Speaking Policies of the Portland Church

Overall Speaking Policy

The purpose of this document is to outline the basic policies regarding speaking in God’s church.

1. Speaking assignments are never assigned. The minister may suggest techniques or give you a list of subjects but your inspiration will come from God.

2. Clearly, some subjects are inappropriate for sermonettes. If this situation arises, we will discuss it privately or in a Speaker’s meeting.

3. Some speaking techniques are inappropriate for sermonettes. We will work with these in the Speaker’s meeting.

4. Speakers should look to the flock and ascertain their needs then meditate on the Word of God.

Ps 77:12
12 I will meditate also of all thy work, and talk of thy doings.

Ps 119:13,27
13 With my lips have I declared all the judgments of thy mouth.
27 Make me to understand the way of thy precepts: so shall I talk of thy wondrous works.

Luke 6:45
45 A good man out of the good treasure of his heart bringeth forth that which is good…

5. Speakers need never care who shows up for services the day they speak, even if you were hoping some certain person would hear your sermonette or that you were inspired to speak on that subject because of the needs of a certain person. God will provide the audience. We should not care if it is 3 or 300 or 3000.

6. If a speaker is inspired to speak on a subject that would help a specific person, he should be careful to not telegraph this fact to the congregation or to that specific person.

7. Remember to keep your sermonette within the goal of giving doctrinal information and/or encouragement. Never correct or talk down to the congregation. If you feel some point is important to their salvation use the word “WE” rather than “you."  Rather than saying, “You need to pray”, say, “I encourage you to never neglect your prayer life,"  “We all need to pray, I need to pray, you need to pray."   Include yourself in your admonitions.

Remember that we are messengers of God’s Word and that the messages we give are for us just as much as the congregation. We can never appear to be on a higher Spiritual plane than anyone else.

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