Rather than just talk about scenes, from the Bible and elsewhere, I now tend to portray them, at least in part, so that people can begin to experience them, and not just relate to them intellectually and abstractly. All in all, this program renewed my enthusiasm and fun with preaching. In a very healthy way, it opened up an ongoing discussion of preaching in my church. I still do the very best I can each week. However, this program has helped me to realize, in my heart as well as in my head, that what people get out of sermons, often has a lot to do with what they themselves personally bring to sermons.
Sermons can trigger different things in different people.
For example, some people loved narrative preaching, for its imagistic, experiential qualities. The medium was part of the message, but apparently they missed it. Over time, and sometimes in the same sermon, I try to provide something for everybody. I highly recommend the ACTS Doctor of Ministry in Preaching Program. Some of the top preachers and homileticians in America and Canada today teach and preach there, with a rotation from year to year.