3 hacks for the nervous Christian communicator

My latest article for Our Daily Bread was the intersection of my two passions: faith in Jesus Christ and public speaking (and helping others do it well). The former is obviously more important to me than the latter, despite naming them in the same sentence. Many ODB readers contacted me with comments about their challenges speaking in public, so this seems a fitting time to offer some guidance for those in my faith-based readership who also need to share a message publicly.

Whether you’re occasionally reading Scripture as a lay person during the service, leading a faith-based non-profit or ministry, or preaching or teaching the Bible regularly, here are a few tips to help you do it well: 

  1. Focus on the “what” not the “how.” The substance of your message matters far more than your delivery of it. Take a cue from Paul and don’t be concerned with how you “performed” but rather recognize the value of your message because it is intended to bring glory to God. (1 Corinthians 2:1-5)
  2. Think of your words as an offering to God and a gift to those you’re addressing. When we view our opportunities to share with a group as service the spotlight shifts away from ourselves as the speaker and onto the audience. This in itself alleviates much of the anxiety speakers feel. 
  3. Immerse yourself in the Word more than your own words. Our familiarity with (and love for) God’s Word is what equips us to offer a word “fitly spoken”—thereby meeting the needs of those in our hearing. You’re merely offering others instruction and encouragement (and correction when necessary) from God’s Word. If your audience was nourished by His Word, that is the greatest measure of your success… not how perfectly structured your message was. (Proverbs 25:11)

None of these tips requires any public speaking expertise, which means you can put them to use immediately. And I hope you will. Please do jot me a note if you try one and find it helpful.


On behalf of all of us who benefit from your ministry: thank you for serving God with your words.

If you or someone you know is looking to improve those public speaking skills, I’ve got a variety of ways to support you:

Posted in Coaching, Public speaking