Monthly column for youth leaders

It's that moment again. Your heart is pounding; you can feel a bead of sweat forming on your forehead. A couple of deep breaths as you realise your knees are shaking.

All eyes are on you now, are you ready? I'm not talking about abseiling down a cliff or bungee jumping. You're about to give your talk on camp. It can be just as nerve-wracking. What can be done to help it go smoothly and turn it into an enjoyable (!) experience?

Happily there is much that can be done in preparation to transform that moment of terror. Proper preparation prevents poor performances. Here are some steps that will help you prepare.

Bible catch-phrase

Make sure that you have studied the passage well enough yourself. If you have not identified what the passage is all about then you will not be able to communicate it. If you are giving a thematic talk then make sure that it is still grounded in the Bible to avoid a 'stream of consciousness' talk. You are there to serve the passage; the passage is not there to serve your pet theories.
Think about the age and background of the young people you are talking to. Will they cope with a three-point sermon with numerous sub-points? It is probably better to stick to one point and make it clear. Television operates these days by only presenting one thing at a time and changing subject every three or four minutes. Write out the key idea that the passage is teaching in one short sentence. This is your catch phrase for the talk. It will anchor everything else you say.

Everything you say in the talk must be clearly seen in the Bible. Keep on asking yourself where you can see each point in the text. You may want to illustrate the point (see below) but you must apply it. What did that bit mean for the original readers and what does it mean for us?

To laugh or not to laugh

It's tempting to pack the talk with illustrations and jokes. At least the audience will be on your side. However, you shouldn't judge yourself by how many laughs you get, but whether the main point is remembered afterwards. If you are not the sort who can have crowds in stitches, don't try to be.

Any illustrations or jokes, and there needn't be many in a ten-minute talk, must serve the passage. They must be relevant and quick. You must explain how it helps the listeners understand. Don't leave people wondering why you gave that illustration while you move on. Very often the right illustration to use is already in the Bible passage and just needs drawing out.

Stopwatches and confetti

Remember the point about concentration span when you time the talk. Find out how long you are meant to speak for and make sure you time yourself. It is very easy to forget about time, waffle on and lose the impact a short, punchy talk could have had.

Do make sure you practice, possibly even with someone listening. You will learn not to rely on notes so much and you can spot when you are likely to trip up or lose your place. Use a highlighter pen on your notes for these places in the talk. Don't forget that the way you write something out in full is very different to the way it is spoken aloud.

Some people work from a full script, some from bullet points. Find out which is best for you. Don't make the writing too small causing you to bury your head in the pages. But do try to make the notes inconspicuous. For example make them A5 size so that they fit in your Bible or put them on easily held index cards. Do fasten them together in some way, such as a small folder or with a treasury tag. This avoids them turning into confetti at an embarrassing moment.

Logic on fire

A good talk is logic on fire. It must make sense and have clarity, but there must also be energy and excitement. Young people listening are only going to get enthusiastic if we are. Not over the top acting but a passion for the truth and its effect on our lives. Enthusiasm alone will never carry a poorly prepared talk, but without passion even the best talks can cause young people to glaze over.

Emphasise important points by repeating them or slowing down. Make sure you use language that is understandable and not full of jargon. Keep returning to your main point to drive it home. Summarise at the end and don't leave people cold. Have a moment to think, and pray; give people the chance to promise God they will act.

More help?

There are lots of books about giving talks but a highly recommended one, if you have no other book, is 'Setting hearts on Fire' by John Chapman.

Giving the talk

Bible catch-phrase

To laugh or not to laugh

Stopwatches and confetti

Logic on fire

More help?

Roger Fawcett

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