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October 2007 Sermon Tip -- The Power of Purpose Just as it is important to have a clear purpose for prayer/treatment work done on behalf of others, to have a clear purpose for your life’s work and to have a clear purpose when beginning any new project, so is it important to have a clear purpose for each talk you prepare and deliver. Having a clearly-defined purpose becomes your roadmap for research, for developing talking points, illustrations and examples, and – of vital importance – for staying on track when delivering your message. There is nothing more frustrating to a listener than to have a speaker wander from topic to topic with no apparent aim in mind or to throw in a story or example that seems to be unrelated to the topic at hand. Every minister should ask him/herself, “What is it I want to get across and does this thought, idea, quote, illustration or story foster that purpose?” Unless you know what you are aiming for, almost no one else will catch on. Here’s an important warning, “A fog in the pulpit will produce darkness in the pew.” Another pitfall to avoid is identifying and stating your purpose at the beginning of your talk, but then meandering here and there and never fully addressing it. “He took a text, he departed therefrom and never returned” could be the epitaph on many ministers’ tombstones. This tendency is death to an effective sermon. But it happens more than we might think. A well-known and quite experienced New Thought minister once advertised a workshop that would address Nine Points to Personal Power. Unfortunately, the audience only received six of those points during the course of the workshop because so many side trips were taken. The attendees, understandably, felt short-changed. Polished, effective ministers are clear about the purpose of their talk from the beginning and will refer back to that purpose often during preparation as well as during presentation to ensure they deliver what is promised. Join us next
month for tips on Crafting an Outstanding
Talk – Part One
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