I do not care if you are more of a topical teacher, or a book-by-book teacher, I believe that we must move away from the monologue model, and allow interaction from those we are teaching. Here are a few ideas for helping your church move in this direction.
Small Groups as Primary
This may involve a complete reversal of the popular mindset in today’s churches that the Sunday morning service is the most important church event of the week, and the midweek gatherings of smaller community groups are secondary.
Near the end of my years as a pastor, as I was beginning to change some of my views and ideas about church and pastoral ministry, I started to try to impress upon the people of the church that if they could only attend one gathering of the church per week, I would prefer they go to a small group gathering, rather than to the Sunday morning service.
While I personally liked to see full pews on Sunday, it was at the small group gathering that they could get better community, encouragement, accountability, and service opportunities than they ever could in a church service on Sunday morning.
If I were ever to return to pastoral ministry, I would emphasize this again. But this is one primary way of encouraging more interaction and dialogue.
Midweek Sermon Study
Aside from this, there are ways of including dialogue and interaction into the sermon itself. Several churches I know of have a mid-week “Pastor’s Study” which is taught by the pastor, and is devoted to reviewing the sermon that was preached the previous Sunday, and answering any questions that people might have.
This is a good idea, except that it creates one more thing for people to attend, and probably less than 5% of the congregation will show up for it. Furthermore, this study separates the actual interaction from the actual teaching by several days. By this time, questions and issues that may have been raised during the sermon are long forgotten.
Online Sermon Discussion
In an attempt to include more people, and make it flexible for their schedule, I also know of churches that have set up online chat rooms, forums, or even blogs where during the week, people can interact with each other and with the pastor about the sermon that was preached.
Again, this is a move in the right direction, but once again, it limits the interaction to those who have the time to do it, and to those who are technological savvy enough to know how, and once again, separates the interaction from the initial time of teaching.
Q&A Session
A few churches have tried to overcome the time separation by providing a short Question and Answer session after every sermon. Sometimes this is in a side room after the service concludes, but very few people usually take advantage of this, because this often cuts into their lunch plans.
To counter this, I know of some churches that offer a free meal or BBQ for people who want to stay afterward and discuss the message with the pastor. Everybody loves a free meal, and in the churches that I have seen do this, the turnout is often surprisingly large.
Open Mic
Occasionally, I have seen churches have an “open mic” time after the message, where a microphone is passed around to those who have questions. This practice is somewhat better, since the questions and answers benefit everyone who just heard the sermon, but often, only the bravest people will ask a question or make a comment, and sometimes, people become very long-winded when they get a microphone in their hands, and in a large-group setting, it is difficult to keep their comment from turning into a second sermon.
To counter this, I have seen a few churches have people turn in their questions and comments on slips of paper, and while this allowed more interaction, it seemed less personal.
Use a Chat Room or Twitter
One final intriguing way to encourage interaction during a sermon has only been recently enabled by the benefits of modern technology. I have not yet heard of a church doing this, but would love to see a church provide free WiFi to the congregation, and invite people to bring their laptops, smartphones, and iPads to church. Then, using a projector, the church could put a chat room or Twitter feed up on a screen.
People could make comments, ask questions, and generally interact with the sermon while it was being preached. Though some might find this annoying, almost everyone today has developed the skill of listening to a message while reading small bits of information on a screen. Don’t believe me? Just watch the news. You can listen to a news anchor tell the news, while at the same time, reading the scrolling news blurbs along the bottom of the screen. There is no reason people couldn’t do the same thing during a sermon.
Be Creative and Flexible
There may be numerous other options for making sermons interactive. I have only suggested a few. But with some creativity and flexibility, you may be able to come up with others.
However, dialogue and interaction by itself does not accomplish teaching. To fully complete the learning cycle, we need to immediately put into practice what we have learned. We’ll look at this tomorrow.
What ways have you seen churches help people get move involved in the Scripture-learning process?
The most edifying way I’ve ever experienced “for making sermons interactive” is when I’ve gathered with brothers simply around the Living Word as our leader/teacher/pastor-Shepherd.
When the Spirit of Christ(and Him only)leads us into Himself (the Truth)it is a beautifully orchestrated gathering!
This really only “works well” if each person present ONLY speaks up if the Spirit of Love is actually compelling them too. This is incredibly difficult to do, and the temptation to blurt out questions and opinions is very strong.
Also, this model requires at least two elders (“able to teach”), and who sacrificially “labor in the Word and doctrine” together. By this, I’m not suggesting they each should prepare a pre-packaged sermon each week (the Lord forbid?)… or even alternate weeks.
As men of God, I believe we desire to know God more and more. As we study the scripture together, I believe it should be for this purpose… not primarily for what we can learn to in turn teach others.
