Unless we challenge our hearers to respond to God’s Word, we’ve only given them biblical information without telling them what to do with it. Our sermon is incomplete until we call for a specific response to the passage (cf. James 1:22). Whether you prefer the term “response” or “invitation,” consider 5 ways to help your listeners respond to the Word.
- Think about the response throughout your study. As you study, note what the passage requires of its listeners. Consider, for example, what the text teaches about God and our relationship to Him. Write down some specific possibilities for response. You might or might not include all of these ideas in the call for response, but at this point you are merely intentionally thinking about the response in the same way you intentionally think about illustration and application.
- Weave the response into the conclusion. Don’t think of your sermon conclusion as an end to the message, but as a conveyer for the response. See that your conclusion leads naturally to a call for hearers to respond to the specific teaching of God’s Word. After you have summarized the points of your sermon, for example, you might say something like, “But it’s not enough for us just to know these truths; God expects us to live them out this week”—and then move into a specific call for response.
- Address believers and unbelievers in the response. When calling listeners to respond to the Word, be sure to address both Christians and non-Christians. Most in attendance are likely believing church members, so we should be clear in telling them how to live out the truths we have preached. We must also challenge unbelievers to consider the claims of Christ and turn to Him for salvation.
- Write what you plan to say during the response. My preaching tends to be more effective when I have taken time to write out a meaningful call for response. Writing down what we plan to say doesn’t necessarily mean taking our writing into the pulpit or reading from a manuscript, but it helps us carefully think about what to say and how best to say it. Because writing brings clarity, we tend to speak with greater confidence and precision.
- Be specific in the response. Rather than concluding the sermon with a vague prayer like, “God, help us live these truths,” address your listeners directly and specifically as you call for action: e.g., “You may be saved, but you’ve allowed sin to ensnare you this week. Take time right now to confess silently to God” or, “Thank God now for making you a ‘new creation.’” Be sure listeners know exactly where to go to get more information about following Christ, joining the church, or getting answers to questions they may have.
Pastors: how do you include a call for response in your preaching?
