The SECRET to Delivering Engaging Sermons and Talks

83% of Americans say preaching impacts their decision on a church home. Having just filmed a new 45 video course called the Art of Preaching, Mark Clark and I share 90 minutes of our best preaching tips from the course and our accumulated years of reaching tens of thousands of unchurched people.

✅ GROW YOUR LEADERSHIP WITH RESOURCES MENTIONED IN THIS VIDEO:

Show Notes and Free Podcast Community:
http://careynieuwhof.com/shownotes

The Art of Preaching
https://careynieuwhof.com/the-art-of-...

----------

Welcome to The Carey Nieuwhof Leadership Podcast, a podcast about leadership, change, and personal growth. I hope this episode helps you thrive in life and leadership.

Subscribe to my channel so you don't miss any of the newest episodes:    / @careynieuwhof  

Find the show notes and more at http://careynieuwhof.com/shownotes

🔗 CONNECT WITH ME:
  / careynieuwhof  
  / careynieuwhof  

🎧 CAREY NIEUWHOF LEADERSHIP PODCAST:

Apple: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast...

Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/3nG6FJp...

Interested in what gear I use to record my podcast? I list all of the equipment in this blog post: https://careynieuwhof.com/the-home-st...

----------

Intro Music:Song: Alexey Anisimov - Always Be Beautiful
Music provided by Tunetank.
Free Download: https://tunetank.com/track/4144-alway...
----------
🎥 Chapters
Sermon Preparation Evolution (00:03:17)
Mark discusses how his sermon prep has changed over 25 years, from youth group sermons to weekly preaching.

Practicing Out Loud and Memorization (00:04:42)
Mark explains the importance of practicing sermons out loud, especially for newer preachers.

Humor and Storytelling in Preaching (00:05:19)
Mark shares how he uses humor and stories, the difference between jokes and funny stories, and word choice.

Play and Punch: Storytelling Technique (00:12:05)
Mark describes his "play and punch" method—using humor to set up impactful, serious points.

Sermon Prep Hours and Story Collection (00:13:25)
Mark and Carrie discuss how many hours go into sermon prep and the process of collecting stories.

Knowing When a Sermon Lands (00:17:33)
They discuss how to tell if a sermon is effective, the role of feedback, and the unpredictability of impact.

Getting Sermon Feedback (00:20:38)
Advice on getting feedback from fellow communicators versus general audience members.

Sermon Introductions: Grabbing Attention (00:21:53)
They discuss the importance of strong sermon openings and avoiding boring introductions.

Vulnerability and Sharing Personal Struggles (00:24:04)
Mark and Carey talk about sharing personal weaknesses, using the "wound, scab, scar" framework for vulnerability.

Three Types of Sermon Hooks (00:29:09)
Carey outlines three ways to start a sermon: question, story, or bottom line.

Bookending Stories and Audience Engagement (00:31:14)
Mark shares a story about starting with a personal anecdote and the importance of resolving it.

What Makes a Sermon Memorable? (00:32:58)
They discuss memorable sermons, bottom lines, and the emotional impact of preaching.

Preaching to the Affections and Creating Feel (00:37:11)
Mark explains the importance of making people feel something, not just remember content.

Reading the Room and Adjusting in Real Time (00:41:00)
They discuss the importance of reading audience reactions and adjusting delivery accordingly.

Clarity vs. Depth in Preaching (00:45:43)
Debate on whether clear preaching is watered down, and the value of clarity and accessibility.

Preaching Fails and Misreading Audiences (00:48:01)
Mark and Carey share stories of sermons that missed the mark and lessons learned.

Be Yourself, Not Someone Else (00:52:34)
They discuss the pitfalls of imitating other communicators and the importance of authenticity.

Balancing Church and Unchurched Audiences (00:54:32)
Advice on not choosing sides—how to preach to both churchgoers and newcomers effectively.

Contextualizing Biblical Stories (01:00:11)
Tips on making biblical stories accessible and relatable for all listeners.

How Long Should a Sermon Be? (01:01:00)
Discussion on ideal sermon length, attention spans, and leaving the audience wanting more.

AI and Sermon Preparation (01:04:20)
Exploring the use of AI in sermon prep, ethical considerations, and maintaining authenticity.

The Value of Hard Work in Preaching (01:11:35)
Mark emphasizes the importance of hard work, preparation, and sacrifice in preaching.

Crafting Memorable Bottom Lines (01:16:10)
The power of concise, memorable statements that encapsulate the sermon’s message.

Conclusion and Course Promotion (01:18:18)
Final encouragements, promoting the Art of Preaching course, and where to follow Mark Clark.