Reading: Learning How to Organize the Message/sermon - Part One

This transcript focuses on the importance of organizing your message effectively when delivering a speech or sermon. It begins by emphasizing the challenge of delivering a message and introduces the analogy of organization being like signposts along a road, guiding the audience towards the intended destination.

1. Introduction to Organization: The speaker introduces the topic of organizing a message effectively, drawing parallels between organization and signposts on a road, and shares an anecdote about a pastor whose lack of organization left the congregation feeling lost.
2. Purpose of Organization: The speaker explains that effective organization serves two purposes: it helps build a coherent message with a clear point, and it ensures the audience can follow along, understanding the transitions and connections between points.
3. Traditional Linear Organization: The speaker mentions traditional linear organization, which includes a clear introduction, main points, and conclusion, as a common method of organizing messages.
4. Adaptable Organization: The speaker highlights the need for adaptable organization to accommodate diverse thinking styles. They introduce the flower organization, commonly used in African American preaching, which centers around a main point with various related thoughts branching out like petals.
5. Example of Effective Organization: The speaker cites Tony Campolo's sermon, "It's Friday, but Sunday's Coming," as an example of effective organization. Campolo's sermon, with its central theme of hope in the face of despair, utilized a flower-like organization to explore different facets of the main point while keeping the audience engaged and focused.
6. Conclusion and Future Topics: The transcript concludes by mentioning that future sessions will explore more organizational methods to help deliver messages effectively, encouraging the audience to stay tuned for further insights.

Welcome back to this class on "So You've Been Asked to Speak." Whether you've been asked to give a devotional or preach, the challenge is the same: how do you effectively deliver your message? We've explored different message types and ways to receive them, whether through personal connection, study, or inspiration. Now, let's delve into the crucial aspect of organizing your message.

Organization is like the signposts along a road, guiding your audience so they know where they're headed and how to get there. I once knew a pastor whose lack of organization left his congregation feeling lost. A former detective explained that like solving a case, messages need clear clues to lead listeners. Without these signposts, people tune out.

Yogi Berra's humorous wisdom rings true: "If you don't know where you're going, you'll end up someplace else." Effective organization serves two purposes: it helps you build a coherent message with a clear point, and it ensures your audience can follow along, understanding the transitions and connections between points.

Traditionally, messages have been linear, with a clear introduction, main points, and conclusion. But today, diverse thinking styles call for adaptable organization. For instance, the flower organization, common in African American preaching, centers around a main point, with various related thoughts branching out like petals.

Consider Tony Campolo's famous sermon, "It's Friday, but Sunday's Coming." With a simple yet powerful message, he held his audience captive by circling back to the central theme: hope in the face of despair. This flower-like organization allowed him to explore different facets of the main point while keeping listeners engaged and focused.

Next time, we'll explore more organizational methods to help you deliver your message effectively. Stay tuned!