Unless we challenge our hearers to respond to God’s Word, we’ve only given them biblical information without telling them what to do with it. Our sermon is incomplete until we call for a specific response to the passage (cf. James 1:22). To be clear, I’m using the term “response” to describe what some call the “invitation.” Whichever term you prefer, consider 5 ways to help your listeners respond to the Word.
1) Think About The Response Throughout Your Study
Note what the passage requires of its listeners as you study. Consider, for example, what the text teaches about God and our relationship to Him. Some of these thoughts will be included in the call for a response, while others will be omitted. At this point, you are merely doing some intentional thinking about the response in the same way you intentionally think about illustration and application.
2) Weave The Response Into The Conclusion
Don’t think of your sermon conclusion as an end to the message but as a conveyer for the response. See that your conclusion leads naturally to your call for hearers to respond to the specific teaching of God’s Word. After you have summarized the main points of your sermon, for example, you may choose to say something like, “But it’s not enough for us just to know these truths; God expects us to live them out this week…” and move into a specific call for listeners to respond.
3) Address Believers And Unbelievers In The Response
When calling listeners to respond to the Word, be sure to address both Christians and non-Christians. Most in attendance are believing church members, so we should be clear in telling them how to live out the truths we have preached. We must also challenge unbelievers to consider the claims of Christ so that they may turn to Him and be saved.
4) Write What You Plan To Say During The Response
My preaching tends to be more effective when I have written out a meaningful call for a response. Writing down what we plan to say doesn’t necessarily mean taking our writing into the pulpit or reading from a manuscript, but we have carefully thought about what to say and how best to say it. Because writing brings clarity, we tend to speak with greater confidence and precision.
5) Be Specific In The Response
Rather than concluding the sermon with a vague prayer: e.g., “God, help us live these truths,” address your listeners directly and be specific as you call for action: e.g., “You may be saved, but you’ve allowed sin to ensnare you this week. Take time right now to confess silently to God” or, “While we sing a hymn of response, thank God for making you a ‘new creation’ and praise Him in song.” And be sure listeners know exactly where to go to get more information about following Christ, joining the church, or getting answers to questions they may have.
Previous Comments:
John HurtgenTodd, very helplful! Thanks!!MARCH 25, 2022
Comment by post authorTodd Linn, PhDThanks, so much, Dr. Hurtgen! MARCH 25, 2022
Sermon TranscriptsThis is good. I often find myself during the concluding prayer restating the points and the response. Ie, “Lord help us to …” JUNE 1, 2023
directorfsm
Very good, pulpits and the internet are full of those who “share a word” but fail miserably to plainly preach the Gospel and never call sinners to repentance. I think it is important that the Benediction also begin with something like “now having heard the Good News so plainly preached receive…”