August 22
I believe that a pastor should make every attempt to preach from all the Bible. Admittedly, not every text lends itself to a concise organized sermon outline. When preaching expository sermons. I usually try to impose some sort of logical outline upon the text. However, this is not possible in every case. In the Scriptures where it is difficult to place logical outline on the text. It is admissible to do a verse by verse running exposition of the Scripture. The key to doing a running verse by verse exposition of the Scripture is for the pastor to make a thorough study of the Scripture. A running commentary is not an off-the-cuff off the top of your head chain of consciousness sermon. When doing this verse by verse commentary. You don't really want to comment on every single verse . But you want to comment on the sections of versus that contain a unit of thought.
Even when planning to do a verse by verse running commentary you want to practice the sermon. Don't going to the pulpit without a good solid idea of where you want to go. With verse by verse running commentary is more important for you to thoroughly know the Scriptures because you have thoroughly studied them than to make extensive notes. Of course, you may want to make some special notes for some more difficult passages of Scripture or for some thoughts that you want to definitely include.
Study Your Sermon in the Correct Order
August 20, 2010
This morning I received a telephone call from a desperate preacher. He has been working on a sermon all week long and has come up with nothing. He needed help and he needed it fast. So I asked him about the ideas he was working on and how he was going about his work. I was not surprised to find out his biggest mistake was starting his sermon with an introduction.
Just because the first part of the sermon that will be delivered will usually be an introduction does not mean that this is the best place to start studying for sermon. How can you introduce a subject or introduce a sermon when you don't even know what it is about? This is one of the biggest mistakes I see preachers making day in and day out. They want to begin writing their sermon with an introduction.
When you begin your study for a sermon you need to begin with the purpose of the sermon. You need to know why you are preaching to this particular congregation at this particular time. If there's one thing that will help you in your sermon preparation and streamline the process it is this: Do things in the proper order.\
Here is the proper order for sermon preparation.
- Determine your purpose.
- Choose your Scripture.
- Develop your main points.
- Develop your sub points.
- Write your conclusion and call action.
- Write your introduction.
- Formulate a title.
If you will write your sermon in this order your preparation will go much faster and your sermon will become more pointed and powerful.
August 18, 2010
The past week I have been reading first and second Kings. One of the things that really stand out in these two books for me is how merciful God really is. Time and time again the kings of Israel and Judah ignore God or worse totally disobeyed him, yet, the Lord is continually forgiving them. Not necessarily for giving them as individuals, a forgiving the nation and postponing their ultimate punishment. God was patient, waiting hundreds of years before visiting upon them the promised exile in a foreign land. God is merciful.
The longer I live the more I realize the overwhelming nature of God's mercy. When I look back in my life and the way I have disobeyed him in so many ways, and I see how forgiving he has been, I just need to praise him for his mercy. Many people characterize God has this judgemental taskmaster in the sky who is just waiting for us to screw up so he can punish us. They try to base this on the on the Old Testament but even in this section of Scripture God shows himself be merciful beyond measure.
As Christians we know God because we know Jesus. The Bible plainly teaches that Jesus is the manifestation of the living God. He is God in the flesh. When God clothed himself in human flesh he became understandable and no one will be humanity. And the Jesus that we know is a Jesus of grace and mercy and forgiveness. I think we will all be surprised we passed through the veil of death into eternity. Not just by the true nature of heaven, but by who is there. God's mercy is much bigger than man's.
August 17
I can't believe another week has slipped by and I have not even made a post to this blog. And now that it is August 17 it's time for me to begin writing the Sermon Assistant. If you've never considered using the Sermons Assistant perhaps it's time that you did.
How can the Sermon Assistant help you? First of all he can save you many hours in sermon preparation and sermon research. How does it do that? In the Sermon Assistant I develop for you a skeleton sermon outline. Then in a separate column I give you all the research, sermon ideas, and illustrations to help you construct your own customized sermon. Asia should already know, it is very difficult to preach another preacher's sermon without first deconstructing it and then re-building it to be your own. In the sermon assistant I give you all the building blocks you need to construct a sermon that fits you personally, and fits the needs of your church.
Click on this link and then look at the bottom of the page that it takes you to and you can download a free copy of the Sermon Assistant.