I believe when we meditate on the Lord (which the written scriptures help us to do… among other things), then He will lead us to speak in His perfect time (even during a gathering of believers). There are a myriad of scriptures that teach this desire of the Lord for His body!
May we experience His liberty/freedom as we experience resting in Him.
Love you guys!
M.
Mark,
I think this is very close to what Jesus and many in the early church did.
Do these elders who labor in the word receive payment of some sort from the church? Do they study and prepare for the teaching, even though they may not prepare a sermon?
Again, 1 Cor.14 references the gathering of believers… and also when unbelievers (or “those who are outside”?) are either present, or they arrive at some point.
This passage is actually quite instructive!
Anyone else have any convictions burning in their spirits when they read it?
M.
Sorry, the above was supposed to be a response to the comment thread below (re-posted there).
Re:”receive payment” for laboring in the Word and doctrine… that’s a whole ‘nother can ‘o’ worms!
The short of it is that I’ve observed that as soon as it becomes a fulltime job/career/employment a number of things begin to develop.
Just a few off the top of my head:
– it can become an obligation for the “employed” and an expectation for the “employers”… both parties settle on this expectation usually (that is his/their job to learn directly from God, and then pass it on to us; he is the “Lord’s annointed” servant, we are under his care/guidance/leadership/authority.
– the job involves: a salary (that should be comparable to the worldly earnings of the wealthier members of the congregation; a perception of entry level roles (youth/associate/music) which must keep in mind the desire for advancement (as they age a lead/senior position is considered more sucessful);
– most elders are expected to defer to the employed (more hierarchy evidenced);
I could go on, but am late for work again. I believe those who labor sacrificially are “worthy of double honor” and the ox should not be hindered (“muzzled”). This does not necessarily mean a full-time compensation/salary should be rendered though. Many teaching elders are often already provided for by the Lord (still in the workplace or retired)… but those being edified by their labor would gladly give “double honor” in many diff. ways.
Man’s heart loves to have someone to look up to (other than the Lord) as we “walk by sight”… someone “head and shoulders above the rest”. “Give us a King to rule over us, like the other nations around us.” Or, give us a CEO to lead govern us like the other companies around us (or where we work). It’s what we know, love and are comfortable with.
I’m sorry, I need to stop editoralizing (sp?).
I’d love further dialogue on this though.
M.
I am pretty much in full agreement with you on this. I have written a whole series on pastoral pay. I deal with the double honor passage and a few others, and talk about some of the pitfalls of getting paid as a pastor.
Mark,
Paul’s statement in 14:20-25 has caused lots of problems over the years.
In my commentary on 1 Corinthians, I noted that the quote in 14:21, which is from Isaiah 28 :11-12, is a statement of judgment on disbelieving Israel. It seems strange that Paul would use this in reference to unbelievers…. Could it be he was referring to unbelieving Israel?
O.K. maybe “myriad” is an exaggeration, but I’d prob. enjoy referencing them here… if anyone is interested.
I’m on last break here at work though.
M.
I am probably aware of several of them, but go ahead and post them!
This would be beneficial (for me again too). I’ll try to get on the box this eve. at home.
M.
Based on the distinctions you made a few days ago between preaching and teaching, would the “sermons” you’re referring to here be preaching or teaching?
If preaching, and only believers are present, what is being proclaimed?
If teaching, are only believers allowed to be present? If those who have yet to believe are present, are they allowed to participate?
Reflecting on Mark’s comments, I have never heard a sermon or a teaching that did not include the speaker’s opinion.
Sam,
You know, I’ve been thinking about that preaching/teaching distinction some more…and I think there is probably a large overlap between the two, both in content and in audience.
I think that both messages must center around the Gospel, but the goal of the message will be different, based on who is present and the type of questions that are being asked.
I am not sure we should ever have a meeting where we bar unbelievers from joining us, though maybe there is a time and place for that… What do you think?
Why would believers want to bar unbelievers from any meeting, especially when it is probable that the ranks of “believers” are usually peppered with unbelievers anyway?
Again, 1 Cor.14 references the gathering of believers… and also when unbelievers (or “those who are outside”?) are either present, or they arrive at some point.
This passage is actually quite instructive!
Anyone else have any convictions burning in their spirits when they read it?
M.
It seems strange, but I have talked to so many people who think that there are certain meetings where only believers should be present. Like focused discipleship training sessions and Bible studies, and things like that. They figure that if unbelievers are there, it will become more “evangelistic” rather than discipleship-focused.
Thank Jeremy!
I’d like to read that commentary on 1 Cor.14. Do you have a link to it?
Off the top of my head: even though “N.T. writers” often quote and reference O.T. passages which have original purpose for the original audience, it would seem there should be further purpose and meaning for the N.T. audience as well.
Of course, you’re prob. not suggesting that it wouldn’t.
