Graduate Club Manual

Table of Contents Introduction...... 2 The Purpose of Graduate Club...... 3 Communication...... 3 Personal growth...... 3 Christian fellowship...... 3 Leadership that helps others...... 4 Overview of the Graduate Club Meeting Program...... 5 Put Graduate Club to Work for You...... 7 Constitution and Bylaws...... 9 Graduate Club officers...... 10 Meetings...... 12 Standard Programs...... 13 Special Meetings...... 13 Lesson 1: One-Point Speech...... 15 Lesson 2: Persuade...... 17 Lesson 3: Difficult Scripture...... 19 Lesson 4: Fulfilled Prophecy...... 21 Lesson 5: Human Interest...... 23 Lesson 6: World News Analysis...... 25 Lesson 7: Trivia...... 27 Lesson 8: Open Assignment...... 29 Lesson 9: Book Review...... 31 Lesson 10: Director’s Assignment...... 33 Lesson 11: Lesson From the Bible...... 35 Lesson 12: Biographical Sketch...... 37 How to Evaluate...... 39 When You Serve as Toastmaster...... 41 Here’s How to Present Tabletopics...... 43 Excellence in Research...... 45 Look Sharp, Feel Sharp, BE Sharp...... 47 2

Introduction By Joseph W. Tkach, Sr. Welcome to Graduate Club! As a member, you will have opportunities for exciting challenges that will help you further develop your speaking skills, as well as your personality and confidence. When our speaking clubs began back in the early 1950s, I don’t think anyone foresaw the full benefit to the church that would result. These clubs and the training they offer have been helping most of the leaders God uses in our fellowship today to be more effective in fulfilling their roles. I myself am a product of our Speech Club. I have always considered the training I received in club to be an invaluable blessing from God. I think most everyone who has completed the Speech Club program would agree with me. Graduate Club is the next step. While the format of Graduate Club is similar to the Speech Club, it offers you an additional level of training. It is not easy — yet you will find the joy of accomplishment and achievement well worth the effort and commitment you give it! Remember, building effective communications skills is a process. You can’t do it all at once, any more than you will be able to complete all the lessons and speeches in Graduate Club in only a year or two. On the other hand, you need never become discouraged with your progress as long as you are trying, as long as you show that you care about what you are doing, as long as you are committed to improvement. No one who does these things can ever be considered a failure! It is important to remember that Graduate Club is similar to making a sound financial investment. Club does require time, but it pays off in dividends of personal development. But remember to keep your priorities straight. Graduate Club is a fine activity, but it is only one of the areas for which you are responsible. Your family, especially, plus your job, your other service in the church and perhaps even other areas are more important. Stay balanced! This Graduate Club that you now have the privilege to benefit from is a major opportunity for personal growth. Take advantage of it! 3

The Purpose of Graduate Club The purpose of Graduate Club is to provide opportunities for people who have completed a formal speech club1 and want to further sharpen their communication and leadership skills. Graduate Club focuses on these important areas:

Communication In Speech Club you learned how to use the basic building blocks of speaking—speaking with purpose, being crystal clear, using color, getting the facts, using intensity, instructing, inspiring. You learned how to give a complete speech, how to put your whole heart into your speaking and how to stir people to action. Now, in Graduate Club, you will continue to apply these building blocks as you learn how to persuade others about ideas. You will gain experience in explaining scriptures, analyzing world news, reviewing books, and drawing lessons from the Bible.2 And you will continue to strive to make your speeches interesting, colorful, moving, and, above all, worth the time your audience invests in listening to you!

Personal growth Are you a warm, friendly, well-rounded, engaging person? Are you sincere, humble and tactful, yet properly assertive, firm and outgoing? Review regularly the qualities listed in Philippians 4:8 and the fruit of God’s Holy Spirit, described in Galatians 5:22-23. Are you developing these hallmarks in your personality? Study the traits Jesus expounded in the beatitudes (Matthew 5). 1 Corinthians 9:20-22 illustrates the importance of learning to relate to all kinds of people. Think about the way of love described in 1 Corinthians 13. God’s own character—the way of thinking and acting in godly love in every situation, in every decision, in every word, in every attitude—is being expressed in you as you allow Jesus Christ to live in you through the Holy Spirit. Christians strive, with God’s help, for high personal standards in every area of life. But if we are not committed to God’s calling, we are more vulnerable to the pulls of society (Proverbs 25:28).

Christian fellowship In this troubled world, everyone needs a friend. In our churches this is especially so. Each of us needs warm, supportive friends who love us and who will be there to lift us up when we need it.

1 The first speech club could be one that was sponsored by Grace Communion International, or it could be a club sponsored by another organization, or two semesters of speech class at a college or university. 2 At the director’s discretion, members of the club do not have to be members of the church, and do not have to be Christians. However, the club is sponsored by a church, and the lessons in this manual do include biblical and spiritual topics. Just as we do not have to believe in Greek mythology to draw valuable life lessons from Homer’s Iliad, so also a person does not have to be a Christian in order to draw lessons from the Bible. 4

Proverbs 27:17 tells us, “As iron sharpens iron, so one person sharpens another.”3 In Graduate Club you will be part of a concerned group who really care about you. They will encourage you to give your best. They will advise you on how to be more effective. They will inspire you in this Christian race. You will want to give in these ways to each of them, too. Think about the wonderful way of love described in 1 Corinthians 13. Wouldn’t you like to be friends with people who are learning to live this way in every part of their daily lives? Of course! And you need to be this type of person as well—one with whom others want to interact. Philippians 2:4 tells us to be concerned not only about our own interests, but also about the interests of others.

