My First Sermon

You guys are aware that you are hijacking this guys thread regarding his first sermon. If you want to argue about this stuff, why not do it some place else.

 

Don't be so PC, there Pipedude.

(Since I don't know how to duplicate the 'diamonds', I'll do something else.)

And while you are at it, JRG, actually make it "Four 'Essential' Guidelines":

:wavey: Stand up!

:thumbsup: Speak up!

:sleep: Shut up!

:applause: Sit down!

And if necessary, consider that #4 is the only one that is actually required! The first three are all merely options. {laugh} {laugh} {laugh}

Ed

 

Well said!

Ed

 

One thing that I'm learning to do now is when you apply your points, apply them to real people. I tend to do a general application, something that I think applies to everyone. I find out later, that everyone thinks it applies to someone else and not them, so nobody walks away with anything.

Since this is your home church, you should be familiar with the people there. Think to yourself "What would Barb need to get out of this message?" That's not to say focus on their sins exclusively, but if you apply it to 2 or 3 different types of people, think about the church gossip (most churches do have one) or the unbelieving spouse who shows up only to please the believe spouse, what would they need to hear?

Oh yeah, one more thing, if any of this advice is overwhelming, ignore it for now. Like I said earlier, don't try to preach the perfect sermon your first time out. So pick one or two things to work on and the other stuff will come later.

 

Most of the advice given thus far has been very good. I would agree.

To add from my own experience...

Be yourself! God called you.

Know your scripture and your outline in and out so you are not stuck to it.
Practice developing your thoughts without your outline in front of you. This will help you seem your natural in your delivery.

Remember the great responsibility that you have been called to do.

Don't underestimate the power of staying with the scripture. God's word is what is powerful.

Get humble!

Now a brief illustration that has always stuck with me...

A young man was asked to preach his first sermon. He prepared thoroughly...was wellpleased with his outline and was very confident that he would accomplish with success, that which he had been called to do.

He entered the pulpit and began to fire away that great message that he had prepared... 3 1/2 minutes later he was completely through his outline, he had exhausted every thought he had about the subject matter, and he hung his head in humiliation as he descended the platform.

He sat down in shame next to an elderly preacher, who thought it appropriate to offer some pointed advice about what had happened. The old saint simply said... "If you would have gone up like you came down, you would have come down like you went up!"

Get Humble!

Preach the Word!

Max

 

Find your own voice, learn what your own style is, and then stick by it. For my first sermon, preached at Deer Park Baptist Church in Louisville, KY, in 1959, my pastor urged me to write it and memorize it, taking no paper into the pulpit. I did as I was told, and must have rehearsed the thing 25 times. But when I got into the pulpit and launched out, I got through the first point, could not remember the second point -- turned to my brother sitting in the choir and said, "You've heard this thing many times, what's next?". He sputtered, I went on to the third point, remembered the second point and came back to it, and somehow wound it all up.

I vowed that I would never go into the pulpit without some kind of notes to rely on if necessary. Well, since then I have preached hundreds of times, always having prepared a full written manuscript, but almost never even open the manuscript. Just having it there is what I need. Everybody ought to do that? Not really. It's my way, my voice, it's what works for me.

 

I say congrats also. Good to have another co laboror in the vineyard.

Now this is solid advice, you can keep yourself busy with lots of study and I've seen guys take commentaries to the pulpit. You'll realize what this means when you're done.

As Pastor suggested, speak from the heart and let the Lord use you. It's like riding a bike, you can expect to get better as you go along but we all must start some place.

We're praying for you, let us know how it goes... :applause:

 

I did this also, I would sometime stay up all night preparing a manuscript then preach an entirely different text. That's why I call manuscritps busy work, they keep you occupied during the nervous moments of perparing.

Now I bring notes but tend to pace up and down the isles and my notes will be back on the podeum.

 

Sermon preparation as busy work? Surely you are kidding, right?

If sermon preparation is busy work then why even bother with it, just get up and let it fly.

Sermon preparation is a vital part of preaching. It takes a lot of work to determine the meaning, interpretation and application of the original text.

