MENS TRAINING CLASS

1. MENS TRAINING CLASS LESSON # 6 – Part One Presented at: Newton church of Christ Newton, NC 28658 2008

2. THE SHORT TALK • "According to most studies, people's Number One Fear is Public Speaking. The Number Two Fear is death. Death is Number Two!!! • Now, this means, to the average person, if you have to go to a funeral, you're better off in the casket than doing the eulogy!!” - Jerry Seinfeld monologue, episode 61 of Seinfeld. • Yet, Romans 10:14 mandates that someone preach! • “How then shall they call on Him in whom they have not believed? And how shall they believe in Him of whom they have not heard? And how shall they hear without a preacher?” • Those who don’t hear will be lost eternally!

3. THE SHORT TALK • No matter how much effort you have put into your preparations to serve publicly, unless they can hear and understand you, your audience will receive no benefit and their worship may be hindered. • There are many passages of scripture we can examine to help us understand the importance we should place on communicating God’s Word clearly. • See Acts 2:5-8, 1 Corinthians 14:1-19. • Delivery is a very important aspect of public speaking. It is the bridge between you and your audience. • Delivery includes the use of your voice and your nonverbal communication, or body action.

4. THE SHORT TALK • So WHY ME! • God’s helpers have always been ordinary people like you and me: • Moses – Exodus 3:1-4; 18 • Joshua – Josh 1:2-9 • David – 1 Sam 6:7-13 • Isaiah – Isa 6:1-9 • Jeremiah – Jer 1:6-9 • Esther – Esther – 4:14 • Amos – Amos 1:1 • Fishermen – Mathew 4:18-22 • Matthew – Luke 5:27-32 • Paul – Acts 9:15-16

5. THE SHORT TALK • It is GOD’S Will for us! • We are to be zealous of good works – Titus 2:11-14 • God works in us to will and to do – Phil. 2:13 • We must awaken to our god given responsibility – Eph. 5:14 • It is our MASTER’S DESIRE! • Note Christ’s invitation – Matthew 11:28-30 • COME LEARN • Note the Commission – Matthew 28:18-20; Mark 16:15-16 - GO TEACH • It is NEEDFUL when one considers the DYING WORLD. • Ezekiel 33:7-9 – ‘“So you, son of man: I have made you a watchman for the house of Israel; therefore you shall hear a word from My mouth and warn them for Me. “When I say to the wicked, ‘O wicked man, you shall surely die!’ and you do not speak to warn the wicked from his way, that wicked man shall die in his iniquity; but his blood I will require at your hand. “Nevertheless if you warn the wicked to turn from his way, and he does not turn from his way, he shall die in his iniquity; but you have delivered your soul.’”

6. THE SHORT TALK • The Delivery: • Voice Quality - mellow, clear, stable, steady, rich, and full – these words characterize an “ideal” public speaking voice. But the Lord expects us to use whatever type voice we have to the best of our abilities (Matthew 25:14-39). • Force - volume and intensity. The volume of your voice should vary according to what you are saying to avoid monotony and to compensate for room size and noise level. • Pitch - position on the scale at which you speak. Different words should have higher or lower inflection than others. For example, there should be a rise in pitch at the end of a question. Pitch changes the meaning of statements. • Rate - refers to the speed at which you speak. The rate at which you speak can change the effect on your audience. If you are somewhat nervous, you will speak faster than normal, so concentrate on slowing down in order to allow your audience to absorb what you are saying. Pauses can also be used effectively to “frame” ideas or focus attention, but if a pause is too long, it will appear as though you have had a memory lapse. Never fill in pauses with “uh” or other non-productive expressions. • Enthusiasm - Remember, you are doing the Lord’s work and can help change the eternal destiny of those who are listening. Select a topic you feel is timely and important to your audience will help you be enthusiastic in your delivery. [Note: Enthusiasm usually displaces nervousness.]

7. THE SHORT TALK • The Delivery: • Enunciation, pronunciation, and articulation - Involves pronouncing words clearly and correctly so that your audience hears them. Be yourself as you speak – if you haven’t paid a lot of attention to using words properly in the past, don’t suddenly try to become a “professor of speech”, as this may seem pretentious to your audience. When you first begin public speaking try not to use words that you normally would not use. However, over a period of time you should begin to try to improve on your language skills. Watch out for the following: • Don’t “lose” the endings of words as you speak. For example “praying” not “prayin’” • Look up words that you do not know how to pronounce. Often mispronounced words include: business, thing, think, government, statistic, etc. Biblical names can be “tongue-twisters,” too. • Be cautious of slurring words together, but remember that over-precision can sound mechanical. • The expression, “its not what you say but how you say it” is certainly true!

