Many youth speakers and youth pastors treat a message like a bowl of goulash: Throw everything in and with enough spices, it will taste just fine. Unfortunately, if you treat communication in this manner, you will just end up with a room full of eyes-glazed, confused and frustrated students.
When it comes to preparing your message, don't forget the critical step of determining the theme of your talk. Here's a few quick steps to get you started:
1. Determine what themes exist from the text.
Spend enough time in the scripture to see which themes flow out if the passage naturally as well as contextually. Be sure to not hurry your study time. Take care to allow the Holy Spirit to speak to you his intended meaning as you faithfully exegete the Word.
2. Boil it down to the top 2-3 themes.
Once you have your list of themes, set aside your study notes for a day. Then, return to your theme list and see which two or three rise to the top.
3. Pray and think about your audience.
As you reflect on your top themes, take the time to pray for the students to whom you will be speaking. Also, be sure to take the time to think about their lives and the situations they face. Considering the specific demographic of the students in the room will help you settle on one main theme.
4. Choose one theme as your main theme.
Listen to the Holy Spirit and determine the main theme for your message.
5. Work everything else in your message around this main theme.
Now that you have decided on one main theme, you can begin to sort through the rest if your message and decide which illustrations to use, which supporting texts should be shared, and even what type of opening and closing is needed. Use your main theme as a filter and sift. If an illustration or story doesn't fit with your theme, leave it out.
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