 

I don't discard what you're saying and I respect your perspective. Now please let me explain my perspective.

I preached my first sermon at 5 years old and am 43 now. Through elementary, Jr high and high school I preached every youth day service and youth day revival in the area. I knew far more about about the bible when I graduated high school than any subject in school. I can honestly say I've forgotten more about the bible than I currently know.

I come from a long line of preachers and scholars in their own right along with 4 brothers and all my friends who are pastors of Churches. My Dad, who I sat under for 32 years, was known to point to a young preacher at the last minute and tell you you're up. This was the way I grew up in the pulpit and is something I never do to a preacher now unless I just can't help it. It really taught me to always be ready no matter when it is. There is truly always a sermon in my heart.

I currently preach from 3 to 4 times each Sunday and sometimes on Wednesday nights. This does not include Sunday school exposition and 3 hour to an hour and a half long classes I teach each week.

I also preach at least 10 revivals per year and have been doing revivals as far back as I can remember. Add in the mimisters alliance and preaching/teaching at the conventions and I can't really imagine a portion of scripture that I haven't preached and/or taught a class on. That includes Song of Solomon.

I pretty much study to show myself approved and not for sermons. I read a lot and what I'm currently reading tends to make it's way out on Sunday or in class. I may look up a couple of things here or there, a fact or a different perspective but I'm pretty comfortable to preach from most passages at any time.

I do get some inspirations when I take my walks or when I'm alone or driving in the car but for the most part, I can write my notes while sitting in the pulpit and preach that sermon.

I only prepare an 8AM service because 11 AM service I will preach from the responsive reading which is always taken from the Sunday School lesson for the day. It kind of keeps us with a theme for the day and gives the people repatition for reinforcement.

If I ever visit a Church that has a theme, no matter what I brought or didn't bring I will preach their theme. Just a habbit I picked up years ago.

I'm not saying any of this to brag save the Lord who giveth the messages, it's purely because my life has been spent in the Church and for as far as I can rememeber, preaching is what I do. It is really second nature to me. I no longer even have a study bible or a commentary, I keep giving them to the young preachers. I preach from my blackberry phone that has a very basic bible loaded on it.

With this experience I can truly say this and you will probably agree, you can spend 30 hours studying for a 30 minute message. Of all the time you spent studying, you will use a very small portion of that information and the rest will be given to you while you're up speaking. It will come from past knowledge and life experience. You will also find your best stuff is given to you by the Lord while you are speaking. This is what God said he would do and I trust him at his word.

As for first sermons, I've seen the full range. I've seen guys forget their message at home, bring commentaries to the pulpit, you name it and I've seen it. I even saw a guy read his text and the wind blew through the Church and blew his manuscript right out the window.

So yes, I view a lot of what we call studying for sermons as busy work and a way to settle your nervousness. I teach a guy to start with one or two solid points, develop that point then show them how to use it in their everyday life. You'll see the longer you preach/teach and the more you preach/teach the more you will see what I mean. My advice to any preacher is don't spend all that time studying for sermons, study for your own understanding, personal walk and right relationship God. The rest will be added to you.

The last thing I want to hear is a guy get up and recite Matthew Henry... I had a copy and gave it away.

Sorry to vent or post a book but this is what happens when I get put up to speak. I tend to go on and on.

 

You have inadvertently made the argument for disciplined and specific preparation! Otherwise we either become tongue-tied or we ramble. If we prepare so that we know exactly what we are going to say and how we are going to say it, we will speak directly to the issues and/or text and omit what may be a diversion.

I am reminded of what the late John Claypool reported that his daughter said when asked about how her daddy prepared sermons. Since he would sit with a legal pad in his hands and jot down all kinds of ideas, and then take out the ones he would not be using, she said, "Mostly he just scratches out stuff."

May his tribe increase!

 

JRG----do me a favor, Son!!!!! Throw the Acronym KISS out of the window just as faaaarrrr as you can!!!!! People will fill you with all sorts of excuses to wimp out on a good sermon----"15 minutes is too long---etc." What a bunch of B-O-L-O-G-N-A!!!!

