The Lord will bless the chapters with speakers, teachers, even prophets.
Conduct the CFC PFO Speakers Training Module. This is a gift. This can be our much needed grace.
After the training, ask leaders-participants to give the talk themselves (CLP, GMT etc).... Let's rediscover and avail of the means to mentor and train well the next generation of CFC in our respective areas.
We gave this one in August, 2006... (I inserted citations from Maxwell and Warren)
(Best updated with Robert Barron's lectures and writings on persuasive speech...)
(Best updated with Robert Barron's lectures and writings on persuasive speech...)
COUPLES
FOR CHRIST
SPEAKERS’
TRAINING
Talk
No. 1 : COMMUNICATION AND PUBLIC
SPEAKING
Expanded
Outline
A. Communication is an exchange of
meaning.
Two people may
talk and exchange ideas, opinions or words, but if they do not mean what they say and say what they mean, the result is
miscommunication.
The purpose of communication is to bring two or
more hearts and minds together to become one.
Communication comes from the Latin word communis which means “common”. In its, simplistic
terms, it means sending and receiving messages.
The success of your marriage, job and personal
relationships depends greatly on communication.
However, it
does not mean that if there is sending and receiving, communication has
occurred. Often, it only partially occurred because of refraction due to:
1. Preoccupation
2. Emotional
Blocks
3. Hostility
4. Past
Experience
5. Stereotyping
6. Physical
Environment
7. Mind wandering
8. Relationships
9. Inarticulateness
These guidelines may then be of tremendous help.
John Maxwell’s 4 basic Truths on Communication
John Maxwell’s 4 basic Truths on Communication
1.
Simplify your
message
- Communication is
not just what you say. It is also how you say it.
- The key to effective communication is simplicity. Forget about impressing people with big words or complex sentences. If you want to communicate with people, keep it simple. Napoleon Bonaparte used to tell his secretaries: “Be clear, be clear, be clear.”
- Blueprint for effective communication: Write an exciting opening that will grab everybody in your audience. Then you write a dramatic summary and closing that will make people want to act. Then put them as close together as possible.
2.
See the person
-
Effective communication focus on people. It is impossible to communicate to an
audience without knowing something about them.
3.
Show the truth
- Credibility
precedes great communication. 2 ways:
i. Believe in what you say. Be fired up with conviction. “The most powerful weapon on earth is thehuman soul on fire.”
ii. Live what you say
4.
Seek for a response
-
Never forget that the goal of communication is action. If you dump a bunch of
information on people, you are not communicating. Every time you speak, give
them something to feel, something to remember, and something to do.
B. Important facts about public speaking.
1. Reality:
Good speakers are MADE, not BORN.
From
Warren Purpose Driven Church
Jesus’
style of communication
Crowd’s
reaction to Jesus— Amazed
at his teaching (Mt 7:28 );
profoundly impressed (Matt 22:33 ) people were enthusiastic (Mk 11:18 ); the great crowd enjoyed
listening to him (Mark 12:37 )
There
has never been a greater communicator than Jesus Christ. Hence, he must be our
model for preaching.
John 12:49 : The
Father who sent me commanded me what to
say and how to say it”. Notice
that both the content and the delivery style of Jesus’ teaching were directed
by the Father.
What
was his style:
1. Jesus began with people’s needs, hurts and interests
- usually taught in response to a question from someone in the crowd
- His message
offered practical benefits to those who listened
- We do not have to
make the Bible relevant; it already is. It is Good News.
- By beginning with
needs, hurts and interests you immediately gain attention
i. Like a teacher, salesman, manager
There is in our brain this so called “reticular activating system” – a filter so that we do not have to respond to all stimuli around us; it sifts and sorts so that we do not get overloaded or overwhelmed.
What does get attention:
1. Things we value
2. Those that are unique
3. Things that threaten
Most unbelievers are not looking for truth but relief.
2. Jesus related truth to life
- JC’s teachings are
practical and simple. They were clear, relevant and applicable. He aimed for
application because his goal was to transform
people, not merely inform them.
- A lot of teachings today are “Ain’t it awful” preaching- complains about society, makes judgments about people, long in diagnosis, short in remedy. They make Christians superior to “people out there.”
- When we go to a doctor, we do not just want to hear, whats wrong with us but specific steps to getting better.
- Christlike preaching is life-related and produces a changed lifestyle.
- Note that you do not transform the message of the Bible (diluting it) but translate it into terms we can easily understand.
3. Jesus spoke to the crowd with an interesting style.
- Pastors complain,
we should not “entertain”. But if you look up “entertain in dictionary, it
means “capturing and holding the attention for an extended period.”
- To the unchurched, dull teaching is unforgivable. Truth poorly delivered is ignored.
