Find Your Voice: Preach from Who You Are

Finding your voice.

You don’t have to sound like your favorite preacher. God called you — with your own story, style, and voice.

Some of the best advice on “finding your voice” actually comes from musician John Mayer. He once said, “You find your voice when you try to be like other people and fail.” That struck me because it’s true — when we imitate others, we lose what makes us unique.

Here’s a quick story:
I once taught Sunday school trying to sound like a “serious preacher” — but I ended up sounding a little crazy. That experience reminded me: trying to be someone else never works. I only embarrassed myself. 

God Anoints Authenticity

It’s easy to imitate voices we admire. But here’s the truth: God doesn’t anoint impersonation — He anoints authenticity.

Paul didn’t preach like Peter. John’s voice was different from James’. God uses different voices for different people in different seasons.

Here are three quick thoughts for you:

1. Preach from your own life.
   Tell your story. Don’t borrow someone else’s passion. Preach what you believe and live.

2. Use your natural tone.
   Try not to use your “preacher voice.” When I record this podcast, sometimes I use a radio voice because I like how it sounds on mic. But preaching is better when it’s conversational if that’s who you are. If you’re intense, let that be honest—not forced.

3. Be faithful, not flashy.
   Some of the most impactful preachers are soft-spoken, humble, and clear.
   You don’t have to be loud to be powerful.
   You don’t have to be funny to be effective (though humor can be a great way to connect with you audience)
   You just have to be you.

How to Find and Grow Your Voice

Record and listen to your sermons.
Try to find sermons from when you started preaching — maybe from years ago. The more you listen, the better.

Analogy: It’s like watching old home movies. When you watch yourself from years ago, you see how you’ve grown and changed. Listening to past sermons helps you notice your unique style and habits — your voice and stories, when you get louder or softer, when you make people laugh or get serious. What patterns do you see?

Write every day, not just sermons.
You write sermons regularly, but how often do you write like you talk — in full sentences and stories? Try journaling daily for a week or a month. Then read it back and see if you spot natural ways you express yourself.

Analogy: Think of your voice like a muscle. Writing daily is exercise that makes it stronger and more natural. The more you practice, the easier it becomes to express yourself clearly and honestly.

Listen to people who speak like you.
This might be other preachers or speakers you admire — like those on TED Talks.

Analogy: It’s like learning to play a sport by watching the pros. You watch how they move, handle pressure, and use strategies. Then you practice those moves your own way, discovering what fits you best. Listening helps you borrow good ideas and create your own unique style.

Ask for honest help.
Talk to trusted church staff, friends, or people in your congregation. Ask them how your preaching feels to them.

Analogy: Imagine you’ve been staring at a puzzle for hours. Your eyes are tired, and it’s hard to see how the pieces fit. Then a friend looks at it with fresh eyes and suddenly spots where pieces click or don’t. Their fresh perspective helps you complete the puzzle more clearly and beautifully.

Ask questions like:

• Is it effective or distracting when I get louder?

• What did you think about that joke I told last week?

• How do you feel about the stage setup?

Their honest feedback helps you grow and connect better.

Closing Prayer

Thanks for reading. Share this with someone who needs help finding their voice.

Lord, thank You for the way You’ve made each of us. Help us preach with honesty, not hype. Use our real voice to point people to the real Jesus. Amen.