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More Watching, Less Talking: What Cirque Taught Me About Preaching

My family and I had the great opportunity last night to watch Cirque du Soleil La Nouba at Downtown Disney.  The closest American production I can compare it to is the Ringling Barnum Bailey Circus. There was, however, one stunning difference. With the exception of a brief introduction by a hidden announcer, there was no talking; no explaining.

At Ringling, I can hardly remember any segment longer than about ten seconds when the highly visible Ringmaster wasn’t describing or explaining what we were watching. The show was as much about him and him interpreting what we were witnessing as it was about the actual event we witnessed.

But Cirque was fundamentally different. All focus was on the awesome deeds and skills and acts of the real stars of the show. No describing. No interpreting. No play-by-play.

What if preaching could be more like this?  What if it could be less play-by-play and more a way of getting all eyes focused on the real Star of the show?  What if all people really remembered afterwards were His awesome deeds and skills and acts?  What if people never left saying What a great Ringmaster! but always left saying What a great God!

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