Authentic and Transparent Communication
This week I’d like to discuss the value and necessity of authentic and transparent preaching.
Bring You
Every year, I personally mentor a handful of young speakers. Most of the speakers I work with don’t struggle with researching the text, preaching creatively, building meaningful outlines, or pointing people toward the gospel. Most of the communicators I see struggle to bring all of themselves to a message.
When you preach or teach, you must bring you. Without you in, around, and through the message, you will not impact today’s listener.
The younger audience today has a built in authenticity-meter. You can preach with passion, humor, clever points, or heart-wrenching stories. But if the scriptures haven’t touched your life, the listener will know it—and ignore your well-crafted message.
People want to know:
- How has the text affected you?
- How have you failed in the area the Scripture addresses?
- What about the text makes you uncomfortable?
- What do you feel about what Scripture is saying? (I know our feelings don’t trump scriptural truth, but talking about how we feel about the text can help engage others at a deeper level.)
- How are you becoming different because of your study in God’s word?
Which preachers do you listen to that do a good job of brining themselves into the message? How are you learning to “bring you” as a communicator?
Visit 
Hey!
Have a great week everyone!
I listened to these preachers and I think they bring THEM into the preaching: Craig Groeschel (obviously), Perry Noble, Steven Furtick, Ed Young, David Hormachea, Wayne Stiles, Chuck Swindoll, Matthew Brown, Greg Dumas, folks at Hillsong London, Northpoint pastor (don’t remember his name) and José Estrada (my dad).
It’s true: when they bring THEM into the preaching… they got IT.
Craig,
This past Sunday you did a great job being so real and connecting with our people. Loved the Gomer Pyle illustration. Our people roared with laughter. A lot of pastors would have a hard time talking so personal, but you added a little humor and that brought home an important point. You were a pastor and “real guy” at the same time.
Another pastor that does a great with authentic communication is Gary Lamb, I never have to wonder what he is thinking.
Andy Stanley also does a great job sharing his real life experiences while communicating.
See you at Catalyst One Day! Looking forward to more authentic communication!
By realizing that “bringing myself” is something valuable. I DO have a story to tell, people - as you say - want to hear about the “real life” of those teaching. That is inspiring to them and gives hope. I’m learning that being myself is a gift, not a detriment.
I think Bryan Loritts at Fellowship Memphis is one of these type preachers that you are talking about Craig. He, like Andy, had a head start on the rest of us because his father, Crawford Loritts, is such a great communicator.
I have just joined the teaching team at Fellowship and will start to preach this year. With today’s church goers being exposed to so many great communicators with the power of the internet…it really makes this responsibility more intimidating. But I think it will also challenge preachers/teachers to give their best and not slack because their people have the option to listen to those who are giving their all.
I totally agree with you Craig. Gone are the days of commanding, pulpiteering where “what I say goes.” That contributed as much to the clergy/laity split as about anything else…the pastor setting himself/herself up as “the authority.” These days the folks can spot a phony a mile away. I don’t have much time to listen but I do like to read transparent authors.
Dude, so why would I listen to other speakers when I got you? You rock and this weekend, you rocked!
Okay, so I do listen to others but one of my faves is Beth Moore. She is totally herself and often uses slang phrases that really make this Texas girl feel right at home
Brandon just told me the name: Andy Stanley at Northpoint!
Very important post. I believe this principle applies not only to “key speakers”, but also to youth leaders, small group leaders, etc.
Some I listen to that are authentic:
Greg Laurie
James McDonald
I’ve pastored the last 4 years in student ministry and can attest how vital the authenticity factor is in everything we do. Allowing the scripture to be lived out through you week after week is challenging, but a necessary part of communicating. I strive to be transparent (maybe sometimes too transparent) when I teach.
Which, of course, leads to the question, “How transparent is too transparent?” I’ve always tried to go by the rule that if the situation I’m being transparent with involves someone else, always get their permission first (especially if it is a family member).
