Spiritual Life and Leadership

161. Preaching for Deep Connection, with Lisa Lamb, author of Resonate

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Lisa Lamb is professor of preaching and theology at St. Paul’s Theological College and the author of Resonate: How to Preach for Deep Connection.

Sometimes I wonder how effective sermons are.  As a receiver of sermons, I probably don’t remember 99% of the sermons I’ve heard. At the same time, some sermons I’ve heard have been life-changing for me. 

The question for us preachers is: How do we preach sermons that connect?  Sermons that make an impact?  Sermons that truly resonate?

Lisa Lamb helps us answer these questions.


THIS EPISODE'S HIGHLIGHTS INCLUDE:

  • Lisa Lamb is professor of preaching and theology at St. Paul’s Theological College and other schools in Malaysia and India, and the author of Resonate: How to Preach for Deep Connection.
  • Lisa shares what she loves about preaching.
  • The preaching framework is grounded in verbs.  What kinds of verbs are being used in the sermon and in which person are they being spoken?
  • Preaching in the first person singular gives the congregation a sense who the preacher is and where the preacher is coming from.
  • Second person singular speech is powerful speech.  It blesses and exhorts.
  • Third person singular is the proclaimer.  Lisa Lamb says that speaking in the third person is where we declare God’s goodness.
  • Third person plural says, “These things are true.”
  • Lisa Lamb explains how the past, present, and future tenses impact a sermon.
  • We don’t need to hit all these aspects in every sermon.  But Lisa Lamb suggests looking back over several months to see if you’ve spoken in all these ways.
  • The indicative form is simply naming reality.
  • The subjunctive form asks, “What if?”
  • The imperative form—the command—can lead people in very life-giving ways.
  • Lisa Lamb reflects on how preaching can help congregations wrestle with competing values.


RELEVANT RESOURCES AND LINKS:

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