Get your Free Copy Here
August 10, 2010
I make a statement in one of my advertisement's that Bible colleges and seminaries do not teach you how to preach. When you look at the course catalogs of Bible colleges and seminaries you find it they have courses on preaching and homeletics. In these courses you can learn the basic organizational principles of common sermon forms. You may even learn some procedures and techniques for sermon preparation. But learning these things does not mean that you know how to preach.
Preaching is a skill that requires more than theoretical knowledge to master. I love to play golf and I have learned several things from reading golf magazines and books on golf instruction. However, until I go out and practice the theoretical techniques that I have learned I cannot say I learned to play golf. Learning a skill requires practice, not just learning the theory.
The strength of the Preaching with Power course is that each of the techniques and methods that are taught are backed up by practical exercises that allow you to practice what you have learned. The course teaches preaching skills not from the standpoint of the theory and structure but from the standpoint of practical application. It is a course of lessons in how to preach. So when you are finished with the course you should have mastered the techniques of preparing powerful sermon's.
August 8. 2010
Why are you preaching? The answer to this question will determine whether or not your sermons have power or rather they just fill the air with useless words. Preaching is more than the intellectual discourse about some of Bible verses. Preaching is more than some wore at her standing in front of a group of people giving his ideas about history and biblical subjects. For preaching to be effective it must be with conviction and passion. The preacher preaches effective sermons is so because he truly believes he has to preach. As Isaiah stated, he has to have fire in his bone that must be expressed. So ask yourself this question, why am I preaching? If the only answer that you could come up with is, because it's Sunday or because I'm being paid to or because it's my job perhaps you need to find something else to do with your time. But if you preach because you are compelled to preach by a desire in your heart to share God's word with others then you may be preaching for the right reason.
Many times I've been asked this question by young men." How do you know you've been called the preach?" This is not the easiest question to answer. But I will say this, if you can do anything else besides preach, then do it. When you are truly called the preach there is no other vocation in the world that can give you any satisfaction other than preaching. When you been called to preach it is the only thing that you can do. You may have to hold down the secular job to feed your family, but preaching is what you have to do.
In the ministry there are a lot of volunteers. Preachers who preach because they choose to preach not because they have to preach. There's nothing wrong with being a volunteer, however there is no substitute for the passion that one has when he must preach the gospel. To be called means that you are compelled, not just a volunteer, not just prone to preach, but compelled to preach.
So ask yourself this question;" Why am I preaching?"
Prayer and the Sermon Outline
August 5, 2010
During the past week I have written a lot about the sermon outline. I have been emphasizing the technical aspects of creating a sermon outline and not necessarily emphasizing the spiritual aspects. Even though you may become an expert at the technical aspects of sermon outlining, if you neglect the spiritual your sermons will never be powerful. The true power of a sermon doesn't come from a perfect outline, it comes from the power of God.
Before you ever come to your study, or put your pen to paper, you need to go on your knees before God and ask him to give you the sermon you need to preach. As a preacher of the gospel it your duty to preach with God wants you to preach not what you want to preach. It your duty to bring the message to your congregation that God wants them to hear not the message you want them to hear. In order to do this you need to be a man or a woman of prayer and discernment. Each and every day you need to hold your congregation up to God in prayer, focusing your prayer on the needs that you have discerned during the previous week. Do not neglect prayer, so when you come to your study God will give you the answer.
Your sermon outline will be can with a purpose statement. It will begin when you ask yourself the question, why in my preaching this Sunday? The answer to this question will, as a result of prayers said that during the week seeking God's will for this Sunday's sermon. As I talked with my students from around the country I find that many have no idea why they are preaching this Sunday. The struggle to find a sermon to preach because they have not asked God to give them the direction, a purpose for this Sunday's message. You cannot create a sermon outline, or write a sermon manuscript, until you have a direction from God.
How can this direction manifest itself to you? Perhaps, God lead you to a particular Scripture and you feel inspired or impress to preach on that Scripture. Maybe God will impress you with the need of your congregation that needs to be spoken to from Scripture. It may be that God will you to a sermon that you have read or heard any feel inspired to preach on that same subject. What ever God's method is to answer your prayer, it only comes as a result of prayer asking God to guide you in creating your sermon in sermon outline.
