⁷But to each one of us grace has been given as Christ apportioned it . . .¹²to prepare God’s people for works of service, so that the body of Christ may be built up ¹³until we all reach unity in the faith and in the knowledge of the Son of God and become mature, attaining to the whole measure of the fullness of Christ.

~Ephesians 4:7,12-13

Do you want to speak or sing in front of large audiences? Write a best selling book? Pastor a large church? I know they’re all dreams in my heart, well not singing, but you get the point. I think it’s the dream of every young leader who wants to go into ministry.

I love speaking to audiences, I love writing, I love spending time encouraging and connecting with people.  They are some of my favorite things to do in the entire world! They’re also a part of what God’s called me to do.

The question isn’t so much do you want to or do I want to do these things, but why do we want to do these things?

Over the past few years, I’ve really challenged my motives when it comes to writing, blogging, communicating, and ultimately, everything I do. Do I always have pure motives? No. There are times I want attention, fame, glory, etc. , but most of the time, I believe my heart is in the right place.

Where I am and what I believe God’s heart is on the issue is, is to do all these things for one purpose: To help people.

I’m getting to the place in my heart where I don’t care how many people I speak to, how many people read my blog, etc, as long as people’s lives are being lifted.

Because in reality, whether it’s speaking, singing, or writing, all of these things are just gifts God put in us and opportunities God puts before us to make an impact in one person’s life. And really, it’s God who makes the difference in some-one’s life, not us, He just allows us to have a part in it.

So challenge your motives. Challenge them often, we all struggle with the motives in these areas. Just be humble, let God bring opportunities before you, and do everything you can, anytime you can to help people, and before you know it, you’ll have helped more people than you could imagine.

Thoughts?

This book is a must read for anybody who communicates for a living, especially pastors. Andy Stanley literally goes through all of the principles he uses while constructing and preaching a sermon. This is every pastors dream book! The first half of the book is actually a story written by Lane Jones, one of Andy’s campus directors, about a pastor who connects with a communication mentor who runs him through some great communication principles. The second half of the book was written by Andy and consists of all of the practical things that communicators need to do before and during a speaking engagement.

I think the last paragraph sums up the importance of learning to be a great communicator:

“The church needs your voice and your insight. As does your community and the woorld. For that reason, never stop growing and developing as a communicator. Find what works. Find what works for you. And everytime you have an opportunity to communicate God’s Word, communicate for a change!”

Here were some of my key takeaways:

• You’ve got to care more for the people in the audience than the person on the platform. Then our presentations will take on real significance. Until we do, communication is really all about us.

• Determine your goal, pick a point, create a map, internalize the message, engage your audience, find your voice. start all over.

• Our goal as communicators should be life change.
  

• We need one point messages – the biggest challenge won’t be finding the one idea, but eliminating the other three

• You need to have your message internalized to the point where you could do a 5 minute version from memory
  

• The goal isn’t to cover everything in your notes, it is to take your audience on a journey with you

• Having too much to say has almost the same effect as saying nothing

• Presentation trumps information… Presentation matters. A lot.
  

• Your first responsibility is to pose a question your audience wants answered, create tension that needs resolved, or point to a mystery that they have been unable to solve.

• “Being who you are” is not an excuse for poor communication.

• Clarity will trump style every time

Final Grade: A+ (Must read)    Buy it here!