COM-101
Communication & Writing for Ministry
Composition and public-speaking fundamentals every teacher needs.
Topics: Writing, Outlining, Public speaking
Suggested resource: Free Purdue OWL writing guides; practice by outlining one 10-minute lesson.
Week 1: Writing Clearly
Reading: Colossians 4:6; Ecclesiastes 12:10
Paul instructs, “let your speech be alway with grace, seasoned with salt, that ye may know how ye ought to answer every man” (Colossians 4:6) — salt preserves and adds flavor without overpowering the food itself, a fitting picture for writing that serves its message rather than drawing attention to itself. The Preacher describes his own method in Ecclesiastes: “the preacher sought to find out acceptable words: and that which was written was upright, even words of truth” (12:10) — a deliberate search for the clearest possible words, not whatever came first.
Clear writing starts with a single, specific idea, not a vague topic. Before you write a sentence, be able to state in one line what you want the reader to understand or do by the end. Cut any sentence that doesn't serve that one idea, prefer short, direct sentences to long ones, and read your own writing out loud, your ear will catch confusion your eye misses.
Key terms: Colossians 4:6 (grace seasoned with salt), Ecclesiastes 12:10 (seeking acceptable words), Main idea, Clarity and concision
Discussion Questions
- Think of the clearest piece of writing or teaching you've ever encountered. What made it clear?
- What does 'seasoned with salt' in Colossians 4:6 suggest about the difference between clear writing and writing that draws attention to itself?
Challenge: Write a single paragraph explaining Acts 2:38 to someone with no church background. Read it out loud, then cut it by a third without losing the meaning.
Week 2: Outlining a Lesson
Reading: Practical exercise — no reading assigned
A good lesson has one main point, not five. Everything else — scripture, illustration, application — exists to support that one point. A simple, reliable structure is: state the point, show it in Scripture, illustrate it with a story or example, then apply it to daily life. Resist the urge to cover everything you know about a topic in a single lesson; say one thing well rather than ten things forgettably.
Key terms: One main point, Structure, Illustration, Application
Discussion Questions
- Think of a lesson or sermon that stuck with you for years. Can you identify its one main point?
Challenge: Outline a 10-minute lesson on any topic from Term 1 using the four-part structure above.
Week 3: Speaking with Confidence
Reading: Practical exercise — no reading assigned
Confidence in speaking comes far more from preparation than personality. Know your material well enough that you don't need to read it word for word; use notes as a guide, not a script. Slow down more than feels natural — nervous speakers almost always speak faster than their audience can absorb. And remember your purpose: you're not there to be impressive, you're there to help someone understand something true.
Key terms: Preparation, Pacing, Purpose over performance
Discussion Questions
- What is your biggest fear or hesitation about teaching or speaking publicly, and what specifically would help you address it?
Challenge: Record yourself (audio is fine) delivering the lesson you outlined in Week 2. Listen back once, all the way through, before judging it.
Course Exam
Five questions for review or self-testing.
Q: What should you be able to state before writing a lesson?
Reveal Answer
A single, specific main idea you want the reader or listener to understand or do by the end.
Q: What is the four-part structure suggested for a lesson outline?
Reveal Answer
State the point, show it in Scripture, illustrate it, then apply it to daily life.
Q: What common mistake do nervous speakers make?
Reveal Answer
Speaking faster than their audience can absorb.
Q: Why read your own writing out loud?
Reveal Answer
Your ear catches confusion your eye misses.
Q: What is the real purpose of public speaking, according to this course?
Reveal Answer
To help someone understand something true, not to be impressive.