Practice Your Sermon Outline
August 4. 2010
I have a friend who plays in a major orchestra in a large city. This friend of mine is a professional musician yet she practices almost every day. In fact the music for the patriotic a concert was music that she has known since she started playing her instrument as a child. She knew this music like she knows the back of her hand yet she still practiced these very familiar pieces before her concert. If it is important for professional musician to practice the pieces they are already familiar with, how much more important is it for the preacher to practice the sermon he is going to preach this coming Sunday?
After you have written your sermon outline it is important that you, not just to go over it, but actually practice preaching it. If at all possible, go into the church auditorium and stand behind the pulpit and practice the sermon. As you practice you will find some phrases come easily but others need some refinement. So take a red pencil and make changes to your sermon outline. I find it helpful practice a sermon the day after I have written the sermon outline. For me this is usually Friday, or Saturday morning. I'll go over the sermon thoroughly at this practice making a number of changes where I find the outline awkward. Then I will practice again the parts I've changed.
When Sunday morning arrives I practice the sermon again. This time I don't go into the auditorium but I do it sitting at my desk. Depending on how early in the morning it is, and how many other people may be standing in the hallway, will determine if I preach it out loud or preach this practice sermon silently to myself. Either way, the sermon receives one more rehearsal and the sermon outline receives some updating before it is finally preached in the pulpit.
If you'll practice your sermon at least two times before you preach it you will find it will be much smoother and much more effective.
August 3, 2010
There are three approaches to preparing a sermon. Some preachers prepare a sermon manuscript. Others prepare a sermon outline. Others prefer to speak extemporaneously after a period of study. There are advantages and disadvantages to each of these methods. I think the best method is using a sermon outline.
A sermon outline can give you the advantages of both extemporaneous speaking and a prepared manuscript. When you prepare a manuscript of your sermon you have the advantage of carefully selecting, with much thought, each and every word that is written down. You can re-read the manuscript, edited properly, reorganize it until it reads perfectly. The disadvantage of a manuscript is that you are locked in to the words that are on the paper. It is very awkward to digress or to add or subtract any thoughts from the written word. Another disadvantage is that the majority of preachers cannot speak naturally from a manuscript. They cannot maintain good eye contact with the congregation and avoid the appearance of reading to them.
Extemporaneous preaching would be the ideal way to communicate with the congregation. When you speak extemporaneously you have to pay attention to the reaction of the congregation. You have to have a mental contact with them, observing them in getting a feeling for what they are following you and when they are not. When speaking extemporaneously it's very natural and the usually flows very well. The disadvantage of extemporaneous speaking is that it's very easy to get off a selected subject. It is also very easy to become distracted and begin rambling, or chasing rabbits instead of sticking to the point of the sermon.
Because of the disadvantages of these two previous methods I advocate speaking from a sermon outline. A well-developed sermon outline serves to keep you on track and help you to deliver a well organized focused sermon. A sermon outline can include some specific sentences or specific words that you may want to use for emphasis. Thus, like a manuscript, you can be prompted to say some things in exactly the way you wrote them down in your study. By using a sermon outline you will also have the freedom to speak extemporaneously on any of your points or sub points. A sermon outline does not give you the exact words that you are to say in every instance, but only gives you an outline point guiding your mind into the direction you want to speak. So you see, with a sermon outline you have the advantages of both extemporaneous preaching and preaching from a manuscript.
A sermon outline must be as carefully prepared as a sermon manuscript. Even though you will not be writing down the exact words that you will say,(except where exact phrase is necessary)a thorough study of the biblical text and the hub theme is necessary. A sermon outline is not a shortcut to in sermon preparation. It is not a quick way to prepare a sermon. But a sermon outline is the best way, in my opinion to deliver a sermon.
August 2, 2010
In the modern age of computer technology, handheld PDAs, blackberries and iPhone's, we can become too reliant upon technology. Don't get me wrong, technology can be a very good thing and can be very helpful but he cannot take the place of good study habits and brainpower.
