This video looks at practical speaking tips – showing you how to overcome common public speaking challenges, and also how to prepare a message to share as a short devotional, a bible study or even a full fledged sermon.

The following is an overview of this session:
Practical Speaking
Ex. 4:10 When Moses was called, one of his main objections was that he was not a good speaker.
Survey: more people are afraid of public speaking than of death. In other words – in a funeral, many would prefer being in the casket to having to give the funeral message!
Bravo for wanting to learn to speak better.

I want to teach you some techniques to help you speak well whether in a small group or larger setting.

There are many different techniques for public speaking, and there are no ‘rights and wrongs’. We all have different styles, but the following tips can be a helpful starting point.

Overcoming Nerves
– Do good preparation beforehand so you know what to say. Have the main points written down clearly – nice and big writing so you can easily read it even if the light is bad.
– Last minute – don’t focus on yourself and what may need changing in what you should say.
– Ex 4:11 Thank the Lord that He is teaching you the words to speak. He is putting His words in your mouth. Thank the Lord for the people and pray for them.
– Build Faith and expectation – don’t start off saying ‘sorry, I haven’t got much prepared’, ‘sorry, this won’t be very good’. Step out in faith – thank you God that you are leading me. Speak with confidence.
– It helps me to start off talking about something else – something that is easy to talk about. I.e. talk about the worship, talk about an answer to prayer you had last week. As you get going with saying those first few words, the nerves start to fall off, and you can get on to your main points more easily
Avoid Monotone
Public speaking is not like private speaking.
You need to exaggerate pronounciation – speak slower, speak clearer, speak with more volume.
Don’t rush – take your time
You don’t have to rush and say everything at once. Take a break and a pause for effect.

Explain, Illustrate and Apply each point

Explain
Tell what the point means and why it is important.
Have a clear central idea that you are sharing.

Illustrate
Tell a story or provide an illustration to show us what the point looks like.

Apply
Bring a personal application – how should this point affect my life

Note: repeat the process for each point. I.e. typical sermon will have 3-4 points. Short devotional 1-2 points.

Example – Point – ‘God loves us like a father’
Explain – God has a tremendous love for us. It is unchanging and always there – and we need to know and understand his love. Paul prayed that we would have a revelation of the depth of God’s love.
Illustrate – Prodigal son – God is like a loving father, not giving up on us but waiting for us with open arms. He loves us perfectly – even more than our earthly fathers ever have.
Apply – If you have been walking away from God like the prodigal son – now is the time to return. God loves you – He does not condemn you. He wants to guide you in the right path because He loves you.