Words That Shape History: The Power of Purposeful Speaking

Episode 1
October 1st 2024
Words that shape history:

In this episode, we'll uncover the secrets of making your words resonate like never before. Journey with us as we listen to legendary speeches from FDR, JFK, and Martin Luther King, and discover how their words moved nations.
 
We also take a sobering look at the destructive side of rhetoric through the infamous speeches of Adolf Hitler, reminding us that words have the potential to heal or harm. This conversation emphasizes our vital responsibility to choose our words wisely to foster hope, peace, and positive change.

0:01 The Power of Purposeful Speaking

1:46 FDR

2:08 JFK

5:16 The power of a great speech

6:19 Martin Luther King Jr.

8:29 My Story Of Teaching

14:24 The Three Questions

16:46 Sneak peek into next week's episode

Andy Stanley Communicating for A Change:
Speak On Purpose Podcast Website

Transcript

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The Power of Purposeful Speaking

Bryan Cox 0:01

Hello everyone and welcome to the first episode of the Speak On Purpose podcast . My name is Bryan Cox and I've been teaching and preaching for many years and I've always wanted to share my thoughts on communication , share my failures , share my success, and some of those things I've learned along the way , and hopefully, this can help you if that is something you're wanting to do . Maybe you teach a class , maybe you're a preacher and you speak every Sunday . I know how difficult that is . Maybe you lead a meeting every week , or maybe you just want to know how to convey an idea in a way that can make a difference . Now a simple definition I can give you for the Speak On Purpose podcast . Basically , we say you know it's not just communication , you know it's a conversation , and what that means is that we speak on purpose .

Bryan Cox 1:02

Okay , another definition I'll give you . This may help you . It's about using words to inspire and move people to action . That is what I've always wanted to see happen in my life . When I give a sermon or when I teach , I want to not just talk and give information . I would love to see transformation . I would love to see people actually take action and see them change their lives , because that's where the power is , and we give great speeches and I've heard so many in history and I'm going to play a few of them and then we'll talk about them . Some of the greatest speeches you've ever heard in history made such a difference , so let's play a few of those you've ever heard in history made such a difference .

FDR

FDR 1:46

So let's play a few of those , and then we'll talk about it . First of all , let me assert my firm belief that the only thing we have to fear is fear itself Nameless , unreasoning , unjustified terror which paralyzes needed efforts to convert retreat into advance

JFK

FDR 2:08

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JFK 2:08

We'll light our country and all who serve it , and the glow from that fire can truly light the world . And so , my fellow Americans , ask not what your country can do for you . Ask what you can do for your country .

Bryan Cox 2:33

I get chills every time I hear those speeches . FDR in 1933 , gave an amazing speech to the country . You don't have to fear , you know , after the Great Depression , I'm sure times were very difficult . We can only imagine what that was like . And then John F Kennedy's speech . I know many of you have heard this before . You know , I think he , from what I've read , he spent two months putting this speech together and just put every word in its right place . He was very meticulous in making sure it was what he wanted to say .

Bryan Cox 3:11

And that famous quote that's not what your country can do for you , but what you can do for your country . It's so powerful and motivating and we remember those . They're history makers , and so my point and my goal with this podcast would be to help me , help you , help those who teach and lead , that we can make history by helping others , by speaking great words and great encouragement and inspiring our students . You know our congregation , with hope and faith and love , and I've seen it . I know it's possible . I want to show you the other side , though . I want to show you the context of a great speech , and this one's going to challenge you now . So don't leave me here . Okay , I'm going to throw something at you . You won't understand what you're hearing at first , but I want you to listen to it , and then we'll talk right after that . Listen to hear .

Bryan Cox 4:36

And if you didn't know , that was Adolf Hitler , honestly one of the best speakers in history . Honestly one of the best speakers in history . He did so many things to motivate and inspire his people . In fact , I'll translate his words here I believe was All these years I have devoted my life to the service of the people . He said Give your vote yes for me , then stand up for me as I stood up for you . And he did that everywhere he went and the people followed him and they followed him into war and millions lost their lives .

