More Than Movies
Lessons in Communication from Jesus
"Therefore everyone who hears these words of mine and puts them into practice is like a wise man who built his house on the rock."
Jesus (Matthew 7:24)
We just wrapped up Week 4 of our summer series, KS at the Movies. With four weeks still to go, I figured this was a great place to pause and offer some insight into how the series came to be.
While At the Movies has become a popular format for summer series in many churches, my rationale has always been a bit different. For me, it has never been about simply keeping people engaged during the summer. It has been about learning how to move from preaching about Jesus to preaching like Jesus.
At Kingdom South, one of our core convictions is that Jesus is more than just our Savior; He’s our example. He doesn’t teach us how to die; He teaches us how to live.
If that’s true, then His example extends beyond our character and conduct. It also shapes the way we communicate.
So after more than 20 years of communicating and the last 13 or so intentionally studying the life and ministry of Jesus, I’ve distilled three principles from His communication style that have profoundly shaped my own. My hope is they’ll do the same for you.
Now, before you dismiss this because you don’t consider yourself a communicator, remember this: communication isn’t just for preachers, teachers, or podcasters. It’s for parents, leaders, spouses, friends, and anyone trying to move an idea from one mind to another.
One of my mentors often says, “Whatever you’re doing, you can do it better if you get better with words.”
And no one was better with words than the One called the Word.
For context, one of Jesus’ biographers, John, opens his Gospel by describing Jesus as the Logos, a rich Greek word that means far more than spoken language. It speaks of God’s self-expression, His message, His wisdom, and His revelation to the world.
What made Jesus the greatest communicator who ever lived is that He didn’t merely have the message. He was the message.
So here are three principles I’ve learned from Jesus:
1. Connection: Meet People Where They Are
Before Jesus invited people into His world, He entered theirs both literally and figuratively. He spoke about seeds, shepherds, vineyards, weddings, fishing, coins, and bread not because those things were the point, but because they were familiar. Jesus understood that people are more likely to engage with truth when it connects to their lived experience.
Great communicators don’t begin with themselves; they begin with the people they’re trying to reach.
2. Curiosity: Invite Them Into Discovery
Rather than simply handing people answers, Jesus often told stories, asked questions, and spoke in parables that lingered in the imagination, prompting His listeners to wrestle with the message long after the conversation had ended.
For Jesus, curiosity wasn’t the destination; it was the doorway to conviction.
Great communicators don’t just transfer information. They awaken imagination.
3. Commitment: Call Them to Action
Jesus never treated communication as an end in itself. Every conversation, sermon, and parable ultimately pointed toward a decision. “Follow me.” “Go and do likewise.” “Repent.” “Take up your cross.” His goal was always transformation.
Modern marketers understand this principle well, which is why nearly every advertisement, email, or social media post ends with a call to action. They know that clarity without direction rarely changes behavior. If you want people to take the next step, you have to tell them what it is.
Great communication doesn’t end with inspiration. It leads to action.
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What I Read:
Communicating for a Change by Andy Stanley
Andy Stanley is, in my estimation, one of the most effective communicators in the world. I first read this book years ago, and it remains my favorite book on preaching. I made it required reading for our ministerial team last year.
What I’m Listening To:
Lately, I’m intrigued by content that takes me behind the scenes of someone else's creative process. It's a good reminder that there isn't one right way to create. We all have to find the rhythms that help us do our best work.
What KS Is Up To:
This past Sunday, we continued our summer series, KS at the Movies, which is our attempt to copy Jesus’ illustrative genius by using movies as modern-day parables.
The Week 4 message was based on the movie Inside Out 2. I’ll post a link to our church’s podcast, which is now on Substack as well, so you can check out the recap.
Week 5 is based on Creed III, where we'll explore how the pain of the past finds its way into the present through people.