Jude 2

Yesterday for the first time in ten years I spoke before a mens group. There were about fifteen men in attendance and I found myself quite nervous.

So nervous in fact I could barely concentrate to read, when I went to read a Bible passage.

This suprised me, for, when I used to speak before...I had become....not comfortable....but used to speaking and could handle the nervous factor pretty well.

I had thought that the nerve thing would not affect me, being that I am no longer intimidated by people as I once was.

Yet there it was.




I may be speaking more regularly and although many said I had done well, I know I could have done better as far as presenting my thoughts a little clear...a little more cogent. I found I skipped entire sections of my notes.

Any ideas how to get though this?

Gerald;
Brother, everytime I speak I get nervous. I have been pastoring now for 16 years and everytime I go to the pulpit, I find myself VERY nervous. I have learned to control it to a certain point but my hands are still sweaty, knees are week, and such.

I was once told by a very seasoned and well respected minister that if a man ever lost his "nervousness" he should leave the pulpit immediately, because it would be at that point he lost the gravity of the message he was proclaiming.

I do pray that God will help you get to the point that it is not a hinderance but rather a feeling of joy.

God bless...

Brother this is awesome news!

As for nervousness, as a rule I don't get nervous -- well maybe a twinge of nervousness. I am generally confident enough In God and in the message I have received and prepared that I feel enabled to the task at hand. Not self confident mind ya, rather assured. But then, I am a sanguine and usually am not so nervous as to be hindered from engaging an audience, period.

Admittedly, besides the twinge, there are times when an event, or a subject, or even a setting may cause me to be more nervous than usual. The first time I ever preached at the General Assembly I spilled my water all over the stage, my mic gave me problems for several minutes at the start of the message, besides the height of the platform, the blinding lights, the multitudes, and the sheer gravity of addressing a "general assembly" and all that implies and/or entails. I'm still nervous just thinking back on it.

It is natural to be a little nervous. Some exposure should ease that feeling to a large degree.

I live for the 45 minutes each week I get to stand before God's people and deliver what I have chewed on all week. I love it, and the bigger the crowd the better. I actually find I am far more uncomfortable in front of a small group, for some reason. I suspect it is that the larger the crowd, the more impersonal it feels, as opposed to a small, intimate group.

The only time I really feel nervous is when I speak before a new, unfamiliar audience, because I don't know how to read their reactions at first; since I tend to be pretty conversational in delivery and also tend to use humor, audience reaction matters!

I believe that you can have convction about the message and not be nervous.

I do find myself a litttle uneasy in front of new crowds...but not my home church or even my district churches.

The Bible tells us that the word will never go forward void. We must realize that when we get up to speak that it is in God's hands and not ours. It don't matter how "we feel" about how "we did." God blesses His word. We are HIS vessel.

I received alot of good comments about what I "thought" was the worst message I'd ever preached!

Just hang in there and literally remind yourself that you are God's messenger for the moment and that it is His word and His audience. Take a few deep breaths...in through the nose....out through the mouth....and be God's man for the moment Brother....it'll all fall into place!

God Bless you and keep up the ministry!!