“If the preacher is greatly excited at the outset, the audience usually are not, and he had better restrain himself, so as not to get beyond the range of their sympathies” (Broadus, Preparation and Delivery, p. 255).
One Is Quite Enough
“The introduction should generally consist of a single thought; we do not want a porch to a porch” (Broadus, Preparation and Delivery, p. 254).
Showing Without Showing Off
“Beauty and eloquence should be added to make things even more clear, not more impressive” (Galli & Larson, Preaching That Connects, p. 144).
Don’t Circle the Airport
“It’s especially frustrating for a congregation to hear a second finally” (Galli & Larson, Preaching That Connects, p. 129).
Begin Well
“In all preaching, let there be a good introduction, or none at all” (Broadus, Preparation and Delivery, p. 250).
Preach Eternity, Don’t Illustrate It
“Sermons also have slow- and fast-paced elements. To listeners a five-minute story runs, while a five-minute definition crawls” (Galli & Larson, Preaching That Connects, p. 118).
That Sounds Reasonable
“‘What is the best way,’ asked a young preacher of an older one, ‘to get the attention of the congregation?’ ‘Give ’em something to attend to,’ was the gruff reply” (Broadus, Preparation and Delivery, p. 249).
Losing a Regained Grip
Introduction We saw in the previous chapter that the death of Absalom was a reverse type of the death of the great son of David. We will see in this chapter another set of related contrasts—the attitude and response of the respective fathers involved. The Text: “And it was told Joab, Behold, the king weepeth …
Which Is Missing the Point
“If we develop sloppily or too cautiously or attack prematurely — if we don’t use words and sentences well — we will fail to get the congregation to think about the one thing they’ve gathered to think about” (Galli & Larson, Preaching That Connects, p. 92).
Two Great Objects
“The introduction has two chief objects, to interest our hearers in the subject, and to prepare them for understanding it” (Broadus, Preparation and Delivery, p. 249).