M I N I S T RY | P R E A C H I N G
Preaching and Lived Experience Three ways to make your messages more inclusive By SHANNON POLK few years ago, I was talking with a male colleague about the need for gender-inclusive language in the pulpit. He shook his head and said confidently, “Shannon, some things are gender neutral, like preaching.” I gently asked one question: “Have you ever preached while pregnant?” I wasn’t trying to be flippant, but I wanted my friend to realize many of his congregants have lived experiences that are quite different from his own. Failing to see that means missing opportunities to connect with them through the message. It takes intentionality to engage the group and compel the one. Sure, you can use an NFL analogy when talking about teamwork, but you could also draw from soccer, a sport girls and boys play around the world. Likewise, you could talk about hunting with your son to illustrate parenting, or you could choose a scenario to which more moms and dads in your congregation can relate, such as teaching a child to ride a bike.
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Summer 2021
