WEBVTT
00:00:00.239 --> 00:00:04.559
Today, we're talking about preaching for life change.
00:00:04.799 --> 00:00:15.919
The reason some communicators can inspire change and others don't is because great communicators understand the answer to this one question.
00:00:16.239 --> 00:00:17.440
Think about this.
00:00:17.679 --> 00:00:28.160
You might have a great outline with great points, but how do you actually deliver a sermon that sparks people to action?
00:00:28.800 --> 00:00:33.119
Preaching with passion and inspiration is a skill.
00:00:33.200 --> 00:00:37.280
And it's one of the hardest things to learn when you're starting to preach.
00:00:37.439 --> 00:00:40.240
But here's the good news there is a way.
00:00:40.479 --> 00:00:48.079
I listen to sermons every week, including some of the most influential communicators in the world.
00:00:48.399 --> 00:00:54.159
And every great sermon has this one thing in common this question.
00:00:54.479 --> 00:00:57.280
So in this video, I'm going to break it all down.
00:00:57.439 --> 00:01:04.000
This is a proven and powerful question to help you preach for life change.
00:01:04.159 --> 00:01:15.359
And by the way, I'm Brian Cox, and I've been preaching and teaching for over 25 years, and I've helped many pastors put together some great sermons.
00:01:15.840 --> 00:01:20.719
All right, let's dive in and talk about this powerful question.
00:01:31.439 --> 00:01:39.040
Before we can answer this question, we must understand the psychology behind it.
00:01:39.359 --> 00:01:44.719
I call this first point the mindset principle of motivation.
00:01:45.200 --> 00:01:48.400
Because mindset shapes everything.
00:01:48.640 --> 00:01:50.159
It's a simple equation.
00:01:50.480 --> 00:01:54.079
Mindset plus emotion equals action.
00:01:54.480 --> 00:02:01.840
In other words, what you think creates what you feel, and what you feel drives what you do.
00:02:02.159 --> 00:02:03.680
Here's an example.
00:02:04.000 --> 00:02:05.280
Take flying.
00:02:05.439 --> 00:02:06.560
Some people love it.
00:02:06.719 --> 00:02:08.879
Some people are terrified of it.
00:02:09.120 --> 00:02:13.120
The moment they step on a plane, their mind starts racing.
00:02:13.439 --> 00:02:15.520
What if this thing crashes?
00:02:15.840 --> 00:02:22.719
That thought triggers an emotion, which is fear, and fear produces an action.
00:02:22.960 --> 00:02:26.560
Maybe they refuse to fly and take the bus instead.
00:02:26.879 --> 00:02:32.240
Their mindset led to emotion, and the emotion led to action.
00:02:32.960 --> 00:02:34.159
Here's another one.
00:02:34.400 --> 00:02:41.199
I know someone who believes church and religion are nothing more but a scam.
00:02:41.520 --> 00:02:44.560
They actually use stronger words than that.
00:02:44.800 --> 00:02:52.400
So whenever they see a Bible or hear a preacher, it instantly triggers anger and resentment.
00:02:52.639 --> 00:02:54.479
And what action follows?
00:02:54.800 --> 00:03:01.599
They refuse to set foot in a church or be a part of any faith community.
00:03:01.840 --> 00:03:02.800
That's sad.
00:03:03.280 --> 00:03:05.599
But that's the power of mindset.
00:03:05.840 --> 00:03:12.080
It shapes your heart, it stirs your emotions, it pushes you into action.
00:03:12.319 --> 00:03:17.039
Think about it this way: you nor I can read people's minds.
00:03:17.120 --> 00:03:18.800
That's probably a good thing.
00:03:19.039 --> 00:03:22.800
But here's what we can do: we can predict people.
00:03:23.360 --> 00:03:27.520
And if there's one thing I know to be true about people, it's this.
00:03:27.919 --> 00:03:31.759
People are always thinking about themselves.
00:03:32.240 --> 00:03:33.599
I'm not being negative.
00:03:33.759 --> 00:03:34.879
I'm not judging.
00:03:35.039 --> 00:03:36.639
I'm just being honest.
00:03:36.960 --> 00:03:42.000
This truth explains a lot about people and why they do what they do.
00:03:42.240 --> 00:03:47.680
Whether they lean in to listen to you or tune you out completely.
00:03:48.000 --> 00:03:54.400
In fact, you could say we're all shaped by a mindset, a mindset formed over time.
