4 Practical Ways To Get Close To Your Audience
The other day I pulled up to a drive-thru speaker, paused to decide on my order, and heard a garbled voice ask something I could barely understand. I said politely, “I’m not quite ready yet.” More static. After a few seconds I asked, “hello?” Finally, the voice replied, “go ahead when you’re ready.” I placed my order and moved forward.
Here’s the problem: it’s hard to communicate with someone you don’t really know, especially when barriers—like a crackly speaker—get in the way. Even when I order something simple, there’s often a “disconnect” between me and the unseen person on the other end. And I’m rarely surprised when the order in the bag isn’t what I asked for.
Communication in ministry can be...
Who Is My Audience?
When a legal expert asked Jesus, “Who is my neighbor?” it followed the command to “love your neighbor as yourself.” Instead of giving a direct answer, Jesus told the story of the Good Samaritan. In essence, His response was: “A neighbor is the one who shows mercy.”
In a similar way, church leaders often ask, “Who is my audience?” It’s essentially the same question, with a modern twist. And while I may not teach with Jesus’ parables, I’ll do my best to give a straightforward answer—no allegory needed.
1. Your External Audience
This is the group most churches think about when they say “audience.” It’s your potential audience—the people in your community who are most likely to connect with your church’s unique identity....