Recently I listened to a powerful sermon. I went away dissatisfied because the preacher's platform antics troubled me. At times he would crouch with both hands tightly gripped to the rostrum. I expected momentarily to see him catapult into the audience.
At other times he would make spasmodic jerks and wildly flap his arms to try to emphasize a point. He gave the impression that he believed a great display of energy had a convincing and persuasive effect on his listeners. At least, no one fell asleep.
Preachers should employ gestures. All great speakers use them. But the rostrum is not the place for calisthenics. Gestures must be more than an outlet for nervous energy. They should help vitalize and emphasize your oral message.
Like any technique, attentive application is required to achieve perfection. It does not come overnight. Self-consciousness must be overcome. The ability to permit the hand and fingers to relax is important. Constant practice before a mirror will help overcome awkwardness.
Any gesture that attracts attention to itself will defeat its purpose. To make your gesture unobtrusive you must not appear to be conscious of your movements. Avoid broad flourishes and pretty curved motions. Rather, directness and simplicity are essential.
Your gestures should have vitality and confidence. Halfhearted movements should not be made. Your action should suggest reserve power. This does not mean all gestures should be pounded out but they should indicate sincerity and spontaneity.
Each gesture should be correctly timed. The facial expression should be used in conjunction with the gesture. Often a smile, flashing eyes, a frown, or straightened mouth speak more than an outpouring of words. And don't be afraid to pause. It is often effective.
I have observed that more preachers tend to express too little with facial expression than too much. Remember, your appearance, poise, and platform manners, in addition to your message, have much to do with convincing your audience.
Try to imagine how Jesus would conduct Himself in the pulpit in this day and age. "Ministers must be imbued with the same spirit as was their Master when He was upon earth."—Testimonies, vol. 2, p. 337.
"Decorum is necessary in the desk," said Ellen G. White. "A minister of the gospel should not be regardless of his attitude. If he is the representative of Christ, his deportment, his attitude, his gestures, should be of such a character as will not strike the beholder with disgust."—Ibid., vol. 1, p. 648.
"The Saviour of the world would have His colaborers represent Him; and the more closely a man walks with God, the more faultless will be his manner of address, his deportment, his attitude, and his gestures."—Ibid., vol. 4, p. 405.
