The typical church member is out of his element when suddenly asked to speak to the whole church.
Maybe it’s a testimony or even a sermon. Perhaps a report of some kind or a devotional. The layperson who has never done this before the entire congregation–particularly one of several hundred people–is frequently frightened out of his wits.
At the conclusion of the worship service, Marlene said to me, “I’m sorry I took the entire service, Pastor. But the Lord was leading me.” Translation: She really got into her talk and couldn’t control it.
As a young pastor, I had been inviting church members to share testimonies in the morning worship service, something along the lines of 5-7 minutes. That’s how it happened that Marlene taught her young pastor a lesson he never forgot. In time, I learned to interview the individual and to keep hold of the microphone the entire time!
Since Marlene had not prepared adequately, once she got going, she couldn’t find a convenient stopping place. She kept on for a full 40 minutes.
No one should blame their failure to prepare on the Lord.
I see it happen all the time. It’s almost embarrassing.
A man is given five minutes to present something in a formal program. He gets up and speaks and speaks. Fifteen minutes later, he says, “They told me I had five minutes to do this. So, in the time I have left….”
On the second row, his wife is trying to maintain her composure. But she’d like to crawl under the pew.
Here then is my list of Things non-clergy should know before they rise to speak in church….
One. Standing in front of the congregation causes one to lose all sense of time. I know that’s true because preachers deal with it all the time.
Two. Prepare. A speaker needs to plan carefully and fully two important things: what to say and what not to say. The second is as important as the first. And the only way to do the second–that is, prepare what not to say–is to practice several times. That way, he will see where the spots are where his mind wants to take a detour. Preparation makes the difference.