00:03:55.120 --> 00:04:03.680
The way we think becomes the way we believe, and those beliefs end up driving every choice we make.
00:04:03.919 --> 00:04:11.280
To help you understand this on a deeper level, I want to break these mindsets into two categories.
00:04:11.520 --> 00:04:16.240
There's the positive mindset, and there's the negative mindset.
00:04:16.560 --> 00:04:19.920
Let's start with the positive mindset first.
00:04:20.319 --> 00:04:21.920
Here's a good definition.
00:04:22.399 --> 00:04:33.439
Positive thinking is a mental and emotional attitude that focuses on the bright side of life and expects positive results.
00:04:33.680 --> 00:04:38.879
For example, every year my family and I go on vacation.
00:04:39.120 --> 00:04:45.120
And here's the thing: I never have to convince myself or talk my family into going.
00:04:45.680 --> 00:04:46.319
Why?
00:04:46.800 --> 00:04:49.920
Because I already know what's waiting for me.
00:04:50.240 --> 00:04:56.480
Great food, the beach, a book in my hand, time with family and friends.
00:04:56.959 --> 00:04:59.759
That's a positive mindset in action.
00:04:59.920 --> 00:05:03.920
I don't dread it, I don't fight it, I look forward to it.
00:05:04.160 --> 00:05:04.639
Why?
00:05:04.879 --> 00:05:06.639
Because I know why.
00:05:07.199 --> 00:05:15.279
And that why creates a mindset that motivates me, then I want to be there.
00:05:16.240 --> 00:05:18.720
Then there's the negative mindset.
00:05:18.959 --> 00:05:20.560
Here's a good definition.
00:05:21.040 --> 00:05:30.160
A negative mindset is a pattern of thinking that focuses on problems, failures, and potential outcomes.
00:05:30.639 --> 00:05:37.920
Here's how a negative mindset can be good for us, though, and it can motivate us to action.
00:05:38.160 --> 00:05:43.199
It's like stepping on a scale and realizing all right, it's time to exercise.
00:05:43.360 --> 00:05:55.199
Getting a bad grade in school, that motivates you to hit the books harder, or even going through a traumatic event that shifts the way you think about life.
00:05:55.519 --> 00:06:02.720
Both of these mindsets, positive and negative, are what push us to action.
00:06:02.879 --> 00:06:08.560
Here's another way to say it change your mindset, and you'll change your motivation.
00:06:09.120 --> 00:06:19.040
As preachers and communicators, we must always keep the mindsets of people in mind with every sermon we create.
00:06:19.439 --> 00:06:28.160
Think through each point, through each scripture verse, knowing the people who are listening have already been programmed to think a certain way.
00:06:28.800 --> 00:06:35.600
Our job is to help them see the truth and take action to a better life.
00:06:36.079 --> 00:06:42.720
That point was super important, but if you don't couple it with this, the magic is lost.
00:06:42.879 --> 00:06:46.160
I call this the game changer question.
00:06:46.319 --> 00:06:51.439
When you ask this question correctly, it will make any sermon inspiring.
00:06:51.600 --> 00:06:54.639
But before I reveal this question, let me ask you this.
00:06:54.879 --> 00:07:01.600
What makes some leaders' sermons inspire action while others struggle to connect?
00:07:01.759 --> 00:07:05.439
Think back to time you heard a speaker who really moved you.
00:07:05.759 --> 00:07:12.000
Chances are it wasn't just because of what they said or how well they explained it.
00:07:12.240 --> 00:07:14.720
It was because you felt their passion.
00:07:14.959 --> 00:07:16.800
You caught their why.
00:07:17.360 --> 00:07:22.560
See, that's the difference in speaking to the head and speaking to the heart.
00:07:22.959 --> 00:07:29.199
Even 2,000 years ago, Aristotle taught that persuasion connects both.
00:07:29.360 --> 00:07:31.120
And now science backs that up.
00:07:31.279 --> 00:07:38.800
Emotions don't just color our choices, they shape our memory and they guide our decisions.
00:07:38.959 --> 00:07:48.160
So if you want people not only to listen, but to remember and act, you can't just focus on what the how or the what.
00:07:48.639 --> 00:07:51.040
You have to start with why.
00:07:51.199 --> 00:07:52.560
Why should they listen?
00:07:52.879 --> 00:07:57.600
Why this matters to me and why this should matter to you.
00:07:57.839 --> 00:08:00.800
This emotional part leads to every decision.
