A lot of times churches are planted with Christians who come from great churches with great communicators. Basically they (Christians) expect great speaking. For many church planters they may be used to speaking because they where on staff at a church when they launched, and they spoke on a consistent basis. But many times the new church planter is not prepared to speak week-to-week.

For me I had not spoken for years…At times it was rough. Truthfully I think I finally found my speaking voice at Vista. I found what “worked” for me. I’m a story-teller, motivator, and passion is essential in my speaking. I can’t speak with notes and I don’t like speaking for a long time. 35-40 minutes is tops. (stop laughing-that is not that long)

Here is my rhythm:

1. 6-8 hours of study on the topic. (I’m a verse by verse guy, so that helps) 
2. Write out a full manuscript.
3. Practice speaking from manuscript.
4. Memorize all key scriptures.
5. From manuscript create a simple one-page outline.
6. Practice one more time from outline with no notes-free flow. 
7. Speak. (no notes-I do have an outline with me) 

Tim Keller is one of my favorite communicators. I just read Jonathan‘s post on Keller’s preaching philosophy. Keller stated that it takes at least 200 sermons to become a good communicator. That is 4 years of speaking every Sunday. YIKES! 

“I don’t believe you should spend a lot of time preparing your sermon, when you’re a younger minister. I think because we are so desperately want our sermon to be good, that when you’re younger you spend way too much time preparing. And, you know, its scary to say this to the younger ministers… you’re not going to be much better by putting in twenty hours on that sermon – the only way you’re going to be a better preacher is if you preach often. For the first 200 sermons, not matter what you do, your first 200 sermons are going to be terrible. (laughter from the crowd). And, if you put in… fifteen or twenty hours in the sermon you probably won’t preach that many sermons because you won’t last in ministry, because your people will feel neglected.” Tim Keller

So if you’re a communicator do yourself a favor: relax. Enjoy the process and give yourself some grace. Yes, there will always be those Christians who will not be patient and allow you time and space to learn and grow-therefore they will leave your church so they can get “fed” by the seasoned communicator. (It’s not easy sitting through bad sermons, not trying to be critical) That’s OK, the important thing is for the communicator to find their voice so they can communicate effectively over the long-haul.

Click Here.

1. Did I teach proper theology?

2. Was I engaging and or compelling?

3. Did the listener sense my passion and love for them, the topic and the text?

4. Can the listener take the message and apply it asap. For many of us “formal” leaders we love “deep” teaching. But for most church-goers they really rely on us (for better or worse) to help them understand scripture and apply it to their daily living.

5. Was I honest and authentic. (This past Sunday I told the story of me lying to some lady about being a dog psychologists, because the lady told me I was “over-training” my dog. This incident happened years a few months ago.)

6. Did I prepare the sermon, pray and let the Spirit lead? I never look at notes when I speak. I just flow. So I try to memorize the outline. Usually I plan an outline in the beginning of my sermon prep. Then I prepare a manuscript. Then I create a “speaking” outline that I take on the stage. Just in case I get lost in the middle of the message. I usually rehearse my message 2 times before I speak and I try to have the key text memorized.

My goal of speaking is not to just share. I want to let the message penetrate deep into my spirit.

And Jeff is doing PM service. HA!

Can’t wait.

Oh Crap, another “to-do” now-plan sermon. What can an American say to those who live in the freaking Middle-East?

Thoughts?

I do shed some tears, just to let you know.