>>< lol > !!!! Personally, I get so nervous every time I speak, I would never choose to present a topic that I didn't feel confident about.
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>I realize that I'm in the minority, but am I the only one that can get in front of a crowd and have no reservations about speaking, even if I'm not fully prepared? Maybe experience has a lot to do with it (I used to preach 20 minutes every Sunday morning, ready or not), but can't this be learned? I figure it's like playing in a band: it's not how well you play the material, it's how well you recover when you make a mistake.

Sounds like we have something in common. I have been led by the Lord to preach at my church (First Christian Church Linton IN). It all started when our minister moved on and we were without a minister for a year. I felt the tugging to do some pulpit work. I started on Sunday nights and then the Elders felt I could do Sunday mornings. So I tried and to make a long story short, I have preached about 20 times in the past 2 years. For our Church and for 3 others in the area. The most I have preached to has been about 430.