The best example of bringing themselves into the message is my spiritual father and mentor Greg O’Boyle whom I worked with while in college. His family is now studying over in China to work with the Chinese people of Toronto…quite an amazing journey and story. He would always talk through the areas of a text that made him uncomfortable. Another great teacher would be Lee Powell (Cedarcreek.tv).
Thanks for the vital reminder Craig!
How does the saying go…”never trust a man (or woman) without a limp…” No one is perfect…I get concerned when I hear people say well brother so and so says you have to….and brother so and so says….about this for you to be happy….There is nothing wrong with recognizing a GREAT communicator but when we are talking more about the preacher’s opinion than God’s word and opinion…dun…dun…dun…dun…
Craig, you are a real person…who speaks in a “Real” tone ( tone MATTERS) and I agree with all of the above….I personally cannot connect with pageantry and shallow show in life (been there done that) …I click with people (in general) that my fam…could hang with and be real with…I honestly like to listen to anyone who “Owns” the fact that they “have not arrived but the are on a great journey”……
I’m not into brownie points, but here at LifeChurch.tv we do have it pretty good :). Lately I’ve also been listening to Kenton Boshers from Mariners Church in Irvine, CA. He’s a great communicator. Outside of Christian circles one of many is Benjamin Zander - check him out on TED.
I have found that it helps to ‘bring me’ into my message if I am talking about my talk all week long to people. I kind of say, ‘If the first time you talk about your talk is when you give your talk, please don’t give your talk.’ Marinate on it. Let your message expose things in you throughout the week and talk about it with others. When you do, not only will your passion increase, but your believability factor skyrockets.
I listen to Drischoll and Bell. I think these guys do a great job of talking about their depravity and are very “authentic” As well, Chan and McManus are also very good at this as well.
My question to everyone here is, when is being transparent to much? Meaning, when is it appropriate and when is it time to pull some things back. I was taught that it is important to be real and authentic, but not to always talk about yourself in your preaching. Trying not to use yourself in examples or illustrations is very hard for me, a lot of the time the message has shaped me in a new way that I have to share what it is doing in my life.
Is this bad authenticity?
In addition to my home church. http://www.lakepointe.org
I listen the Craig; I am actually leading a 4 week small group on parenting utilizing the Parenthood series. (Thanks for the wonderful resources!) We started last night and everyone really enjoyed the discussiong. (They especially likes the duct tape over one of Craig’s kids mouth)
Matt Chandler (The Village Church)
http://www.thevillagechurch.net
Tommy Nelson - (Denton Bible Church)http://www.dentonbible.org/
I’m in student ministry and it doesn’t take long to figure this out when you’re talking to high schoolers! Two things I’ve learned to do:
- Hang out with the students and let them see for themselves how the scriptures impact my life.
- Make my speaking outlines shorter. The more I study the text and the issue/concept, the easier it is to speak without detailed notes. When I speak without detailed notes I’m more casual, conversational, and real.
Gotta give a shout out to Francis Chan on this one. He always feels like he’s talking about what God just told him five minutes ago and he’s still at the processing it/passionate about it stage himself.
This weekend, Craig said several things that made me blush! Like Kyle L Reed just said, I thought maybe it was time to pull back just a touch.
But afterwards, when I was serving at our LifeGroups booth, I got fresh eyes again.
A woman who, not to be rude, could not possibly have been more different from Craig, said she loved hearing him because he was so real. He talked on her level. He didn’t make her feel like she didn’t belong. She also shared that she and the guy she came with weren’t married but had a daughter together. They felt convicted and yet they kept coming back for more.
Because of a tone of transparency and vulnerability (and the Holy Spirit!), the message was able to break through to people who were far away from ideal and still challenge them to grow and change.
I admire Andy Stanley’s approaches to communicating.
This post reminds me of the section “Find Your Voice” in his book “Communicating for a Change.” Good stuff.
A well-crafted message will always fall flat if it isn’t delivered through an honest and transparent vessel.
