Writing a Sermon

Sitting through a two-hour sermon on a topic you have little or no interest in is irritating enough.

Imagine having to sit through it and the person preaching seems to be more lost than the "lambs" in the flock.

It happens every week. In churches, synagogues and temples around the world when the preacher of the day (including pastors, bishops, etc.) are ill-prepared, if prepared at all.

So, what does it take to properly and fully prepare a sermon that will leave a lasting, life changing impact on its recipients? Follow these steps and you will land a message that they will take about months from now.

Here is the best format to use:

Pray Study Pray Rehearse Pray

Pray. If you are going to talk about God, teach about God, or, in any way convey a word from God - you need to talk with God!

Prayer is a "conversation with God". It is man's way of talking "spirit-to-spirit" with the Creator. He is the One who will give His divine inspiration for the message He wants delivered to the people you will be addressing.

Study. Read the "surrounding scriptures".

If God leads you to speak from Matthew 5:3, read Matthew 5: 1 - 2, as well as 4 - 43. Also read chapters four and six. By doing this will give you the best enlightenment as to what it is He wants you to say to the people to which you will be speaking.

Keep in mind, if you are invited to speak away from your home church, and they give you a particular scripture or theme to work with, do as much as possible to comply...especially if you want to get invited back.

Pray. I mentioned this before, and I will again. PRAY. You can never talk to God too much.

Study. Use all of your Bible Study tools: concordance, dictionary, websites, and of course, your Bible. Read whatever the Spirit leads you to read and if possible use it. If not save it for later use...you never know what God may be up to...

Rehearse. "Practice makes perfect" is the saying, but we know we won't be perfected until we see Jesus. So, with that in mind, practice your message.

Practice it in the shower, while exercising, whenever the mood and time hits. If you have an audience - use them. Let them critique your delivery (they can't critique God). If there are words you don't know well - practice them. Be sure to pronounce them correctly and use them correctly in sentences. If you are uncertain...don't use it.

Record yourself so you can hear yourself for yourself.

PRAY. Cover your word with THE WORD.

It's His word; let Him take care of it. It's His responsibility you are just a vessel. It will do what He intends it to do.

And always remember...because He gave you the word, means He can change it anytime He wants. And He often does...

And don't worry about the length; He'll take care of that too.

God bless.