Page 58 - Homiletics I Student Textbook

Study Section 9: Attractive Introductions and Conclusions

9.1 Connect

When you go fishing, you will arrive at a stream or lake and find a bunch of fish who are not
really interested in getting caught on your hook. If you drop in an empty hook with no bait
on it, you probably will not catch a fish. The fish must be convinced to bite your hook. The
way you can do that is to put on the hook a nice juicy worm. The fish will be much more
motivated to eat your hook when you get their interest with your worm.

There are three types of preachers: those to whom you cannot listen; those to whom you can listen; and
those to whom you must listen. During the introduction the congregation usually decides the kind of
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speaker addressing them that morning.
If you want people to listen to you, you have to “hook” them on your topic. You must give them a desire
to pay attention. You do this in the first part of your sermon: your introduction. You start your sermon
by creating a “juicy worm” which attracts the congregation to listen to what comes next. It is probably
one of the most important parts of your sermon. So, today, let’s learn how to create attractive
introductions...

9.2 Objectives

1. The student should be able to create attractive or compelling introductions after studying this
lesson.

2. The student should be able to create pointed and stirring conclusions after studying this lesson.

9.3 Creating Interest – Attractive Introductions

The introduction should establish your credibility in the people’s minds.
During the introduction an audience gains impressions of a speaker that often
determine whether or not they will accept what he says. If he appears nervous,
hostile, or unprepared, they are inclined to reject him. If he seems alert, friendly, and
interesting, they decide he is an able person with a positive attitude toward himself
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and his listeners.

The introduction should get your people’s attention.
The opening words of a sermon . . . need not be dramatic . . .; but they must go after the minds
of the hearers to force them to listen. If the preacher does not capture attention in the first
thirty seconds, he may never gain it at all.
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The introduction should show your people why your message is important to their spiritual life.

64 Robinson, Haddon, Biblical Preaching, (Grand Rapids: Baker Book House, 1981), 167.
65 Robinson, 159.
66 Robinson, 160.
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