1. Welcome to Baptist Board, a friendly forum to discuss the Baptist Faith in a friendly surrounding.

    Your voice is missing! You will need to register to get access to all the features that our community has to offer.

    We hope to see you as a part of our community soon and God Bless!

Is my sermon preparation routine adequate?

Discussion in 'Pastoral Ministries' started by tonyhipps, Oct 16, 2010.

  1. tonyhipps

    tonyhipps New Member

    Joined:
    Aug 11, 2007
    Messages:
    59
    Likes Received:
    0
    I thought this would be the most appropriate place to post this.

    I am a Youth Pastor with no Greek or Hebrew fluency, and I will only be taking language tools courses in Seminary, I have a question for the Pastors and also for any Greek and Hebrew Scholars.

    Is my sermon preparation routine adequate?

    Right now this is how I prepare:
    * After I select a text, I read the entire book with either the NIV or the NLT2nd ed.
    * I pray for guidance.
    * Then I go back and reread the chapter that the text is contained in with 2 formal equivalency Bibles, 2 Dynamic equivalency Bibles, and 2 Paraphrases. Here are the Bibles I typically use;
    * ASV 1901
    * NASB 1995
    * NIV
    * NLT 2nd ed.
    * TLB
    * The Message​
    * I also have about 25 other translations I consult from time to time. I feel that gives me a good idea for the various nuances of the original.
    * I also consult other background books, dictionaries, handbooks, word study books, etc. etc.
    * After I have completed my study I draft a sermon and complete an outline.
    * After all that, then and only then, do I start to consult my commentaries.

    Is my sermon preparation routine adequate, or is there something else I could be doing?
     
  2. Tom Bryant

    Tom Bryant Well-Known Member

    Joined:
    Apr 13, 2006
    Messages:
    4,521
    Likes Received:
    43
    Faith:
    Baptist
    I think it is entirely adequate. I might switch the final 2. Although I understand the logic of doing it your way.
     
  3. Crucified in Christ

    Crucified in Christ New Member

    Joined:
    Sep 3, 2009
    Messages:
    369
    Likes Received:
    0
    -You are definitely hitting all the bases. You mention prayer...this is the most important source for sermon preparation...continue there at every stage.
    -You are also correct to consult commentaries late in your preparation; this does not, however, have to be after you have finished a draft of your sermon. The point here, as you are well aware, is that you want the message to be God speaking through you. One never wants to interfere with God's desire to do this by re-preaching the ideas of a commentator. Let God speak through you.
    -It is definitely helpful to consult factual sources early. Dictionaries, handbooks, an Atlas, etc.
    - Like Tom, I would flip your last two steps. I would know where I would take the sermon (w/o actually typing it out), but them I would consult some respected scholars and preachers in order to see what they had to say. At that point, I would prayerfully put everything together, write-out an outline, and prayerfully preach it through prior to the appointed time.

    God bless you as you continue to grow in your ministry. If you are willing to put this kind of time into sermon prep, I trust that the Lord will bless your work. The saddest thing that we see in the ministry are ministers who take to the pulpit unwilling to put in any time at all. Keep serving Him faithfully brother.
     
  4. tonyhipps

    tonyhipps New Member

    Joined:
    Aug 11, 2007
    Messages:
    59
    Likes Received:
    0
    Thanks for the replies. I'll try flipping the last two and see how it works.
     
  5. Siberian

    Siberian New Member

    Joined:
    Nov 20, 2007
    Messages:
    288
    Likes Received:
    0
    That is a good routine. I like how text-centered you are in your preparations. I am sure while you are reading and re-reading the text you are identifying the main idea of the text and identifying the arguments and supporting material as the author intended it. A truly expositional sermon will be concerned mostly with explaining and conveying the message of the text, making application as appropriate.

    There are some excellent tools out there that you might find helpful. One very good one is Logos Bible Software. Many excellent books on preaching have appeared of late that would be helpful too.
     
    #5 Siberian, Oct 18, 2010
    Last edited by a moderator: Oct 18, 2010
Loading...