Stand-up preaching
What can the preacher learn from the stand-up comic and other expert communicators?
Not a lot, it might be supposed. The preacher shouldn’t go all-out for laughs: his message is far too serious. He shouldn’t preach time again the same message, honing it until every word is in the right place, and the delivery timed to perfection. He shouldn’t try to create any kind of unnatural persona, but rather be in the pulpit the same person that he is at home, at work, and amongst his friends.…