theology & leadership
To develop people who can preach takes time and effort. Like a bad diet is easier than eating healthy, it is easier not to raise up new preachers and just keep a heavy load of preaching. It is the path of less friction. To form a preaching team requires commitment.
If we make it our aim to help people, which should be the driving force behind our sermon prep, then there are a few benchmarks along the way we need to make sure we cover.
"How much time do you give to sermon prep each week?" I regularly get asked this question by other pastors and ministry leaders. The trouble with this question is that it doesn't have a one-size-fits-all answer. Some pastors preach multiple sermons each week.
Thirty minutes, sixty minutes, or somewhere in between? Use notes or no notes? Set structure? Pulpit, table, or nothing? Standing or sitting? Paper Bible or iPad? Preach through books of the Bible or topical series? Altar call or no altar call? Humorous illustrations or no humor?
Have you ever committed yourself to something that doesn't always give you immediate payoff or evidence of progress?
