I was recently featured as a guest blogger on Josh Griffin's youth ministry blog, More Than Dodgeball. The title of the post is, How to Equip Students to Preach in Your Pulpit.
You can read the post on his blog by clicking here.
Saturday, May 4, 2013
Wednesday, May 1, 2013
6 Rules of Preaching (Louie Giglio)
In participating in the Preach Better Semons webcast, I listened to Pastor Louie Giglio share six rules of preaching:
1. Have something to say.
If you don't have anything to say, either don't say anything or tell them you have nothing to say. If you only have one thing to say, keep saying it.
2. Be faithful to the text.
Biblical exegesis is crucial to preaching the Word.
3. Lead people to Jesus.
If with your preaching you are leading them to yourself, your church or anything else, you are leading them the wrong direction.
4. Don't be boring.
We have the best news of all time and the greatest story ever told from a great God.
5. Prepare.
Take the time to prepare well and rehearse.
6. Be led by the Holy Spirit.
Don't use this as an excuse to not do #5; however, be faithful to follow the leading of the Holy Spirit even if you end up sharing something different than you prepared.
1. Have something to say.
If you don't have anything to say, either don't say anything or tell them you have nothing to say. If you only have one thing to say, keep saying it.
2. Be faithful to the text.
Biblical exegesis is crucial to preaching the Word.
3. Lead people to Jesus.
If with your preaching you are leading them to yourself, your church or anything else, you are leading them the wrong direction.
4. Don't be boring.
We have the best news of all time and the greatest story ever told from a great God.
5. Prepare.
Take the time to prepare well and rehearse.
6. Be led by the Holy Spirit.
Don't use this as an excuse to not do #5; however, be faithful to follow the leading of the Holy Spirit even if you end up sharing something different than you prepared.
Tuesday, April 30, 2013
Coming up in May on Youth Speaker's Coach
May is shaping up to be an exciting month here at Youth Speaker's Coach. Here's a sneak peek...
Upcoming articles:
-Communicating to Middle School Students
-How Professional Youth Speakers Spend Their Prep Time
-The Eyes Have it: Connecting Through Eye Contact
-Investing in Your Growth as a Communicator
Upcoming Events:
May 16: Last Youth Communicator's Cohort (Spring '13) coaching call with featured guest, professional Preacher & Storyteller, Tommy Oaks. To get in on the YCC in the fall CLICK HERE.
May 22: Featured guest coach for the Youth Ministry Coaching Network. I will be speaking on 7 Tips to Connecting with Students Every Time You Speak.
As always... Keep an eye out for the FREE Illustration of the Month!
Upcoming articles:
-Communicating to Middle School Students
-How Professional Youth Speakers Spend Their Prep Time
-The Eyes Have it: Connecting Through Eye Contact
-Investing in Your Growth as a Communicator
Upcoming Events:
May 16: Last Youth Communicator's Cohort (Spring '13) coaching call with featured guest, professional Preacher & Storyteller, Tommy Oaks. To get in on the YCC in the fall CLICK HERE.
May 22: Featured guest coach for the Youth Ministry Coaching Network. I will be speaking on 7 Tips to Connecting with Students Every Time You Speak.
As always... Keep an eye out for the FREE Illustration of the Month!
Monday, April 29, 2013
Top 5 Tips to Creating a Teaching Calendar
While the communication skills, techniques and overall presentation approach of youth pastors and youth speakers are virtually interchangeable, their behind-the-scenes planning calendar couldn't be more unique. Whereas professional youth speakers spend most of their planning time developing and polishing a handful of flexible "keynote" messages, youth pastors (professional or volunteer) spend a significant amount of time planning and tweaking a curriculum calendar.
How do you develop this useful tool?
1. Begin with the end in mind.
Before you can flesh out an actual teaching calendar, you need to take a few steps back a determine what the "ideal disciple" in your student ministry will know and do upon graduation.
2. Break the vision down over 4-7 years.
Depending on whether you are calendaring for 6th-12th grades or just high school, layout the segments (topics, message series, book studies, etc) over that time period. Remember to ask your Senior Pastor or church board for any discipleship components that they feel are important to include. Your 4 year calendar doesn't have to be inflexible, but can serve as a rudder, steering the teaching direction of your student ministry.
3. Focus on the next 12 months.
Once you have an overarching curriculum plan, think through the next 12 months. How do the various message series or book studies break down week-by-week? Which bits and pieces are essential to cover? Are their any series or topics that need to be repeated annually?
4. Prepare for this semester.
Figure out which messages you want to personally deliver. Which messages will you delegate to your teaching team?
5. Stay one month ahead.
Instead of preparing messages the night before, attempt to prepare a month in advance. This will allow you the proper amount of time for your messages to "marinate" as well as ample time for rehearsal and practice.
How do you develop this useful tool?
1. Begin with the end in mind.
Before you can flesh out an actual teaching calendar, you need to take a few steps back a determine what the "ideal disciple" in your student ministry will know and do upon graduation.
2. Break the vision down over 4-7 years.
Depending on whether you are calendaring for 6th-12th grades or just high school, layout the segments (topics, message series, book studies, etc) over that time period. Remember to ask your Senior Pastor or church board for any discipleship components that they feel are important to include. Your 4 year calendar doesn't have to be inflexible, but can serve as a rudder, steering the teaching direction of your student ministry.
3. Focus on the next 12 months.
Once you have an overarching curriculum plan, think through the next 12 months. How do the various message series or book studies break down week-by-week? Which bits and pieces are essential to cover? Are their any series or topics that need to be repeated annually?