Here's what I've learned----brother----not only am I preaching to the physical people out there----but each time I preach---I'm preaching to ears that cannot be seen----I'm preaching to a one person audience---I'm preaching to Jesus---I want His approval---I want Him to pat me on the back when I'm finished---because He's the only one I can trust who won't pat me on the back and give me an "Atta Boy!!!" and then stab me in the back with His next move!!!!

Preach to Jesus!!! He wrote the book----just study the text---rise up---and tell Him what you've learned!!!!!

Bro. David

 

I'm not a preacher, but here's advice from a member of a congregation.

Preach what God gives you. I've heard great preaching that lasted 30 minutes and great preaching that lasted 2 hours.

I've also heard preachers that had a 30 minute sermon stretch it out to an hour and a half as they made their point, made it again, made it one more time, made it again just in case they thought somebody wasn't paying attention, made it again because they needed to fill time, made it again just because and made it again one more time.

Sometimes, when those kinds of guys are preaching, and my mind wanders, I think I can hear the Lord saying to the preacher, "Son, do you think there's a conclusion coming sometime tonight?" :smilewinkgrin:

Regardless, preach what God gives you to preach and God bless you as you follow his calling. :thumbs:

 

LeBuick,

I respect your views and opinions. You and I are probably disagree completely on this subject. I am not sure if you aiming the thought of "if I will preach more then I will see things you way" at me or not. If you are, I have some huge problems with that kind of arrogance.

However, I am not going to use this thread to get into a debate about sermon preparation. If you want to hear more of my views then feel free to start a sermon preparation thread.

Otherwise, God bless.

 

Ahh, what a great and special blessing to have this opportunity to share from God's word in the pulpit!

My suggestion is so very simple!
Share the basic, simple gospel and stick to God's word, no jokes, no stories, just explain the meaning of the gospel!

There are so many people on the pew that remain unsaved for lack of someone truly sharing with them how to belong to God's family, to be aware of their sinfulness and need of a Savior!

Please tell them this truth!
God bless you and strengthen you in His word and His work! Its all about Him!

 

Wasn't trying to offend and I am far from arrogant, I know for a fact I am nothing without Jesus. And I mean nothing. I don't know how long you've been preaching but I obviously took your comments about preperation wrong. Most of my preperation these days is done on my knees and within my mind.

To your credit I believe I took this from one of your post and gave it to all my ministers. I know his will be good for this young preacher also.

I have two that are using your advise religeously with the exception of writing out the manuscript. It has help where my advice was falling short. I still believe one must leave room for inspiration of the holy spirit so I don't encourage coming ready to tell us how many feet are in a cubit etc....

@Joseph M. Smith = You're probably more right than you know. I was once introduced at the convention as a man who can truly philibuster (sp?)... I didn't know if I should be offended or not... Actually, I have severe ADD so for the most part I ramble or keep changing subjects. I also space out on people very often. Preaching/teaching is the only time I neither studder or ramble...

 

Well, I am not a preacher, but I do live with one, and I can write a sermon with the best of em. I prepare my youth lessons in sermon form, but I also dont know whether or not to take offense at the above statement. I believe God honors preparation, but why does preparation hinder the inspiration of the Holy SPirit?

I personally like to know things like how many feet are in a cubit. Its in the Word for a reason, and enquiring minds.... like to know.

 

At least you can say that your first sermon will long be remembered..Good on you having the courage to remain in the pulpit through that ordeal.

Cheers,

Jim

 

I remember one time when J. Sidlow Baxter was preaching in the famous People's Church in Toronto. Baxter was a typical Brit who wore suspenders on his trousers under a waistcoat. He was quite expressive, but very composed,,stiff upper lip and all.

Whilst preaching, his suspenders gave way and his trousers dropped to his knees.

Dr. Oswald J. Smith, the pastor, immediately rose and called the congregation to prayer. He told me later, he prayed with one eye open, giving Baxter time to compose himself.....Then Baxter picked up where he left off and carried on preaching.

Things do happen in the pulpit.

Cheers,

Jim