”Hooks, Lines and Thinkers”

Hooks, Lines & Thinkers
How to Write Sermon Titles that Sizzle

By Brian Mavis, Site Manager, SermonCentral.com

A book was written and released with two different titles. Both received identical marketing. One was called The Art of Courtship and the other The Art of Kissing. Which would you buy? Kissing sold 60,500 copies, while Courtship only sold 17,500!

A book titled Compact Classics was not selling well. The book was renamed with this provocative title, The Great American Bathroom Book. The added subtitle was “Single-Sitting Summaries of All-Time Great Books.“ It went from an obscure reference book to a national best seller within weeks. The demand was so great that they created an entire book series.

A Virginia high school offered a class called “Home Economics for Boys“ and it generated little interest. The next year it was renamed “Bachelor Living.“ The result was tremendous: 120 boys eagerly enrolled. The curriculum didn't change, but the image did.

When it comes to your weekly sermons, how do your titles fare? If you’re like most pastors, your sermon titles could probably use a little flair and pizzazz. Even John Newton, who penned the most popular Christian song ever, needed help. “Amazing Grace“ is a fantastic title, but he originally named it, “Faith’s Review and Expectation.“ Yes, even this poet could blow a title. Here are ten ways to take your sermon titles from average to outstanding.

1. HARNESS THE POWER OF POP CULTURE
Connect to what people are watching and talking about. For example, if college football is hot in your community, come up with some provocative titles, such as “Making It to the Endzone,“ “Time for a Time Out?“, “Fourth Down and 30 to Go“ or “Scoring a Touchdown in the Game of Life.“

2. PLAY WITH WORDS
I had written a sermon about Jacob wresting with God. My working title was “Jacob Wrestles with God.“ Pretty clever, huh? Then I changed it to “Fighting with God.“ Better. Then I called it “How to Pick a Fight with God and Win.“ This was even more provocative. Later, I thought about a cultural event that could tie into my sermon—the “Touched by an Angel“ television show. Too mushy for me. But then I played with it and came up with “Punched by an Angel.“ I had it.

3. TURN CONVENTIONAL WISDOM ON ITS HEAD
This is easy because so much of God’s wisdom goes against conventional wisdom. How about “Good People Don’t Go to Heaven“ or “God Helps Those Who Can’t Help Themselves.“ Try “God Is a Divorcée and Wants to Be Remarried to You“ or even “Jesus Is Not a Good Teacher.“

4. A CALL TO ACTION
Why wait until the actual sermon to give your application? Tell people what God wants them to do in the title. Two examples are “When Wronged, Turn the Other Cheek“ and “Pray for Someone Who Has Hurt You.“ Someone may miss the point of your sermon, but he won’t miss the point in the title.

5. CHOOSE A TITLE FROM SCRIPTURE
There may be a great title hidden in the passage you’re preaching. I preached a sermon on how to renew our love from Revelation 2:4-5. The phrase “Do the Things You Did at First“ was so captivating that I used it as the title and as a refrain throughout the sermon.

6. SPOTLIGHT THE BENEFITS
Why do people think that obeying God is such a drag? Change their perception by highlighting the benefits of obeying God. Titles like these highlight the benefits of obedience: “Praying Will Bring You Peace,“ “Forgiveness Frees You From Bitterness“ or “Sex God’s Way is Safe, Satisfying and Sizzling.“

7. SPECIFICALLY SPEAKING
Ironically, the more specific the sermon title, the wider and deeper it can impact your listeners. “Addiction“ is a poor title. “Breaking the Bonds of Addiction“ is a good title. But if you preach on “Break the Bonds of Lotto Fever,“ you just moved from vague helpfulness to “We’re going to see what God has to say about this problem in today’s society.“

8. HOPE SELLS
After experiencing grief, loss, unmet expectations, broken homes and shattered dreams, many of us are looking for hope in life. Straightforward, encouraging titles like these can be good medicine: “God Is Near the Brokenhearted,“ “God Will Bring Good Out of Your Suffering“ or “God Has a Hope and Future for You.“

9. THE POSITIVE SPIN
If your sermon identifies a problem, highlight the solution. For example, instead of having a sermon called “The Debt Trap,“ call it “Escape the Debt Trap.“

10. BY THE NUMBERS
Something as simple as adding some numbers to your title can make it more interesting. Instead of “Ways to Tell Good from Evil,“ title it “5 Ways to Tell Good from Evil.“ Instead of “Satan’s Temptations,“ name it “Satan’s Top 10.“

So the next time you’re searching for a sermon title, try one of these tactics. You’ll draw a crowd and keep them listening!

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