I use a computerized Bible program called Quick Verse to help me search the Scriptures. It's a real timesaver. There are electronic versions of commentaries and other Bible reference works that are very helpful. Mainly because you can search with your computer for any particular word or phrase. But I must warn you, these electronic study helps do not help you with the creative aspects of sermon preparation. The best thing you can do to speed up your sermon preparation is to fill your mind with the word of God. Nothing can take the place of the computer that God has given you inside your skull. Our problem is not that our brains are not strong enough or powerful enough but that you fill them with garbage and then expect them to produce beautiful, profound sermons.
Let me suggest the Bible study program to you that will fill your mind with God's word in a way to make it available to you during your sermon preparation process. This simple program has two parts. First, read the Bible every day. That's simple. May I suggest to you that you set aside every morning at least 30 minutes per just Bible reading. During this 30 minutes you should be able to read 3 to 5 chapters of the Bible. It doesn't matter in what order you read them just that you read them. And when I say we them I don't mean just move your eyes open the words, but try to understand what's being said. If you eat 3 to 5 chapters of the Bible every day you will read through the entire Bible in less than one year. By doing this you are familiarizing yourself with what the Bible says. You are becoming intimately acquainted with God's word. So that, when you're preparing your sermons your computer brain will have access to this data that you absorbed during your daily Bible reading. Make this a daily habit year in and year out and your brain will be overflowing with sermons and biblical illustrations each time you set down to write a sermon.
The second part of this program of Bible study is to spend several hours each week studying a particular chapter of the Bible and keeping a notebook on what you studied. When I first went into the ministry I tried to study at least one hour per day on one chapter of the Bible. What this meant was that I read the chapter again and again and then answer some pertinent questions. I would ask myself: What is the subject of this chapter? Who is this chapter about? Where do the events take place? Why is the writer speaking on this subject to these people? What is God saying to me in this chapter? Then after answering these questions I would write down three or four sermon ideas that I would have about this chapter. As you do this week in and week out you will be developing your own homiletic commentary that will be useful to you in years to come. In addition, once again, you're filling your mental computer with biblical data that will be available to you sit down to write your sermon.
Remember, the root of the word disciple is the word discipline. You must discipline yourself to study God's Word. This is the most important discipline that you can develop as a preacher so as to help you with your sermon preparation.
August 26, 2010
One of the biggest challenges that face most pastors is finding the time to study for the sermon. There are only 168 hours in a week that must be divided among the numerous tasks and responsibilities of the pastorate end of the pastor's family life and personal life. I have found that the only way to guarantee that you will have time to study for your sermons is to schedule them on your weekly planner just like you schedule your church services and your other important meetings. If you do not write down on your weekly planner times for study, the other tasks of life will steal all the time.
Everyone's ministry is different. In some churches you left to preach two or three times per week in others may be only one. You will also have to plan for Bible lessons, counseling, administrative responsibilities and meetings. In my ministry I usually had to preach three times per week Here is how I to quickly scheduled my study time. Monday morning I scheduled for hours to study and plan for the Wednesday night Bible study and prayer meeting. I usually took Tuesday morning off and came into the office about 2 PM after lunch. Tuesday afternoon was usually spent visiting hospitals and other ministerial visits. Wednesday morning I would review and practice my Wednesday night message and then spend the rest of the day taking care of other ministerial responsibilities. Thursday morning I took time off until 2 PM. All of Thursday afternoon was scheduled for preparing my Sunday morning sermon. Friday morning was scheduled for finishing up the Sunday morning sermon. Friday afternoon was scheduled to study for the Sunday night sermon. Saturday was always a workday for me. Saturday morning was the time I practiced my Sunday morning sermon and finished up my Sunday night sermon. Saturday afternoon was usually spent with the family. Sunday morning was another scheduled study time. I usually arrived at the church at 8 AM been reviewed my Sunday morning sermon and did whatever work needed to be done to polish up the Sunday night sermon. By 10 o'clock the normal Sunday morning church activities were beginning.
These were the times I actually scheduled on my planner for study. In addition to the scheduled times I did a lot of reading in the evening and they usually arose at 5 AM and did my personal Bible study early in the morning. I found that the early morning study time My bucket full so that when my scheduled studied came along I was usually preaching from the overflow of what happened early in the morning.
The most important thing you can do to discipline your study is to schedule a definite times and block them off on your calendar. Then when you are asked to participate in another activity or to schedule another meeting all you need to say it is, "I have a previous engagement at the time."
