important.

We could talk about Matthew 10:27 that says that what we hear from Jesus in the quiet we should shout from the rooftops in public. Or we could talk about the millions of people that will gather around the throne (described in the book of Revelation) that will worship Jesus with loud voices.

But I guess the real reason that it’s loud is because we kind of like it that way. It may not be very spiritual, but it’s honest. We love the energy and the passion that comes from a room full of people singing to Jesus. We like that we don’t have to hear the off key person making a joyful noise, but can focus on the meaning of the words and the expression of our hearts.

Our production team does use a decibel reader to ensure that the volume level doesn’t become dangerous, and we provide complimentary ear plugs at the back of the room (right next to the complimentary Bibles) should you wish to dampen some of the volume.

Again, thanks so much for your feedback and we hope you’ll continue to worship with us.

Filed Under: Communication, Leadership Tagged With: ,
August 31, 2011 By 2 Comments

Five Reasons People Volunteer

My friend Casey Graham teaches churches all over the world that there are five reasons people give, and that churches should be intentional about speaking to each of these reasons. These reasons aren’t just true for churches, they are true for every non-profit organization that raises money. According to Casey, here are the five reasons people give:

  1. They see a need.
  2. They believe in the vision.
  3. They have a relationship with someone.
  4. They are taught how to do it.
  5. They want to obey God.

As I thought about these reasons, I realized these reasons don’t just speak to why people give, they are the same reasons that people volunteer. Here’s what I mean:

  1. People volunteer because they see a specific need. This is why it’s always better to highlight specific needs rather than make general appeals. Just like it’s a mistake to think that people give only to vision, we’ve got to understand that some people will get more fired up by a part of the vision rather than the whole.
  2. They believe in the vision. While everyone isn’t motivated by the vision alone, some people are. Volunteers need to know they are a part of something bigger than themselves. If you’re just asking people to complete tasks, and they don’t understand how those tasks fit into the bigger picture, they won’t last long. Burnout happens when people forget why they do what they do and are expected to keep doing it.
  3. They have a relationship. Most organizations do a poor job of creating a fun environment and connecting people…we’re so busy giving people tasks, we forget that people want to hang out with friends and have a good time. As much as possible, volunteering should occur in teams, and those teams of people need to care for one another. Relationships keep people engaged.
  4. They are taught how to do it. If you want people to serve, you’ve got to make it simple and you’ve got to show them the way. One of the worst things you can do is throw a new volunteer into an important opportunity. There are naturally gifted leaders, but
  5. They want to obey God. God’s Word teaches that we need to love and serve others. This fact alone motivates some people to serve.

If you’re a leader working with volunteers, you’ve got to speak to each of these reasons. Vision alone isn’t enough. Beating people with “you should” after “you should” from the Bible isn’t enough. Find ways to speak to all the reasons that people step up to serve.

Filed Under: Communication, Leadership Tagged With: , , , ,
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