2d (edited) • Sermon Prep
How NOT to shank the most important sentence in your sermon. ⛳️
The problem is that we give way too little thought to the first thing we say.
Yet this is the moment when you'll either lead people or lose them.
Because when attention is highest, trust is most fragile.
They are eager to be fed and led.
They want to know where you are taking them and if they can trust you as the guide.
THIS IS YOUR OPPORTUNITY!
Because the first statement sets the tone for everything that follows.
- It provides direction so your people know where you're taking them.
- It gives them confidence that you're about to lead them somewhere significant.
- It signals that the next 20-30 minutes have the potential to change their lives.
Think of it as the doorway into your sermon. It should be inviting, clear, and compelling.
- A strong first statement might name the tension in the text.
- It might articulate the question your sermon will answer.
- It might recast cultural expectations.
- It might be a firm proclamation of hope.
What it should NEVER be is wasted space.
Too many sermons lose momentum right here, in the first 30 seconds after the text is announced.
Here are three simple examples of first statements using actual biblical texts.
✅ Example 1: The Prodigal Son (Luke 15:11-32)
"You are not too far gone to come home."
✅ Example 2: The Feeding of the 5,000 (John 6:1-15)
"What you have is not enough, but what Jesus has is more than enough."
✅Example 3: Jesus Calms the Storm (Mark 4:35-41)
"The same voice that silenced the storm can silence your fear."
SOME BEST PRACTICES...
- Don't read the opening sentence.
- Memorize it.
- Look them in the eye and provide direction with your opening sentence.
The congregation is ready to listen.
So let's not squander the opening moment.
Treat your first statement like the precious, valuable real estate that it is.
- Make it clear.
- Make it compelling.
- Make it count.
Show them from the very first sentence that you know where you're going and how it can change their lives.
And let me know how it goes!
LET'S TALK ABOUT IT!
What have you found impactful when opening your sermon?
Any tips for the rest of us?
WATCH HERE AND SHARE 👉 https://youtu.be/ubbZ8ocB5jM
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How NOT to shank the most important sentence in your sermon. ⛳️
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