Six Days 'til Sunday!

In the Beginning Was the Introduction

Nine sermons out of ten, the last thing I write is also the first thing I say: the introduction.

The introduction isn't the meat of the message. It's not the heart of my exegetical work. It's not even the "one thing" I hope people will remember Monday morning.

But that doesn't mean it doesn't matter.

The introduction sets the tone for the sermon that follows.

It introduces a problem or point of tension; voices a need people may or may not realize they have.

It's an attention-getter (more on that in the video below).

It's a bridge-builder. The people in the pews want to know what this old Bible story has to do with their 21st century lives and how these few minutes on Sunday morning are going to make a difference in the rest of their week.

It's a relationship-building moment, connecting the preacher and hearer in a relationship of empathy and trust as you go on this journey through the sermon together.

And it's really hard to do any of that well until you know where you're headed!

***

This year, I've heard nearly 200 sermon introductions: some good, some excellent, some confusing, and some that actually undermined the message that followed. Here are a few lessons I've learned about sermon introductions:

Ask a thought-provoking question: "Do you ever feel like you need a vacation from your vacation?" Rev. Tommy Clark's (West Nashville CPC) 06/02/24 sermon on Sabbath begins with his own story of an exhausting vacation and then invites us to consider our own failed attempts at relaxing.
Reflect on a single word. In his sermon on "Holy Conversations" at General Assembly this summer, Rev. George Estes opened by exploring all the ways that the word "call" is used to highlight the unique nature of our "call" to ministry. It was a whirlwind tour of the power of a single word, and it engaged our hearts, minds, and imaginations to receive the message that followed.
Talk about a shared/relatable experience that helps us connect to the sermon's Bible passage. Rev. Marc Bell (Fredonia CPC) began his 03/17/24 sermon about Jesus' rejection in Nazareth by talking about the welcome signs you see as you enter small towns (in case you were wondering, Fredonia, Kentucky's sign reads, "Small Valley, Big Hearts"). All these months later, I'm still wondering what the "welcome sign" would be for the places that pop up in my sermon prep...and I wonder, too, how well any of us ever live up to what's on the sign.
DON'T tell a joke or story unless it relates to the sermon. If I remember your opening story or joke, you want it to be in the context of the sermon as a whole, not separate from it. If there's not a clear connection between the two, leave the story or joke on the cutting room floor.
DON'T waste your first words by introducing yourself, engaging in small talk ("how about the weather?"), or making excuses for the sermon you haven't preached yet. Don't start by telling people what you're going to tell them, either. That makes it easy for us to mentally "check out" before you've even begun.

I've explored dozens of videos and articles on sermon introductions in the past few weeks. This one is a good representation of the advice that's out there--and it's worth 5 minutes of your time to watch.

Dear Preacher,

You have something to say that's worth saying--and worth hearing, too.

You've worked hard to prepare the message God laid on your heart for these people this week.

You've studied and prayed; opened yourself to the needs of the congregation and the leading of the Holy Spirit.

You've allowed the week's Scripture text to permeate your life: your waking and sleeping, your work and your play. It has convicted you and challenged you. Hopefully, it has excited you, too.

You've refined the sermon, brought some sense of order to all those chaotic notes, shut down a few rabbit trails, and identified main points so that you can bring the Word of God to the People of God in a clear and compelling way.

If you don't believe what you're saying matters, you are wasting your time and your congregation's time, too. If you DO believe it matters, ACT like it from the very first word of the sermon to the last.

Prayers for you as you prepare this week's sermon.

--Rev. Jen Newell

The Louisa Woosley Preaching Initiative is a grant-funded program of the Cumberland Presbyterian Church. Our goal is to equip ministers and candidates for ministry to preach compelling sermons to today's diverse and often divided world.

For more information about the initiative and our programs, visit our website.

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In the Beginning was the Introduction...