“All the great speakers were bad speakers at first.”1
Maybe some people are naturally gifted at communicating in front of audiences, but for the most part, public speaking takes practice and a personal desire to grow in this area of leadership—an area you will likely face in ministry.
That’s right. Even if you’re an introvert and prefer organizing ministry from behind the stage, at some point, you’ll likely find yourself speaking in front of a group. Whether you are leading a Bible study, sharing a biblical message at a women’s event, emceeing an event, or sharing your faith story, there are many ways you can improve your communication skills.
Scripture is filled with eloquent communicators and even the not-so-eloquent speakers. Moses begged God to use someone else because he was slow of speech. The prophets served as voices that relayed God’s instructions to the people of Israel. Sometimes people listened, and many times they were rejected. But it’s the apostle Paul that often captures my attention when it comes to being an excellent communicator. The last few chapters of Acts provide us with multiple speeches Paul presented to church elders, government officials, and mobs who were ready to kill him. If you quickly skim these passages and observe the way he spoke in front of others, you and I can learn some lessons from Paul. Here are a few of them.
Share your personal story.
God has given each of us a personal faith story. Paul never hesitated to share how Jesus met him on the road to Damascus. He knew his story was unique and personal, and he wasn’t afraid to share how his life changed. I love that Paul never seemed to get over the miracle of salvation, and neither should you and I. No matter what story God has written in your life, be ready to share how God pursued you and brought you into His family. Be ready to share how the Lord has rescued you from a difficult circumstance or how he has revealed Himself amid waiting for an answered prayer. God is still writing your story, so be prepared to tell others—even if it’s just one person at a time.
Engage the audience and ask for a response.
In Acts 26, we find Paul in front of King Agrippa, giving an account of his conversion and his calling to both the Jews and the Gentiles. He spoke to Agrippa understanding his position, but he also created a chance for King Agrippa to respond. Agrippa told Paul in verse 28, “’Are you going to persuade me to become a Christian so easily?’” Paul responded in verse 29, “’I wish before God,’ … ‘that whether easily or with difficulty, not only you but all who listen to me today might become as I am—except for these chains.’”
As a communicator, you need to know your audience. How old are they? What is their life experience? How well do they know Scripture? All of these questions will help you identify aspects of your audience and how you will speak in front of them. If you’re speaking in front of children, you’ll probably make sure you use simple concepts they can understand. If you’re speaking to senior adults, you might use references from the past they remember. And if you find yourself in front of a king, you might need a tutor in protocol!
As you engage your audience, don’t forget to conclude with an opportunity to respond either with prayer or action. How will your audience apply what you have said so it will stick beyond the time you have in front of them? Will you lead them in a prayer of salvation or spiritual response?
Be yourself.
Paul didn’t try to be Peter. He didn’t try to be Barnabas. He knew his personality, his story, and his message. As a public speaker, it’s desirable to listen to others and try to imitate their mannerisms and the way they outline a message. We want what works for them to work for us. I have listened to many speakers over the years, and the best thing I’ve learned about my public speaking is that I’m not very effective if I try to be someone I’m not. Of course, you can learn from other communicators, but you need to find your own voice. My daughter grew up taking voice lessons and continued to develop her skills in college. I still remember her college voice instructor telling me, “I don’t want to teach Courtney how to be like other great vocalists. I want to teach Courtney how to be the best Courtney.” That stuck with me, and over the next four years, I watched my daughter develop not only as a talented musician, but as a musician that was uniquely her.
Have clarity in your message.
Paul didn’t beat around the bush in his messages. He was persuasive and direct. He didn’t offer a lot of extra content—he preached Christ, the resurrection, and the need for salvation. As a public speaker, you can improve your skills when you know the purpose of your message and can clearly articulate it in a simple and persuasive way. Can you summarize your message in one sentence? If not, eliminate what isn’t necessary and focus on the most important thing you want to get across. Keep your points simple and memorable if you want your audience to remember what you are saying.
Point others to Jesus and not yourself.
Paul didn’t hesitate to share his personal story of salvation, but it wasn’t to bring attention to himself. Instead, Paul used his story to point to the resurrection of Jesus. In Acts 26:22-23, Paul ended his defense in front of Agrippa saying, “’To this very day, I have had help from God, and I stand and testify to both small and great, saying nothing other than what the prophets and Moses said would take place—that the Messiah would suffer, and that, as the first to rise from the dead, he would proclaim light to our people and to the Gentiles.’”
As you consider what you way to say to others, do not neglect pointing people to God—to His attributes, to His holiness, and to His power. Remember the Lord does the work in the hearts of people, but He may use you to be His mouthpiece that points others to Him.
Additional Tips
If you’re looking for other communication tips, consider these additional thoughts.
- Determine how you will organize your message or use notes. Will you memorize what you are saying, read a manuscript, or use an outline? Do what is most comfortable but find a way that provides lots of opportunity for eye contact and engagement.
- Use visual illustrations or interactive methods for various learning styles. Many people learn through visual objects or having an object they can hold in their hands. Whether it’s through graphics on a screen, a prop on stage, or a video that complements the message, consider creative ways to engage a variety of learning styles.
- Don’t make Scripture say what it isn’t saying. Be careful about choosing a verse out of context or assuming the intent of the original author. Be a careful student by reading all the Scripture surrounding the text, understanding the genre of the verses you are using, and understanding the historical context in which it was written.
- Give credit to those you are repeating. In other words, cite your work like you would when you write. Are you using someone’s quote or illustration? Did you find something in a commentary that you plan to use? You don’t want to speak like a research paper, but you do need to reference another author or communicator when using his or her work. This will help you avoid plagiarism.
- Provide a way for the audience to take notes. If you want your audience to remember what you have said, provide a handout or even a blank page for writing notes. When you do this, you have a better chance of people remembering the main points.
- Practice often and practice out loud. This might seem awkward, but if you are preparing to speak in front of an audience, stand in front of a mirror and practice what you plan to say. This will help you determine if there is an awkward transition and how much time it will take you to finish. It will also help you solidify the most important parts of your presentation.
- Let the message get inside you before you present it to others. Is this a message that has personally changed you? How has the Lord used this Scripture in your own study time and application? People will respond to your message when they understand how it has personally affected your spiritual growth.
- Seek feedback from others. This can be as painful as standing in front of the mirror, but if you want to be a better communicator, ask a few friends or colleagues to listen to your message first. You can also ask for feedback after it is over. Ask others what they remember, whether you stumbled over a certain point, or how they will apply what they learned. Try not to be defensive or offended, but learn from others and seek to improve the way you communicate.
About Kelly King
Kelly D. King is the women’s minister at Quail Springs Baptist Church in Oklahoma City. She is the author of Ministry to Women: The Essential Guide to Leading Women in the Local Church and was the former women’s ministry specialist for Lifeway Christian Resources. You can find her at kellydking.org and subscribe to her free monthly newsletter.
Work Cited
- Ralph Waldo Emerson, The Conduct of Life (Boston and New York: Ticknor and Fields, 1860), 78.
