10. Come prepared.
Take your invitation to preach seriously.
Be professional. Know your material. Provide notes, slides, scripture, videos or outlines in advance. Communicate with the person in charge of the service so you know what to expect.
You also need to be prepared for anything. If you have slides or videos on a computer or DVD, always have a backup just in case one fails. If you preach with an iPad, have backup notes.
11. BONUS TIP: Ask for feedback.
After you preach, send a follow-up email. Thank them for the opportunity to speak. Let them know you enjoyed your time with them. And, most importantly, ask for feedback.
You could ask them to take a brief survey, or just ask if they have any tips on how you could do better next time. This shows that you care, and also that you are eager to learn and get better.
The feedback you get from this will be gold. Don’t get offended. Take it seriously. Never stop learning and working to get better.
In the end, you still have to deliver a great message. Bring your ‘A’ game. But add these tips on top of a great message, and you will be the kind of guest preacher whom people want to invite back.
What tips would you give to guest preachers?