Leadership that helps others Christian life should be based on service in love (1 Corinthians 14:40). Jesus said, “Whoever wants to become great among you must be your servant” (Matthew 20:26). We want to reflect this in the way we deal with others. Christian leaders, unlike the rulers of this world, serve others. Jesus did not oppress anyone, nor did he come to serve himself. His way of life works for the good of everyone. The way of God works from the top down to serve everyone from the bottom up, in genuine love. Graduate Club stresses service founded on Christian love. Ask God to help you understand this approach to life and to help you experience and express this love and concern toward your family, on your job, in the church, and in all your relationships. We hope you will see aspects of this approach to life in club. Learn all you can about it, and try to practice it in every part of your life. This is the way of life that will bring peace and happiness to everyone with eternal life.

3 Unless noted otherwise, all biblical quotations are from The Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV® Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.™ Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide. 5

Overview of the Graduate Club Meeting Program Can you name the single most important part of the Graduate Club program? Is it the speeches? Or the topics session? The business portion? Discussions before and after the meeting? All of these are important, of course, but the most vital element is your participation in every single aspect of club. Graduate Club is a laboratory dedicated to developing speaking ability and teaching principles of leadership and character. But it can help you only if you take advantage of it. When you first started giving speeches, you may have gone through some of the lessons and club activities in a more or less mechanical fashion. You knew you should do those things, and so you did them. This was normal, because you were new to the challenges of public speaking. But as you continued to get more experience in public speaking, you grew and learned more. You came to appreciate more fully the reasons why you were doing what you were doing. The experience became part of your thinking and character. Your participation in the Graduate Club program actually begins before each club meeting even starts. You need to be prepared mentally, emotionally, and spiritually. In Graduate Club, you Think in advance about how you can contribute to can see the tremendous the club. Do quality research when you have a benefits if you take speaking assignment, and thoroughly prepare what you advantage of this will say. Read up on and meditate about the tabletopics special training. that might be covered. Pray that God will help every member of the club to make the most of each meeting, “making the most of every opportunity” (Ephesians 5:16). Pray for God’s inspiration so that you and everyone else can be positive, excited, outgoing, alert and enthusiastic about club. Now, what about the specific activities you will be taking part in during Graduate Club?  Fellowship. In Graduate Club you enjoy conversations with people who are trying to express the love of Jesus Christ. As Jesus said, “Where two or three gather in my name, there am I with them” (Matthew 18:20). Take advantage of this time. Strive to encourage and build up other people (Romans 15:2) through your words and example. Contribute to loving, family-oriented, spiritual community. Remember, Christ is among you.  Business. Contributing helpful material during the business session helps build right confidence. Present your points and suggestions logically. Be succinct, but not abrupt. Learn to be tactful and diplomatic. If you must disagree, do so without being disagreeable.  Tabletopics. In an introductory speech club, tabletopics are often finalized at the last moment, and people must respond with little advance thought. But an experienced 6

speaker, a graduate, thinks far enough ahead to give everyone advance notice of the general categories to be covered during the next topics session. Take the time to study the subjects so you can contribute worthwhile comments during this portion of the meeting. Strive for in-depth thinking and clear, effective analysis in your comments.  Speeches. Graduate Club is more demanding than was Speech Club. You will learn how true this statement is if you try to “fake” a speech—if you don’t concentrate on the lesson and prepare adequately—if you don’t take the opportunity seriously and put mature effort into delivering an effective presentation every time you are assigned a speech. Speaking is a central focus of Graduate Club, and the speeches in this club are often longer than they were in Speech Club. Therefore, a meeting may have only three speeches, each of which will be carefully evaluated in detail. So accept the challenge and begin to build the skills of a competent speaker.  Evaluations. The club director will lead in evaluating the speeches, and may call on other Graduate Club members for additional impromptu comments. In some ways, everyone in Club is assigned to evaluate the speech. Listen intently while others speak so that you may truly help and encourage them when you offer your comments. Emphasize positive points, but offer suggestions for improvement where appropriate.  Other opportunities. Don’t limit what God can do through you! In every aspect of the Graduate Club laboratory—dress, personality, diligence, manners, humility and a host of other areas—”Whatever your hand finds to do, do it with your might” (Ecclesiastes 9: 10). 7

Put Graduate Club to Work for You It’s not easy to build new habits, to be transformed in the innermost person, to improve our personality, to strengthen character. We spend our lives shaping, molding and forming character that will last for the rest of our lives—into eternity. The Greek word for “character” is charakter, which refers to a tool used for engraving a lasting impression on stone or metal. Graduate Club can be a tool for inscribing God’s image in your personality. But it’s a complex tool. Nobody expects you to just pick it up like a simple hand tool and be able to use it to its full potential. It requires training and practice to sharpen your skills. That’s where this manual comes in. Use the manual and you will find this club can help you grow as a person, to be more effective in your relationships with others.

