Sermon preparation

I like your list but you post far to often.

 

Suggestion: Start and end with the scriptures. Make your basic outline and points directly from the bible. Then use the commentaries for support.

 

When I preach, I follow the procedure that I was taught in seminary for sermon preparation. First, I make an exegetical outline of the passage I am preaching. This is an outline of the text itself. Second, I make a theological outline of the text. This outline tells me the theological content of the passage. Finally, I make a homiletical outline of the passage. This forms the structure of the sermon and must be consistent with the exegetical and theological truths discovered in the previous two. It helps me be true to the statements and meanings of the text.

 

Swaimj???? You mean, you DON'T "Wing it" like the rest of us preachers??????

 

Assuming this is in a pastoral context, I'll tell you what my practice is. I take Monday unless my wife has a day off that week and then I take that day with her. But day 1 (Usually Tuesday): I start with the text. I just read and observe, soaking up all I can. I may do some work with the languages, but just try to be an observer. Day 2: More observation, using Greek and/or Hebrew language works. I try to get a main grasp of the point of the passage. Day 3: Check the commentaries to answer the questions I don't know and check if my main grasp is right, and once I get the main idea of the text, I come to the main idea for the sermon and begin writing the sermon. Day 4: Write the sermon. Day 5 (Usually a couple hours on Saturday morning) I'll write or revise a bit more. After about 11 am on Saturdays, I'm done with my sermon prep for the weekend so I can spend time with my family and football

 

I don't wing it...but if I were a blackbird, I guess I could!!!

 

Good Thread

I like the input from others. I have long felt that my sermon prep was lacking and never could put my finger on it. I have seen some insights that will help me.

Thanks for the Thread.

 

I agree. A good handle on the Greek text saves a lot of time and helps to get a proper outline to preach from. Another thing it does is to stop arguments by some who think they know more than anyone else. Many questions can be easily answered with a Greek text in hand that would require some lengthy study otherwise.

 

Here's a follow-up question on this subject:

Of every 10 hours you spend studying for a sermon, how may of those are given to understanding the text (Greek, Hebrew, history, etc.) and how many are spent on applying the text?

Just wondering.

 

I would say a general rule would be that it is 8o% seeking to understand the text and 20% seeking to apply it. I think if you put the time into understanding it properly, the application will follow in a pretty simple manner.

 

Treat this like you're cooking a meal. Spend enough time til the food is ready to eat

Spend enough time in the languages and history til you get your understanding. Some passages will require more than others. If you are preaching through a book of the Bible (and if you don't you aren't really a preacher) then most of your background work will be done. Remember that accurate interpretation must lead to accurate application.

The greatest labor and pains must be to simply explain the passage and spend the bulk of your time in application. That was the method of Spurgeon, Lloyd-Jones, and the few greats of today.

 

One other comment on this topic. A proper sermon point should have the following elements.

Interpretation: What does the passage mean?

Explanation: How does the writer communicate his meaning?

Argumentation: Why is the writer saying this?

Illustration: Help the audience understand what is being said

Application: What is the audience supposed to do?

I make a practice of going through my points in my sermon to make sure that I am including all of these elements and that they are well-balanced in the presentation. If I err into imbalance, it is best to have more application and illustration and less of the first three.

 

Dr. Bob

Don't remind me of 6th grade sentence diagrams ... Maybe since we were a year early I hated it more?

 

Reagan

I put a lot more reading of the text into it. I try to read the book the passage is in(*). Then I read the significant passages through a minimum of 20 times (& a true target of 50 times). Even in the OT, I read the significant passage in Hebrew when time allows. If the text is from a letter or minor prophet then my target is 50 times reading through in English.

I always read in multiple translations (I try 2 - 3 times per translation at a minimum). I often read the epistles several times through in Greek as well.

Needless to say, my preparation has scared me from a sermon series in Acts, Romans, John, or Hebrews, so far. Although, I am preparing ahead of time to preach through Isaiah and Jeremiah and possibly Acts, Romans, and Hebrews . . .

And then I try to read at least 3 commentaries (Conservative) and one 'great' commentary if available (even if critical). Claus Westermann comes to mind because of his critical discussion of all pertinent issues related to the text. Unfortunately, most critical scholarship has been performed by non-believers (& some by liberals).

Usually, by the time I get to an outline, the text has already become a living text in my mind.

Where I struggle: I need better illustrations and applicable stories for the congregation!

God bless


(*) Complicated ... I have read the bible through several times (I am going through the Bible in KJV again, NKJV, occasionally NAS, & the prophets in Hebrew right now) I almost forgot, I am reading the Bible through in two Spanish translations as well.

 

I don't know how I let this get past me, but this thread does not belong here. It goes in the pastoral ministry forum. I'm closing here and moving it there.