I thought you might like to read about how Jonathan Edwards selected sermons to preach. In part 2 of his General Introduction to Edwards’s preaching is a chapter called, The Making of Sermons. I am enjoying Kimnach’s careful analysis as much as Edwards’s actual sermons.

I am a huge Edwards fan even though he did not preach through books of the Bible. There. I said it.

So, how did he plan sermons to preach?

First, he selected Scripture texts that stood out to him as needing to be preaching due to their subject matter.

Second, he at times matched the text to a time of year or holiday such as Thanksgiving.

Third, he listed potential Scriptures or subjects that would be appropriate for children, young people, or old men. You can see that he’s thinking about preaching to specific categories within his congregation.

Fourth, Edwards also took notes on certain subject matters such as:

“These things persons ought to seek after: That they may live to the glory of God. Their own comfort. That they may be blessings to others.” (p. 58)

One of the most insightful entries in one of Edwards’s sermon notebooks is: “I choose this time to treat on this subject [of people contending with their minister] because now there is no contention between me and my people.” (p. 64, an entry made in March or April of 1749).

That’s good practice when it comes to preaching on money: preach on it when you don’t need to ask for it.

Anyway, you can see that Edwards is constantly planning out sermons to preach, taking notes, even developing initial drafts of key statements and broad outline points.

I am better at planning which books to preach through. However, usually in between book studies I will preach mini-series. In addition to my own growing list of potential sermon series, I benefit from perusing the series of effective pastors such as James Emery White (Church&Culture blog).

Do you have a method for long-term sermon development?

May our Lord receive glory in the church and in Christ Jesus (Ephesians 3:21) as you continue to plan future preaching/teaching series.

Randal