The Ten Minute Talk!

This semester in our Student Ministry, I sponsor a Student Breakfast one Wednesday a month.  Each month I am enlisting people whom I know to be Christians and who have a biblical worldview to come and share a 10 minute talk with the students.  I challenge them to prepare in the following way.  The kids know they are supposed to serve and follow Christ.  We want the 10 minute talk to be the one or two primary things you would tell these students from your vocational / world experience as a Christian that you think they most need to hear.  I tell them to look at it as the only time they will ever have to address these students - what would you say if you knew you would never see them again?

For example, our first speaker was a Chancery Court Judge who essentially told them that with all she dealt with each day she had learned how important it was to find at least one thing every day for which to praise God.  

The 10 minute talk is real! They only have 10 minutes! I have not had to cut anyone off - but I let them know that I will!  Each person who has come has had their imagination captured by it.  10 minutes is not a lot of time - but if we are not able to state what is our driving passion in 10 minutes - we need some refocusing and repurposing in our lives. 

Could I challenge you to some 10 minute talks?  If you would never see your spouse again after today and you had 10 minutes to say something to them, what would you say?  The emphasis is not on being freaked out about separation - but focusing on what is really important to share with someone. 

Could you spend some time and think about what you would say to each one of your children if you just had 10 minutes to talk with them?

What would you say to your best friend?  What would you say to your parents?  Brothers? Sisters?

Let me challenge you to actually do it - about once a year.  Sit down for some 10 minutes talks with friends, family and maybe even strangers!  

I can assure you that thinking through the process will clarify some needs in your own life that need to be addressed - some priorities that need to be reordered - some baggage that needs to be cast off!

It would even be a great time of sharing for Bible Study groups or classes to take a few weeks and give every member the opportunity to prepare to share the most important lessons learned in life for 10 minutes with the class from their vocational / Christian experience. 

The possibilities are endless.  The discipline required to think it through is productive. And Christ is glorified!