Wendell Winkler would emphasize in Homiletics about the vital role tone of voice plays in effective preaching. As he often said, “Too many preachers are giving pains with their voices instating of taking pains with their voices.”  Thomas Jefferson allegedly said, “The best thing a person can do with his voice is hide it. The best voice is the one no one hears.” To speak of tone is to reference “a modulation of the voice expressing a particular feeling or mood” (New Oxford, n/p).  In preaching, there is great value in a natural tone of voice that effectively conveys what it is you are trying to stress in that moment of communication—fear, anger, compassion, concern, questioning, declaring, exclaiming, etc. How wise to give forethought to the tone of voice in our preaching.  Consider three major points brother Winkler often stressed:

Speak loudly enough to be adequately heard, but don’t shout.

Don’t make people strain to hear you or they will grow weary, but don’t speak so loud that it makes people cringe or unnerved. When well-placed, raising and lowering the voice allows you to place great emphasis on the point you are making. Again, by making these changes in tone natural, it can add great power to your words.

Avoid a monotone or sing-song rhythm in your tone.

Avoid starting too high and excitedly, which creates a frenetic feeling from the very beginning. When you do this, you make it so hard on yourself to stress the importance of a point later in the sermon or to build to a crescendo.  On the other hand, preach with emotion.  Some are so bland and dry in delivery that the impression, surely a false impression, is that they do not have much feeling for what they are saying.

Avoid a “preacher tone” and forced piety of pronunciation.

As brother Winkler would fondly say, “Begin and continue in the key of ‘be natural.’”  Be sincere and genuine, and that will come across. No matter who trained you or how much you admire them, be yourself and do not try to become them.

You are not trying to fabricate or manufacture your voice, but how wise to be prudent when thinking about your voice as you preach.  As much like you as you can sound when you are in the pulpit, the more likely you will connect with your listeners and seem real to them. Truth and dignity need not be sacrificed, but don’t be “tone deaf” to how your tone effects your overall preaching.