00:08:01.040 --> 00:08:07.680
This idea, this powerful question, this game-changing question is this.
00:08:08.399 --> 00:08:10.800
Why do they need to know this?
00:08:11.040 --> 00:08:12.560
Let me say that again.
00:08:12.879 --> 00:08:15.360
Why do they need to know this?
00:08:15.600 --> 00:08:19.439
Because the why, it goes straight to our emotions.
00:08:19.600 --> 00:08:23.040
It can stir up joy, it can stir up anger.
00:08:23.360 --> 00:08:25.360
Either way, it moves us.
00:08:25.439 --> 00:08:30.879
And once emotion gets involved, action always follows.
00:08:31.120 --> 00:08:31.920
Here's the truth.
00:08:32.000 --> 00:08:37.679
If someone has a why that's bigger than their fear, they'll do it.
00:08:38.080 --> 00:08:44.000
If someone has a why that's bigger than their fear, they'll do it.
00:08:44.159 --> 00:08:50.639
And I want to show you an example of how powerful a why can be.
00:08:50.879 --> 00:09:01.279
I was watching a clip from an incredible comedian, Michael Jr., and he was demonstrating the power of why in his concert.
00:09:01.519 --> 00:09:03.120
I want to show you that.
00:09:03.279 --> 00:09:04.639
I think you're going to enjoy it.
00:09:04.799 --> 00:09:05.679
Watch this.
00:09:07.120 --> 00:09:08.159
Yo, how do I know?
00:09:08.240 --> 00:09:12.240
A lot of people, when they think of the phrase, how do I know, they always want to put the what behind it.
00:09:12.320 --> 00:09:14.559
How do I know what I'm supposed to do?
00:09:15.360 --> 00:09:18.879
The question that you really should ask is, how do I know why I'm here?
00:09:19.039 --> 00:09:24.720
Because when you know your why, your what becomes more clear and more impactful.
00:09:25.759 --> 00:09:30.720
If you know, like for instance, um, people know that I do comedy, but that's what I do.
00:09:30.960 --> 00:09:33.679
My why is to inspire people to walk in purpose.
00:09:33.840 --> 00:09:41.919
So I can do comedy, I can write books, I can be in a movie because all of it is motivated by my why.
00:09:42.399 --> 00:09:47.360
In fact, I have a new uh a new web series out called Michael Junior Break Time.
00:09:47.519 --> 00:09:49.759
Uh we probably just did the sixth episode.
00:09:49.840 --> 00:09:50.639
It's on YouTube.
00:09:50.799 --> 00:09:57.200
So every single Wednesday at 3 o'clock, we drop a new episode on YouTube of Michael Junior Break Time.
00:09:57.360 --> 00:09:58.480
What it is, is it's me.
00:09:58.559 --> 00:10:01.679
I travel around the country and I do stand-up comedy, in case you didn't know.
00:10:03.039 --> 00:10:08.159
And in the middle of my comedy set, sometime I'll stop and just talk to my audience.
00:10:08.399 --> 00:10:12.960
And we've been filming this, and it's, you know, it's it's pretty cool.
00:10:13.120 --> 00:10:15.039
So we're in Winston, Salem.
00:10:15.120 --> 00:10:17.120
I'm gonna show you a clip from Winston, Salem.
00:10:17.200 --> 00:10:23.120
And I'm just talking to this guy in the audience, and he tells me that he's a uh a musical instructor at a school.
00:10:23.279 --> 00:10:25.440
So I was like, all right, you're a musical instructor, you know.
00:10:25.519 --> 00:10:26.080
Can you sing?
00:10:26.240 --> 00:10:27.600
Let me hear you sing a song.
00:10:27.679 --> 00:10:30.799
So this is what happened at the last episode of Michael Jr.'s break time.
00:10:31.039 --> 00:10:31.679
Check it.
00:10:32.720 --> 00:10:34.000
So you're musical director.
00:10:34.320 --> 00:10:34.720
Yes, sir.
00:10:34.960 --> 00:10:39.360
All right, so um, let me get a couple, let me get a couple bars of like uh amazing grace.
00:10:39.519 --> 00:10:40.399
Can you do the first part of that?
00:10:40.480 --> 00:10:41.519
Let me go ahead.
00:10:56.879 --> 00:10:58.159
Like me.
00:11:00.559 --> 00:11:01.759
That brought a sing.
00:11:01.919 --> 00:11:03.039
You know what I'm saying?
