If you are in the communication business, every speech, interview, sermon, pep-talk, or presentation you give should bear this in mind: What is it I want my listeners to do because of what I say to them today?

I heard a really nice sermon recently, but I have no idea what I was supposed to do at the end of it. I don’t know if I was supposed to pray more, give more, do more, love more, lust less?????? I just don’t know.

My thought as it came to a conclusion was that the speaker was so focused on preparing a nice sermon that he didn’t bother with thinking through what that sermon was to accomplish.

It’s been a long time since a took a homiletics or public speaking class, and I don’t really remember what they teach there, but I can tell you this: prepare your message to hit a target designed to move people to action, and you’ll deliver a bell-ringer every time.

Next time you get ready to speak, just ask this simple question: What is it I want my audience to do because of what I say to them today.