- “I am amazed at how some Bible teachers are able to take the most exciting book in the world and bore people to tears with it. I believe it is a sin to bore people with the Bible. When God’s word is taught in an uniteresting was, people don’t just think the pastor is boring, they think God is boring.”
- Style of Jesus Christ:
i.
He told stories
to make a point. A master storyteller. A favorite technique. Hence, the Bible
is a book of stories.
1. stories hold our attention. Like TV
2. stories stir our emotion. They impact in ways that
precepts and propositions never do. If you want to change lives, you must craft
the message for impact, not for information.
3. stories help us remember. Long after the pastor is
forgotten, people will remember the stories from the sermon.
ii. JC used simple language, not technical or theoretical jargon. He spoke in terms that normal people will understand. He spoke in Aramaic, the street language of that day. He talked of birds, flowers and other everyday objects. JC told profound truths in simple ways. Not the other way around ( simple truths in profound ways)
- It is easy to complicate the Gospel and Satan would love us to do just that.
- Einstein: “You do not really understand something unless you can communicate it in a simple way.” You can be brilliant, but if you can’t share your thoughts in a simple way, your insights are’nt worth much.
Now let us review our talk on Communication and Public Speaking
2. Elements
for effective public speaking:
a) Use your own style.
* Do not copy someone else’s style.
b) Do not read your talk.
* Avoid
“manuscript speaking” or being the newscaster type.
c) Do not memorize the whole talk.
* Be personal and natural.
* It is
possible to memorize some important segments.
d) Speaking does not have to be formal or
so serious.
* Be
conversational.
* Be
serious about the topic but not overly formal in
delivery.
3. Stage
fright is not unnatural.
a) It is normal for most people.
* It always seems to be more serious to
the speaker.
* It seems to escalate the more you
seek to escape it.
* It can be used to your advantage.
b) How to handle stage fright.
* Pray.
Entrust everything to the Lord (yourself and your assigned talk).
* Use the “Aware-Accept-Act” approach.
* Handle
the specific symptoms of stage fright as they appear in you.
(See Annex A).
C. Fear versus F.E.A.R.
1. Fear
can be real or imagined. But it is a God-given emotion, to be used to serve us.
a) There is a healthy kind of fear. “The beginning of
wisdom is fear of the Lord.” (Sirach 1:12). Fear of the Lord is submission to
God. It is true humility.
b) We can fight fear with “FEAR” itself.
2. “Fear”
(or F,E,A,R) for us should have a new meaning, as follows:
a) FAITH
-- Dependence on God. Dependence
on elders. Being men and women who trust God amidst trials and difficulties.
b)
ENTHUSIASM --
Much earnest and fervent feeling about the Lord. A strong conviction of
what God is doing and what God asks us to do. Zeal and passion to do God’s work
in and through CFC.
c)
ANTICIPATION --
Hoping for the best to come instead of being anxious. Realizing beforehand that God called us and
will use us as his instrument, therefore expecting that something good will
happen to our listeners and their lives.
d)
RESPECT -- God
called us and therefore we need to respect him. We also need to respect our
listeners and our elders who have allowed us to serve in this ministry. We need
to prepare for the talk, realizing the privilege of being invited to preach his
word.
D. Planning your talk.
1. Study
the expanded outline of the talk.
a) Read the expanded outline a few times.
b) Understand the goal/objective (to
inform and persuade the audience).
c) Accept and internalize the talk
content.
2. Seek
input from your elders/leaders.
a) Learn from their wisdom and experience.
b) If any point is unclear, take it up
with them.
3. Analyze
who your audience is.
a) Inquire from the team leader about age, social
status, academic level, cultural background.
b) Adopt your manner of presentation to the audience
(i.e., expressions, examples, more or less of sharing than teaching, etc.).
E. Preparing the talk.
1. Pray
and offer your efforts to God.
2. Read
and internalize the expanded outline of the talk.
a)
The expanded
outline is the talk itself. Resist the temptation to do extensive research and
input more material into the talk, no matter how interesting. This might just
obscure the basic message of the talk or overlap with other talks.
b) Become comfortable with the contents and the flow of ideas.
3. Jot
down and prioritize all the examples, stories and sharings for your talk.
a) Supporting points easy to comprehend.
Just enough, not too many.
b) Credible and interesting. Current and
relevant.
c) Avoid controversies, arguments,
criticism of others.
4. Write
your introduction.
a) The opening of a talk should be:
* Positive. Do not apologize. Be
enthusiastic.
* Concise. Be brief. Do not ramble or
be long- winded.
* Relevant to the main talk itself.
* Be able to show continuity from the
previous talk (if any).
b) Methods of opening a talk.
* Ask a question. One that can be answered
by a “yes” or “no” or a show of hands.
* State
an impressive fact. Something unusual but
interesting.
* Tell a
story. Current and relevant and easy to visualize.
* Present
the goal or objective.
* Preview the topic. A bird’s eye view
of what can be
expected.
