Every now and then, you’re going to be asked to speak in a Church meeting. It’s inevitable. But do you feel a bit uncomfortable about your ability to prepare and present interesting talks? Following are several simple steps that can help you prepare for a successful experience.
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1.
Select a subject—or focus narrowly on the subject assigned to you—considering your audience and their interests and needs as well as your own.
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2.
Identify your purpose. What do you want to accomplish by speaking about that subject?
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3.
Research the subject. Gather scriptures, stories, quotations, examples, statistics, testimonies, etc., that support your subject.
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4.
Organize your material simply and logically.
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a.
Introduce the subject with a scripture, story, example, question, or other attention-getting method.
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b.
State the purpose of your remarks.
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c.
Develop each idea that supports your purpose with an example, illustration, or explanation. Expand your material to fill the amount of time you have been assigned to speak.
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d.
Conclude by repeating the point simply and directly.
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a.
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5.
Practice your presentation. Get someone to listen to you, or practice in front of a mirror. As you rehearse, anticipate the reactions of the listeners.
Even though you may still feel uneasy, with adequate preparation and some practice, you can make your speaking experience a more positive one.
[illustration] Illustrated by Don Weller
