Yesterday, we talked about the fear of the dentist. It actually has a name: dentophobia. However, what we look at today is a fear that far surpasses a fear of the dentist for most people: glossophobia – the fear of public speaking. Today is National Speech and Debate Education Day.
Do you remember the first time you had to stand in front of the class – in front of your peers – and give a speech? Most likely, it was an oral book report. I don’t remember what grade it was – probably 4th or 5th grade – but I was petrified. Those elementary years of school were years of shyness and I did not want to be put on the spot.
In 6th grade, we had to work with a team and create a skit to go along with a song. I can still remember what we did and how much I felt like an idiot. We built a cardboard semi, and lip synched to the C.W. McCall song, Convoy. It was #1 in the United States in 1975 and made it to #1 in the UK twice in 1976.
As the years went by, more opportunities arose to speak in front of crowds. Stryker didn’t have a debate team, but we would do debates in classes, teaming up to take a side and arguing our point. Now, this lit my fire! You learned how to do thorough research on a topic and how to present your argument in a logical, rational fashion. I like to win and I wanted to win – badly! The challenge to debate well was intoxicating!
This skill has served me well through the years. Researching for a sermon and (trying to) present the information in a logical, rational message is something I’ve done since 1987. Would it surprise you to know that I really don’t like being in front of people? I’d be much happier in the background. However, the Lord has put me in a place and position where I’m always in front of the crowd, both at church and other places.
Am I afraid? Not like I was in 4th grade but there is still a nervousness that is there every time I stand to speak. My biggest fear is that I would preach something inaccurately. I often pray, “Lord, please don’t let me say anything wrong!” I’m not talking about saying the wrong passage (which I have a habit of doing) or saying the wrong name of the Bible character. I’m talking about doctrinal error or something that is inaccurate to the text of Scripture. There’s no way that I can convey the weight of liability I feel when I handle God’s Word. THAT frightens me.
The Apostle Paul would support a National Speech and Debate Education Day. It was something he engaged in regularly. Acts 17:1-3 says, “Now when they had passed through Amphipolis and Apollonia, they came to Thessalonica, where was a synagogue of the Jews: (2) And Paul, as his manner was, went in unto them, and three sabbath days reasoned with them out of the scriptures, (3) Opening and alleging, that Christ must needs have suffered, and risen again from the dead; and that this Jesus, whom I preach unto you, is Christ.”
The word reasoned is the Greek word dialegomai. Thayer’s Greek Dictionary says that the word means: to think different things with one’s self, mingle thought with thought 1a) to ponder, revolve in mind 2) to converse, discourse with one, argue, discuss. In other words, when Paul went to the synagogue and started talking, it wasn’t a monologue. It was a dialog. Do you see the similarities in the English and Greek words?
Paul listened to the other side. He let them express their beliefs. In rebuttal, Paul would explain God’s Word to them, showing them the truth and directing their thinking to Jesus, the one and true Messiah. This went on for days.
In Corinth, Paul did the same thing. Acts 18:4 says, “And he reasoned in the synagogue every sabbath, and persuaded the Jews and the Greeks.” His speech and debate led to the persuasion of the Jews and Greeks. We might say that he won them over.
Now, obviously God is the one who changes hearts. Paul is like the rest of us. He is merely a tool in God’s hands. But God uses these tools to accomplish His work. And people must hear the Good News of the Gospel and the truth in the Word of God.
People will ask us questions and we need to be ready. The only way to be ready is preparation – researching the Word of God. Study, dig, prepare, have a mental mock debate where you think through what the other side might say so that you know what you would answer.
Remember, though, even our feeble attempts are used by God. We don’t have to be professional speakers and debaters. We just have to be willing vessels.
1 Corinthians 3:5-6 reminds us, “Who then is Paul, and who is Apollos, but ministers by whom ye believed, even as the Lord gave to every man? (6) I have planted, Apollos watered; but God gave the increase.”
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