Review 1: Ken Davis, How to Speak to Youth and Keep them Awake at the Same Time (Zondervan, 1996).
SUMMARY
In How to Speak to Youth, Ken Davis shares pearls of wisdom about communicating to modern youth. The keys to his presentations are “planning, practice, care and dependence on God.” He shares three truths about communicating effectively: “Very Hard Work”, “Learning”, and “Passion.” Preparation to communicate includes “preaching with the example”, knowing your audience, avoid imitation of other speakers, commit to God’s glory and not your own exaltation. Davis proposes the SCORRE method to plan a speech: Choose a Subject, define a Central theme, set an Objective, identify a Rationale (what is the point of your message?), add Resources (frosting to the cake), and Evaluation (check your speech again). SCORRE is a preparation method, but not a delivery model—the foundation of a speech “building.” Davis also emphasizes the investment of time and preparation for a speech and to let it “ferment” as an aged wine. Time is a neglected part of …show more content…
We are not called to make converts, not to teach apologetics to large crowds exclusively, not to entertain the masses. Davis is right to emphasize that “coaching beats playing” and that our “long-term success is determined more by your work on the sidelines than by your spectacular plays as a speaker in front of a group.” How true! May we never become the type of apologist without time to counsel our young, to spend time with them in everyday life. Discipleship only happens as we spend time with our mentor and as we spend time with our own disciples. That is the model Jesus used, so it can’t be wrong! We may adapt our message to the culture but never compromise the truth or forget that the truth of the gospel will fall on fertile soil when we are trusted, credible, and people realize we care sincerely about them. No amount of apologetic arguments or stellar preaching will change
SUMMARY
In How to Speak to Youth, Ken Davis shares pearls of wisdom about communicating to modern youth. The keys to his presentations are “planning, practice, care and dependence on God.” He shares three truths about communicating effectively: “Very Hard Work”, “Learning”, and “Passion.” Preparation to communicate includes “preaching with the example”, knowing your audience, avoid imitation of other speakers, commit to God’s glory and not your own exaltation. Davis proposes the SCORRE method to plan a speech: Choose a Subject, define a Central theme, set an Objective, identify a Rationale (what is the point of your message?), add Resources (frosting to the cake), and Evaluation (check your speech again). SCORRE is a preparation method, but not a delivery model—the foundation of a speech “building.” Davis also emphasizes the investment of time and preparation for a speech and to let it “ferment” as an aged wine. Time is a neglected part of …show more content…
We are not called to make converts, not to teach apologetics to large crowds exclusively, not to entertain the masses. Davis is right to emphasize that “coaching beats playing” and that our “long-term success is determined more by your work on the sidelines than by your spectacular plays as a speaker in front of a group.” How true! May we never become the type of apologist without time to counsel our young, to spend time with them in everyday life. Discipleship only happens as we spend time with our mentor and as we spend time with our own disciples. That is the model Jesus used, so it can’t be wrong! We may adapt our message to the culture but never compromise the truth or forget that the truth of the gospel will fall on fertile soil when we are trusted, credible, and people realize we care sincerely about them. No amount of apologetic arguments or stellar preaching will change