A new club Graduate Club is not just an extension of Speech Club. It has some similarities, so you might be tempted to think you already understand Graduate Club. But it we did not just tack some new speech assignments onto the only Speech Club manual. Graduate Club is different; this manual had to be specifically designed for it and the material written especially for it. Some of it gives a deeper understanding of points introduced in Speech Club. Some topics are entirely new for Graduate Club, introducing areas of speaking that will challenge and give you experience in ways Speech Club only began to do. All of it is designed to make your experience in club exciting and encourage your growth.

A new approach to speeches Unlike Speech Club, the speeches are not arranged in a progression, one speech teaching you the skills you need for the next speech. The basic skills you learned in Speech Club are the building blocks for what you will be doing in Graduate Club. Your goal is to craft a highly finished product, one that may take weeks of research, organizing, reorganizing and heartfelt prayer. Indeed, you may be thinking about the topic for some speeches months ahead of time. Read the manual instructions for the speeches. Carefully analyze your topic and approach it in the light of those guidelines. Talk to your club director about the speech for additional input and direction. And remember, if you’re asked to repeat a speech, it’s not a failure; it’s an opportunity for greater growth. It is a false kindness to say that you did well when you actually did not. The principles you master in Graduate Club can become part of your daily life, not just during club meetings. The manual can help you if you use it regularly. It can remind you of the goals you are aiming at. It can keep your mind on upcoming speeches so you will be receptive to useful ideas. It can help you pray for other club members as they face the same challenges you do in their daily quest for growth and change. 8

A greater commitment Graduate Club will make demands of you. It will test you, but not without purpose—and definitely not without reward. If you approach Graduate Club with an eagerness to learn and grow, you will see changes in yourself come rapidly. You may find problems you’ve worked on for years now giving way, being replaced by the growth of confidence and skill. Anytime you undertake a new challenge, you will have some setbacks. Keep trying, and keep learning from them. Use the manual to help you smooth over some of the rough spots. It will help you put Graduate Club to use in sharpening your communication and leadership skills. 9

Constitution and Bylaws “Everything should be done in a fitting and orderly way,” the apostle Paul wrote in 1 Corinthians 14:40. The following guidelines will help Club proceed in a predictable way.

Club name The name Graduate Club is used to describe a club composed of people who have graduated from a previous public-speaking training program. The full name of a Graduate Club will include the name of the local church, followed by the words “Graduate Club.” In some cases, there will not be enough graduates available to warrant having their own club. Graduates may then be part of a Speech Club, with the Graduates following the instructions in this manual, while the others follow the Speech Club manual.4

Purpose The purpose of Graduate Club is stated in “The Purpose of Graduate Club” earlier in this manual. In short, the purpose is to provide training in speech, leadership, organization and communication skills. The main tool for fulfilling this purpose is the presentation of 12 types of speeches. The speeches should be completed in numerical order, but they do not represent a closed cycle of speeches and there is no graduation from Graduate Club.

Membership requirements Club members should be graduates of a previous speech program. Applications should be made to the club’s director. Members are admitted by the director based on openings and qualifications of the individual. Once admitted to Graduate Club, a member must do the following to remain a member:  Attend regularly.  Pay the dues.  Show effort to achieve the goals of the club.  Strive to overcome speaking difficulties.

Size limitations of club The maximum membership of a Graduate Club is 30 people. When there are more than 30 qualified applicants, additional clubs may be formed. If it is impossible to form additional clubs, a waiting list should be maintained. People who wish to drop out of club for an extended period must be dropped completely. At the time they wish to rejoin, they must reapply for admission.

4 The director, president, and secretary will have to remember which members are following which manual. Since Graduate Club speeches are usually longer than Speech Club speeches, this will affect the number of people who are scheduled to speak at each meeting. Since the director leads the evaluation of Graduates, the secretary should not assign evaluators for Graduate speeches. 10

Guests Clubs should encourage attendance of guests for several reasons. Guests give an extra challenge to the members, because this gives them an opportunity to speak before a larger audience. Potential members have a chance to become acquainted with club activities. Friends and work associates not in the club have a chance to learn about what the club does. Members who wish to invite guests should obtain permission from the director, president or vice president, who in turn will notify the sergeant at arms to ensure that there is sufficient seating for the guests. When groups are to be invited to attend club meetings, the president should decide, with the club’s input and the director’s approval, who should be invited and when. This should be discussed during the business portion of the meeting.

Membership dues Membership dues may be assessed to provide finances for each club. The amount of the dues should be determined by the president, during the business session, with input from club members and approval of the director. This amount should cover the cost of any manuals, equipment, hall rental and other expenses. In addition to regular dues, funds may be asked of members for specific purposes according to the club’s desire and with approval of the director.

Graduate Club officers The director is normally the pastor of the church, or an elder the pastor assigns. The director should lead at least half of the club meetings. Once each year, the director appoints all club officers. The director can reappoint any person to any office. These are positions of service, not status. For each officer, the official duties are a vital part of the club’s activities, and an officer’s duties are part of the personal training that club offers to its members. Each person should do their best in each task assigned. When a club member accepts the responsibility of an office, it is the member’s duty to give faithful service. This selfless service builds the kind of character that is a reward in and of itself. To provide this service, each officer should be thoroughly familiar with his/her official duties.