The power of a great speech

Bryan Cox 5:16

That's the power of a great speech , the power of words . You know , communication , we say this is more than just a conversation . It's actually a weapon of mass destruction or it can be a symbol of peace . You know the Bible talks about that . I love what the Bible says about words in Proverbs 18 , 21 . It states the tongue has the power to tear people down and bring them death . So we want to inspire people with our words , encourage people with our words , bring peace, and bring hope . So I want to play one for you . The last one I'll play for you . That , I believe , does that very thing . This is amazing , one of my favorite inspiring speeches I've ever heard in my life . So take a listen .

Martin Luther King Jr.

Martin Luther King 6:19

I have a dream that my four little children will one day live in a nation where they will not be judged by the color of their skin but by the content of their character . I have a dream today Let freedom ring . And when this happens , when we allow freedom to ring , when we let it ring from every village and every hamlet , from every state and every city , we will be able to speed up that day when all of God's children , black men and white men , Jews and Gentiles , protestants, and Catholics , will be able to join hands and sing in the words of the old Negro spiritual free at last . Free at last . Thank God , almighty , we are free at last .

Bryan Cox 7:22

Yes , that's what I'm talking about . That's an amazing , amazing speech in a very difficult time . You can tell that Mr King really believed in what he was saying . and it . He was very passionate , you know , about what needed to happen in our country and it moved people to action . You know , I've always been told that . You know , it's not about information when we teach or speak or lead . It's about transformation . It's about making a difference with your words that impact people to move to actually do something . And that takes emotion . People have to become emotional to do anything . It's not just an information dump , it's an emotional thing for people and I think that's the power we have with our words , that we can transform . You know where we are , wherever you may be , whatever you do to teach or speak or lead

My Story Of Teaching

Bryan Cox 8:29

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Bryan Cox 8:32

Tell you my story , about why I'm doing this . Why would I take the time to do a podcast ? And I promise you I'm not trying to be Simon Sinek or John Maxwell, as a or as a you

Bryan Cox 8:45

. I'm not trying to be Simon Sinek or John Maxwell . I'm not that at all . I've learned pastor, pastor, them . They're incredible people , but I just have a story of my own and I feel like I can help those out there that maybe are struggling and need to know how to teach , speak , lead better . I'm still messing leader, up teacher, probably noticed I'm saying um and doing all those things . I still struggle with that , but for me know, I just want to be real and tell you my story and hopefully it helps .

Bryan Cox 9:21

I've been in ministry for almost 30 years . I started off as a worship pastor , became an executive pastor and then was a senior pastor , and I've recently stepped down and retired , and so this is my turn to just share my story with you and why I believe it's so important for you as a person . If you're a leader or teacher or speaker , you need to understand some things that you have power . You know and I know . If you're a pastor , you have the power of God with you , and I know that . But you have a chance to inspire and encourage . It's not just information , it's transformation , and I had to learn that the hard way .

Bryan Cox 10:07

I remember a few years back , when I was just starting to preach , I never thought I'd have to do that . I was the worship pastor . You know , worship pastors , we just sing . We don't talk much . What you hope the pastor hopes , the worship pastor doesn't talk that much . But when I became executive pastor they had asked me hey , can we preach some ? And I'm like , oh no , I'm not sure about that . I have been on stage for many years , so sure it's not a problem .

Bryan Cox 10:35

So I worked on it . I got my outline together , got some scripture together , really worked on it really hard . I mean , how hard could it be ? Right , I just get up there and say a few things and I was wrong . But I got up there in front of people and I started teaching and I basically was reading my outline .

