Dr. James McGuire (Jimmy) a friend and colleague in Dynamic Communicators Workshops, presents this helpful template for developing - not finding - the rationale (points) of your speech.
Proclaim it. This means you introduce with clarity and precision the separate point you are going to develop that will support your major premise. This is not the whole message. It is one point of the message. For example, in a message on why we must strive to keep our hearts full of grace toward others, you might say: The first reason is because bitterness of spirit will make you withhold grace from others. This is clear, concise, and tells exactly what I must now proceed to develop: proof that bitterness causes its possessor to withhold grace from others.
Explain it. This means that the statement you just made, “Bitterness of spirit will make you withhold grace from others” will now be fully and clearly explained. Here you pull together evidence to support your statement. You may quote the Bible, or psychological studies from Universities, or some other source. But the single task is to give proof that bitterness of spirit will make you withhold grace from others.
Illustrate it. You have clearly stated your point, and explained the evidence that supports it, and now you are ready to illustrate it. You might say, “Saul heard the cries of the people as he rode through the towns with David at his side: “Saul has slain his thousands, but David his tens of thousands.” He became inflamed in his heart with bitterness of spirit. His nights became filled with brooding about David’s popularity, so much so that eventually he wanted only one thing: the death of David. Incredibly, here was a man selected by God to be the first King of Israel, representing God’s gracious rule over his chosen people, and through bitterness of heart he wanted only to kill David, not give him grace.” You might give other illustrations, some of them contemporary: “On the news I saw a story of a man who….” You might want to give a personal story.
Apply it. Now you make it personal to the listener. You might ask what is going on at work: is there a boss who has passed you over? Is there someone who is taking credit for your work? Maybe you talk to the students: is there someone who is mean to you at school, and you find you are starting to hate that person? You might talk to couples or those involved in divorces or lawsuits. Your point is to get them to consider that opportunities to be bitter face us every day, but if we want to be people who give grace to others, we must not seize the opportunities for bitterness.
Now you are ready to apply this grid to your next point.
Jimmy McGuire has been a pastor for 35 years and a husband for 38 years. He & his wife Lucy have raised 3 sons: Jeremy, Paul & Jonathon. Jimmy has been involved with DCW since 1992. According to Jimmy, the best thing about DCW is, "What I learn from others while there and the unique friendships I have made among DCW staff."
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