Every Sermon is a Meal
Last Sunday I said that “a sermon is not unlike a meal that the preacher prepares for the church.” After all, speaking in part of his teaching ministry, Jesus told Peter to “feed” His sheep. And Paul instructs pastor Timothy to teach sound, literally “healthy,” doctrine. Pastors are to devote themselves the ministry (service) of the Word and to prayer. The weekly sermon during the corporate gathering, then, is the primary means by which the local church is spiritually fed and nourished.
There are different ways to prepare a sermon, but this is my (Chad) standard 4-step “recipe” that follows closely a process taught by Alistair Begg in his book, “Preaching for God’s Glory.”
Step 1: Think yourself EMPTY.
Ingredients: Bible, Selected Passage and the Holy Spirit
Directions: Once a passage of the Bible is selected, the goal is to immerse myself in the text and prayerfully come to my own conclusions. Using the Inductive Bible Study method, I make as many observations as possible about this particular portion of Scripture (no detail is too small), I do my best to interpret its meaning and significance and finally I consider all possible applications and implications this text could have on the reader/hearer. Before I consult other sources, I want to exhaust my own knowledge of Scripture and understanding of biblical themes. And before I think too seriously about the direction that I think the sermon should go, I want the Holy Spirit to have every chance to steer my focus for the sermon.
Cook Time: I usually devote some time Sunday and most of Monday to this.
Step 2: Read yourself FULL.
Ingredients: Bible, Commentaries and Bible Study Resources
Directions: I remind myself that I am not the first person to come to this stretch of Scripture seeking understanding. In fact, I am not naive enough to believe that I am the smartest, wisest or most spiritual person either. While I usually end up with a relatively unique emphasis and outline, I don’t anticipate finding something that over two-years worth of Spirit-filled Christians have not. In addition, I don’t necessarily desire to find anything new; I want to gain an accurate grasp on the timeless truth that the author (ultimately, the Spirit) intended to communicate. It is in this step that I expect to have my own commentary on the passage to be either confirmed or challenged. In either case, I remain a humble student of God’s Word eager to learn new things and see things anew. In addition to offering deeper spiritual insight, trusted commentaries and other Bible study resources offer a wider understanding of the historical, contextual, grammatical world of the text that can help draw out the full meaning and significance of the passage.
Cook Time: I usually devote some time to this Monday and Tuesday.
Step 3: Write yourself CLEAR.
Ingredients: Bible, Critical thought, Creativity, Knowledge of the audience and Discerning council
Directions: Up to this point, I have been making notes, copying quotes and sketching out a rough outline and have a decent idea of where the sermon is going. My time in the text, in prayer and with other resources have left me with a main idea or thesis statement for the sermon. This means I know my overall take-away from the sermon and have a good idea what the primary illustration could to be. From here, I find that my main points start to take shape and I know how I want to outline my sermon in a way that follows the text and supports my main idea. The notes compiled during the week are organized under two or three main points, support Scriptures are included to show that my argument is consistent with the rest of the Bible, other helpful illustrations are added where needed, and transitions are added to be sure the listener is tracking and that my points all work together to promote the main idea of the sermon. I then submit my notes for review to at least one other pastor/elder in our church and usually my wife.
Cook Time: I usually devote all of Wednesday and some time on Thursday to this.
Step 4: Pray yourself HOT.
Ingredients: Prayer, The Holy Spirit, Dependence on God and Love for the audience
Directions: Small improvements will be made after it is reviewed but, for the most part, the sermon is finished. Now, my attention goes to our people, and whomever else will hear the message. To be clear, both the expected audience and the potential audience were on my mind in step 3. Now, they are heavy on my heart. I go out of my way to consider by name the members of our church, our regular attenders, folks who could visit again at any time and those I’ve not met and may visit for the first time. I pray both for those who know Jesus as savior and for those who have not trusted in Him for the forgiveness of their sins. I think about the different ways the sermon might encourage, convict or comfort the listener and ask God to move in their hearts before, during and after the sermon. I ask God to help me to proclaim His Truth to His people with boldness and humility, with clarity and creativity, in power and in love. By this time each week, I am convinced of the life-changing potential of my message and I am excited to share!
Cook Time: While this step is ongoing, I usually devote focused time to this Friday, Saturday and Sunday morning.
My wife is frequently preparing dinner for our family, and she is a fantastic cook. Her food is almost always both good for us and delicious. Her commitment to feeding us so well requires much thought, time, energy and love. Like a well-prepared meal, sermons are a lot of work; they are a true labor of love. And while you may find one sermon “tastier” than another, the Spirit can take every sermon that is faithful to the Word of God and use it to nourish your soul, maturing us more and more into the likeness of Christ. Eat up!