In this "Epistle from Thistle," the columnist and correspondent describes (in his own unique way) "seven multisyllabic mistakes, or 'speaking faults,' preachers or, I suppose, any public speaker can make." . . .
August 24, 2023
"[M]ost ministers in practicing their calling pick up such bad habits in pulpit technique that after ten to fifteen years, most of them stand in need of professional help." . . .
April 19, 2017
By Daniel Schantz I was at a church dinner visiting with a highway patrolman, and he said, “Dan, I deal every day with a culture that has no conscience. These guys don”t care who gets hurt. They are not afraid of the police . . . they don”t fear God himself.” It was a sobering revelation, because fear is vital to civilization, and most normal people have a number of instinctive fears. Typical Fears Surveys of the American public show a variety of fears out there””the fear of public speaking, of dentists, of climate change, for example. Women fear losing
March 12, 2011
By Jennifer Taylor Trent Renner, lead pastor at Parkway Christian Church (Surprise, Arizona), read about hundreds of Christian martyrs as part of his morning devotions in 2010. When planning for 2011, he knew these stories would inspire and challenge his church. “The accounts of persecution and the way these heroes faithfully endured it for Christ really affected me,” he says. “It changed my perspective and made me more grateful for the freedom in our country.” At the beginning of the year, Renner invited church members to share the story of one martyr in one service on one weekend. “We have
By Max R. Hickerson A glance at The Sir Winston Method by James Humes gives us an insight into what made Churchill a compelling speaker. Churchill”s approach can help every Bible teacher and preacher. The following outline, borrowed from the book, shows us how. 1. A STRONG BEGINNING Refuse to start your message, “It is a pleasure to be here to speak.” Invent your own quotable line. Start with a quotation or a question that provokes thought: “What would you do for a million dollars?”; “What is your favorite adventure story?”; “Which is more important to you, 9/11 or 11/9?” “A
By Brad Dupray “Mr. Presentation” Tony Jeary has spent 25 years perfecting the art of the presentation. He has coached CEOs in a variety of industries, including leaders of Wal-Mart, Qualcomm, Samsung, and New York Life, to name a few. Having coached people the world around to develop their presentation effectiveness, Tony takes a strategic approach that works not only for “captains of industry,” but also for average Christians who want to communicate their message to a small group or one-on-one. Standard Publishing has published Tony”s 38th book, Purpose-Filled Presentations, designed to help any Christian communicate more effectively in and
April 2, 2008
A young voter’s desire for “relatable” language raises a deeper challenge for the church. Compelling speech matters, but lasting influence requires substance—especially for preachers seeking to reach a generation that’s often absent from church.
August 10, 2005
Stress and aging are linked, but strong friendships can help. Mark A. Taylor reflects on entering a new stage of life and points to the church’s “one another” life as a practical path to support and aging well.
June 12, 2005
Strong communication shapes how people perceive a church. Jim Tune shares five practical keys—preparation, clear structure, respect for time, effective storytelling, and wise use of technology—to help teaching and preaching move from dull to dynamic.
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June 3, 2026
David Faust
June 3, 2026
Kent Fillinger
June 2, 2026
Erick Riddle