Speaking for the Master: A Study of Public Speaking for Christian Men

by Batsell Baxter

This book was written by Baxter to serve the "pressing need for a textbook on religious speaking for use in Men's Training Classes among the churches.... drawn on all that I have learned in the speech field... textbooks... graduate seminars... personal contacts with some of the leading speech people of our day, and from fifteen years' experience as a teacher of public speaking in the college classroom" (vi-vii).

That said, this volume is a very practical—and not very theological—book. Baxter spends time talking about speaking and communication theory and technique before turning specifically to applying those principles to "religious speaking"—everything from making announcements to preparing a sermon. And even when looking specifically at that type of speech, he continues to base his assertions on the rules of public speaking.

The chapters of this book are short and easy to read. Each one has suggested activities to help you develop that chapter's subject matter. Because it is short and not very much in depth, I don't recommend this to an already-experienced speaker (unless you want to touch up on the basics...or make sure you learned the basics right to begin with). However, if you're new to public speaking and looking to become a better speaker (or planning to teach a young men's class on speaking), this little book will probably help you a lot. And prepare for a chuckle or two: it was written in the mid-50s, so some of the illustrations he chooses are dated.

The Editors do not advocate everything taught by the authors of the books we review. Like us, these authors are fallible humans and those who choose to read these books should measure them by the bible, the one true standard.