00:11:07.039 --> 00:11:16.720
Now, won't you give me the version is if uh your uncle just got out of jail, you got shot in the back when you was a kid.
00:11:16.960 --> 00:11:20.399
I'm just saying, let me see the hood version real quick if you know which version I'm talking about.
00:11:20.480 --> 00:11:21.440
Just see if that exists.
00:11:21.600 --> 00:11:22.879
Let me see what you got.
00:12:30.960 --> 00:12:31.279
Okay.
00:12:31.759 --> 00:12:34.879
Um here's what I want you to catch.
00:12:35.120 --> 00:12:38.639
The first time I asked him to sing, he knew what he was doing.
00:12:39.039 --> 00:12:42.480
The second time, he knew why he was doing it.
00:12:43.440 --> 00:12:51.519
When you know your why, your what becomes more impactful because you're walking towards or in your purpose.
00:12:52.159 --> 00:12:59.200
You can just feel the emotion in his singing because he found his why.
00:12:59.440 --> 00:13:00.720
I know what you're thinking.
00:13:00.879 --> 00:13:02.399
I'm not that emotional.
00:13:02.559 --> 00:13:06.559
Okay, but here's the truth: you're more emotional than you think.
00:13:06.799 --> 00:13:09.200
We are all emotional beings.
00:13:09.360 --> 00:13:10.720
Let me prove it to you.
00:13:10.960 --> 00:13:15.120
Have you ever been driving down the road when someone cuts you off?
00:13:15.279 --> 00:13:16.559
What happened next?
00:13:16.720 --> 00:13:21.440
Did you wave politely and start singing, oh, how I love Jesus?
00:13:21.679 --> 00:13:23.039
No, probably not.
00:13:23.279 --> 00:13:25.360
My guess is you got frustrated.
00:13:25.600 --> 00:13:34.480
Maybe you whispered a few words under your breath or offered a hand signal that supposedly points people toward heaven.
00:13:34.720 --> 00:13:35.440
Think about it.
00:13:35.600 --> 00:13:43.679
We all feel the same six core emotions: sadness, happiness, fear, anger, surprise, and disgust.
00:13:43.840 --> 00:13:46.879
And those emotions, they shape our choices.
00:13:47.120 --> 00:13:55.519
They can determine who we fall in love with, who we can't stand, the house we buy, or the car we drive.
00:13:55.679 --> 00:13:57.279
Why do I bring this up?
00:13:57.440 --> 00:14:01.200
What does road raids have to do with speaking?
00:14:01.519 --> 00:14:02.159
Simple.
00:14:02.720 --> 00:14:05.600
Emotion drives everything.
00:14:05.919 --> 00:14:09.360
It's the single biggest motivator in our lives.
00:14:09.679 --> 00:14:12.879
Emotion hits us at the heart of our why.
00:14:13.120 --> 00:14:14.159
Why am I here?
00:14:14.399 --> 00:14:15.759
What is my purpose?
00:14:15.919 --> 00:14:22.000
And when you speak to the heart of the people you're teaching, it changes and inspires them.
00:14:22.399 --> 00:14:31.200
Understanding this about your audience makes it a game changer for your sermons because now you're speaking to the heart, not just the mind.
00:14:31.360 --> 00:14:33.600
I've read many books on communication.
00:14:33.679 --> 00:14:41.120
I've listened to hundreds of sermons, and I've come up with this practical way to answer this question, why?
00:14:41.360 --> 00:14:42.639
I want to show you this.
00:14:42.799 --> 00:14:52.000
I think if you apply this to your sermons, it will make it easier and simpler to find that answer to why.
00:14:52.399 --> 00:14:55.200
Some of you may have heard this before.
00:14:55.440 --> 00:14:57.519
It's an old preacher trick.
00:14:57.679 --> 00:14:59.600
It's called an acrostic.
00:15:00.000 --> 00:15:06.080
You take a word, then you use each letter in that word to help you remember something important.
00:15:06.559 --> 00:15:10.559
I created an acrostic with the word why.
00:15:10.879 --> 00:15:12.799
I break it down like this.
00:15:13.279 --> 00:15:18.639
The first letter stands for what truth are you sharing?
00:15:18.879 --> 00:15:24.960
What piece of God's truth will your audience take with them and hold on to?
00:15:25.120 --> 00:15:26.559
So let me give you an example.
00:15:26.799 --> 00:15:30.559
Recently I was preaching from Joshua 1.8.
00:15:31.120 --> 00:15:32.960
And some of you may know this verse.