4. Prepare for this semester.
Figure out which messages you want to personally deliver. Which messages will you delegate to your teaching team?
5. Stay one month ahead.
Instead of preparing messages the night before, attempt to prepare a month in advance. This will allow you the proper amount of time for your messages to "marinate" as well as ample time for rehearsal and practice.
Sunday, April 28, 2013
How to Determine the Theme of Your Message
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.
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.
Thursday, April 25, 2013
How Long Should You Speak?
Have you ever listened to a speaker and thought to yourself, When are they going to be done!?!?
Worse yet, have you ever been the speaker when everyone in the room is thinking that?
Respecting time is a crucial factor when communicating to a room full of students. I don't think if I have ever heard a student say, "That speaker doesn't speak for a long enough duration of time..." Brevity and conciseness can be two very overlooked virtues when communicating.
How do you ensure that you don't get long-winded in your preaching?
1. Determine how long you have to speak.
If you only have 20 minutes, don't be "that guy" who consistently speaks for 40 minutes and goes way over on your time. It's rude, inconsiderate and disrespectful.
2. Use the 7-7-7 Rule.
Students have been conditioned by television for 7 minutes of content then a 2 minute "commercial break." Structure your message with this in mind and it will help you say what you need to say in a timely manner and get off the stage.
3. Figure out what your personal time limit is.
Most decent communicators can hold an audiences attention for 20 minutes. Fewer can hold it for 30 minutes. Very few can hold it for 45 minutes or more. If you are constantly monologuing to your students for an hour, my bet is that they stopped listening to you after 12 minutes.
4. Practice, practice, practice.
The more you rehearse your talk, the better you will be able to stay within your time frame. As Saddleback Church's Josh Griffin says, "If you find yourself going over in time, you didn't prepare well." Take the time to practice and you will be able to get a much better handle on your content, flow and illustrations. Remember, rehearsal reduces rambling.
Worse yet, have you ever been the speaker when everyone in the room is thinking that?
Respecting time is a crucial factor when communicating to a room full of students. I don't think if I have ever heard a student say, "That speaker doesn't speak for a long enough duration of time..." Brevity and conciseness can be two very overlooked virtues when communicating.
How do you ensure that you don't get long-winded in your preaching?
1. Determine how long you have to speak.
If you only have 20 minutes, don't be "that guy" who consistently speaks for 40 minutes and goes way over on your time. It's rude, inconsiderate and disrespectful.
2. Use the 7-7-7 Rule.
Students have been conditioned by television for 7 minutes of content then a 2 minute "commercial break." Structure your message with this in mind and it will help you say what you need to say in a timely manner and get off the stage.
3. Figure out what your personal time limit is.
Most decent communicators can hold an audiences attention for 20 minutes. Fewer can hold it for 30 minutes. Very few can hold it for 45 minutes or more. If you are constantly monologuing to your students for an hour, my bet is that they stopped listening to you after 12 minutes.
4. Practice, practice, practice.
The more you rehearse your talk, the better you will be able to stay within your time frame. As Saddleback Church's Josh Griffin says, "If you find yourself going over in time, you didn't prepare well." Take the time to practice and you will be able to get a much better handle on your content, flow and illustrations. Remember, rehearsal reduces rambling.
Sunday, April 21, 2013
A Huge Preaching Disaster
I was speaking at a summer camp and it was "Thursday Night" (you know... the last, most emotionally intense, yet memorable night of the week). Things were progressing along swimmingly. The worship band did a great job leading the students in sincere worship. The students were engaged. It had been a great week on all accounts up to this point. Now I was up to bat. The bases were loaded. Time for the message.
The topic that night was sharing Christ with your friends. A college intern at the camp was going to star with me in an adapted skit we were using at the end of the message.
A very intense skit.
Without going into too much detail, let's just say there was lots of fake blood, Hellish background music and incredibly intense dialogue.
At the end of the skit, I (covered in blood) was giving the challenge for students to take sharing their faith seriously. It was only about a two minute closing... But there was a huge problem. At the most inopportune moment possible, one of the band members' phones began ringing onstage (he had accidentally left in there).
It wasn't just any ringtone.
It was a hideously high-pitched, loud, hyperactive squirrel-type laugh ringtone. And it wouldn't stop.
Talk about ruining the moment.
He eventually came on stage grabbed the phone and apologized. By this point, everyone in the room was laughing (it was a funny sounding ringtone).
Thankfully, God is the one who changes lives... Not us or our feeble efforts. His ministry always flows from His mercy.
Do you have a preaching disaster story?
The topic that night was sharing Christ with your friends. A college intern at the camp was going to star with me in an adapted skit we were using at the end of the message.
A very intense skit.
Without going into too much detail, let's just say there was lots of fake blood, Hellish background music and incredibly intense dialogue.
At the end of the skit, I (covered in blood) was giving the challenge for students to take sharing their faith seriously. It was only about a two minute closing... But there was a huge problem. At the most inopportune moment possible, one of the band members' phones began ringing onstage (he had accidentally left in there).
It wasn't just any ringtone.
It was a hideously high-pitched, loud, hyperactive squirrel-type laugh ringtone. And it wouldn't stop.
Talk about ruining the moment.
He eventually came on stage grabbed the phone and apologized. By this point, everyone in the room was laughing (it was a funny sounding ringtone).
Thankfully, God is the one who changes lives... Not us or our feeble efforts. His ministry always flows from His mercy.
Do you have a preaching disaster story?
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