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So You’re a Guest Preacher and You’d Like to Get Invited Back

Have you been invited to be a guest preacher?

I have had the opportunity to do a bit of guest preaching lately. I have also dealt with my fair share of good and bad guest preachers.

Here are some tips to help make you a better guest preacher—one they will actually want to invite back.

1. Honor the senior pastor.

Most pastors do not get nearly enough appreciation for the extremely hard work they do for their church. They will never stand up on stage and toot their own horn.

So, as the guest preacher, you should toot it for them.

Let the people know why you love their pastor. Create an opportunity for everyone to clap for him. Give the man some honor and recognition (1 Timothy 5:17).

2. Respect the time limit.

Ask how long you are scheduled to preach and stick with it! DO NOT go longer than the time you are given. You are a guest. Don’t overstay your welcome!

Not all churches have a clock visible from stage, so I personally use the Presentation Clock app on my iPhone. I set the time I have to preach, and it counts down for me. The timer turns yellow when I have 10 minutes left, red when I have five minutes, and inverts colors and starts counting up every second that I have gone over.

It is a simple app, but immensely helpful.

3. Arrive early.

Be there before you have to be. Get to know the sound guys and other volunteers who arrive early, talk to people in the audience before the service and participate in the worship service.

Don’t freak everyone out because the service is about to start and they don’t know where their guest speaker is. I had this happen to me once.

4. Stay late.

Don’t preach and run. Again, talk to people. Stick around and hear their stories. Pray with them.

Hanging around until the place clears out benefits everyone. They want to talk to the guest speaker. They will encourage you. They will feel important because you listened to them. And you will always learn something.