One of my favorite class discussions in our Public Speaking class at Appalachian State is on “Building Powerful Arguments.” In it we talk about logos, pathos, and ethos, and deductive and inductive reasoning. In order to demonstrate how a logical appeal (logos) can be made with a deductive argument, we use the topic of abortion. [...]

“The first necessary element of inductive evangelism is that it is incarnational. Incarnation means “in flesh.”. . . As a communication strategy, incarnation means that God came here personally to earth. . . . Evangelism as incarnational begins with this concept of presence, of “being there.” Just by being there you are communicating, without saying [...]

“It seems we cannot do anything without communicating something. To stand is to stand somewhere. And both the ‘standing’ and the‘somewhere’ communicate.” – David Hesselgrave, Communicating Christ Cross-Culturally

Here is an excerpt from Dad’s book Making Friends for Christ: An Inductive Strategy for Personal Evangelism. You can hear Dr. Wayne McDill present the contents of the book in the seminar our church is hosting this Friday evening and Saturday morning. Check out the details here. “Since Jesus is our model for communication strategy, [...]

Moses told the Israelites what God told him to say, that God would deliver them. But the Israelites did not listen. So when God told him to go talk to Pharaoh, Moses said, “The children of Israel have not heeded me. How then shall Pharaoh heed me, for I am of uncircumcised lips” (v. 12). [...]

Speak only love and speak only truth in as few words as possible. “A Babbeling fool will come to ruin” (Prov 10:10b). “When words are many, transgression is not lacking, but whoever restrains his lips is prudent” (Prov 10:19) “Speak the truth in love” (Eph 4:15).

“Otherwise, what do people mean by being baptized on behalf of the dead? If the dead are not raised at all, why are people baptized on their behalf?” 1 Cor 15:29 Here is a notoriously difficult verse. There are two reasons for its difficulty: 1) “There is no historical or biblical precedent for such baptism,” [...]

I continue to study through 1 Cor 15 as I am teaching it at our church. Paul is explaining how the fact of the resurrection as a historical event is critical to the Gospel. Verses 30-32a comprise another argument for the resurrection, the evidence of Paul’s life! Why would he put himself at risk, denying [...]

I always enjoy seeing what my Public Speaking class students select for their persuasive speech topics. It reveals, at least for a small (possibly regionally representative) group of college students, what topics are important to them and what positions they take on those issues. Here is the list of topics for the first persuasive speech [...]