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.

SAYING IT AGAIN

“Everything that needs to be said has already been said. But since no one was listening, everything must be said again.” ― André Gide

It took me years as a teacher to recognize the crucial role of repetition in learning.

Of course, lack of attention isn't the only culprit - and perhaps not even the worst offender. Prejudice and assumptions stand in the way of new insights and they are not toppled quickly. 

And it seems to me that repetition also has a way of establishing credibility: if the teacher is saying this yet again, it really must be important. I knew a woman who - whenever her boss asked her to do something - always threw away the first two memos on the subject. If he sent a third, she knew he really meant it. 

Although as an introvert I have always hated repeating myself, I consciously force myself to do it often these days for the sake of communication, both in promoting Mission Resource and in preaching at Sardinia. 

A competent teacher does not assume anyone was listening the first time.