I am not only a student of preachers and preaching but comedians and the art of comedy also enthrall me. I listen to an untold number of podcasts and videos where they talk about their craft while also watching them perform both on the screen and in person.

One vital part of a great comedy routine is having an engaging “closer.” That means they take their funniest story or joke and tell it last. That way, the crowd knows the show is only going to get better. The comedian knows they are going to remember the last thing they heard, and it will leave them wanting more, which leads to more shows, more sales, and ultimately more success for the performer.

Then, I read and listen to sermons. For many preachers, the conclusion of their sermon is more like those old songs in the seventies and eighties, in which they just faded out the music, and the song did not really have an ending. There is just a quick recap to wind things down, followed by an immediate appeal to prayer.

Personally, I have taken a different approach. I have a more comedic ending to my sermon. By that, I do not mean I tell a funny story; I mean that I want to end with my strongest material. For example, yesterday, I spent over two hours searching for the perfect ending. Sometimes, I tell a story and other times, I use an analogy or a memorable word picture. I have used song lyrics, movie clips, short videos, a picture, or a personal experience to capture everything I have said in the final three to five minutes.

I realize this might not work for every preacher, but I think it is a good practice for all of us to develop. We want people to remember what we said and have them wanting more. Not because we want more personal glory as preachers but because we want people to respond to the gospel after the sermon is finished.