Last week I invited us to pay attention to the energy in the room that is present before we even begin to preach. This week I want you to pay attention to the ebb and flow of energy during your sermon.
- It’s the panic that sets in when you know you have two pages to go and people are checking out four at a time.
- It’s the joy you feel when a particular phrase comes out exactly as you intended and your hearers receive it graciously.
- It’s the laughter you hear when a joke hits perfectly.
- It’s the emptiness of crickets when you realize you are talking but you’re not sure anyone is listening.
It’s the energy of engagement and it can be your best friend or worst enemy.
Unofficial research (my intern) suggests that there is a natural dip in energy in a sermon at about the 11 minute mark if you don’t do something to actively engage your hearers. You can blame it on TV, YouTube or all the things contributing to a diminishing attention span, but there it is.
There are things we can do, however, to keep the energy level up and the engagement level high. Consider how magicians performing magic tricks have your rapt attention. Watch how the best stand up comedians captivate their audiences for extended periods of time.
It can be done; it just takes some practice. Are you willing to put in the time?
This week, watch a few stand up comedians on YouTube. Pay particular attention to what they do to keep the engagement level high. Then watch a few TED talks and do the same.