Brain Science, Attention Spans, and Ministry
Church Leaders Forum
HOW LONG CAN A PASTOR preach before a
congregation starts to snooze? Ten minutes,
says John Medina, developmental molecular
biologist and director of Seattle Pacific University’s
Brain Center for Applied Learning
Research. That was the subject of his May 30
lecture — the third event in SPU’s 2005–06
Church Leaders Forum Series. Nearly 200
pastors and other church leaders gathered in
Upper Gwinn Commons to hear Medina’s
comments about the attention span of the
human brain and, in particular, what pastors
can learn about brain science that is applicable
to preaching and teaching.
Medina, whose research interests focus on
genes involved in human brain development
and psychiatric disorders, offered tips on how
“communicators of the gospel” can better
engage and hold the attention of their audiences.
Most important, he says, is what he
calls the “well duh” principle: Make it interesting.
“God created us so that if we are interested
in something, we will learn it better,”
says the scientist. But making it interesting
isn’t enough, he cautions. “The brain wants its
information in discrete units and then wants
time to consolidate it.” Medina maximizes
attention by giving his audiences “breaks”
every 10 minutes.
“Listening to John Medina stretched my
brain muscles,” said David Scott, associate
pastor of Covenant Presbyterian Church in
Issaquah, Washington. “He expertly put his
finger on some of the reasons why great
preachers down through the ages (for example,
Spurgeon and Whitefield) have kept our
attention — and drawn our attention to the
greatest preacher of all in the masterful teaching
methods of the Lord Jesus himself.”
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