Kill these 5 Distracting Preaching Habits

Every preacher has physical tendencies that unintentionally distract the audience. Sometimes these are known by the preacher and other times they are ticks and habits that must be pointed out to be changed. Public speaking in any context, and especially in a church setting, engages your whole mind and body. This means speakers can easily find themselves neglecting to pay attention to their body language and physical habits because they have to remember what to say … and everyone is watching.

All of us could use some coaching in this area. When I look back through videos of my sermons I notice more distracting physical tendencies than I care to admit! But there is hope and we can all overcome these by knowing what they are and working to eliminate them.

In this video we will explore five common physical distractions I’ve observed in preachers over the years. I’ve also seen a good amount of these in my own preaching and have sought to correct and eliminate them.

What are five distracting physical habits of preachers?

Check out the video for more details and how to replace each one:

1. Turning your back to the audience to read from the screen. 

2. Using filler words and vocal pauses

3. Aimlessly pacing back and forth on the stage

4. Constantly adjusting the head-worn microphone or clothing

5. Not fully articulating words or finishing sentences

Please don’t be discouraged. At any given time even the most skilled communicators can demonstrate these distracting habits. The key is to be aware of them and work on improving. What are some other distracting things preachers do when giving a sermon?