The best version of your message will be the one where you feel free to be yourself. That’s what makes teaching God’s word powerful--it’s truth coming through a redeemed person! You should sound like you, only maybe a little more excited. A friend should be able to walk in the room and know it’s you. With practice and feedback from people you will get better at knowing your strengths, knowing where you’ll need help and how to depend on the Holy Spirit for it all.

You should sound like you, only maybe a little more excited. A friend should be able to walk in the room and know it’s you.

Connecting with people is key. Reading a manuscript is reading, not teaching. Take the risk to look away from your notes and connect with individuals in the room.

Practice your talk exactly how you are going to give it including stories, intro’s, passage reading and prayer- out loud and timed. This is the only way to get an accurate measurement of how long your talk will be. Good places to practice are a closet, car or guest room.

This will help you specifically in your delivery to hear your vocal pitch, your energy, your pace, nervous habits and more.

Good communicators create interest by using variation. You will hear it in emotional tone (funny, excited, somber), variation in volume, variation in their physical position while they talk, using their hands, etc. Some people naturally come by variation, others have to work at it. In addition, every person has a different range in their variation. By practicing, knowing yourself, and receiving feedback you will find what your strengths are and find where you need intentional work.

As you listen to your recording, make notes about where you could step away from the podium to connect with your audience. You may also be able to find places where you can make notes to be louder, say something softer, take longer pauses, or a place where your physical posture can reflect the point you’re making.

Moments of silence or pauses are as powerful as well placed words. Find places where you can be silent for the benefit of your listeners to let them consider what you just said. It will also give you a recentering moment to know where you are in your notes. Use silence as a tool.

You will sweat a lot, that’s ok. Wear things that are breathable and dark. If you’re being video recorded ask if your host has any suggestions on what not to wear.

Wear non-dangling earrings - they clank on over-ear mic. If you’re not sure, default to earrings that don’t move.

If you’re going to be using a headset mic make sure you wear pants or jacket with pockets.

If you like using a big Bible to read from you’ll need to request an additional stool or music stand to support it and your notes. Sometimes, you may have to use your hand to hold a microphone; consider practicing at home with a hairbrush (no we are not kidding).

Know your transitions. How will you know to start? How you plan to close. Will you pray to close? Dismiss to group discussion? Handing it to someone else? A video?