Get More Church Invitations: Relevant Sermons

Recently, I was asked via Ask EvangelismCoach about ways to increase the number of invitations to church that members give to their network of friends.

Review these posts to get on board with some of the answers

1. More church invitations: Friends and Family
2. Get More Church Invitations: Prayer
3. I want you to come to my church

Today, I want to add number 4.

Understandable and Relevant Sermons

The preached sermon is the focus of our worship gatherings.

If you are the pastor, take a review of your sermons.

1. Are your sermons easy to understand?

In other words, will my friend understand the sermon?

Have you explained theological terms in plain language?

Are you keeping the theology in the textbook and making theology accessible to people who may not understand?

I think some modern preachers do this well.  

I listen to podcasts from Todd Mullins, Andy Stanley, David Jeremiah, and the late Tim Keller.  These men explain theological terms and concepts in words that are easy to understand.

In the church we are currently visiting this summer, the preaching pastor does this through teaching about the core doctrines of the church.

In the church we are helping plant, the teaching pastor connects theology with real life.

Sadly, I’ve also listened to some sermons that felt like doctoral dissertations, full of seminary language, full of theological language, and full of concepts that do not make sense outside of Christian circles.

My preaching professor once said something to the effect that sermon preparation is digging dirty in the mine, but the sermon is the cleaned-up and polished jewel that is easy to see. I’ve always kept that in mind as I strive to keep my sermons simple to understand.

Jesus taught with simple illustrations that were grounded in real life. His stories were simple but left the listener with profound thoughts and mental musings.

If your members find that your sermons are simple to understand, you make those sermons accessible to their friends.

You want your church members to say “My friend needs to hear this.”

2. Are your sermons relevant?

In other words, will my friend get something out of the sermon that applies to their life?

Or are your sermons so disconnected from real life, it’s just a black hole of information that serves little purpose?

I’ve been in churches where tight theology is more important than relevance.

I’ve visited churches where sermons were educational exercises in university level thinking about economics.

I’ve heard sermons that were running commentary on current events and arguments over which presidential candidate should be elected.

I’ve heard sermons on spiritual warfare that would freak out a non-Christian who is exploring faith.

Is your sermon applicable to real-life situations that my friend might benefit from?

This is where sermon series on personal finance, marriage, relationships, and other life topics are a good source of preaching material.

Even for those who favor expository verse-by-verse preaching need to make the effort to connect their sermon points to real life, either in application or illustration.

If your members find that your preaching connects the word of God to real-life situations, you’ll find your church members regularly thinking “My friend needs to hear this too.”

3.  Are your sermons accessible?

When I first began in Christian ministry, sermons were recorded to cassettes and cds, copied, and then passed around, maybe.

In today’s technology environment, there is no reason you cannot put your sermons on your church website for easy sharing.

Many churches make their sermons available on services like YouTube, or audio via podcast or streaming services.

There are plenty of benefits of recording and putting your sermons audio and video at your website.

• Your members can get into the archive anytime and listen via their computer or download it to a device.
• The links to the sermon audio can be emailed and shared on social networks.
• Your members who are out of town can listen to the sermon online.
• Your members who have moved away can still hear your sermons online or through their downloads
• Visitors can catch up on prior sermons online in the series.
• Church Visitors can get a sample of your preaching style.
• The Word of God is distributed. God can use it wherever people choose to listen, 24 hours a day.
• No more additions to a clumsy tape storage system.

Sermon recording is easy and inexpensive, perhaps it’s time to start getting the Word back out there with some low cost recorders.

Your Next Steps to Sermons that attract visitors

As you prepare your sermons, think about the unchurched person who will be visiting this Sunday and ask yourself, what might you need to explain better for them.

Find ways to start getting your sermons online and accessible in other ways than just showing up on Sundays.