Preacher's Block

This preaching tip was shared by Preacher’s Block co-founder, Hunter Bethea. If you’re interested in joining the most focused preachers in the world and getting these tips sent to your inbox every week, sign up here.

This past week, I was at the New Room Conference in Montgomery (and saw several of you there!). Before the conference, I attended a pre-conference by Jon Tyson. During his preconference, he did something I’ve noticed him do in other sermons: he makes people laugh before he drops a bomb on them.

I wish I could remember exactly what he said to do this, but essentially here’s what I’ve noticed him do: Before he says something weighty—something that might make you feel uncomfortable or like he’s talking directly to you—he fairly often says something that makes you laugh. I think that accomplishes a few things. First, it relaxes his audience in a way that allows them to hear what he’s trying to say with fewer defenses. Second, laughter makes us feel a togetherness, which can help your audience know that you love them even if you’re saying something hard to them. Third, laughter gets peoples’ attention. You may not know this (or you know it all too well), but sometimes people get distracted during our sermons. When they hear others laughing, it makes them tune back in before you say something important.