It is very liberating to be yourself and not some dry cleaned caricature of the real you.
The thing that always got in my way was the fear of man, I wanted to keep people happy, I didn’t want to offend anyone. The day God freed me from the fear of man was the day I stated to see real growth in my church. Now I stand in the pulpit as myself and it is a blast.
Guys like Craig & Perry were a big help in getting “free to be me” but Greg Laurie has probably influenced me more than any other communicator for the very reason of authenticity.
Good stuff Craig can’t wait to see what else you have this week.
The messages I have preached that generated the most positive comments were a result of putting the scripture into practice and seeing it through to the end. When I first entered the ministry, I really did not understand a storm. Pastoring for 18 years now, I could qualify as an amateur meteorologist. Living it speaks the loudest and clearest.
Craig…thank you for speaking what you have discussed here at C3! It was a pleasure to meet you and I thank God for how he is using you in the life of Brand New Church!
Craig,
Thank-you for posting such helpful tips and insights on a regular basis. It keeps me coming back and the few minutes I spend here are always valuable! I just recently became a lead pastor and work at a small church without any other pastors on staff… so swerve is a great gateway for me to glean from others who are further along!
Craig, I’m not sure how to say this bro. I hope you hear my heart in this comment, not as critical, but as curious… I love your content here on this post and I believe in what you are saying so much. But I frankly find it misleading. (unintentionally misleading)
You don’t bring yourself to people every week my friend. (can I call you friend?) You bring a representation of yourself, with no soul, no body, no real life, only a thin version of yourself. It’s probably better say, that you don’t bring yourself to everyone. Because some people are present with you when you give your speech.
A thin Craig, online, or on a screen is not you and it will always be a poor substitute for you. It’s not the real you. It’s a dis-incarnate you, with frankly a dis-incarnate gospel.
Which is simply a poor far less than ideal way of being real. Mickey Roarke was real in the Wrestler. Phillip Seymore Hoffman is amazing in his roles. Meryl Streep and other actors are amazing. There is a part of the real them in the role on the screen. A thin authenticity. they are real, in the same way a speaker is presented on a screen. Regardless of if they are talking about God or not.
Am I wrong? help me understand. because I believe in you and your ministry,and your gifts. It just seems misleading to say you on a screen is real.
Wow thanks! This is very helpful! Look forward to the rest! Will be praying for the Cat!
God bless you
I enjoy Beth Moore. She brings herself without sharing details. I think that is possible.
Riddle…I want to respond from my point of view (my writing tone is kind…so read it that way)…we are all wired diferent..as a former theater major and having been in a few (small) indi movies myself..you are right. A role is just that…a role…you play a part and then you hang up your costume and move on with life…I am no Meryl…but I do know about being on the stage to be a “character” and it is just a part…no more no less…
Having the call of God to lead others (in my opinion)on your life is VERY different…. Check this out…The only way Craig could be completely REAL to anyone else besides himself is if we were with him 24/7 and could read his thoughts and live his life…just like any of us…we are the only ones we never can get away from….the only ones besides God himself who know every detail about who we are body, soul and spirit….
I think any one who is called to lead will never be pefect and they shouldnt be or people could not relate… A great leader is just the mouthpiece for the almighty and they are there to deliver a great message and help keep HIS shhep focused on where we need to live….God’s word….It is great that you believe in great leaders…
This hits a great point. Authenticity is so important as I learned when came on the planning team for a regional youth event in the Fall of 08. I came on board just in time for the event and the speaker was already in place. This event is over a decade old and is the largest regional event youth or adult in our denominational region. Being on the team I was unable to hear all the speaker’s messages. What I heard I liked; however, in our followup meetings one of our staff members brought feedback from some of his youth. Turns out the speaker had told this really cool story that everyone seemingly connected with. People even went back to the hotels talking about it. The next session the speaker said the story wasn’t hers. The feedback was that our speaker lost all credibility at that point and the older youth simply turned her off.
If we are not authentic God’s message won’t be heard.
