Can An Old Dog Learn New Tricks?

Andy Stanley and Lane Jones offer uniquely practical advice to contemporary preachers in their book, communicating for a Change.  Clearly Andy Stanley has made it a lifelong ambition to communicate in a way that would be both memorable and life changing.  His creativity is evident from the very beginning of the book as he turned loose his associate, Lane Jones, to create a parable introducing the reader to his theory in a disarming story about a frustrated preacher who gets advice from a truck driver evangelist.

Some readers will find Stanley’s approach to preaching alarming as he advocates single point preaching and makes a very convincing argument in favor of preaching “without notes or manuscript”.  The argument for the memorability of a single point convinced me to adopt this strategy long ago.  Likewise I discovered many years ago that the internalization required to preach without notes was well worth the effort in enabling me to connect with my people.  What surprised me as I read, however, were the many tips and tools Stanley reveals that help create structure and aid in both preparation and presentation.  I simply haven’t run across a more useful set of “tricks of the trade” before.  This is an engaging read for a preacher!

Stanley question that most intrigued me and continues to spark my thinking, is posed early in the book:  “What is your goal in preaching?”  A good story teller, Lane raises the question in the voice of his truck driver evangelist and doesn’t answer it until he is most of the way through his story and about half way through the book. 

Stanley says his goal in preaching is changed lives.  One sees this goal articulated in the title of the book, Communicating for a Change.  Lane articulates the goal in the voice of his truck driver who says, “I want to see their (people’s) lives changed to reflect the love of Christ.” (p. 84)   Stanley says it again in his more didactic section.  He writes, “(The goal) is to teach people how to live a life that reflects the values, principles, and truths of the Bible.  In short, my goal is change.  I want them to do something different instead of just think about it.”  (p. 95) The goal drives Stanley’s preaching structure as everything moves toward applying the message of scripture in ways that change individual lives. 

Coming from a preaching tradition that has long focused on changing thinking or belief, I am quite fascinated by this alternative and am enjoying tinkering with my own approach to preaching.  For anyone who is new to preaching and especially for anyone who has been preaching a while, Communicating for a change offers fresh ideas and lots of “hands on” tips.  It is as practical as Stanley’s preaching seeks to be.