Duties of the President The president must enthusiastically lead the club members in pursuit of the goals of Graduate Club. It is president’s responsibility to plan and administer the activities that will help the club fulfill those goals. The president relies on the director and officers in pursuit of those goals. A spirit of teamwork permeates the club and unites it as one community. The president must also lead the club through a personal example of energy, tact, resourcefulness, inspiration, love, joy and wisdom. 11

The president presides at all meetings of the club except when the vice president or some other member is called to the chair. The president should start all meetings on time and carry them through on schedule. The president must be prepared before each meeting by becoming acquainted with the business to be handled. All meetings and activities of the organization should be conducted in a businesslike manner.

Duties of the Vice President The vice president assists the president, presiding when necessary. The president should occasionally, in advance, ask the vice president to preside if the need does not otherwise arise. One of the vice president’s most important functions is to encourage the growth of each member by helping each member take full advantage of the opportunities club offers. The main tools in this effort are a close working relationship with the secretary and talking with members of the club. Close communication with the secretary about attendance and speech assignments will help the vice president be aware of how members are doing. If any of them are falling short in their responsibilities, the vice president should encourage, not reprimand them.

Duties of the Secretary The secretary is responsible for making an accurate record of each club meeting. After reading the minutes at the next meeting, the secretary will give the original to the director. The secretary is also responsible for silently taking roll at each meeting and noting any guests that are present. The secretary has the crucial role of assigning speeches for upcoming meetings. The secretary should ensure that every member is assigned on a regular basis, and that one person does not repeat tabletopics, for example, until all other members have been given that opportunity. The secretary also assigns the timer for each meeting, and two people to assist the sergeant at arms. Everyone should be rotated through these assignments.

Duties of the Treasurer The treasurer handles all club financial matters, collects dues, and maintains accurate records of club expenses. Although the president may not ask for a financial report at most club meetings, the treasurer must be ready to give a financial report at any meeting. This would include 1. the number of members who are paid up, 2. the number who are in arrears in their dues, 3. recent expenditures, 4. the current bank balance, and 5. the projected balance available at the end of the club season. 12

Duties of the Sergeant at Arms This officer prepares the meeting room before the members arrive. Tables and chairs should be arranged and the speaker’s stand, gavel, water pitchers and glasses should be ready for use. He/she looks after ventilation, lighting, and the general comfort of members during the meeting and the tidiness of the meeting hall during and after the meeting. Each club should assign one or two people per meeting to assist in these duties. The meeting room must be readied in advance, so the sergeant at arms and the assigned assistants are available to welcome visitors. The sergeant at arms maintains a supply of Club materials, such as membership manuals and evaluation slips.

Meetings Meetings should be held every other week, if possible, but no less than once each month. The meetings should be conducted according to the outline presented in the “Standard Programs” section of this manual. A club season should last no more than nine months out of each year. 13

Standard Programs The following program is standard for all Graduate Club meetings. It should be adapted according to the starting time of each particular club. The time limit for Graduate Club meetings is two hours, 30 minutes. 6:00 Meeting begins. The director brings the club to order and calls on someone for an opening prayer (elapsed time: one minute). 6:01 Opening remarks. The president welcomes the club and gives a few opening remarks (one minute). 6:02 Minutes. The president introduces the secretary, who reads the minutes (two minutes). 6:04 Business. The president conducts the business session, handling old business first and then new business (10 minutes—sometimes much less, sometimes a little more). 6:14 Tabletopics. The president introduces the topicsmaster for the evening (one minute). The topicsmaster then presents the evening’s topics (30 minutes). 6:45 Break. The president adjourns the club for a brief recess (10 minutes). 6:55 Speeches. The president introduces the toastmaster, who then conducts the speaking session (35-40 minutes). 7:30 The president introduces the director for the final evaluation. The director evaluates the club’s meeting and the speeches, inviting comments from club members (30 minutes). 8:00 Lecture. The director gives instruction on a topic of his/her choice. This may be about speaking techniques, research methods, or extended commentary on a topic raised by one of the speeches (25 minutes). 8:25 The president calls on the secretary to read the assignments for the next two meetings. The director asks for the impression slips to be passed to the president and dismisses the club. 8:30 The meeting is adjourned. Special Meetings The club format may occasionally be altered. For example, the tabletopics session may be eliminated, and the director may give a more detailed presentation about speech, leadership, or service. A club may have one or two special guest meetings each year, as a club’s budget and schedule permit. Every member will be encouraged to bring a spouse or other guest, and tabletopics and speeches will be chosen appropriate for the special guests and occasion. These meetings may include a special meal or awards. Generally, the last meeting of the club year should be special in some way. During this meeting, special achievements will be noted, and officers for the next club season will be announced. 14

Lesson 1: One-Point Speech

Purpose Whenever we communicate with people—whether in a speech, a letter, a meeting, a memo or at a social activity—we run the risk of being misunderstood. Giving this speech will help you master one of the most neglected principles of clear communication: Have one main point and say it clearly. When you master this principle, people won’t have to wonder what you were talking about.

