Every good message has two things: an effective beginning and a well-defined ending. Too many speakers and presenters just wander into a message. A little bit of this, a little bit of that. Or worse, they stick an irrelevant introduction onto their speech or sermon because they like it, not because it fits. The introduction should point to where the message is going in a clear, concise, and compelling fashion. If the introduction is getting the message in the air, on the back end of the message is a good landing. It's sighting the runway and knowing when to bring down the plane. Many great speeches lose their impact because the speaker starts circling the runway, unsure of how to end the message. Lose the ending and there's a good chance you'll lose the impact. Alpha and omega, beginning and end.
Read More
Back in college, I was amazed at guys who in private were warm and engaging but who clammed up when given a microphone. The most common mistake was to read their speech (or sermon) in a flat, monotone voice. No movement. No color or emotion. The human voice is God's most creative instrument. Use it to add depth to a deep point or excitement to an idea that should inspire passion or joy. To get people to lean forward, whisper. To allow them time to think, press pause. To inspire or move to action, say no to monotone.
Read More
In 1960 when Adlai Stevenson introduced John F. Kennedy, who was then a candidate for president, he said: “In classical times when Cicero had finished speaking, the people said, ‘How well he spoke’ — but when Demosthenes had finished speaking, the people said, ‘Let us march’!” If you had to pick between praise or marchers, which would you choose?
Read More
The Exponential Conference is coming up in a few days (April 26-29) in Orlando, Florida. It's one of the largest gatherings of church planters and church planting networks in the country. I had the privilege of attending when I planted our church in San Diego, working with Stadia: New Church Strategies. Exponential is a great conference for connecting, learning, and dreaming. I remember being surrounded by men and women who had either taken the plunge like me or who wanted to. It's hard to describe the feeling of being in such a great cloud of witnesses. Networking alone was worth the price of admission. Being able to sit in seminars with guys who were doing what you wanted to be doing made the experience priceless. I will be praying next week for those who gather in Orlando. Each current and future church plant holds the potential to change entire communities. …
Read More
"The most important first step for leaders in growing others is to place them in the soil of belief." -- Kevin Eikenberry, author and consultant, writing at KevinEikenberry.com
Read More