I gave this lecture on February 10, 2024.
Instruct
INTRODUCTION In giving the qualifications of elders in I Timothy 3:1-7, the apostle Paul lists one in verse 2 that has come to the fore in this age of the church: “able to teach” or “apt to teach” (King James Version). Other Bibles render it “skillful in teaching” (Lexham English Bible); “have the gift of teaching” (New Testament in Modern English); “a good teacher” (New Testament For Everyone); “good at teaching” (World English Bible). They are all very similar. So, to be a successful elder, it is helpful to be able to teach or instruct the church members in the way of God. But we should not limit it to elders; it is a helpful skill for anyone to have.
In Titus 1:9, the apostle expands this qualification a bit: “. . . holding fast the faithful word as he has been taught, that he may be able, by sound doctrine [teaching], both to exhort and convict those who contradict.” Later, in Titus 2:1, he commands Titus to “speak the things which are proper for sound doctrine.” He says something similar to Timothy in I Timothy 4:6: “If you instruct the brethren in these things, you will be a good minister of Jesus Christ, nourished in the words of faith and of the good doctrine [teaching] which you have carefully followed.”
SPS Learning to instruct others is a crucial part of transmitting the truth to others and new generations of Christians. Because of this, the #9 Instruct Speech is among the most important speeches in the Manual. For all its other purposes, the Speech Club is ultimately designed to teach a speaker multiple ways to instruct others in God’s way. That is what we are here to learn: to hone our teaching skills to a fine edge.
The subject one chooses is not overly important but needs to be basic and narrow. The limited time of a Speech Club speech mandates that it be something simple if you are going to cover it well. For that matter, choosing a narrow enough subject is perhaps the most essential part of any speech, especially for shorter ones. There is just not enough time to cram or shoehorn a big topic into a brief speech.
Also, the #9 Instruct Speech need not be on a Bible topic. It can be anything about which you teach the audience something. Many directors, however, desire to see a speaker teach something more academic or educational, that is, a rule, a principle, a lesson, a historic turning point or trend—something more than how to prepare a surface for painting or how to rotate crops to sustain the life of your soil (subjects perhaps more fitting for the #3 Be Crystal Clear Speech). The Manual says to “choose a subject that will edify, profit, and benefit your fellow Club members.” Instruct them on a useful, applicable topic—a bit of knowledge or wisdom that will help them somehow.
As the instructor, make sure you know your subject backward and forward. You are the one imparting knowledge; you are the expert. But do not—Red Alert! Red Alert!—do not come across to the audience as a proud know-it-all, condescending to give them some of your heavenly wisdom. Knowledgeable but humble teachers are the best kind. Rather than bellowing instructions from Mount Olympus, an effective instructor comes alongside and educates as a concerned and helpful friend—like a good coach.
A speaker should set up the #9 Instruct Speech to methodically reach a conclusion:
A + B + C = X
(where X is the logical result of the three points).
One’s supporting points cannot lead anywhere else but the speech’s conclusion. You want the audience to nod at the end of the speech, thinking, “I learned something true and useful tonight.” You will only get them there if you are clear, logical, and precise. No tangents, no off-handed remarks.
It is also recommended that you use repetition as a tool so no one can accuse you of being vague. To be clear as glass, the SPS should probably contain your points and even your conclusion. For example:
We will see that Great Power politics and rash alliances led to World War I, the ultimate inconclusiveness of which led to the rise of Adolf Hitler, which led to World War II.
Then, you can say, introducing point #1:
World War II’s first cause occurred decades before when nations aligned themselves with various European Powers.
Then, when introducing point #2, you can say:
Since the initial cause of World War II, Great Power alliances, led to World War I, the second sprang from the fact that the Great War had killed a generation of young men but did not really solve the underlying problems.
And so forth. Your conclusion will tie those things together again in a summarizing statement so the audience knows exactly what you taught them.
CONCLUSION The #9 Instruct Speech will call on the speaker to teach a simple concept or basic knowledge in a defined, unmistakable, orderly way. Done right, it will demonstrate whether the speaker is “apt to teach.”