Bill Hybels is the man.
Preaching is such a humbling thing, but I guess Learning to bring you comes from just being comfortable and secure enough to be yourself.
Craig, I appreciate your transparency. I’ve often had people comment about my transparency in preaching, almost like they’re marveling at it. My response is usually:
“What do you mean?”
Cause I wasn’t trying to be transparent. I was just being myself, and not on purpose, either. Deliberate transparency is better than faking it, but authentic transparency isn’t self conscious. It just is. Preachers who grit their teeth and think, “I will now be transparent and real” worry me.
The best preachers, like Craig, are naturals.
Riddle…I think you misinterpreted LifeChurch.tv’s way of conducting ministry. It is a very poor comparison to call a video of Craig like a movie actor in a movie. Craig is not an actor in a role, he is Craig, a servant of God the Most High!
I know it’s hard to understand how a video could have weight and not merely be “thin.” It is not hard for me anymore!! I have seen the power of the Spirit of God move again, and again, and again at LifeChurch.tv Albany. We have had so many join the great journey of Christendom! It’s just amazing.
No church can bring “incarnate” gospel anymore as Jesus has left us, and is currently sitting at God’s right hand. But, Craig is preaching the word of God which is sharper than any two-edged sword. Take heart–God has left us with his Spirit! His spirit moves still today!
Be encouraged, Riddle! Though we may never understand fully how God moves, He moves just the same! Hallelujah! May God continue to bless you, Craig. May he encourage you, and make his face to shine upon you! You are leading us–not thinly, but with strength and conviction, and with the Spirit of the Living God! I have new family in Christ because of the power of the presence of God at LifeChurch.tv ALBANY!!! YAY GOD!!!!!
Jenn and Heather, thanks for the very gracious responses. for clarity I’m not saying Craig is an actor, I think he is (as best as any of us can) is practicing what he preaches. (so to speak.) He is being as real and authentic as is appropriate.
I’m also not saying that God isn’t using Lifechurch.tv . I know he is. I’m not saying that being watching a video don’t feel a sense of belonging to Craig, or life church. And I’m not saying that lives aren’t being changed.
I would argue that theologically we are called to incarnate the gospel. That God’s mode of evangelism was his presence with people and that the gospel stops being the gospel Jesus talked about when it becomes dis-incarnate. It becomes something else, an idea, an assertion, a cognitive assertion etc, and a thin gospel.
So it may very well be that we have differing understandings of the breadth of the gospel as our starting points and that it leads us in different directions.
Again, I’m not afraid of technology. I think I’m above average when it comes to this kind of thing. (i’m not sure what average is though)
My real point is not to discourage you Craig, but only understand how this makes sense for you guys theologically and how you can say you are bringing yourself, when it’s not really you.
For others in the conversation, help me understand.
Do you think that online community is a full expression of community? that personal presence and history are actually irrelevant when it comes to community and gospel? Paint that picture for me of how it works for you? I’m hoping to better understand.
How do you define the gospel?
Thanks for letting me participate in the conversation.
just a heads up there’s a conversation on this going on at my blog too.
http://www.theriddlegroup.com/blog
Riddle: Craig is preaching the gospel (good news) of Christ. He is flesh and blood. I suppose from my perspective that’s what qualifies him as an incarnation of the gospel. At our campus, we also have my husband, Josh. He’s not thin–LOL! He’s there to facilitate growth in our people–to help them to become better incarnations of the gospel as well. It is our hope that everyone who steps foot into LifeChurch–at any campus–would be so moved by the gospel that they would also move towards becoming incarnations of the gospel.
You sound to me like you are most definitely passionate about Christ, and his people! I love that!! YAHOO–God is indeed moving. I pray that you would be blessed in your efforts to further His kingdom. I pray that many would come to know, and more importantly–to love and live for Christ through your circle of influence.
I don’t want to argue with you. I can’t imagine I’d have anything to say to make you think more highly of the one-church-multiple-locations model. I pray God’s blessings upon you and yours. Go spread the good news! May we truly be one church!
