“Turning Points” Message Preparation

Youth Sunday Speakers

Important: Call Jeremiah asap with your Bible Character and passage so that I can be sure we don’t overlap!!! First
come first serve with the characters and passages, call Jeremiah asap:

1st Due Date: Sunday, April 6th you should hand in your 1st Rough Draft that follows the outline.

Time: You will have approximately 7-8 minutes for your message. You may not exceed 8 minutes.

Theme: Pivotal Points-what are the pivotal points of your relationship with Christ up to this point.
-Example: David experienced a Pivotal Point when he was anointed by Samuel over his older, seemingly more
appropriate brothers.
-Example: Paul had the Damascus Road experience and that was a pivotal turning point for him.
-Example: Jesus revealed himself to the woman at the well, this was her Pivotal Turning Point and she immediately
began telling everyone about him.

Bible: You must choose a Bible Character and a Bible Passage to teach from. Please don’t choose a long passage you
won’t have time to walk through a ton of scripture in 7 minutes.

Outline: Please follow this outline as much as possible.

I. Introduction
A. Interesting illustration to begin the message
B. Read the topic passage and introduce the character
C. Give the thesis sentence - people should know where they are going …

II. Body of message (usually 3 points is plenty - make sure the points are different from the others - too much
similarity in points makes for a very boring message
A. Repeat thesis point 1.
1. Reread the particular verse in your passage that supports the point
2. Comment on your character and how he/she relates to this point
3. Relevant personal illustration from their own life (we want to hear about them - it is
always best that our people get a feel for what God is doing in their life …)
4. Reference to other related verses that support the point (one or two is fine)

B. Repeat for point 2

C. Repeat for point 3

III. Conclusion
A. Brief closing illustration. This doesn’t have to be from their personal life. Close with a repeat of the thesis
statement.

Things to avoid:
-Poems
-Reading long scripture passages
-Personally intimate and/or super sensitive stories f/your life
-Confessing your personal sins or someone else’s
-Saying “I’ll just let the Spirit lead, I don’t need to prepare…” you must be prepared, you should almost be able to say your
message from memory