Preach it
Ryan Longwell, Contributing Writer
Speaking in front of a crowd is a scary task. It becomes even more daunting when you recognize that God is in the audience.
To be able to preach the Word of God well, one must first be able to prepare a sermon well.
Preparing a sermon begins with prayer. Seeking guidance and inspiration from God must be where any person preaching God’s Word starts. Reflection upon what God brings to mind will lead to greater understanding of the message he wants you to speak.
After spending time with the Lord to prepare your heart, you should pick a passage of Scripture or theme you would like to speak on.
There are two kinds of preaching that need to be considered when picking a passage of Scripture. These are expository and topical preaching. Expository preaching is explaining a Bible passage verse-by-verse to help the audience understand the message. Topical preaching is selecting a theme or topic and picking a Bible passage to explain it.
Preachers should choose the passage they want and preaching style they deem as most fit, so they can reach their audience.
Once you have selected the passage you desire, good preachers will break out their pens and paper to study the passage.
Context is key when trying to understand Scripture. Study the historical and literary context of the passage when reading it.
As the famous, English preacher Charles Spurgeon once said, “Keep the Word of God and the Word of God will keep you.”
Keeping the Word of God means preaching the message that God intended. If you do this, as Spurgeon said, God will keep you all your days.
Finding a passage to preach on and studying it well will lead to creating an outline of your message.
An outline should not be every single word you want to say, but a general outline consists of your main points, illustrations you would like to use, and the application that your listeners can take and use. According to Lifeway Research, most pastors today will spend 8 to 10 hours per week in sermon preparation.
Put sufficient effort into your outline. It will help you in remembering your points and communicating your message.
Now that your outline is done, you would think you are ready to preach your sermon. You are not ready.
As with any paper or presentation, you must revise and edit your sermon. This can be done on your own or through another person to get outside advice. The process of revision is vital and should never be skipped.
The last step in this process of sermon preparation is to pray over the speaking you will do. Pray that you will be obedient to where God is leading and that he will use you in a mighty way. Pastor Rick Warren said, “God always uses imperfect people in imperfect situations to accomplish His perfect will.”
Preaching the Word of God is a noble task, but as Paul told Timothy in 2 Timothy, we must always be ready to “preach the word; be ready in season and out of season; reprove, rebuke, and exhort, with complete patience and teaching.”