Jim Putman (Real Life Ministries) is the picture of what it looks like to bring yourself to the message, and to the people. The people buy you way before they buy your message.
Thanks for posting this series…I have been looking for ways to take it to the next level. Needless to say I’m pretty pumped about this week…more than most weeks that is.
hi heather.
just for clarity.
not knocking one church, multiple locations, I lead one.
i believe we are one church, so don’t feel like I’m attacking you or that you need to take a defensive posture.
i get the campus pastor thing. I’m friends with several.
thanks for all the love in the posts.
I really am just wondering aloud about whether we believe the same gospel, and how the gospel is effected by the presence of the person doing the teaching.
Craig, GREAT job in C3 BRO, LOVED IT I still hear “Bring Christ, bring Christ, bring Christ”….Awesome.
Authentic Communication is everything, I’m a Worship Pastor, If I can’t identify with a song I have no right to be singing it, it’s false, hypocritical almost…
Love what you guys do….KEEP going…
Love from Flamingo Road Church
Much love and kudos for all of the pastors mentioned so far! From a perspective of transparency, I’d confirm that Craig Groeschel exemplifies that in an amazing way. It was even communicated through his book It: How Churches and Leaders Can Get It and Keep It! However, one name I haven’t seen mentioned yet is Pastor Jentezen Franklin of Free Chapel in Gainesville, GA. He’s not the most transparent, but he is way up there when it comes to authentic…one of the most faithful and passionate preachers I’ve ever listened to.
God is working through Craig and LC in amazing ways. As a Network church we have seen 30+ people accept Christ in a just a few months. We could argue theology, but I’d rather look at what God is doing. Thank God for the authentic communicators that God is working through within LC and other great churches.
“Authenticity meter?” Let’s be honest, it’s a crap detector.
I began attending Willow Creek when I was going through a divorce, after teaching homiletics for ten years at a local college. It took me a while to figure out what it was about Bill Hybels’ speaking that drew me to him. Finally I realized that it was his transparency and authenticity. He was the first preacher I ever heard who was willing to talk openly about his experience of getting counseling and why he did it.
Hi, Craig and everybody else! I’m pastoring a group of people through what started as a “church revitalization” and is now a restart and transplant — we’re selling our old building and moving to an underresourced and disadvantaged section of our city. We’re using lifechurch.tv on Sunday mornings as our worship gathering, and it’s a real blessings to us. [Craig -- you should buy a book called "Porn for Women: Hotter, Hunkier, and More Helpful Around the House!" It has pictures of (fully clothed!) good-looking guys smiling and doing the things women wish they said they did, with captions, such as, "There! I put The Food Network ahead of ESPN on the TIVO priorities." "You are NOT dying your hair. I've been waiting YEARS for that sexy silver to come in!", etc. Every woman and man I've shown it to has laughed to the point of tears!].
ANYWAY, I’m thinking about you, riddle: I’m not understanding your theological point is. In other words, what “gospel” do you think you believe and what “gospel” do you think Craig believes? It appears to me that lifechurch.tv is creating Christian community — opportunities to watch, hear, and discuss The Word, to share resources in Jesus’s name, to pool financial resources to assist the poor, and so forth. And there does seem to be an emphasis on creating “local” groupings to do all these things, as well. Another way of getting at what I’m trying to say: Jesus is “real” — he is alive, in flesh — but we don’t ever experience him in the flesh — is he unreal, as you say Craig is? The Spirit and the Father exist but don’t have their own bodies for us to touch, but they interact with us, and are real. It seems to me that “real”, as Craig has used it way above, has to do with persons-who-communicate (which the Spirit and the Father are, though without bodies), and “real” means they accurately communicate what they think and feel and believe through both their words and their actions. Finally, I don’t think that any person “is” the Gospel; rather, I think the Gospel is the fact that the Kingdom of God is here, and through Jesus everyone can both know how to live in it and actually live in it now and forever. Our assignment: To live that way (follow Jesus’s commands), tell others the good news, and teach them to do the same. Perhaps Craig talking to us here and on lifechurch.tv is just the 21st-century equivalent of the “word of mouth” that led the hemorrhaging women, the blind man, the centurion, and others to believe Jesus was the Messiah before they acted on the belief by going to Jesus in the flesh and asking him for healing.