8. THE SHORT TALK • The Delivery: • Gestures - body action can relate your thoughts and feelings to the audience almost as effectively as words. Inappropriate body action, such as rocking from side to side or leaning on the podium can become the focal point of your audience’s attention. And gestures should appear natural and not force. When gesturing with your hands, try to keep them below shoulder-height. This gives the appearance of being in control of yourself and of being a credible speaker. • Eye contact - Look at individuals in the audience, but stare at the same person. Take in the whole audience, looking at people in different parts of the audience continuously, but not in a set pattern. Eye contact gives each individual in the audience the feeling that they are being spoken to, and it gives the speaker feedback as he sees the audience react • Length - Someone once said, “The mind can only absorb what the seat can endure.” There are many factors that determine how long your audiences can effectively listen, but unless you are an extremely talented and experienced speaker, you need to keep things well-organized and brief. Take the time you need to present your message, but stay on the subject. Make each point clearly and concisely, and finish within or before the allotted time has expired.

9. THE SHORT TALK • USING A MICROPHONE • When a microphone is available, you should be willing to use it. • IT probably wouldn’t be a part of the facility if it were not needed. • You may not want to “fool” with it. • But remember what you have to say and that each member of your audience needs to be able to hear your message.

10. THE SHORT TALK • Here are some tips for using the “mic”: • Before services begin, make sure you know how to adjust and turn on the microphone, and that it is working. • Speak directly into the mike, about 4 to 8 inches away from it and try not to lean into it or away from it. • Adjust the microphone to your height. • When using a fixed microphone, if you turn your head from side to side to scan your audience you will need to adjust your body position so you are still speaking directly into the mike. • When using a clip-on microphone, remember to leave it turned off while you are clipping it on, adjusting it, taking it off, or wearing it before you are to preach. • Clip the mike onto your lapel, tie, or shirt about 8 inches below your mouth. • Avoid turning your head away from the clip-on mike. Instead of turning just your head, turn your upper body. • Avoid rustling papers or tapping on the podium as a microphone will also amplify these noises. • Do not be afraid of the microphone – it will aid you and your audience in your service to the Lord.

11. THE SHORT TALK • Important Considerations: • You earn the right to speak in teaching the congregation by preparation. • If you think you can wing it – you can’t and those who try don’t. • James 3:1 – “My brethren, let not many of you become teachers, knowing that we shall receive a stricter judgment.” (NKJV) • What is preparation? • Firstly it is not using someone else’s material verbatim. • Nor is it throwing something together at the last minute – say during the bible class period. • Giving a personal testimony or speaking on our personal experiences instead of teaching the Bible --- ask yourself this question – when did Jesus ever do this, or one of his Apostles? • Making the excuse – “I did not have anything prepared so I’m just going to read a few verses.” • IF YOU ARE NOT PREPARED – DON’T SPEAK!

12. THE SHORT TALK • What is Involved in Preparation: • Firstly one must engage in mindful prayer – this is the beginning of every spiritual project. • Ask God’s blessings upon you as you study, prepare and then speak before the congregation. • James 1:5 – “If any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask of God, who gives to all liberally and without reproach, and it will be given to him.” • Acts 4:29-31 - “Now, Lord, look on their threats, and grant to Your servants that with all boldness they may speak Your word, “by stretching out Your hand to heal, and that signs and wonders may be done through the name of Your holy Servant Jesus.” And when they had prayed, the place where they were assembled together was shaken; and they were all filled with the Holy Spirit, and they spoke the word of God with boldness.” • Colossians 4:13 – “For I bear him witness that he has a great zeal for you, and those who are in Laodicea, and those in Hierapolis.” • Secondly – decide what type of talk you are going to give. • Topical – choose a subject and then study to see what the Scriptures say. • Textual – Choose a text – study to make sure you under- stand it, then remember to make applications from it. • This selection is no different for the 5, 10 or 40 minute sermons.