5 Different Ways to Prepare a Sermon: Pastors Share Their Secrets

Jonathan Pearson on How to Prepare a Sermon

• Previous Week:

  • Research key topic … find scripture, stories, etc

• Monday:

  • Finalize main ideas, key points and main scriptures
  • research key ideas and themes in Bible Study software (Olive Tree)

• Tuesday:

  • Put together initial outline using notes from Monday,
    often leaving illustrations and final challenge empty while outline “sits”

• Wednesday:

  • Ignore … as much as possible.
    So I can look with fresh, new eyes Thursday

• Thursday:

  • Run though initial outline making necessary changes
    • restructuring
    • adding
    • taking away
    • smoothing out transitions

• Friday & Saturday:

  • Run through without much change to outline
    No changes unless God COMMANDS after Friday

• Sunday:

  • Preach!

Mike Kjergaard on How to Prepare a Sermon

I usually have my sermons/series planned six to 12 months ahead of time, so I’m not starting from scratch each week. Often, if I’m in a book series (e.g., currently, I’m preaching through the Gospel of Mark), I will do some of the pre-work (overview of book, historical and theological study, etc.) before the series begins. But here is what a typical week looks like:

• Sunday night

  • begin thinking/praying about next Sunday’s message

• Monday

  • usually have meetings, but do preliminary work if possible

• Tuesday

  • study text
  • Jot down my own thoughts before turning to commentaries, etc.

• Wednesday

  • more study
  • sketch outline
  • If I am preaching the series with others (two or three times a year, some preacher friends and I preach the same series), I will email them what I have so far.

• Thursday

  • look for possible illustrations
  • send outline to tech people

• Friday

  • tweak if necessary

• Saturday

  • let it simmer

• Sunday

  • Preach!