Dear ‘Pastor Pete’

Remember, screen savers never tell you what programs are actually activated. Beware outward appearances.

After all, some people can’t think and smile and agreement-nod at the same time!
And for some sermon-agreement-nodders, by the time we walk out the door the word of Christ can already be choked.

I guess the ultimate encouragement for a preacher is if the people are doers of the word the rest of the week.

Perhaps you should allow more opportunity for verbal feedback during, after sermons, during the week Eg ask questions and get responses, ask for feedback at some points. Don’t fear debate and comment on the scriptures. Helpful discussion about the scriptures is often very stifled in churches. More discussion and preachers would get feedback in a big way.

Cheers Di

(yes I am nodding….but what am I really thinking? I am thinking I need to work out other ways to encourage my teachers)

Oh by the way, should we do a non-verbal ‘no’ when the teacher is wrong?

re: Imaginary Fairy: so that’s what they are looking for!

When I was at uni we did this experiment where were would only give the lecturer positive reponses when he stood in a certain corner of the floor.  The rest of the time we looked down or concerned.  By the end of the hour we had him well and truly blocked in the back of that corner!  But then we were studying Psych (and he was a Psych lecturer!)

But Benny, if I’m not laughing it’s because you’re jokes aren’t funny!

Nah not really. Sorry to shocked blog readers, Ben is a dear friend and a good preacher to boot.

Thanks Ben, your descriptions cheered me up after a sad day yesterday, although Di’s point is well taken too. My encouragement from a preacher comes over the long-term, as I see apparently bored hearers living lives of persevering godliness. Mind you, the occasional laugh or nod at the right time does help me feel that the preaching is getting through.

Ben, you must have read the article in Briefing #331:

“Preaching involves two-way communication. Preachers respond to their
audience’s response. So give the preacher
immediate feedback through eye contact,
laughing at his jokes, nodding in agreement, etc. It will spur the preacher on. Nothing is more off-putting and deflating than a disinterested audience.”

Lots of other tips in the article too about how to be a good sermon listener. (The odd tip or two for preachers as well.) Modesty forbids me from saying how good the article is.

Awesome, another passage I thought is pretty good is 1 Tim 5:17. Elders, especially those who teach and preach, are worthy of double honour.

I guess the good congregational feedback should come from a genuine respect for the men entrusted with God’s word.

At college when we studied preaching, which was called Practicum, we had two lecturers:
Dr David Hammer
and David Hammer, junior.

Dr Hammer reminded us of the verse “Be not afraid of their faces” [Jeremiah 1:8; KJV] He told us that some people may only look bored.

One thing I find even more disconcerting than people looking bored is when not a single person says one word about what you have said afterwards.

I’m honestly not looking for praise, but a bit of feedback is helpful. Sometimes the only feedback you get comes from the soundguy.

I’m not wanting feedback on my performance, or handy hints on how to preach better, Warren.

I’m interested to hear that people are thinking about the passage or topic that was preached on.

I agree with Bec…
I like to take notes during the sermon because otherwise my brain doesn’t concentrate well (no matter how engaging or well delivered the sermon).
I don’t usually go back over them, they are more to help me absorb the sermon as it is given.
My learning method may result in the preacher thinking I am not listening to them because my head is down alot so I make a point of looking up at them and nodding or smiling when I can.

I sit in one of the first few rows anyway so hopefully they can see that I am notetaking and not inspecting my shoelaces.