Page 96 - Homiletics Student Textbook

In fact, 93% of all communication is nonverbal. Visuals attract our attention, enhance our emotions,
and affect our attitude.

* Our brain processes visuals 60,000 times faster than text.
* 40% of people respond better to images than text.
* 50% of our brain is active in visual processing.

The word “audio” means that a person hears something to reinforce an idea. It includes such things as
music, narration, sound bites, and of course, what the speaker is saying. The word “video” means the
person sees something to help them visualize a concept. The two tools can be used separately. For
example, you could have a series of pictures that illustrate what you are teaching. Large pictures
showing Lazarus coming out of the tomb may be used to impact the minds of children. You could play a
story on a CD that is being read or narrated as a point of interest and reinforcement.

By tying an audio and visual presentation together you increase the overall impact on the audience and
thereby increase the probability that they will recall the information you are presenting. Also, audio and
visual tools tend to impact the emotions of an audience, which again increases the likelihood that they
will apply the information you are giving them in their lives.

And if you make the presentation interactive (audience participation), you again increase retention
because the audience is “doing” something to relate to the topic. You can tell a story, ask questions
during the presentation, poll the audience, use props, or have a member of the audience participate in a
demonstration.

Years ago, I asked our pastor what his sermon was going to be about on Sunday. We were approaching
Christmas time, so he told me he was going to preach about Joseph and his part in the Christmas story.
He told me the main points he was going to make. I asked him, “Why don’t you be Joseph? Dress up
and tell the people how you were involved in Christ’s birth!” So, the next Sunday morning our pastor
came out and was dressed like Joseph with the robe and beard. He even spoke with a middle-eastern
accent. During the entire sermon, you could have heard a pin drop. People were mesmerized. That
was almost 35 years ago, and even today I can remember most of what our pastor preached that day!

As a pastor, you can be creative. Don’t do the same thing every week, preaching boring three-point
sermons! Shake your congregation up! Be creative!

15.4 Let’s Practice…

1. What is a tic?

2. What is a prayer tic?

3. What method of delivery of a sermon is probably the LEAST effective means?

4. What percentage of your sermon would a person remember if he sees, hears, and has an illustration?

95