In my ministry I get to be a visiting speaker regularly.  This presents some additional challenges that have to be thought through.  I’d like to mention a handful, starting with two today.  If you get invited somewhere, try to get as many of these questions answered ahead of time as you can.  Otherwise you just have those few minutes after you arrive.  If you only ever preach in your own church, perhaps these posts will remind you of what you’re missing!

Dress code – What is the speaker expected to wear?  Is this a neck-tie congregation, or a jacket and tie, or would either be too formal?  Best to ask, but be careful, sometimes the person you speak to on the phone has a personal opinion that sways the answer.  So be sure to look around and generally dress one notch above the average.  (It’s not worth making an issue of this, let them fight it out in-house, you’re a guest!)

What version of the Bible is preferred? – If there is a mix and freedom to choose, great.  But typically there is a pew Bible in one version and most people will carry the same.  Don’t make an issue out of the version, just tolerate it and use it.  There are subtle ways to “improve” the reading or explanation without drawing attention to the Bible version issue.