Christian Living

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Larry Lilly's Letter Tuesday July 5, 2011

Back when dinosaur tracks were still fresh, I remarked to my pastor, Dr. Tom Wallace, that I had been asked to "say something" to a particular group. The dear pastor immediately shot back, "Larry, do you have something to say?" I assured him I would think of something.

A few days later while making calls with the good Dr. he taught me a few things about being a sought out speaker/preacher or just a good ole boy sitting around hoping someone will let me say something.

His lesson took all of 30 minutes and in the decades past I have read stacks of books on the finer points of preaching/speaking. Obviously I can't rehearse all the lessons here, but the few will help anyone, public speaker, preacher or parent attempting to get through to a teen. Well, maybe not the teen.

Somewhere near 150 sub questions should follow three basic survey questions when you are addressing any group. The three basic questions alone will improve the effectiveness of most speakers:

To whom am I speaking?

Why?

How will what I have to say impact/improve the listener?

You should sit down at the computer or take pen and paper and start listing the questions relative to the three basic questions.

Over the years I have had more than a few program chairmen thank me for asking many in depth questions about what they wanted to accomplish via the meeting or conference.

John Dewey encapsulated the idea when he wrote:

"There is all the difference in the world between having something to say and having to say something."

It will do any speaker, preacher, educator, or salesman well to look in depth at Acts 17:16-31 and discover what Paul knew about his audience prior to his earth shaking speech on Mars Hill. I use but one verse to communicate a wealth of information. Acts 17:23:

For as I passed by, and beheld your devotions, I found an altar with this inscription, TO THE UNKNOWN GOD. Whom therefore ye ignorantly worship, him declare I unto you.

Paul’s broad range of study prepared him for the moment on Mars Hill. Notice what he told a young preacher in 2 Timothy 2:15:

Study to shew thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth.

It also helps if you know what you are talking about.

Larry Lilly Copyright © 2011 Use with credit

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