What sort of problems has vv.20-25 caused “over the years”?
M.
The 1 Corinthians Commentary will eventually make it’s way onto GraceCommentary.com. Though it is written, it needs to be prepared for posting.
I don’t mean that 1 Cor 14 has created practical problems in churches, but exegetical problems.
For example, in 14:22, Paul writes that tongues are a sign for unbelievers and prophecy is for believers. But then in 14:24, he writes that if people are speaking in tongues, and an unbeliever comes in, they will think we are crazy, but if we are prophesying, then they might be convicted. Thus, prophesying seems to be for unbelievers, and if so, the two verses seem to contradict each other.
Another exegetical problem is the one I pointed out to about the context of Isaiah 28, and Paul seems to be using it in exactly the opposite fashion….unless he is not, and we have misunderstood how he is using it. There are a few others, but those two are primary.
Never mind!
It would help if I actually read the vv. b4 asking you dumb questions!
I see you’re refering to tongues being a sign for “unbelieving Israel”, but what I tend to find even more intriguing for our day and age is the intent of vv.24-39.
That main intent to me is: “Let all things be done for edification.” (from v. 26) Also note: 31 “For you can all prophesy one by one, that all may learn and all may be encouraged. 32 And the spirits of the prophets are subject to the prophets. 33 For God is not the author of confusion but of peace, as in all the churches of the saints.”
[LATE ADDITION: Edification is clearly utmost in intent/purpose throughout the whole chapter! See v.12 “Even so you, since you are zealous for spiritual gifts, let it be for the edification of the church that you seek to excel.” Also, v.3 “But he who prophesies speaks edification and exhortation and comfort to men.”]
I do not perceive that what Paul is referring to as “prophesying” should be considered “as a sign” (not that you were either). Tongues was specifically what the Isaiah quote regarded, don’t you think?
Rather, shouldn’t we consider that what the Lord is referring to here for His body, is what you have been referring to as “teaching” in our day and age?
I realize the word “teaching” is listed twice as well: v.6 right after prophesying, and v. 26 as “a teaching”. I’m not sure if the Greek words are identical.
Regardless of the diff. literal meanings of teaching and prophesying for Paul and his audience, I trust that our hearts desire is the same: 31 “For you can all prophesy one by one, that all may learn and all may be encouraged.”
In His love, M.
Most interactive ideas don’t work in larger churches.
One idea is to incorporate small group discussion at the end of the sermon – ie. “turn around and discuss the sermon with four other people around you” (or you can be more specific with what you want them to discuss—how you’re going to apply this to your life).
Personally, I think the twitter/chat room idea during the message is not a good one. People THINK they multi-task, but they don’t—there is a ton of evidence for this. If someone is reading the stuff on the newscast, and you ask them a question about what the reporter was saying, they’ve likely missed it. Even if they haven’t, it is in extremely short-term memory. Not to mention that there is a reason why texting-and-driving is not a good idea—it’s distracting. So the people putting up their comments are not actually listening while they’re texting. (I know lots of texters who think they are listening while you’re in a conversation with them, but they really are only getting the barest of details rather than engaging with you in conversation).
The other problem I see is that when someone is preaching the question we should be asking ourselves is, “what is God saying to me/us in this?” (It’s not always the preacher’s main point) It’s pretty hard to listen when we’re talking/texting.
Think about when you whisper to the person next to you while someone is preaching — invariably you’ve gone from engaged to spectator.
JR,
Yes, large group interaction is nearly impossible. I have seen that small-group discussion idea carried out with great effectiveness in several churches. The pastor prepared a study guide which accompanied his sermon, and then during the week, small groups met to go through the study guide and find ways to practically apply the message within their small group and in the broader community.
Hi Jeremy greeting in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ.
We are located in Northampton u.k,( we call it the Hamptons) Our church has 10 members as a core congregation
and operates like a foster home for the spiritually hurt, divorced, and those in need. They stay for a season, and when they can fly again they move on to see who will adopt them. The sermons are always interactive in different ways. Often news paper articles are read out when they add to the sermon subject or whatever supporting material is available, also the whole congregation will ask questions while the message is being preached, testimonies where appropriate will be shared, and various issues examined yet the flow is never lost and all partake in the sermon. Incidentally the pastor never receives any salary, as he sees no scriptural support for a paid pastor.
Just thought you might like to know that.
Yours in Christ Bryen.
Thank you for this article. My leadership team has been considering the incorporation of discussion into sermons for a while now, and there are some creative ideas/formats here that we hadn’t even thought of.
Right now my team is considering facilitating small-huddle discussions at the ends of sermons. Do you know of any churches that do this already? We have seen people *write* about the practice before, but we think it would be even more helpful to see it in action through a church’s recording or live stream of their Sunday gathering.