Comments on: If we preach a message and no one hears it, is it just noise? http://tonymorganlive.com/2007/04/15/if-we-preach-a-message-and-no-one-hears-it-is-it-just-noise/ Trying to be strategic. Wed, 23 May 2012 19:05:27 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.2 By: Jim W http://tonymorganlive.com/2007/04/15/if-we-preach-a-message-and-no-one-hears-it-is-it-just-noise/#comment-2677 Jim W Mon, 16 Apr 2007 18:58:29 +0000 http://tonymorgan.updatable.cc/?p=993#comment-2677 Perhaps we should instead remember that it is the Holy Spirit that moves people to listen or not. We are merely mouthpieces. Without the Holy Spirit to move the people of Jerusalem at Pentecost, Peter would have been just like your violinist, speaking wonderfully-to an unhearing crowd. Perhaps we should instead remember that it is the Holy Spirit that moves people to listen or not. We are merely mouthpieces. Without the Holy Spirit to move the people of Jerusalem at Pentecost, Peter would have been just like your violinist, speaking wonderfully-to an unhearing crowd.

]]> By: Tommy Mitchell http://tonymorganlive.com/2007/04/15/if-we-preach-a-message-and-no-one-hears-it-is-it-just-noise/#comment-2676 Tommy Mitchell Sun, 15 Apr 2007 23:24:46 +0000 http://tonymorgan.updatable.cc/?p=993#comment-2676 What an excellent post, Tony! You have great insights into preaching and connecting! This disconnect not only happens with the unchurched - it happens with the "churched" every Sunday!!!! What an excellent post, Tony! You have great insights into preaching and connecting! This disconnect not only happens with the unchurched – it happens with the “churched” every Sunday!!!!

]]> By: Derek http://tonymorganlive.com/2007/04/15/if-we-preach-a-message-and-no-one-hears-it-is-it-just-noise/#comment-2675 Derek Sun, 15 Apr 2007 22:54:17 +0000 http://tonymorgan.updatable.cc/?p=993#comment-2675 "If I could speak in any language in heaven or on earth but didn't love others, I would only be making meaningless noise like a loud gong or a clanging cymbal." (1 Cor 13:1) That verse immediately sprang into my mind when reading this. It's not about the greatest message, the greatest communicators, or the greatest venues. It's not about communicating louder, or clearer, or more relevantly, or more intellectually, or with more pizazz. People will only stop to listen to the message - and will only be able to truly understand the message - when they see it in the context of love. Our love for each other. And our willingness to love them. “If I could speak in any language in heaven or on earth but didn’t love others, I would only be making meaningless noise like a loud gong or a clanging cymbal.” (1 Cor 13:1)

That verse immediately sprang into my mind when reading this.

It’s not about the greatest message, the greatest communicators, or the greatest venues.

It’s not about communicating louder, or clearer, or more relevantly, or more intellectually, or with more pizazz.

People will only stop to listen to the message – and will only be able to truly understand the message – when they see it in the context of love. Our love for each other. And our willingness to love them.

]]> By: Karl Fisher http://tonymorganlive.com/2007/04/15/if-we-preach-a-message-and-no-one-hears-it-is-it-just-noise/#comment-2674 Karl Fisher Sun, 15 Apr 2007 19:29:54 +0000 http://tonymorgan.updatable.cc/?p=993#comment-2674 As a youth pastor with a degree in the violin, this hit home twice as much! The point about context regarding Bell's performance with an orchestra vs solo is a good reminder to me when in a ministry context I'm in front of a large group or small/one on one - both the people and the environment are different. As a youth pastor with a degree in the violin, this hit home twice as much! The point about context regarding Bell’s performance with an orchestra vs solo is a good reminder to me when in a ministry context I’m in front of a large group or small/one on one – both the people and the environment are different.

]]> By: Jon Sampson http://tonymorganlive.com/2007/04/15/if-we-preach-a-message-and-no-one-hears-it-is-it-just-noise/#comment-2673 Jon Sampson Sun, 15 Apr 2007 19:03:08 +0000 http://tonymorgan.updatable.cc/?p=993#comment-2673 I saw that when Seth posted it, too. Amazing story. My wife posted it on her <a href="http://gretedawn.blogspot.com/2007/04/street-music.html" rel="nofollow">blog</a> and got an interesting comment. She pointed to the blog of a woman who's a NYC subway musician. She said it wasn't the crowd's fault. It was Bell's. "The thing is Joshua Bell is a great violinist but he doesn’t know how to busk. There are violinists who are not even close to being as good as he is (such as Jim Grasec or Lorenzo LaRock), yet they get crowds to stop and listen to them." [more <a href="http://sawlady.com/blog/?p=27" rel="nofollow">here</a>] It's probably a little of both, but it leads to the same truths. We've got to communicate in a way that's appropriate to the context and in a way where the audience can 'get' it. The most talented speakers adapt. Churches must as well... I saw that when Seth posted it, too. Amazing story. My wife posted it on her blog and got an interesting comment. She pointed to the blog of a woman who’s a NYC subway musician. She said it wasn’t the crowd’s fault. It was Bell’s.

“The thing is Joshua Bell is a great violinist but he doesn’t know how to busk. There are violinists who are not even close to being as good as he is (such as Jim Grasec or Lorenzo LaRock), yet they get crowds to stop and listen to them.” [more here]

It’s probably a little of both, but it leads to the same truths. We’ve got to communicate in a way that’s appropriate to the context and in a way where the audience can ‘get’ it. The most talented speakers adapt. Churches must as well…

]]> By: Bryan http://tonymorganlive.com/2007/04/15/if-we-preach-a-message-and-no-one-hears-it-is-it-just-noise/#comment-2672 Bryan Sun, 15 Apr 2007 17:34:12 +0000 http://tonymorgan.updatable.cc/?p=993#comment-2672 The video at the original Washington Post article is cuh-lassic. It says it all and should be shown at every preaching conference. I've actually seen that same response from people in churches during the sermon. Great post, Tony. Oh by the way, when violins don't work, I always suggest obnoxiously loud guitars. But that's just me. The video at the original Washington Post article is cuh-lassic. It says it all and should be shown at every preaching conference. I’ve actually seen that same response from people in churches during the sermon. Great post, Tony.
Oh by the way, when violins don’t work, I always suggest obnoxiously loud guitars. But that’s just me.

]]> By: Chris http://tonymorganlive.com/2007/04/15/if-we-preach-a-message-and-no-one-hears-it-is-it-just-noise/#comment-2671 Chris Sun, 15 Apr 2007 16:57:45 +0000 http://tonymorgan.updatable.cc/?p=993#comment-2671 Maybe instead of even thinking about this illustration in terms of how we can "do ministry" better, we should be looking at it in the terms of us really seeing God and His beautiful masterpiece (the kingdom) each day. Maybe instead of even thinking about this illustration in terms of how we can “do ministry” better, we should be looking at it in the terms of us really seeing God and His beautiful masterpiece (the kingdom) each day.

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