Max Lucado

Liz Curtis Higgs

Chuck Colson

Franklin Graham

Lee Strobel

Bob Russell

Those six speakers would likely be in the starting line-up of any Christian communicators' team.

But Lucado, Higgs, Colson, Graham, Strobel and Russell have more in common than their renowned position at the top of their profession -- traits they share with seven other well-known Christian speakers. Each of them is an example of a particular communication style.

Dave Stone interviewed them all for his new book, "Refining Your Style: Learning from Respected Communicators," Group Publishing; 230 pages; paperback; 2004; $24.99.

Stone's motivation for writing the book, the fifth he has authored, was two-fold. He wanted to stretch his own preaching skills, and he wanted to prepare himself for future service to Southeast Christian Church, a congregation of more than 24,000 in Louisville, Ky.

"I'm always looking for ways to make the transfer of leadership from Bob Russell to me as smooth as possible," said the 43-year-old preaching associate who will take over as senior minister of Southeast when Senior Minister Bob Russell retires. "I'm always looking for ways to improve my preaching. What better way could there be than to sit down with the best of the best in communication in America today and pick their brains?

"I am constantly amazed at how most preachers try to be someone else instead of themselves," Stone said, admitting that he did that when he first signed on to share Russell's preaching responsibilities at Southeast -- before Russell sat him down and told him: "We didn't hire you to be another Bob Russell. We already have one of those. We hired you because you are Dave Stone."

Dave Stone preaches at Southeast Christian Church in Louisville, Ky.

Stone points out that every communicator is more comfortable in one particular style. But most speakers will have to employ each of the styles in the book at some point in their careers. Learning about all the styles will make a speaker more versatile "because at some point, he's probably going to have to wear all of those hats," Stone said.

"If Bob Russell is speaking on America's heritage, he will need to be an Inspirational Orator or a Cultural Prophet," Stone said, using the terms he assigns speaking styles in his book. "If a speaker is preaching on a capital campaign, he better sound like a Revolutionary Leader sounding the call and saying, ‘You guys need to come with me!' If you're speaking to a sixth-grade graduation, you will need to be a Creative Storyteller instead of a Scholarly Analytic. But if I'm speaking about the truth of Scripture, I need to be a Convincing Apologist -- being an Engaging Humorist isn't the right style for that kind of sermon."

Stone stresses that speakers need to be prepared to employ a variety to styles.

The purpose of the Creative Storyteller, exemplified by Lucado, is to help people visualize something. The target is the listener's imagination. The Direct Spokesperson, such as Franklin Graham, speaks to help people decide something, and targets the listener's will. The Scholarly Analytic helps people understand, and targets logic; the Revolutionary Leader seeks to ignite something and targets a listener's passion.

"At one time or another during his ministry, Jesus used every one of the communication styles," Stone said. "He's the only one who's ever done it perfectly."

Stone dedicated the book to Russell. He said Russell's influence was "sprinkled throughout each page."

"Thanks for taking a chance on a 27-year-old rookie and investing 15-plus years into his life," Stone wrote. "Above all, thanks for being the same man at home, work and play that you are in the pulpit."

Ninie Hammon is executive editor of The Southeast Outlook newspaper in Louisville, Ky. This article is reprinted by permission from the July 22, 2004 issue.