REPETITION

I once served as youth pastor under a senior pastor who was a sweet-natured, earnest, and godly man - which put him head and shoulders above a few other pastors I worked under. 

But he wasn't the greatest preacher.

He once told me, "You know, I only really have three different sermons that I deliver. I just rotate between those three."

And honestly, that was two more than I had noticed!

It seemed to me that week after week he offered slight variations on one particular exhortation: "If we are going to be authentic disciples of Jesus, we must get out beyond the walls of the church and love our neighbors in tangible ways."

Obviously, this is true. I had no problem with the message - I just didn't want to hear it every Sunday.

(Especially when there was an entire book full of God's words to explore.)

Repetition is necessary and serves an important role in effective teaching, but it can't be the only arrow in your quiver.

If repetition isn't resulting in changed behavior after a few weeks - let alone a few years - then it's time to step back and see if there is a deeper issue causing a roadblock.

To be effective, a teacher needs to search out those gaps in knowledge and fill them.

THEN the congregation might be able to move forward. 

Without excessive repetition.