How to prepare a sermon

Here is a brief paper that I wrote describing the process I ideally use to prepare a sermon.

Trent McEntyre

Preaching III – Directed Study with Rev. Jon Adams

February 7, 2009

My preaching process and how my seminary education has shaped it

There are many voices vying for our attention as we go through the day. The radio weather person tells us whether or not to grab our coats. Children call for our attention as they play. The supervisor at work lectures us about business priorities. So, when someone stands up to speak about God and His word, He better be ready. In a busy, information saturated secular society standing unprepared before an audience is like fishing without gear or bait. Here is how seminary has shaped how I prepare to teach, speak, and preach in the various ministry contexts where I work.

Here is an outline of a process for preparation based the development I have received through seminary:

1.       Prayer – Dr. Frank Farrell introduced me to devotional classics like, The Letters of Samuel Rutherford, which painted a picture of the praying preacher. Prayer cannot be perfunctory for any Christian endeavor. In preparing for an expository message the first step should include asking God “to open my eyes that I might see wonderful things in your word…”(Psalm 119:_). I take time to prayerfully read the text and ask God for insight before I begin the exegetical and expositional work.

2.       Consider audience – In my Communications II theory class, our instructor Randy Pope asked us, “What is the main thing to keep in mind when preaching?” He gave us a golf analogy that just as good golfers do not concentrate on the ball but on the target, so effective preachers concentrate on their target audience. So now I try to think about my audience at various times in the preparation process. Writing out a sketch of relevant audience considerations in the early phase of preparation helps me not focus too much on the ball(the message) and miss the target(the hearers). Who is my audience? What do they believe more than Christ and the gospel? What are their needs, interests, and strengths?

3.       Select passage – Sometimes this is done for me (when I guest preach or speak on a requested passage) but usually I determine the text and series of talks. It has been a practice of mine in campus ministry to teach through a Gospel during Fall semester, an Epistle (Romans, Ephesians, Galatians or Philippians) and a topical series during Spring semester. I have been through that cycle twice in the past ten years though I have shared the teaching with other staff members and pastors that help our ministry. I also appreciate the lectionary tradition of selecting texts.

4.       Exegetical study of passage – I learned Greek exegesis from Dr. Paul Fowler. He taught us to create a grammatical analysis of a paragraph of NT text. I learned hermeneutics from Dan Doriani. He gave us a exegetical study plan called CAPTOR (Context, Analysis, Problems, Themes, Obligations, and Reflection ) His methodology has been helpful to adapt to my own preparation. Usually I simplify the program he suggests. By the end of this stage of the preparation process I should have studied the passage well enough to answer, “What was intended meaning of this text? Why was it written? What is the theological outline or message of this text?”

5.       Expositional outline of the message – I use two main processes of exposition – Chappell’s Christ-centered preaching and Tim Keller’s model for Gospel centered messages.

a.       Christ-centered preaching

                                                               i.      What is the Fallen Condition Focus of this passage?

                                                             ii.      What is the Christ-centered solution to this fallen condition that this text points to? (Big Idea)

                                                            iii.      What main question about the FCF and Big Idea does this passage answer? (Structure talk around three questions or statements, provide explanation, illustration, and application at each point.)               

b.      Gospel-centered preaching

                                                               i.      What is obligation or moral imperative or ideal is the main focus of this passage?

                                                             ii.      How or why do we fail this?

                                                            iii.      How Jesus fulfilled it.

                                                     iv.      How through Christ, grace, we can change, grow, obey.

 

6.       Draft of a Christ-centered, application-rich sermon – I usually take my outline and write a draft of a full manuscript of my message. Once I have my draft I usually read through and edit it for length, clarity, cohesiveness, and faithfulness to my text and audience. I am starting to trim my manuscripts back to outlines when I speak in order to get better eye contact and energy in my delivery.

7.       Review and practice – I too often fail to get to this point. Ideally, I do a dress rehearsal in front of a mirror or microphone.

8.       Pray – Not being Brother Lawrence by nature, I need to remind myself to pray and rely upon the Holy Spirit in ministry, especially preaching.

9.       Deliver