Message Titles

Sometimes I do... When it comes to me.. But I don't spend a lot of energy (or brain cells) doing it... I don't have a lot of either. lol

 

Yes I title every message. I try to capture the theme of the message in a short catchy title. But I don't spend too much time on it.

 

only so I can get an idea of where it is going when I look at file names.

 

I like to place my title at the top of the message

LOL!!!!!!!!!!!!

j

 

I also title my message and always list my points and always reiterate my points through-out my sermons so my listeners can follow along more easily.

I'd much rather think they are taking notes vice passing notes when I preach

 

Titles can capture the theme of the message and make it easier for the listener to remember what it was all about.

A catchy title can help, but I would not spend too much time on it. To some titles come easy. Dr. David Moore of Milton does this very well. One sermons I remember very well he titled "We Need More Men Like Hur."

 

I find that having a title helps give focus to the message. Sometimes I will tell the congregation the title, sometimes not. (I do give it more often than not give it. If it helps me focus, it will help them focus, too.)

Sometimes the title is short, as in "David's Mighty Men." Sometimes long, as in "What Happens When We Encounter the Holiness of God," (Rev. 4; Isaiah 6).

 

I love titles, it gives the congregation something to remember, a mnemonic device of sorts. I recently preached the message, having faith in a fearful world, using mark 4:40.

 

For me the title comes early in the process, after I have identified the Scripture I want to use and the essential message I am to communicate. The next step is to capsule that into something that gives me focus, reads well on an outdoor bulletin board, and sometimes can even be a mantra the congregation can repeat during and after the message.

 

Some sermon titles I remember having used:

"How to Snub Your Sneer" [Asaph in Psalm 73]

"We Three Kings" [Jehoram (Israel), Jehosaphat (Judah) and King of Edom in II Kings 3]

"How Not to Lose Your Filling" [Luke 9]

"Decisions; Decisions" [Joshua 24]

"Have You Been Knocked Down by Mr. T?" [like Rocky, the champion (Christian) is sometimes knocked down by Trials, Testings, Temptations, Troubles, Traumas....]

 

A few years back, I did a series of Sermons titled: What your Mamma didn't tell you about............!

 

My favorite titles have been
"Will my dog be in heaven?'
"I love it when a plan comes together" (birth of Christ)
Series Titles have been more effective for us
"Rediscovering the real Jesus" (current series through John)
"Desperate Households" (family series)

 

I'm not a preacher, but there have been some messages I've heard over the years that have had some interesting titles.

One I recall quite vividly was really more of a devotional message than a full-fledged sermon. It was one that was given by one of the chaplains that was assigned to the "base" [if you want to call it that] from which we operated in Saudi Arabia at the outset of Operation Iraqi Freedom.

The title: Four Things God Doesn't Know

I think I'll just let you folks guess at what those four things were before I tell you what he claimed they were.

 

I usually don't give my titles, but there are times that I have. I title my messages to better find them latter after they are filed.

My home church pastor asked me to preach on Easter Sunday morning this year and I titled the message- "The Ocean of His Risen Glory".

 

We wrapped up our series on "baggage" tonight.

The series:

week 1: "Check your bags!"
week 2: "Addictions: trash in your bags"
week 3: "Depression: bricks in your bags"
week 4: "Emotional baggage: Fire ants in your bags"
week 5: "Dumping the baggage--Forgiveness"