What were the results from dozens of appeals?

A little while ago I was in a bible study which was discussing evangelism. During that discussion I realised that I could recall no fewer than 10 gospel presentations off the top of my head.

I realised while wondering about the times, over the decade-plus I was in youth ministry, that a gave a gospel presentation.

Although I’m familiar with two handfuls, I would usually stick with one gospel outline. Unsurprisingly, it’s the one I developed.

But, as a consider my ministry years, I wonder how many responded.

Frankly, I can think of three people I know who, at that moment, made a faith commitment for the first time. I’m aware that there’s around a dozen more who made a decision subsequently to my talk (this is what I usually encouraged people to do).

But, a dozen conversions doesn’t seem like a high strike rate from, I’d guess, around fifty appeals.

Of course, every person matters.
Every decision is both life and heaven changing.

Potentially, lots more people - completely unknown to me - made important steps of faith. Speaking at camps, larger events, school chapel services, scripture classes or at other youth groups would give these results. 

Furthermore, advances or recommitment to faith often go unrecorded and the majority of The young people in my ministry (and those in the congregation) were already believers.

And yet... I have the nagging inclination (which I guess a share with many) that my appeals, far too often, were unfruitful.

I think it was... who said...

C.S. Lewis
G.K. Chesterton
John Piper
Billy Graham
Jonathan Edwards
A.W. Tozer 
Charles Swindoll
Martin Luther
John Calvin
Constantine
Augustine

“I think it was (insert any of the names above) who said... (now insert whatever wisdom you desire).”

There are people within genres, in the above case Christianity/Christian culture/theology, who hold enough influence and have such a depth of literary content which makes attaching a quote to them both weighty and useless.

I could say they same thing about the historians Herodotus, Xenophon, Livy, Tacitus or Suetonius.

Really, you just need to avoid outright foolishness. After that? You can say whatever your heart desires...

The four audiences of a sermon

Whenever someone makes a speech or does a sermon, especially one which is recorded, there are four audiences...

The first is those who are in the mind of the speaker, which the elements of the talk are crafted towards.

Second are those who are physically present when the talk is delivered live.

Third are those who access the talk from a geographic distance, be it through a recording at a later time or electronically live.

Finally, there are those who will be the second generation recipients. These people will hear the content of the talk though the recollection of another.

Each of these audiences need to be kept in mind of the speaker since they influence and are influenced differently.

Obviously the first audience influences the content of the speech. But, it is luck or coincidence if they ever hear the words intended for them.

The second audience is influential because they get the physical traits of the speaker and can, through their reactions, influence the flow of the speaker.

The third audience, while not the primary audience, should remind the speaker that their words travel further than the room they are speaking in and the people they are before. Electronically, their words could live forever.

Finally, the marker of an impactful talk is judged by the fourth audience. Can someone else convey the crux of your talk or display the change you were communicating?

Far too often a speaker, especially if they are giving a sermon in a church, only thinks of the second group. 

If anything, due to Covid, they will now be both increasingly aware of the third audience and better at communication to the electronic ear.