Bryan Cox 10:58

You know , I began to read it and every now and then I'd look up . I feel like I'm doing pretty good , I'm reading the outline , I'm doing pretty good , I haven't missed a word . And then I look up and I look at the audience and they look miserable . on her phone . I even saw somebody in the back of the worship center reading a newspaper . This is how boring I was . life-changing it's

Bryan Cox 11:28

wrong with these people ? Don't they hear what you're saying ? And it's almost like God whispered to me they're not the problem , you're the problem . You haven't paid attention . Now you're saying a lot of good things . You're reading a lot of good things . You're reading a lot of things , information is great , but there's no to trying say , and so I had to step back a say hold on , what does that mean ? can I get through to these people ? You know , and I kept for so long thinking it was me , or , excuse me , that it was them that was the problem , when it really was me , that I wasn't really working hard , I wasn't really paying attention to getting the idea where it needed to be , I wasn't being creative in stories and some people like stories , some people don't , but for me I want to relate what I'm teaching to your life , because for me , the greatest thing that can happen for you as a teacher is that your students or your congregation , when they walk out the door , they begin to live what you've been teaching . It becomes application then , and once that happens , it's life changing . And that's what great words and great speakers and what God can do .

Bryan Cox 12:54

This some of may not . You know you may not be a Christian . I get that , that's okay , I understand , but my desire is that you would be one . Okay , because I believe God and His Spirit plays a big part in how we help others , and so I would encourage you to do that of . of But for me , I didn't want to live idea ? I didn't want to become that boring pastor . three-question thing not for me so much , I love seeing people change . I love helping people . I always have . That's why I've been in ministry for so long . It inspires me when I see others get it , when I see others change and make a difference .

Bryan Cox 13:39

So I want to take this podcast and I want to analyze you know certain ways we speak . You know and how we can put together a great speech or how we can put together a great sermon , or you know what can we do to make it better . So that's what I'm going to do on the next couple episodes . We're going to break out some ways to do that . So I want to give you just a quick , what I believe a short three question thing you can do today . This is like something you can try now . That's not really difficult , that I do all the time , and we'll break all these out in a later podcast , but this is something that's really helped me just in the beginning , learning these three things

The Three Questions

Bryan Cox 14:24

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Bryan Cox 14:24

There's three questions I just want to give you . It's simple , three questions . You ask this what do you want them to know ? Okay , that's the first one . Second one what do you want them to feel ? Very important . And third one what do you want them to do ? Now we start with a no . You've got to clearly define your idea .

Bryan Cox 15:52

This is what's really hard for me , and I had to understand that I need to narrow down my idea to one sentence . The more narrow you get with your message , the easier it is to communicate and the easier it will be for your audience to take in and become transformation not just information . So what are you trying to say ? What is that big idea ? Second question is what do I want them to feel ? You see , I've learned this Facts don't motivate people . Emotions move people to action . So we want them to feel something when we communicate . What is it you want them to feel with the words you're sharing ? And then , what do you want them to do ? What is the action you hope your communication creates ? What do you want them to do ? If you don't have a clear , do they're not going to do anything ? You're not clear at all . You need to work on those three questions what do you want them to know ? What do you want them to feel ? What do you want them to do ?

Bryan Cox 15:52

There's many more ideas we can break out and I want to take a few books on communication in our upcoming podcast . I want to talk about some incredible speakers and how they outline , how they put together , uh , either a presentation or a sermon , and I believe I can help , because it's helped me so much . Uh , so many great uh speakers out there and communicators out there that had been willing to share their ideas and how they do things . So I just want to get I want to thank you for being with me today . Thank you for joining me for this first episode of the Speak On Purpose podcast . If you enjoyed today's episode , please subscribe on your favorite podcast platform . We'll be back next week with another conversation to talk about your communication and help bring it to the next level , so you can help make history with your words .

Sneak peek into next week's episode

Bryan Cox 17:21

h T Wherever you are today , use your words to speak life . Well , if you made it this far , I want to say thank you for listening and give you a sneak peek into next week's episodes . Here's what's coming up . There's a book I love . It's on communicating and that has changed me . It's changed the way I teach anything a team meeting , a sermon , even a simple conversation . The book is called Communicating for Change , from Andy Stanley . Some of you may know him . We will break this out and begin to learn one of the ways I know to outline or put together a presentation , one of the best ways I know . It's going to be a lot of fun , so make sure you join me next week and we'll talk to you soon Again . Speak life with your words .