* Make an emphatic statement.
* Give a sharing.
* Quote a Bible passage.
5. Flesh
out the talk.
a) Insert examples, stories, statistics and/or
sharings. This makes the talk more interesting.
b) Link points from one to the next.
c) Do not depart from the outline.
6. Mark
the important points on your talk outline.
a) Use characters large enough to read.
b) Indicate key parts only; the exact
words you will begin with.
c) Highlight the exact positions where you
will insert sharings, examples, etc.
7. Write
down your conclusion.
a) You can ruin a nice talk by having a weak
conclusion.
* Do not ramble on (E.g., “And another thing I failed to mention .....”). Have a decisive conclusion.
* Do not just stop abruptly (E.g.,
“..... and that’s all I have
to say”).
b) You do not always have to end with a Bible
passage, but may quote one if appropriate.
c) The conclusion should be challenging.
* Create a desire to hear more and look forward to the next session.
F. The talk itself.
1. If anything is unclear, consult your CFC elders.
Do not just presume on what the appropriate meaning of the text is.
2. Some tips for having a good talk:
a) Be conversational in tone.
b) Use normal language, avoiding pious phrases, King
James English (thees and thous), and churchy jargon (edified, sanctification,
etc.).
c) Make simple, not complex, points. Make them
clearly stated, not hinted. Say what you are saying.
d) Don’t moralize or preach. Don’t talk down to your
listeners.
e) Avoid arguments, controversies, criticism of
others.
f) Base the talk on the Bible. Quote the scriptures,
paraphrasing them if necessary to make your point.
g) Use examples and stories from your own experience.
3. Keep the talk disciplined to the goals of the
session.
4. The talk should be for a duration of about 45
minutes. In any case, it should not be less than 30 minutes nor more than one
hour.
*
* *
COUPLES FOR CHRIST
SPEAKERS TRAINING
Annex A
HANDLING
STAGE FRIGHT
1. Speechlessness.
* Warm up prior to the talk.
* Hum in a low tone.
* Take a breath.
* Focus on a familiar face.
2. Racing.
* Pause for a moment.
* Summarize.
3. Headache.
* Take some food before the talk.
* Take aspirin.
4. Stiff or
shaky muscles.
* Identify which muscles are shaking and then shake off.
* Walk around.
* Bend your waist; lean on the edge of the rostrum.
5. Shortness
of breath.
* Take a deep breath. Series of breaths.
* Stretch your arms.
* Make yourself yawn.
6. Excessive
sweating.
* Have a hankerchief available.
* Loosen up your collar; have
comfortable attire.
* Have a glass of water ready.
7. Dry mouth.
* Have a glass of water ready.
8. Pounding
heart.
* Hold a long deep breath.
* Do long slow breathing.
9. Cracking
voice.
* Stretch your neck, clear your voice, take a deep breath.
* Pause and sip water on the side.
10. Shifting or
rocking body movements.
* Grip the lectern in front of you.
11. Twitches
(irregular muscle spasms).
* Rub the muscle or stretch that area of the body.
* Face away from the audience.
12. “Aaaahs”
and “Uuuhmmms”.
* Practice to have none. Be aware of it.
* Think before you speak.
13. Blanking
out (forgetting what to say).
* Pray immediately but silently.
* Acknowledge you forgot.
-
It is OK to say “I lost my thoughts; what was I saying?” Do not feel
embarrassed.
-
Have a CATCH ALL phrase, a line that will make you comfortable. “It
seems I lost track of my notes ...”
* Refer to your notes. Glance at the next point, then
proceed.
* Summarize and stop.
-
Restate the last point or refer to the points already discussed.
-
If you are close to the end, summarize and then conclude.
* *
*
COUPLES FOR CHRIST
SPEAKERS TRAINING
Annex B
HANDLING
QUESTIONS
In
case there is an open forum after the talk, the following may be useful in
handling questions:
1. Repeat or rephrase the question.
a) Especially
if the question was not heard by many.
b) This
also gives you a chance to organize your thoughts.
2. Compliment a tough question.
a) This
can help defuse any hostility there might be.
b) Admit
it if you do not know the answer.
3. Put your answer in its proper
framework.
a) Qualify
your answer if necessary.
b) Do
not drift too far from the subject at hand.
4. Answer the question clearly.
a) If possible, it should be
clear whether it is yes or no. If a clear yes or no is not possible due to the
circumstances, state your qualifications and premises clearly.
b) Do not attempt to bluff.
5. Check the clarity of your answer.
a) “Did
that answer your question?”
b) If
necessary, do a follow-up clarification.
6. Keep control of the session.
a) Serve
as “gatekeeper”, i.e., control who speaks or not, and for how long.
b) Direct
the session where it ought to go.
* “Let’s hear from our other brothers.”
* “We will discuss that later on.”
* *
*