Preparation There is no room for digression in this speech. There is no time for rambling detours. When you finish this speech, your audience must have no doubt about what your main point was. No matter how juicy an anecdote or fact is, take it out of your speech if it doesn’t relate directly and specifically to your point. It is much more challenging to tighten your focus like this than to take a broad, fuzzy look at a topic. But it is also much more effective. Your audience won’t leave wondering just what it was you were trying to say. The problem usually begins with the topic a speaker chooses for a speech. Many speakers choose a broad topic and leave it at that—something like Asia, world history or the universe. The problem with these topics is their immense size. It would be difficult to cover them in 10 years, let alone 10 minutes. From these broad topics, you must narrow your focus to one specific topic—like the top five tourist attractions in one specific Asian city, or how to spark an interest in world history in your children, or the search for the outermost planet of the solar system. This process is much like going on a journey. When you leave your home, all the roads around you are possibilities, as are all the places they lead to. Soon, though, you choose one road and follow it. You have eliminated all destinations except the ones that lie down this particular road. As you go farther down this road, or turn off onto other roads, you eliminate more and more destinations. Eventually you reach the place you were headed. Imagine what would happen if you tried to take more than one road at a time! So choose one road and save the others for another day. When preparing a speech, this narrowing process is done through research. When you start out, you will have one general point of departure. When you begin your research, the possibilities are wide open, offering many more avenues than you could possibly pursue. First, you must get rid of approaches that are impractical to pursue, boring or useless to your audience. As you eliminate more and more approaches, you narrow your focus until finally you have your one point. Research is an important part of the preparation of any high-quality speech—so important that we have included a section on the subject of “Excellence in Research” in this manual. Be sure to read that it before beginning work on this speech. 15

Your final product will be a model of good communication. Your main paint will stand out clear, distinct and unburdened by verbal clutter. When you finish, you will have accomplished something that many of this world’s professional communicators find difficult to do. You will have clearly gotten one main point across to your audience.

Delivery You must let your audience know where you are going from the very beginning of your speech. Every word, every sub-point, every gesture and every vocal inflection should be a solid step in the direction of your one main point. If any part of your speech, no matter how tiny, does not take you closer to that point, drop it.

For the evaluation Did the speaker make the point absolutely clear? Did the speech digress from that one point? Did every fact, word, gesture and vocal inflection lead toward that one point? At the same time, did the speaker hold the interest of the audience and give the audience something of value? Was what the speaker said worth saying, and was it said well? Paul writes about the importance of clear communication: “If the trumpet does not sound a clear call, who will get ready for battle?” (1 Corinthians 14:8). 16

Lesson 2: Persuade

Purpose Romans 4:21 says that Abraham, the father of the faithful, pleased God because Abraham was “fully persuaded that God had power to do what he had promised.” The apostle Paul tried to persuade people of the truth of the gospel (Acts 18:4). “Since we know what it is to fear the Lord, we try to persuade others” (2 Corinthians 5:11). Great men and women of the Bible were persuaded of the truths of God. But how persuaded are you about your beliefs? And how well can you persuade others to accept and support those beliefs? Persuasive speaking is not a matter of talking someone into something against his or her will. It is not a hard-sell job from a high-pressure salesman. It is a complex art of mixing facts, logic, psychology and emotion to move an audience to change an idea or concept about a particular subject, or to take some specific action. In this speech you will learn how to do this.

Preparation This speech is unlike the one point speech (Lesson One) in that you may make several points about the idea or course of action of which you want to convince your listeners. But just as in the one-point speech, the persuade speech must have one clear theme, or a specific purpose. In other words, you must know what you want your audience to believe, and they must get that message and be moved to believe or do it! Don’t choose an easy-to-agree-with subject such as “We Should Love.” Don’t choose something that the entire audience already believes. And don’t choose a subject for which you can easily quote an encyclopedia for one minute to silence all disagreement. Rather, pick a subject about which there is some controversy—a subject on which you have been persuaded. Examine an issue about which there are two or more schools of thought, each of which has its merits and weaknesses. Choose a theme or purpose about which you feel strongly, and use all the tools of argumentation and persuasion to move your audience to agree with you. You need to know your subject inside and out. You need to understand not only the points that seem to prove your side of the issue, but the potential objections that may disprove it. Further, you must discuss the points for and against all within ten minutes. You must be able to dispel any opposition the audience may have to what you are trying to get them to believe or do. You must persuade them!

