Easy Wins – Learning The Lean-Forward Introduction

This “Easy Wins” series is intended to help you preach and teach with greater clarity, creativity, and passion. Each post will address one element in the process, creation, and delivery of a message. These are not “the only way to do it.”  Instead, they are things I’ve discovered and implemented in my own 20+ years of preaching. If you use them, I think you’ll find they are easy wins for your ministry.

TOPIC: How To Intro Your Message (aka, The Case For The Lean-Forward Introduction)

You’ve successfully done the PREIntroduction that gets everything set on a solid foundation. You’ve prayed over the preaching of God’s Word.

Now what? How do you now continue the positive momentum into the content you are delivering?

The Easy Win for this is: The Lean Forward Introduction. A concise (the “lean”), interesting (the “forward”) approach to connect to the people and have them “leaning forward” to hear what comes next.

Here’s the HOW:

1) Know Where You Are Driving – The Lean Forward Introduction begins with you knowing exactly where your message is going. How can you get the people thinking about that theme/principle/lesson right now? 

An example: As I preached through the life of Samson, I did a message on Judges 15. This is a chapter where everyone does the wrong thing – Samson is continuing his sinful choices and the men of Israel seize him to give him to the enemy. It should have been the prime years of an amazing time, but instead everything crumbles due to sin.

I utilized the song “Have You Ever Seen The Rain?”by Creedence Clearwater Revival as the lyrics connect strongly to the same theme. I knew the themes of the passage were pushing us to evaluate: how do I handle it when nothing goes right and the effects of sin are seemingly everywhere? So the lyrics of a song from a successful band that were crumbling at their prime seemed to give an echo of where the message was headed. If you know where you are driving towards, then the intro is a first chance to get the people thinking about it in a vibrant way. 

2) Choose Appropriate Tools – You can utilize a variety of options here such as: personal stories, cultural examples, historical people or events, even a lingering question, etc. 

I will use all of the above and also things such as: books I’ve been reading, sports, wrestling, board games, and video games. Those are things I’ve grown up with and its part of how I see the world. I think an effective communicator can and will use parts of their own life/interests/personality to make a strong impact. Be yourself, not an imitation of your favorite preachers. However, note the word “Appropriate.” When choosing your tool, give consideration to if it is beneficial to all who hear.

3) Seize It NOW – Don’t let the tool you choose linger or drag on. Get to the point and how it connects right now. Seize the initiative boldly and quickly. Connect that tool to where the message is going and then move to the next step. One of the most common errors a preacher can make is a meandering introduction. Even an interesting introduction can overstay its welcome and momentum can be lost. Seize it now!

4) Prize Clarity And Cuts – You’ve crafted a sizzling Lean Forward Intro? Good, now go back and trim it down. Revise it. Cut away extra sentences. Your goal is clarity – can the people see the connection between the tool you are using and the general direction you are laying out? Make it clear and concise. This step is hard but rewarding. 

5) Help Them See Structure – As you conclude the introduction, make plain the key points of the message. I believe in outlines and 2-3 key points for the simple fact that it assists the listeners in understanding the bigger picture. I want them to be clear on: what exactly the message is about, and how the message will be organized.

Here’s The Why:

1) Establish Importance – A lean-forward introduction sets the stakes for the listeners. Here is what we are looking at and here’s exactly why it matters. They can see right away why this sermon or lesson is worthwhile.

2) Audience Engaged – When you prepare and execute a lean-forward introduction, the people will be better prepared to stay focused. Whether your intro leaves them laughing, or thinking, or questioning…. if done well, it gets their buy-in for the rest of the message.

3) Follow The Flow – When done properly, a lean-forward introduction allows you to layout the structure of where the message is going. Then, people can follow along much easier for the rest of the time.

4) First Opportunity For Velcro – The introduction is your initial chance to start adding the connections/memorable-ness to the listener’s lives. Don’t miss this. No matter what tool you use (illustration, story, humor, questions, lyrics, etc), you can begin the process of making the message more memorable. A lean-forward introduction makes it stick!

That is the how and whys of the Lean Forward Introduction. Keep the positive momentum going and take the people with you!

**Be sure to check out the Easy Wins page on the blog where you will find more topics just like this. No expensive course or paywall here – my goal for the series is to bless and help others as they seek to improve. 

If you have a topic or question about preaching you’d like to see addressed here, email me at joshhumbert@gmailcom. If you’re interested in me delivering these as live training/development sessions, contact me through email.**

Thanks for reading.  Your comments and insights are always welcomed.  If you enjoyed this, please share it.  Want more content?  Check the archives, my youtube channel, or listen to me on the Cross-Cutting Culture Podcast.