“So how was your flight?”

When I am asked this question, I typically respond by saying it was a good flight. I speak positively about the flight for one reason. It landed. I may not like my assigned seat. There may have been no room for my bag in the overhead compartment. It may have been a bumpy flight the whole ride. But none of that really matters as long as the flight lands safely.

The same is true of sermons. It may get off to a bumpy start. You may have to play catch up to stay within the allotted time schedule. The people on board may not like where it is headed. But all will be forgiven if you can safely land the sermon at its intended destination.

Hear are seven tips on landing the sermon safely with a strong conclusion.

Give a true conclusion. Don’t just stop. Don’t let the sermon trail off. Don’t preach until you hit your time limit. Don’t go until you run out of material. Don’t simply end by saying a prayer or extending an invitation. Conclude the sermon intentionally. View the sermon as a unit with an introduction, body, and conclusion. Work to craft a conclusion that is clear, compelling, and climatic.

Only conclude once. Paul says, “Finally,” several times in Philippians. But Philippians is divinely inspired. Your sermon on Philippians is not. So when you say, “Finally,” mean it. Avoid serial conclusions. You will only make the congregation nervous if you keep circling the runway. No skilled pilot plays with the landing gear. And flight attendants don’t promise to land early just because the passengers look bored. So don’t go into an unnecessary holding pattern by introducing new material at the end. Land when its time to land.

Know your destination. Where is the sermon going? What’s the point? How should the congregation respond to the truth of the text? The answers to these questions will determine how to end the message. A conclusion cannot reach a place where the sermon does not go. You should take off with a predetermined destination. And the navigational devices of the message should head in that direction and lead to a logical conclusion. A good conclusion is the result of a sermon that had purpose, unity, and movement.

Review the message. It is often said that a speaker should tell the audience what he is going to say, say it, and then tell them what you said. That may be a cliché. But it works. An effective way to conclude a sermon is to review the major points of the message. Don’t just repeat the main ideas. Restate them. Enforce them. Apply them. Illustrate them. Celebrate them. View the conclusion as the introduction in reverse. Close by making the point again.

Issue a call to action. Application should take place throughout the sermon. But the conclusion is a good place to emphasize it. It is self-deception to hear the word without doing what it says (James 1:22). The goal of preaching is application. So end there. Challenge the congregation to live out the teachings of the faith. Exhort them to be doers of the word. Explain why obedience matters. Show them what following Jesus looks like in practical terms.

Run to the cross. Jesus should be the hero of every sermon. And the conclusion is a good place to point your hearers to Christ. Of course, the message should be saturated with the gospel. Christ is not honored when he is mentioned at the end of a message that ignores him throughout. But there is power in concluding with a clear declaration of the gospel. Run to the cross. Call the hearer to repent and believe. End by exalting the sufficiency of Christ’s Person and Work.

Leave a good impression. First impressions are lasting impressions. But so are closing ones. A message that starts with a bang but ends with a whimper loses credibility. A poor conclusion can trump a good introduction and strong main body. So finish strong. Practice clarity. Use variety. Use variety. Make it memorable. Strive for an economy of words. Don’t ramble. Write it out. Be familiar with it. Think of the conclusion as a lawyer’s closing argument. Don’t leave any reasonable doubt. Preach for a verdict.

What tips would you give for effective sermon conclusions? Join the conversation in the comments section.

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I am a local church pastor, who is often invited to preach. I am invited to speak at schools, conferences, and other such events. But I am most often invited to speak for other local churches.

I do not take these opportunities lightly. Neither should you.

A pastor’s primary responsibility is to be a faithful steward of the pulpit with which he has been entrusted. He is charged before God to preach the word.

He is also accountable for what others teach from his pulpit. Therefore, it is a serious matter when a pastor invites someone to preach, be it an associate pastor within the church or a guest pastor from outside of it.

I am often asked what to do to get preaching invitations. Answer: I don’t know. But I do know how to get invited back. Be a good guest.

Here are several helpful hints for being a good guest when you are invited to preach.

Be clear about the pastor’s expectations. Why did the pastor invite you? What are expectations? What are his goals for the meeting? Find out the pastor’s expectations before you accept the invitation. Respect them as you prepare. And prayerfully follow them when you preach.

Respect the occasion. What is the occasion? Is it Sunday morning? Is it a special event? Is it evangelistic or discipleship-oriented? Is there an assigned text or theme? Find out the occasion. And do your best to respect it. If you cannot respect the occasion, it may be best to decline the invitation.

Observe time limits. Find out how much time you have. And do not accept, “Take a much time as you want,” as an answer. Ask how long they expect the service to run. Or what time they expect the service to end. Establish time limits. Prepare with that time frame in mind. And don’t go overtime. Period.

Avoid controversial subjects. If a pastor never addresses controversial subjects in his preaching, he is not doing his job. If a guest preacher addresses controversial subjects, he is not. What if the pastor asks you to speak on it? Fine. But still be careful. The pastor should introduce new subjects to his congregation, not you. Bottom-line: Don’t leave a mess for the pastor to clean up after you leave!

Say, thank you. This is not just good pulpit etiquette. It’s what you’re momma taught you. When someone is kind to you, say thanks. Of course, you should thank that pastor privately for the invitation. It is also appropriate to publicly thank him for the opportunity. In fact, send a note of thanks after the meeting. It is a privilege to be asked to preach. The least you can do is say, thank you.

Be yourself. Do not pretend to be the pastor, especially if you are an associate filling in for your pastor. If you listen to a man preach each week, it is hard not to pick up some of his pulpit manners and customs. But do not be a clone. And not do presume authority that is not yours. The congregation knows you are not the pastor. But they will accept you, as long as you do not pretend to be what you are not.

Ask permission. Will you preach from a different translation? Do you plan to use multimedia? Will you say something that may be misunderstood? Are you considering something out of the norm? Is something “on your heart”? Do not press on and get the pastor’s forgiveness later. Seek his permission first, whatever it is. If in doubt, ask first.

Be conservative. Dress conservatively. It is better to overdress than under-dress. But don’t be flashy. And don’t be a diva. You are there to serve the congregation, not the other way around. Did you get away with that envelope-pushing statement or illustration with your congregation? Good. Leave it there. Strive to be humble, respectful, and sensitive to the environment of the church.

Participate in the worship service. The sermon begins when you enter the room. The congregation is smoking you over the whole time. Win their goodwill by participating in the worship service. Do not sit in the office until it is time for you to speak. And do not sit on the platform reading your manuscript or notes, ignoring what is happening around you. You want the congregation to continue to worship as you preach. Worship with the congregation before you preach

Be on assignment. Pastors must have a long-term perspective. This Sunday matters. And he must give God his best. But next Sunday is coming. And the next. Sunday comes regularly and rapidly. Effective pastors must train as marathon runners. But effective guest speakers must train as sprinters. Don’t view the opportunity as a mere preaching engagement. View it as a divine assignment. Be ready. Be prayerful. Be faithful. Preach the word!

What advice would you give to guest preachers? Join the conversation in the comment section. 

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