I Cry Language Revolution!

“Sometimes, God uses a crooked stick to draw a straight line.”
“We are most like God when we forgive.”
“I will not quit; by God’s grace I can do it.”

If you have heard any of these phrases, you likely remember the source as well. A well constructed catch phrase can be extremely powerful in communicating your message, and cementing that message in the minds of your audience. While the crowd may or may not take away the outline or textual analysis they may very well stew over your catch phrase.

The first that I listed is from Erwin Lutzer. I heard him speak just last week, and he used this in referring to the life of Jacob. His point was simple: if God can use someone as sinful as Jacob, you’d better believe that he can use you! Not much else from that message stuck with me. It is usually my practice to take notes, but my notebook was MIA at the time. All I had to glean with was my memory, and guess what I remembered… his catch phrase.

“We are most like God when we forgive,” is the last portion of a quote used this winter by Karl Storman. Karl is the Dean of Ministries at the Word of Life Bible Institute, and he spoke at the conclusion of our Snow Camp drama this year. He was always effective in driving the need for forgiveness into the hearts of the audience. This catch phrase was a very crucial part of his message, and it will stick with me for a long time.

“I will not quit; by God’s grace I can do it.” This phrase has gotten many of Bible college student through the winter. Wendel Calder owns this one, and when he whips it out, the audience is called to repeat it after him several times. Repetition is an excellent memory aid. I haven’t forgotten it, because I spoke it and heard other people speaking it rather than just one time from the podium. My roommate actually wrote this out on a note card and posted it above his desk… how’s that for a successful memory key? Calder made his point, and we remembered.

- The message that you are communicating should not be all catch phrases: they lose significance.

- The catch phrase should not be run into the ground: repetition is good, but don’t be a broken record.

- A catch phrase is not long: if you can’t catch it, what good is it?

- The catch phrase should not be absent: if it’s what people remember, why wouldn’t you use it?

One of the major struggles for a communicator is how to go from great content to memory. If doesn’t matter how good you are if your audience doesn’t remember it. A catch phrase can help with that. Use a catch phrase; be remembered.