How to Overcome the Fear of Public Preaching

There are two fears everyone is born with and a third, among many, that is developed over time: the fear of falling; the fear of loud noises. The third is the fear of public speaking.

According to various Internet sources, the late Alvin Barkley, former Vice President under Truman, died while giving a speech. It could have been his time to go, or it could have been for fear of speaking in public. One thing is for sure, most people will not die of fear for speaking in public. There are ways to speak in public that are universal and there are ways to preach in public that are unique. We in America can and must stand in the marketplace to declare the truths and denounce the evils while we are able. It is our right as Americans to do so. Let's look at the ingredients necessary to overcome the fear of public preaching.

Difficulty: Challenging

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

• Bible with large print
• Book marks in key Scriptures
• Much prayer - fasting is good
• Love for the Lord Jesus
• Good format to follow
• Knowledge of Constitutional Rights

1. Know your subject. In the case of public preaching, knowing the Author has great advantages. Without a deep, intimate relationship with the Lord Jesus as Savior and Lord, all our speaking will seem like a clanging symbol or noisy horn blowing. Jesus appealed to his fellow Jewish neighbors to repent for the Kingdom is at hand! He could speak using the Scriptures so much so that his hearers marveled as if he had educational letters of attainment. Even the fisherman, turned Apostle Peter, exhibited his ability to preach with boldness and conviction with his audience testifying that "he had been with Jesus."

2. Know your audience. One famous evangelist of the nineteenth century, Charles Finney, was known to mingle with the people on the street before he preached so he could listen to what street people were saying. This gave him "fuel" with which he could make his sermons burn brighter. When a speaker relates to his audience with issues that affect the majority, rather than the minority, he runs a better than average success rate that his message will be effective.

3. 
    
   The Ten Commandments

   Know the law. According to Wikipedia, "The First Amendment was adopted on December 15, 1791. The Amendment states: Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press; or the right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to petition the Government for a redress of grievances."
   
   As long as the property on which the speaker is speaking is considered public property, the law must be upheld allowing the speech to take place. In some cases, police are called in by private parties to intimidate the speaker into moving or relocating. This violation of the speaker's First Amendment Rights often gets thrown out in court. Some "wiser" senior police officers, who know the law, will prefer to let the preacher preach rather than involve costly court cases.

4. 
    
   Ray Comfort of Way of the Master Ministries preaching on Fort Lauderdale Beach

   Noted outdoor preacher, Ray Comfort, offers the following for overcoming the fear of public preaching: Fear of God--commanded to preach; Compassion for the unsaved; Belief of Scripture. Hell is a reality. Love for God and gratitude for the cross. Show it by obedience.
   Fears are not realized. Like diving into an unheated pool, the longer you leave it the worse it becomes. Just jump in! Satisfaction of doing it. Trust God. He will help. When one person listens, it's wonderful. When 100 listen it's much, much better.

5. Get hecklers. Ray Comfort from the previous step says he prays that he will get hecklers. Hecklers are those people who vehemently oppose your message and they are willing to speak out during your preaching. A good heckler can take a small crowd and add several hundred new faces quickly. To a preacher, that's exactly what he wants to happen. More ears means more hearts. It'd be a great blessing to have the heckler themselves become the most convinced of their own sinfulness and need of repenting and trusting in Jesus as Savior.

6. Get Elevation. Regardless of your height (the article writer is seven feet tall), you will need to get elevation in order to capture people's attention. Whether it is a park bench, step stool, chair or tree limb, people pay attention to the person who is willing to "rise above the rest" and say something. The height of the elevation can be as little as a few inches or as high as two or three feet. Just make sure that you don't lose your balance while preaching. It's hard to get the audience to quit laughing afterward.

7. Get a covering support from others who not only pray for you but stand with you while you are preaching publicly. There are lyrics to an old Christian song that says, "With the saints, it's easy to be bold." So true. Like minds bring encouragement and validation. Christian groups provide a "rent-a-crowd" for preachers that helps draw more people out of curiosity.
   
   The calling of God in Matthew 28 that Jesus told his disciples is to "go into all the world and preach the gospel to every creature." Sometimes, that means going out by yourself. But, with an intimate relationship with the Lord Jesus, the gospel preacher will never be going alone.

8. Just do it. The best way to conquer fear is to take action. Overcoming the fear of public preaching for some is like pumping water out of a old-time water pump. You have to prime the pump by pouring water into it first. For some preachers to get fired up to preach, they have to let someone speak first. Then, as the timid preacher sees that no one gets martyred for speaking in public, he/she will step up on the "soap box" and start talking to the crowd.
   
   There are two scenarios for people today regarding preaching publicly: you can stand up and say something and possibly influence a "lost soul" to repent and trust in Christ as Savior; or, you can say nothing and have that lost soul, next-door neighbor enter into Judgment without so much as a "wing or a prayer." Guilt trip? Yeah, but we all are on earth for the opportunity to serve the One who died for us and rose again on the third day. Of all the things we can do for Him, this is the least he asks us to do. Like I said before, just do it!

Tips & Warnings

• Start small like at a city park or sporting event.
• Read a favorite verse out loud or a chapter from Scripture.
• If police question you and you are on public property, ask them to cite what law you are breaking and get their superior involved. If they arrest you, which is happening around America these days, there are legal firms that will defend you in court.

Resources

• Other Articles by this author
• Learn online to reach others with the Gospel

[naturenut]

on 7/16/2009 Great tips on overcoming the fear of public speaking.

[mralarcon]

on 6/25/2009 How to Overcome the Fear of Public Preaching
keep doing what u are doing

[guesswhat]

on 4/17/2009 Great article ....keep up the good work...I gave you 5 Stars and RR on 5 of your articles,very informational...ty ...Please return the favor..Al