“Preach the word of God. Be prepared, whether the time is favorable or not. Patiently correct, rebuke, and encourage your people with good teaching.”—2 Timothy 4:2

Someone who had just done a public talk asked me for some tips about speaking. They asked me if I ever had panic attacks when addressing a crowd. My answer was no, and that is for two reasons:

1. I have confidence in my message. I know that God’s Word, which I am proclaiming, will not return void. I know there is power in it and I expect it to do its work.
2. There is an urgency to what I am saying, as life and death hang in the balance.

Compare it to the talk they give you on the plane before takeoff. They are calm and collected as they tell you what to do in case of an emergency landing:

“In the event of an emergency, please assume the bracing position. A life vest is located in a pouch under your seat or between the armrests. When instructed to do so, open the plastic pouch and remove the vest. Slip it over your head. Pass the straps around your waist and adjust at the front. To inflate the vest, pull firmly on the red cord, only when leaving the aircraft. If you need to refill the vest, blow into the mouthpieces. Use the whistle and light to attract attention. Also, your seat bottom cushion can be used as a flotation device.”

What if the flight attendant just found out that three of the four engines were not working? This time, as they told you what to do for an emergency landing, there would be urgency! Because life and death are now in the balance.

That is the difference between public speaking and preaching the gospel—the urgency of the message.

We have an opportunity to preach with urgency coming up in just a few weeks. Harvest America is taking place on March 6, and everyone is invited! Have you invited someone yet? Get the details at

Harvest.org | Greg Laurie