If you’re a pastor, chances are someone at some point will
invite you to be a guest speaker at their church or special event. Guest speaking occasions can provide some of
the most significant opportunities for ministry impact. The guest speaking adventure
is also laden with some dangerous dynamics. These guest speaker survival tips
can help you navigate the challenges.
Explore the Context:
There have been a few times when I was invited to preach in a context that I knew
absolutely nothing about. Maybe that has happened to you. The person who
invited you was in her 20s, so you planned a message for 20 somethings. When
you arrived to speak at the event, you discovered that the large majority of
people in the preaching context are in their 60s and 70s. None of your pop
culture illustrations and quotes are going to connect with this crowd. You
might as well chuck the Lady Gaga quote and Avengers movie illustration. If we
take the time to explore the context, total disconnects like this one wouldn’t happen.
Nowadays, when I am invited to speak in a new context, I ask
the person inviting me to complete a Ministry Request Form. On the form I request
the following information: Describe the culture of the group with five
adjectives. What is the demographic make-up of the group in terms of ethnicity,
generation, socio-economics, education, and spiritual maturity? What is the
purpose of the event? How many people will attend the event? What is the
appropriate attire for the event? The response to these inquiries provides a
sketch of the group and shapes the content and delivery of my message.
When I receive the completed Ministry Request Form I pass it
on to members of my prayer team. They not only pray for my speaking events, but
help me to discern which invitations to accept.
Respect the Context:
If someone invites you to speak at their event, then they want you to be you.
You should show up at the event as your authentic self. After all, they want you to speak. But, without losing the
essence of who you are as a person and a preacher, you should respect the
context enough to adapt to it. I’ve seen too many speakers shoot themselves in
the foot by disrespecting the context. They dress incongruently with the group.
They use language that offends the group. Their message goes 20 minutes past
the group’s listening capacity. It’s one thing to explore the context, it’s
another to respectfully adjust to it. The needs of the listener must trump our
personal preferences. We call this empathy and it is effective when genuine.
When the speaker disrespects the group she has been invited
to address, the listeners can’t help but ear-muff the message. They’ll stop
listening to what you have to say when they feel disregarded. If the group is
going to be impacted by what God gave you to share, they will need to sense
that you “get” and respect who they are.
Thank Your Host: I’m often so eager to jump into my message
that I forget to thank my host for cutting me loose in his people. About 5
minutes into my message I realize, as I make eye contact with the host, that I
forgot to express thanks for the invitation and hospitality he extended to me.
At this point, it’s too late. It wouldn’t be wise for me to say, “I interrupt
this message with the following public service announcement- I want to thank your
so and so for inviting me here today.”
Remember that while it’s important to thank the host, don’t
overdo it, especially if you’re on a tight time budget. Make your comments
brief and to the point. But please try to offer something a bit more creative
and personal than the typical “thanks so much for having me.” Come on. You can
do better than that.
Exalt Jesus:
Although we must respect the context, we are called to proclaim Christ not entertain
people. Our speaking should exalt Christ in a winsome manner. But, at the end
of the sermon’s day, listeners should come away more impressed with Christ than
with the speaker. If the host asks you not to mention the name of Jesus in your
message, say at an inter-faith event, and you just can’t comply, be up front
with your host. But, if your host doesn’t make such a request, proclaim Christ
with love, respect and absolute gusto!
I was invited to the Pennsylvania State House of Representatives
Session at the Capitol Building in Harrisburg to offer an opening prayer. I’m a
Christian minister, so the content of my prayer was Christ-focused. No one
asked me not to pray in the name of Jesus and I didn’t ask permission. I assumed
that’s what they expected since I’m a Christian minister. I didn’t use my
prayer to beat up on other religions. I didn’t pray, “and, God, we know that
all Muslims and Hindus are going to hell” or anything like that. That would
betray my rule about respecting the context. But, make no mistake, Jesus was the
central point of my prayer. I thanked the Father for sending Christ the Son to
be the ultimate public servant. One of the people who worked at the State
Capitol Building said to me, “it was so good to hear a prayer from a Christian
minister that mentioned Jesus.” I know, novel, right?
Discussion
Now it’s your turn to share some wisdom with our readers. What
tips for the guest speaker would you add to my list? Which of my tips do you want
to challenge or confirm?
