How did the sermon go yesterday?
I’m convinced that the season of Advent is one of the most challenging times of the year to preach. In other words, if the sermon fell flat yesterday, it might not have been because of you.
Think about all the distractions that surround Advent: Black Friday shopping, big football games, holiday preparation stress, extended family gathering stress. I wouldn’t be surprised if those who gathered in worship (in America) yesterday had a bit of a hard time paying attention.
In this uphill battle, however, is a gift inside a challenge.
The challenge: to win over the attention of your hearers.
The gift: a few more weeks of practice at getting really good at this.
As you prepare your sermon this week, wrestle with this question: What are you doing at the very beginning of your sermons that either captures (or gives up) the attention of your hearers?
Sit with that question until you have an answer you are satisfied with. Then preach on.