Delivery Approach the lectern confidently. Show enthusiasm and determination. Establish immediate audience contact. In most cases, this is not the time for a joke or small talk. Get to the business at hand. 17

Use an effective introduction to grab your audience’s attention. State your purpose clearly: “We need to [whatever you are trying to persuade them to believe or do], and I’m going to show you why.” Think out your points and present them in a logical order. Illustrate your points with examples. This is called “visualization.” This is where you show the need to think or do what you are saying. First, list every negative result that will be caused if the audience does not follow what your speech says. Then show, point by point, every positive result that will come from believing or doing what you say. Be thorough. Tie your points in with the personal interests of your listeners. Try to anticipate and answer all possible objections. This is the real heart of the persuade speech. Now that the audience can see the importance of the subject, don’t let anyone say, “Sure it’s important, but what you’re asking is impossible in my case.” Don’t leave anyone out. In this speech, you will be evaluated especially on how well you have answered all possible objections, so the speech should leave no stone unturned. You should take your listeners down a one-way corridor from which the only way out is to agree with you and do exactly what you say. Pour on the persuasive power! Remember that the art of persuasion involves more than sound logic and argumentation. It also involves moving the emotions of the hearers to sympathy with your position. Therefore appeal to your audience’s feelings when appropriate. Everything you say in your speech should build to a strong conclusion. Make a final, positive appeal. When you have finished, leave the lectern confidently—don’t slink away. Stride back to your seat. Everything about your manner, down to the look on your face, should show that you are sure you have persuaded your entire audience to think or do what you have said.

For the evaluation Listen for the exact idea or course of action the speaker wants to present. Is the speaker’s specific purpose clear? What were the strong points of the argument? What were the weak points? Did the presentation really move you? Most importantly, did the speaker answer all possible objections to the thesis, or are there holes in the argument that were not addressed? Are you persuaded to think or do what the speaker said? 18

Lesson 3: Difficult Scripture

Purpose “Always be prepared to give an answer to everyone who asks you to give the reason for the hope that you have” (1 Peter 3:15). Are you able to clearly and plainly explain the meaning of a passage in the Bible? Some parts of the Bible are easy to understand; others are very difficult. In that regard, the Bible is similar to many other pieces of literature. Parts of Macbeth are easy to explain; other parts are not quite so clear. In this 10-minute speech, you will examine a verse in the Bible that some people misunderstand, and you will explain what it really means.

Preparation Your goal here is to clearly and completely explain one scripture.5 It is not to explain an entire book of the Bible, or to completely cover a doctrine from a theology textbook. It is to take one verse, a verse that many people have misunderstood, and examine its context to see what it means. Be thoroughly familiar with the ways the scripture is misinterpreted and the major counterarguments people may give to your explanation of the scripture. Your choice of difficult scripture is important. It must be one that you can clearly explain in only 10 minutes. If you are having trouble finding a scripture to explain, ask your club director or pastor for help. Make sure that the scripture you have chosen is relevant and profitable, that it is really helpful for people to have the right understanding of the verse. Ask God to guide you in the choice of this scripture and to inspire your understanding and your explanation. If you are trying to correct one misunderstanding, you do not want to replace it with a different misunderstanding! There are three main ways of showing the true meaning of a verse: 1. First, you could show how that verse fits in with the Bible as a whole, comparing it to principles discussed in other parts of the Bible. 2. Second, you can compare it to other scriptures that deal with the same topic and shed light on the meaning of your difficult scripture. 3. Finally, you can examine the scripture in its immediate context, showing what is really being said by what’s being said around it. Choose one of these approaches. Don’t try to use all three. Keep the number of additional scriptures you quote to a minimum. The more you jump around in the Bible, the less time you will have for the verse that you are focusing on, and the more you will lose your audience. In some cases, the problem is cleared up in a modern translation, such as the New Living

5 You do not have understand the entire Bible – just understand one passage. There may even be parts of the Bible you do not believe, but don’t talk about those – talk about a part that you do understand. 19

Translation.6 But you must still explain why this other translation is to be preferred. You might want to see if the church’s website (www.gci.org) has anything to say about the verse. You can also check some published commentaries.7

Delivery Your introduction must vividly set the stage. It must get the audience’s attention and challenge them so that they, too, want to thoroughly understand the meaning of this scripture. Anecdotes, startling facts or figures, thought-provoking questions or even a challenge to the audience are all good ways of evoking immediate interest. At some point fairly early in the speech, you will need to read the entire scripture in question. If you are discussing two seemingly contradictory scriptures, you will need to read both of them. You will also need to give a clear explanation of how the scripture is generally misunderstood. Next you must show that another meaning is much more likely. Do not just show that someone else is wrong—you must present what is right. Be direct, clear and concise in your presentation. Boil your explanation down to its simplest aspect. Warmth and friendliness are valuable tools in this speech. Do not be cocky, self- righteous, or sarcastic. That can undermine your credibility and possibly reflect poorly on the true meaning of Scripture as a whole.

For the evaluation The most important thing this speaker should have done was clearly, concisely and truthfully explained a portion of God’s Word. Did the speaker give a clear explanation of how the scripture is generally misunderstood? Did he/she accurately state the meaning of the scripture? Did the speaker answer all possible objections? Did he/she present the speech in a way that was easy to follow and that brought the meaning out for everyone to understand? If the speaker dealt with a teaching of some other Christian group, did the speaker fully understand that doctrine before attempting to explain why it was wrong? Was the topic a useful one, or did it deal with a question that didn’t really affect anyone?

