Funny to get back to the basics but, Jesus’ approach to effectively engaging the souls around him obviously upset the traditionals around him… same true today.

I’ve worked with pastors who seemed to run towards edgy — while their language left me wondering: profanity as a tool to prove how un-traditional a church is? Seems like a throwback to Martin’s (Luther) experience when his guys starting killing and burning for “the cause”.

May God give you the wisdom to convey the pendulum swing of our various “movements” (emergent etc.) and the need for balance between edgy & traditional to change souls.

Hope to see you at the conference in October!

Paul Stein

Parachurch / Church Community Outreach Consultant

One of the best ways to effectively communicate a serious message without going over the top, in my experience, is to discuss an issue that the individuals may be familiar with, but with a slightly shifted perspective. Don’t focus on being “edgy” but focus on reaching them in a way that will help your audience readress a topic they’ve already “closed the book on.”

Some individuals would describe that as being “edgy,” but in reality it is simply trying to propel your audience into a thought-process that they would not normally or never contemplate with regard to the topic.

For example, “Back to School” is a wonderful time to discuss goals or commitments or righteousness, things that most cultures praise, especially churches. But what could be your perspective or focus that would shift the thought processes of your audience to the point to where they would revisit these ideas in a more vibrant, God-honoring way?

Maybe something along these lines—
“Commitment to any goal, such as righteousness, is a wonderful thing. But let me ask you this, are you committed to being righteous just for righteousness’s sake? Is your motive for pursuing righteousness to draw you to closer to God and become more like Christ, or is it to just be righteous? Can there be such a thing as an ungodly commitment to righteousness?” —

I know it’s not the best example but hopefully it can show an audience that not all commitments or pursuits of righteousness are God-honoring, despite their well established definition of being positive (a nice shift on motives). That could lead to an example of studying for tests simply to pass instead of learn, is that like a pharisee?, etc.

I hope this helps.

We are trying to battle through what is edgy here, and what works. I am looking at series times in relation to natural growth seasons and trying to hear from God. I battle in my mind, which direction to go during those natural growth times (like back to school times). No one here has done a billboard edgy (like sex, satan hates.. etc) here yet.

We really want to impact people, but sometimes i wrestle with where the lines of effectiveness vs over the top are in our community.

Any insight?

Thank you for the encouragement and kind words about Amy. She is amazing… and I am blessed!

If we focus on God and give out the truth, He draws in the lost! We do have to be careful to not cause our brothers to stumble. Not only that, but we have to build up each other! The world won’t do it. If we don’t, no one will. Do you think someone (lost) would rather be a part of people that are truly building up and have the most amazing community or something just edgy, but empty?

Craig, Amy is such a treasure. I love her heart for the Lord and her family! You are highly favored and blessed (eph.1)!

I agree. The audience does matter!

Bill,

You are right on. When I tried to copy others, it never worked. Keep being yourself.

Marcin,

I do think we should absolutely take the culture into account.

Richard,

Thanks for the comment.

Can others of you share your wisdom on what you’ve learned from effective edginess or mistakes?

It’s shameful that we sometimes feel we can’t address these types issues regardless of time/place/location.

Listening/watching you, Perry Noble and Steven Furtick, I find myself getting pumped up and saying, “That’s what I’m talkin about!” I’ll often try to copy the [sometimes] edgy approaches that you guys take. As much as I LOVE the way you guys put things, it sounds so fake when it comes out of my mouth. Right now I’m trying to find the style where I’m most effective. Thanks for this post, man. Keep on rockin!

Bill

As to the point of would you want your kids repeating what you’ve said…that applikes to more than preaching!

“…pollinating Paul’s flower.” Now that will stick.

Blake,

Thanks for your comment.

Last night someone asked about why Onesiphorus (2 Tim 1:16-18) got mentioned at all.

I’m not sure how, but I ended up comparing Paul to a tree that bears fruit. But a tree cannot bear fruit by itself - it must be pollinated by another tree. I then made the statement: “So basically, Onesiphorus pollinated Paul’s flower.”

Everyone stopped me and was like, “whoa! We’re not going there! This is a Bible Study!” That statement kind of grabbed their attention in a little different way from what I intended.

I was thinking about it later though, and I was really glad I said it that way - even though it wasn’t intended to have that effect. Every one of those kids will remember “Onesiphorus pollinated Paul’s flower.” But we went into enough on what I meant by that that they’ll also remember what it means. If we had just talked about how Onesiphorus refreshed Paul they would have been more likely to think “oh, that’s great” and then go home and forget about it.