Another great post. IMHO, I have never seen a guy bring “you” into it like Greg Laurie. Here is a man who actually preached the Sunday after his 35 year old son’s death, who was expecting a child and left behind a small daughter and wife. Not only does he bring it weekly, but that spoke volumes to me as a preacher. He spoke of his trust in God. Message or illustrated sermon. Powerful either way.
WOW! Thank you so much for your thoughts… you seem to write what I long for!! Each time i feel like im losing hope for a family that i can feel apart of and share my feelings of authenticity. Im always given hope by your words… that there are still people out there and churches out there who do live in the current.
your authenticity has allowed for real conviction (you know, the one without the guilt) in my own life. Thank you so much for “getting it”
I guess I’m a little confused. I came here by following a link to this discussion. First, I have to be honest, I don’t get the video preacher thing. That’s fine…I don’t have to.
Second, I think the thing most troubling/confusing thing to me about this discussion and the post is that saying “bring yourself, be honest, etc” seems to be so ground-breaking or impactful. What has been the alternative?
Third, this is response to Al Valdez’ statement concerning Greg Laurie: “Here is a man who actually preached the Sunday after his 35 year old son’s death, who was expecting a child and left behind a small daughter and wife. Not only does he bring it weekly, but that spoke volumes to me as a preacher. He spoke of his trust in God. Message or illustrated sermon. Powerful either way.”
I’m unaware of the sitaution, so maybe I’m reading it wrong. I’m wondering what kind of situation takes place where someone feels the need or is expected to preach after such an event. What kind of community does this happen in, and when you say “it spoke volumes to me,” what do you mean?
Thanks
[...] Authentic & Transparent Communication [...]
Craig,
I get it. The heart of a man can come through in any venue (live, live feed, or in person). BTW, I feel the heart of God through the printed page… His Word. Great post.
Riddel,
Are we getting the “real” you in your comments here, or just a “representation” of you? Just curious, “bro.”
Ron,
It could just be how I read that but it sounded a bit biting or antagonistic. Hard to tell through a comment section. I’ll assume you’re asking because you genuinely are interested in dialogue. Fair?
I’d say in a comment section of a blog post, you are getting a pretty small glimpse of me. and I of you.
Would you agree?
Jimmy,
In response to Greg Laurie’s loss. His son was killed in a car accident. He decided to preach on the Sunday of his son’s death. There is no doubt in my mind, that it was very courageous of him to do such a thing. His courage spoke volumes to me because I am unsure if I would have been able to do that if I was in his situation. I have had friends who are pastor’s who were unable to do that in the same scenario. He clearly made a conscious choice to speak and was not forced. My thoughts are that being authentic and genuine means to be effectively transparent for the furtherance of God’s kingdom. In my opinion, Mr. Laurie, displayed why many people have been transformed through his ministry. The bottom line: preaching takes guts. He displayed some serious guts.
Al
Thanks for the follow-up. I didn’t know the story.
I think I’ll bow out of this conversation. I don’t think I’m so far removed from this version/style/method/culture of church that I can’t understand it anymore, and I think that in the “comment” venue any attempt to voice my questions might come off in a way other than it is meant.
God Bless.
Sorry…my following post should have read:
“I think I’m so far removed from this version/style/method/culture. . . ” rather than “I don’t think . . .”
God Bless.
Hey does anyone from Life Church know of a song called “No Time”? My little brother told me about it and the it was on a CD put out by Life Church. He told me how it is changing his life. I would love to hear the message that this song has. Thank you to any one who can share about it. May you be blessed in serving the Lord today. Yielded and Surrendered, Tommie