SermonView Newsletter February 2008

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VISUAL PREACHING

Myth Busters: The Truth about Church Communication

Myth #14: Using visuals to create atmosphere is extravagant and ineffective.

The Truth: Anchoring through powerful imagery may be the best kept secret toward memorable services.

The Facts: Repeated exposure to an image or idea is increasingly necessary in a media-saturated world. Advertisers, publishers and politicians have long understood the power of a single, attention-grabbing image to evoke an emotional response leading to a change in behavior. Architects and merchandisers also recognize that the visual environment surrounding people can impact perceptions and lead to preferred actions. The anchoring principle suggests that the use of key stimuli, such as a specific image, can focus awareness, connect experiences together, transfer learning and experiences to other contexts, and increase memory retention.

The Solution: One of the purposes of the weekly church service is to create a spiritual environment where people can encounter God. Many pastors have found that using an anchor image as part of a sermon series—such as on banners outdoors, in the foyer and on the stage—can help prepare the participants for such an encounter. At the same time, it can enhance the comprehension and retention of the Word presented during the teaching time, especially when the same image is used in the preaching slides. Using a compelling anchor image can maximize the effectiveness of God’s message in your congregation’s lives through the following week.

Here are some key ways to increase message effectiveness through the use of visuals.
  1. Be consistent. Use a consistent visual theme and metaphor throughout a series, and connect God’s principles to daily life with a specific “trigger.” Take, for example, a series based on Philippians 3:14: “I press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus.” Choose a concept that fits your church, be it running shoes, thoroughbred horses or race cars. Pick a theme and run with it to help create a consistent anchor in the mind of each congregant.
  2. Set the stage. Changing the environment at the start of a new series will help your church members associate the new message to a new phase of learning. This will help them engage more and get them ready to apply the principles to their lives.
  3. Connect the dots. Use different forms of anchors to paint a single picture. An image of a runner crossing the finish line, pared with a story about a Christian runner, and an object lesson about keeping your shoe laces tied will add up to a message that people will remember when they put their shoes on in the morning, or see someone jogging down the street.

The anchor image is a powerful principle that can increase the effectiveness of your preaching. Have you used an anchor image in practice? What were the results? We would love to hear your feedback. Just email us at info@sermonview.com.

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