After preaching this morning at a local Church of Christ and then this afternoon at the Sudanese church communication has been on my mind.

This morning was a ‘repeat’ sermon, something I find both easy and difficult – easy because I know it, but difficult because I haven’t had to work it thru as tightly as a new one.

Then this afternoon I had my first time speaking to a group of African people. I wasn’t sure what to expect. I prepared a sermon, but after arriving had that gut feel that I should change it. So with 5 minutes to go I scribbled an outline of a new message and gave it a shake. Seemed to go ok.

So here are some quotes I came across that reflect 3 qualities I reckon are vital in a good communicator, passion, humour, conciseness

Don’t memorize, internalize. – David Brooks

Let thy speech be better than silence, or be silent. – Dionysius Of Halicarnassus

Learning is directly proportional to the amount of fun you have. – Robert Pike

Always be shorter than anybody dared to hope. – Lord Reading

Grasp the subject, the words will follow. – Cato the Elder

Once you get people laughing, they’re listening and you can tell them almost anything. – Herbert Gardner

The eloquent man is he who is no beautiful speaker, but who is inwardly and desperately drunk with a certain belief. – Ralph Waldo Emerson

They may forget what you said, but they will never forget how you made them feel. – Carl W. Buechner

Make sure you have finished speaking before your audience has finished listening. – Dorothy Sarnoff

I reckon if you observe these then chances are people will enjoy whatever you have to say!