Dear Pastor,As I am sure you know, quality sermon prep takes a lot of time. I was wondering what kind of advice would you give a bi-vocational pastor who works for another employer 40 hours/week and has limited sermon prep time?Best regards,Tom
Good morning, Tom. Work smart and fast comes to mind. Make the first couple of hours very productive by: (1) identifying the major thought blocks in your preaching portion; summarize their meaning (i.e., verses 1-3 describe our salvation in terms of a strong city; verses 4-10 describe what kind of citizen enters such a city, etc.); (2) identify logical connections between thought blocks (how does each block fit together); (3) begin writing the sermon by restating or rewording some key phrases; (4) explain/interpret the more difficult-to-understand terms/phrases. By now you're already well on your way to creating your sermon. I find many pastors "waste" (probably better, don't best utilize) time early in their sermon development process by starting at the wrong end. They begin with the minutia and then get around to fitting it all together. I suggest that time is saved by beginning with the whole and with what you already know. Then move on as necessary to get help with what you do not know. Be glad to discuss it further.
Dear Pastor,As I am sure you know, quality sermon prep takes a lot of time. I was wondering what kind of advice would you give a bi-vocational pastor who works for another employer 40 hours/week and has limited sermon prep time?Best regards,Tom
Good morning, Tom. Work smart and fast comes to mind. Make the first couple of hours very productive by: (1) identifying the major thought blocks in your preaching portion; summarize their meaning (i.e., verses 1-3 describe our salvation in terms of a strong city; verses 4-10 describe what kind of citizen enters such a city, etc.); (2) identify logical connections between thought blocks (how does each block fit together); (3) begin writing the sermon by restating or rewording some key phrases; (4) explain/interpret the more difficult-to-understand terms/phrases. By now you're already well on your way to creating your sermon. I find many pastors "waste" (probably better, don't best utilize) time early in their sermon development process by starting at the wrong end. They begin with the minutia and then get around to fitting it all together. I suggest that time is saved by beginning with the whole and with what you already know. Then move on as necessary to get help with what you do not know. Be glad to discuss it further.