Smoothing Out the Landing
E. K. Bailey
October 1, 1997
When I fly, only two brief periods—the takeoff and the landing—make me anxious. Most airplane crashes occur during these crucial periods, so that's when I'm listening carefully to the engines, feeling for any unusual tremors, sniffing for the scent of smoke, and watching for fear in the faces of the flight attendants. Between the beginning and the end, I can relax and get some work done.
Listening to a sermon elicits similar periods of anxiety. If our introduction is clear, and people sense the preacher knows where he or she is going, everyone can relax and listen. But when the flight time has elapsed, people begin to anticipate the landing is near, and anxiety can rise again. When I've failed to land a sermon effectively, it is often because I have not given it the study time I should have. I end up circling the field two or three times. Folks keep thinking Surely he'll land it this time.
A great sermon not only starts well, it ends well. Here's what I've learned about getting the plane down safely, on time, at its intended destination.
Where things go wrong
One reason for a bumpy landing is introducing new material in the conclusion. For example, I may illustrate my conclusion with another passage of Scripture, then realize halfway into it that folks don't make the connection, so I have to back up and explain it.
I must also refrain from the temptation to shoehorn into the conclusion something I recently read or heard at a conference. It's good stuff, I'm itching to preach it, but it's not organic to the body of the sermon.
Finally, there is no such thing as a generic conclusion. I cannot "run to the cross" if I have not spoken of the cross all morning. A great conclusion, like fine gravy, is made up of ...
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