00:15:33.039 --> 00:15:42.159
It talks about when we read and meditate on the word of God, if we'll do that daily, day and night, we will be successful.
00:15:42.399 --> 00:15:48.480
So after reading that and understanding the context, I came up with this statement of truth.
00:15:48.720 --> 00:15:56.000
When you read and meditate on God's word, we will be successful and prosperous.
00:15:56.159 --> 00:16:00.639
That's the simple truth I want my audience to know.
00:16:00.879 --> 00:16:04.559
That's the gold I want them to carry home.
00:16:04.799 --> 00:16:11.519
So now that we know this, we move on to the next letter in our word, which is H.
00:16:12.159 --> 00:16:16.960
And it stands for high stake questions.
00:16:17.679 --> 00:16:22.080
Next, you must ask these three high stake questions.
00:16:22.799 --> 00:16:26.720
And when you do this, you'll begin to find your why.
00:16:26.879 --> 00:16:32.559
You should think about everyone in the room, young, old, from every walk of life.
00:16:33.120 --> 00:16:40.159
Also keep the two mindsets in mind, the positive and the negative, as you ask these questions.
00:16:40.480 --> 00:16:43.919
So here's our first high stake question.
00:16:44.240 --> 00:16:50.159
What's at stake for you as the teacher if you don't apply this truth?
00:16:50.399 --> 00:16:54.879
You have to own this truth before you can teach this to anyone.
00:16:55.039 --> 00:16:57.759
You have to live it, not just teach it.
00:16:57.919 --> 00:16:59.279
Here is our truth again.
00:16:59.360 --> 00:17:00.639
Let me share it with you.
00:17:00.960 --> 00:17:08.000
When you read and meditate on God's word, you will be successful and prosperous.
00:17:08.240 --> 00:17:12.960
You must ask yourself, what does this mean to me personally?
00:17:13.599 --> 00:17:15.279
Well, here's a few examples.
00:17:15.440 --> 00:17:21.039
Here's what's at stake for me if I was teaching this sermon, my spiritual walk.
00:17:21.279 --> 00:17:27.759
If I'm not reading the Bible and I'm not meditating on it, then I can't be effective in my teaching.
00:17:28.079 --> 00:17:34.160
See, I'm responsible to carry and lead people spiritually.
00:17:34.400 --> 00:17:40.640
And if I show up unprepared, I could actually point someone in the wrong direction.
00:17:40.880 --> 00:17:43.599
See, the stakes aren't small, they're real.
00:17:44.000 --> 00:17:51.440
And that's why for me, preparation, study, personal applications aren't optional.
00:17:51.680 --> 00:17:52.880
They're essential.
00:17:53.359 --> 00:17:59.440
Now that I understand what is at stake for me, I move on to the next question.
00:17:59.759 --> 00:18:02.720
What's at stake for the community?
00:18:02.880 --> 00:18:04.480
This is our second question.
00:18:04.799 --> 00:18:07.039
What's at stake for the community?
00:18:07.359 --> 00:18:11.680
You must make this real for the people you're speaking to.
00:18:11.920 --> 00:18:16.240
Think about your own neighborhood, your town, your church.
00:18:16.400 --> 00:18:19.839
What's at stake for them without this truth?
00:18:20.079 --> 00:18:27.440
I listed a few thoughts on what our community could look like without this truth applied.
00:18:27.920 --> 00:18:32.640
Without the church, without the Bible, a lack of hope.
00:18:32.880 --> 00:18:36.400
A community without God can feel dark and empty.
00:18:36.559 --> 00:18:37.440
Make it tangible.
00:18:37.599 --> 00:18:40.480
Share examples your audience will recognize.
00:18:40.720 --> 00:18:43.680
Show them the cost of inaction.
00:18:43.839 --> 00:18:45.599
What's at stake for the world?
00:18:45.759 --> 00:18:48.240
Our third question: what's at stake for the world?
00:18:48.480 --> 00:18:50.880
Step back and see the bigger picture.
00:18:51.200 --> 00:19:00.799
A lost world, millions of people who may never experience Jesus if we don't meditate and learn and pray on God's word.
00:19:01.039 --> 00:19:02.240
That's a big deal.
00:19:02.480 --> 00:19:06.640
If we as Christians don't embrace this truth, the world loses.
00:19:07.200 --> 00:19:14.400
The world will never know God if the church doesn't step up and embrace the word and live it out.
00:19:14.640 --> 00:19:15.839
See how that works.