You don't need to talk to them like children, but you do need to think long and hard about how your language and terminology is connecting with the real world of the listener. That may mean finding other, more contemporary, ways to communicate heavy theological terms. And if you need to use those theological terms, explain and define them. Many seminarians don't fully understand what sanctification or salvation means, so how can the average church audience (especially those from an unchurched background) be expected to grasp terms like that?

Remember: if you cannot explain something in a simple way, you don't really understand it. It's easy for us to talk over people's heads by using theological jargon or by speaking "Christianese," but then we're not explaining ideas in simple terms that meet people where they are. On the other hand, when we communicate biblical principles in clear, relevant language, powerful communication occurs.

Concentrate on Bookends. The bookends are the introduction and conclusion. The introduction, in my opinion, is the most important aspect of the message. In the first ninety seconds of your talk, people are attentive and curious, but you must give them a compelling reason to continue the journey with you for the next 25 to 30 minutes.

One Sunday after the service, my wife and I flew to Tulsa and then drove about three hours to a place in Missouri. As we drove to Missouri, we paid close attention to the road signs. We need road signs in strange cities because they tell us how to get where we are going. I have heard too many messages that feature an attractive speaking voice, funny stories, and dramatic illustrations but lack clear direction. The listener is stranded out the middle of unknown territory without any road signs.

The introduction is the first crucial step in providing that much-needed direction to your listeners, who are wondering: Where is this speaker going to take me? You have just a few minutes to impart that the destination is worth the ride. If they find the first leg of the journey unappealing or irrelevant, you have lost them for the duration.

That doesn't mean that you have to give your entire outline during the introduction. It's OK to keep them wondering what's coming next or to build tension in the sermon. In fact, I recommend a lot of tension. You just need to give them enough direction to get them to the next sign. Every road sign leads to the next and gives hints as to the final destination. Effective communicators reveal the final destination at the end, building a case from the beginning as to why listeners should pay attention. You've got to give them a reason to listen, even if it is just to relieve the tension that you've built along the way. A good introduction can hook the audience and allow you to reel them in little by little until you have reached the final conclusion.

Everything you say in the introduction must be purposeful and related to your big idea. Don't walk behind your Plexiglas pulpit or lectern, turn, and say, "Thank you, choir. That reminds me of a joke. You know Roy Clark one time said . . ." if Roy Clark doesn't have anything to do with your big idea. Everything you communicate from the moment you stand up must contribute to the big idea.