Sermon introductions – so what and who cares?

'Good morning everybody. Please keep your Bibles open at the passage we’ve just read. John chapter 14 contains glorious truths about the gospel. Our first point is...'

Many sermons begin like this. It’s not wrong, but do you notice the assumption here? In opening the sermon this way, the preacher has assumed that everyone in the room is fully engaged, interested, and ready to listen. Yet the reality is many are not.

A congregation coming from different places

There will be those who are not yet Christians. Some may be first or second-time visitors. There will be teenagers who have been dragged along unwillingly. There will be others who are struggling in all sorts of ways.

As we invite people to listen to the preaching of God’s Word, we must never assume the hearer’s interest. Preachers have a responsibility to help their hearers engage. We love our hearers well when we show them why the message is worth their attention.

I like to think about two questions when preparing introductions:

1. Why would someone want to listen to this?
2. Why would someone want to listen to me?

An alternative way of thinking about the first question is, ‘so what and who cares?’ Whatever the main thrust of the message, ask yourself: ‘so what?’ and ‘who cares?’ Will your message address fundamental human questions, needs or fears? What big issue will you address? How will this help people in their lives? This isn’t a case of ‘scratching itching ears’ or preaching to felt needs. It’s helping people see that God really does want to speak to the deepest needs and practical realities of our lives.

Preach as someone who 'gets them'

The second question is more subtle. The listener wants to believe that the person speaking to them is not a theological robot, but an actual human being, with real struggles, needs and emotions. They want you to be someone who ‘gets them.’

There are different ways to introduce a talk. You could use a quote, a statistic, a question, or a story. But consider how it can make a human connection and address people’s hopes and fears.

One practical tip I was given which I’ve found helpful is to prepare the introduction last. When all of the other preparatory work is done, I know where my sermon is going, what the main point will be, and am therefore in a better position to consider how my introduction can serve the hearers.

Remaining succinct

Finally, it is of course possible for introductions to take too long. Dick Lucas used to reprove young preachers for spending too much time ‘waggling on the tee’ (it’s a golf thing!). I would suggest you should be able to capture interest and attention, and ‘tee up’ your message within the space of a few minutes. Much less and you probably haven’t made the connection with your hearers. Much more and people will be willing you to just get on with it.

If you feel unsure, watch or listen back to yourself. Ask others for their feedforward or feedback. Develop a sense of how to take people with you as you start your talk, without taking too long about it. Scan the room as you introduce your talk. See if people are actually engaged, or whether they’ve already checked out.

You may not like it, but the reality is people will decide within a few seconds the degree to which they like you and want to listen to you. Work to earn your hearers interest and everything that follows will land better.