6 You can check numerous translations on www.biblegateway.com or bible.logos.com. 7 Various lay-level commentaries are available on the Internet. In some cases, amazon.com or books.google.com will allow you to read enough to see how the verse should be explained. 20

Lesson 4: Fulfilled Prophecy

Purpose This fourth speech focuses on Bile prophecy. Perhaps more mistakes have been made in prophecy than in any other area of the Bible. Numerous sincere people have led themselves astray with erroneous speculations about what is happening on the world scene right now, and what will happen in the near future. To avoid such pitfalls, this speech is to focus on prophecies that have already been fulfilled—either in ancient Israel or in the life of Jesus. Jesus said, “You study the Scriptures diligently because you think that in them you have eternal life. These are the very Scriptures that testify about me” (John 5:39). Many Old Testament prophecies pointed toward the salvation that we have in Jesus Christ, and we are on safer ground when we seek to explain prophecy in the light of Jesus.

Preparation There are numerous topics you could choose. But some are not suitable for this speech’s 10-minute time limit. For instance, you cannot explain every verse of Daniel 11 in this speech. On the other hand, you might be able to give an effective speech on one part of Daniel 11. In this speech, you could give your listeners information about the historical setting in which a certain prophecy was given. You might cover the life and work of a biblical prophet. But do not come up with any pet theory of your own – make sure that what you are saying can be supported by published commentaries.8 Find a non-controversial point on which you can be confident, one that is encouraging and edifying.

Delivery Strive to grip and hold your audience’s attention. Make your subject intensely interesting to these people who have generously offered you their time and their ears. You must give them something worthwhile. To do this, you must make your subject relevant. Ask yourself how your material relates to the personal interests of your audience. Why should they want to listen to you? Will your speech make them healthier, wealthier, and wiser? Better capable of living the Christian life? Will their knowledge of the Bible be increased in practical, effective ways? Many people are already interested in prophecy, but do not take your audience’s attention for granted. So when you give your speech, demonstrate by your posture, your vocal inflection, your intensity and your serious attitude the urgent nature of the material you 8 Many published commentaries engage in unwarranted speculation about the future. Just because something is published does not mean that it is appropriate for this speech! Remember that the title of the speech is “Fulfilled Prophecy,” not “Never Before Understood, Soon to Be Fulfilled Speculations.” See the GCI website for some reliable guidance on understanding Bible prophecy. 21 are delivering. Convince your listeners with logic. Use simple terms and strive to communicate with your audience rather than to impress them with how smart you are. Use other scriptures to support and clarify the main scriptures you cover, but be careful not to get lost in a muddle of overlapping points so that your central purpose becomes unclear. Know what you want to get across, and make everything you do during the speech serve that one, clear purpose.

For the evaluation Accuracy is important in this speech. Were you convinced by the evidence, the logic, the confidence of the speaker? Did you personally gain from the speech? Was it relevant to your interests and needs? Did you pick up something you can use in your own life? Did you come away from the speech moved by the subject that was covered? How well did the speaker prepare? Did you get the impression that speaker knew what he/she wanted to get across, and that everything the speaker did supported getting that across? Was the specific purpose clear, or did the speech include tangents that were not necessary? Would most people benefit from this type of material if it were presented to them in a church service? 22

Lesson 5: Human Interest

Purpose People are interested in other people. This is the starting point for all truly effective, moving and memorable speeches. Joy and sorrow, despair and triumph, pain and laughter— they are emotions that add color to the stories of our lives and bring those stories to life for others. Your challenge with this speech is to recreate those emotions and use them to touch your listeners not just in their minds, but in their hearts. You need to make them feel your speech, not just hear it.

Preparation The topic you choose is of great importance in the ultimate success or failure of this speech. You will know you have created human interest when you see your audience completely drawn into your speech, waiting eagerly for every word. You can create this kind of human interest in your speech several ways. Tell them about people—great and small—who have achieved something, triumphed over something at great odds or done something out of the ordinary. You can build human interest into your speech by involving your audience’s emotions in the speech. If your story is a triumphant one, make your audience feel triumphant. If it is bittersweet, make them feel it. Touch their hearts! Gripping stories create human interest. If you tell them right, your listeners will actually help you give your speech by adding to your words with their own imaginations. They will shiver in the cold as the explorers approach the summit. They will see the storm ravaging the sailors. They will feel the warm love of a grandmother for her grandchild. Finding stories like these can sometimes be a real challenge. You may want to begin a file of interesting, thought-provoking stories several months before giving this speech. Even after you’ve given it, keep updating it. These kinds of stories are useful in many other speeches.9 If you choose a gripping story, be sure to practice your delivery beforehand. You may want to plan out the specific wording and cadence of certain parts of the speech. Humor is a powerful way to involve your listeners in what you are saying. But beware: It can also turn on you. Inappropriate humor can destroy your speech. So be careful how you use this tool, but by all means do learn how to use it properly and effectively. People are interested in themselves and things that affect their lives. You can capitalize on this by relating your topic directly to the daily lives of your listeners. Your speech must be of value. It should do more than just entertain. If you use a story in your speech, it should lead cleanly and smoothly to your purpose. You may be forcing your story into the speech if you have to shift gears at the end of your story and go into a lengthy

9 Be careful when using stories from the media: If the story was recently published in a widely read source, some members of your club may have already heard it. 23 explanation of how it relates to your main point.

