Glossophobia: the fear of public speaking. The word comes from the Greek glossa (tongue) and phobos (fear). Public speaking is one of the most common fears in the world. More people fear public speaking than they fear death, heights, spiders, snakes or f lying. It has been suggested that fear of speaking publicly affects three out of four people to some degree or another.
You can find dozens of tips on how to be a better public speaker. Such as “Nervousness is normal. Practice and prepare.” Or “Grab attention at the beginning and close with a dynamic ending.” “Know your material and read as little as possible.” “Look at your audience before you begin and maintain eye contact as much as possible.” Practical advice: “Clear your throat before your first sentence.”
When I was in junior college, I took a speech class and my instructor entered me in a state-wide speech meet. My category was oratory. I had to write, then memorize, ten type written pages. At the meet itself, I learned that there are occurrences in the audience that can tend to throw you. Just before it was my turn to speak, I noticed a very attractive girl in the competition who looked so familiar.
(This really happened.) I looked in the program and there was her name: Mary Dale Spencer. This had been my first crush in the first grade, fifteen years earlier, and I had not seen her since! I leaned over and called her name, and she looked at me. At that moment, I was called to the dais. Just as I was about to speak my first sentence, I looked at Mary Dale; a look of recognition flooded her face, and her mouth dropped open. Somehow, I made it through my oration.
Fol lowers of Chr i s t Jesus are tasked with public speaking. In 1 Peter 3:15, the apost le cal ls upon Christians: “Always be ready to give an explanation to anyone who asks you for a reason for your hope.” Always be ready to speak.
The nervousness begins when someone makes the brave decision to answer what is referred to by some Christians as the altar call. The invitation is usually extended before the closing hymn—such as “Just As I Am.” It’s not easy to step into the aisle and walk the two miles to the front where the preacher is standing. Some folks just can’t do it. They ask the pastor if they can just come to the study at some private time and join the congregation.
In my opinion, there is no finer thing that a person can do than stand before other people and confess, “I believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God, and I accept him as my personal Lord and Savior.” Public speaking. For Jesus himself promised that if we confess him before others, he will confess us before his Father in Heaven.
But that i s just the beginning of the Christian’s commitment to public speaking. A hundred times a day, by our words, by our thoughts, by our deeds of acceptance and love, the Christian is speaking publicly, “I believe in Jesus;” “I believe Jesus’ way is the best way;” “I believe that when I forgive someone a wrong, I am publicly speaking, “Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God.” When a Christian attends worship in the sanctuary with fellow worshipers, that Christian is speaking publicly, “I still believe Jesus is the Son of God and I worship him.” So, may the words of the psalmist be yours this day: “Open my lips, Lord, and my mouth will declare your praise.”
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