Epic Introduction

What do you do with the first 30 seconds of your speech?

Do you start off with, “Today I’m going to talk about...” Or “Open your bibles to...” or perhaps you start off with “I didn’t really have time to prepare”...How do you start your speech?

The beginning of your speech is too important to ramble away. Speech Coach Jeremy Kingsley talks about the 757 Rule. He says it takes 7 seconds for your audience to develop a first impression. After 5 minutes the first impression positive or negative is solidified. In 7 minutes the listening pattern of your audience is set, they are either with you or not.

Youth Worker, students are coming into the church for the first time. This may be their first exposure to the good news. They are use to boring lectures from parents or teachers. Surprise them! Your regular attendees have heard you speak countless times, do they know what to expect ? Are you predictable? Catch them off guard. Recite a line in Shakespeare that your grade 11 students are reading through, Have your youth leaders lip sync New Directions What Makes You Beautiful! Surprise them with some Startling Stat’s. Tell the story of a Canadian historical character. Blow their minds away...Let them know that they are in for a treat! Youth Worker, this is your EPIC Introduction!

A strong introduction should be like a Movie trailer. It gives you a taste of what the storyline is about but it leaves you wanting more. After a trailer has been shown, the main objective is to get the audience to say, “I want to see that!” Your goal with your intro is to have students say, “Oh Man, I’ve got to hear more!”

Like a Movie Trailer...It leaves you wanting more.

The Epic Intro needs to be clear, catchy, and attention grabbing. Be creative and have fun with it.

Keep in mind in the midst of your creativity. You’re taking your listeners on a journey. You’re in the driver’s seat and they are in the back seat. They don’t have a clue where you’re going, Where the final destination is, and what route you going to take to get there? Your intro is an opportunity to include the listener in on the journey by letting them know where you`re going, what’s the main message, what’s the final destination or the call to action, and how are you going to get there. Now they can enjoy the ride with you and this will help you stay on track too. Do you have to tell them where you’re going? No, and those rides can be fun if intentional and planned out.

Advance Level Intro – Watch your favourite trailer – Use it as a guide to help you develop or set set up your next passage of scripture.

The Avengers: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tY9DnBNJFTI

Example:

Trailer Layout: The Conflict (We are at war)

1. The Problem – Extreme Odds (Hopelessly out numbered)

2. The Mission – Save the World

3. The Characters – The Ordinary/The Heroes/The Villains

4. The Taunt – The Challenge of the enemy!

5. Tension of the characters

6. The Impossible will it be Possible?

Now...Open your bible to 1 Samuel 17 – (This outline could be used for so many passages, David & Goliath, Jonathan and his armour bearer. Jesus in the Garden of Gethsemane, or just the Christian walk in General...You are the light of the world, a city on a hill...) Get excited!!!

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Alison Springer is a member of the Canadian Association of Professional Speakers (CAPS) Alison has dedicated her time to developing her gift of Public Speaking so that her listeners would believe the truth that she shares and to raise up other strong youth communicator’s in Canada. She has been speaking full time for four years and is currently enrolled in Youth Speakers University.

Speaking Tips are from Alison’s Public Speaking Enhancement Workshop for more inquires message her today. http://www.inspiringteengreatness.com