Delivery Reflect the emotions you want to evoke in your audience. A colorful, lively delivery full of warmth, drama and humor will touch the hearts of your audience. It will make them feel the way you feel about your subject. You must be moved yourself to move your audience in this way. Go beyond the mere mechanics of giving a speech—put your heart into it. You can’t fake this speech. It must come from within you. With this speech, you will be sharing from within yourself. Your challenge with this speech is to recreate those emotions and use them to touch your listeners not just in their minds, but in their hearts. You need to make them feel your speech, not just hear it.

For the evaluation Look for sincerity and warmth in the speaker. Was the speaker able to transmit this to the audience? Did he/she feel deeply about the subject? How about the audience—were they enveloped in the speech, feeling and seeing the things the speaker was talking about? With a human interest speech, it is often easy to get wrapped up in listening to the speech and neglect to give the speaker any solid points to improve on. Try not to let this happen; don’t deprive the speaker of an opportunity to grow. But don’t be so overly concerned with looking for points of improvement that you diminish your enjoyment of the speech. If the speech is so gripping that you become unaware of the mechanics, then it has been a successful speech. Did the speech have a clear, useful purpose? And was the purpose woven throughout the fabric of the speech? Was this speech truly interesting? 24

Lesson 6: World News Analysis

Purpose We are all affected by news events and trends, not only in our own nations but in far- flung spots around the globe. Events on the other side of the world can affect prices in the supermarket down the street. Television networks and internet sites bring world turmoil into our own homes. But the problems are nothing new—they just seem to be escalating because the world is much more connected than it used to be. World news is important, but not as a “sign” that the great tribulation is near. Jesus said, “You will hear of wars and rumors of wars, but see to it that you are not alarmed. Such things must happen, but the end is still to come. Nation will rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom. There will be famines and earthquakes in various places. All these are the beginning of birth pains” (Mathew 24:6-8). And indeed, there have been hundreds of wars and famines since Jesus spoke those words. Sometimes events seem to settle down; sometimes they seem to be riled up. The ebb and flow has continued for thousands of years. Is the turmoil we see today the beginning of the end, or simply part of the usual fluctuations? It’s impossible for us to know. World news is important because people are important. People in far-flung places are part of the human race. They were created for the same purpose that we were; the meaning of life is the same for them as it is for us; we were all made in the image of God, designed to be part of a community of love and kindness. In some world news, we catch glimpses of the image of God, as kindness and compassion are expressed in difficult circumstances. In other news, we see how humanity is falling short of the glory that God has designed us for. We see opportunities for us to express compassion ourselves, we see reasons to pray for change. We should all have a good general grasp of the people, places and events in world headlines. We should not only understand current events in general, but be able to intelligently analyze and explain news of international significance. This lesson will give you practice in doing that.

Preparation In this speech, you are to give an in-depth presentation on an important current event or trend. But more than just reporting facts, you are to analyze the causes and potential effects of the situation. Help your audience understand what the situation means to them personally. Point out developments that your listeners can watch for in the near future. Your topic may be a major current event of the day, or a story that has been neglected in the popular media. The story must have international significance, not just local trivia. Look for points that are not obvious to the general public—information beyond the headlines. Be specific. Don’t choose too broad a subject. Instead, zero in on a specific aspect of a topic. Research your subject thoroughly. Use credible, authoritative sources, and don’t rely 25 totally on the views of just one person or publication. Show both sides of any issue you discuss. Know what you are talking about—this is not the place for unfounded speculation, shallow thinking, sweeping generalizations or quick solutions. You should be able to answer most questions that members of your audience ask at the conclusion of your speech—and you should open the floor to two or three questions after you finish. Think creatively. Probe and analyze and explore the subject so that you can give your listeners worthwhile, useful information that affects them. This is not a prophecy speech; you should not speculate about how the event fits into a prophetic timeline.

Delivery It is usually best to present a logical progression into the material you cover in this speech. You might organize your material into a story flow or into chronological order, for example, pointing out the cause-and-effect connections between events. Whatever you do, keep your material clear and interesting. During this speech, visual aids such as maps, charts and handouts may help your audience understand what you are saying. But if you use such props, use them intelligently and effectively. Don’t let the prop create more questions than it answers. Strive to radiate credibility. If you have thoroughly researched the subject and carefully planned what you say, you will gain the respect and interest of the audience. One final word about delivery: This world is in tragic shape, and we as God’s people should lament the sins and sorrows that occur all around us. Jesus was moved with compassion when he saw the difficulty his fellow humans were in (Matthew 9:36). He even wept openly on occasion (John 11:35). If your speech is about some tragedy, it should be clear that you feel deep concern and compassion for the people. There should be no hint of coldness or a condescending, judgmental attitude. God is not punishing them for their sins, nor are you blessed because you are more righteous than other people. Sin is involved in every world event, and sin is therefore such a broad “explanation” that it does not add much to our understanding of the subject.

For the evaluation As an evaluator, you should come away from this speech profitably enlightened about an important news event or trend of international significance. Was the speaker thoroughly prepared? Did you sense that he/she knew the subject well, that the sources of information were credible, and that the speaker offered original and insightful thinking? How well did the speaker handle impromptu questions from the audience? Did the speaker seem condescending and judgmental, or did he/she seem to desire that the problem be solved?