What Sermon Prep Really Looks Like – by Kevin de Young

What Sermon Prep Really Looks Like – by Kevin de Young

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Yesterday I introduced you to one of my favorite young writers. (Is it ok to call someone my age young?) Anyway, here is some behind-the-scenes insight from his pen into what sermon prep can be like…

What Sermon Prep Really Looks Like:

Monday – I’m so glad it’s my day off. Yesterday’s sermon was terrible. Maybe this week will be better.

Tuesday AM – I better get some emails done and get the blog lined up. If I can check a few things off my To Do List I’ll really be able to concentrate on my sermon.

Tuesday PM – I wasn’t expecting the lunch to go so long and for them to stop by. I’ll guess I’ll get to my sermon tomorrow.

Wednesday AM – Man, more emails. I need to make a few phone calls too. The agendas also need some work. Sermon prep soon.

Wednesday PM – I forgot–staff meetings all afternoon. I got to buckle down and start on this sermon tomorrow.

Thursday AM – Okay, here we go. Let’s get the paper and pencil out and open my Greek Bible. Darn, made the mistake of checking my email and leaving my door open. Got to take care of a couple more things.

Thursday PM – Finally started on my sermon. Working on translation. Making notes. So thankful to be a pastor. What a privilege to study God’s word. I’m getting a little sleepytrhough.

Friday AM – Excited to work on this sermon and think about preaching. So much to learn. So much to study. Never saw that before.

Friday PM – What a mess. I don’t see three points anywhere. Better pray. What is this sermon about? Where I am going? Need an outline before I go home. Brain don’t fail me now.

Saturday AM – It’s quiet here. Need to stop fiddling around with emails. Need some better illustrations. What is my application? These three points could be worded better.

Saturday PM – Praying for help. A few good thoughts I think. That section will preach. The introduction is so-so. Conclusion needs work. Have to push through and finish this. If I push print I can go home.

Saturday extra-PM – I’m sure this is too long. Needs pruning. I’m excited to preach this, but boy it doesn’t feel like much. No time left except for prayer. Should be in bed already.

Sunday before preaching- I can’t believe I get to preach. Stay humble. Pray for unction.

Sunday during preaching – What a joy to teach God’s word. And a challenge. Am I getting through? Am I getting in the way? Need to trust God. I must decrease, he must increase. I think I see a cloud the size of a man’s hand in the distance.

Sunday after preaching – That was too long…again. Trying to smile and talk to people while wondering if that made any difference. A lot of polite hello’s. A couple critiques. Several people seemed genuinely helped. I’m getting hungry and may need to use the bathroom.

Sunday evening – Crazy day. Get the kids to bed. Talk to my wife. Call my mom. Thankful for a good day. Glad it’s over. Not sure what God did, but I’ll trust him for something. I love my church.

Monday – I’m so glad it’s my day off. Yesterday’s sermon was terrible. Maybe this week will be better.

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  • http://www.xanga.com/wondering04 Heather Marsten

    YIKES!!!! At our church our pastor wouldn’t let us do anything like that. Although sometimes one can write a whole sermon or BIble study and the Holy Spirit can change that. If we are told to teach 30 minutes – we need to time it and practice it. Our Friday BIble studies are an hour and a half – we get to teach in depth. Want a great study? Try looking up the meanings of the names of the Judges – it spells a salvation message. I’ve been teaching (when my pastor is out of town) through the book of Judges – how each judge speaks about things in our life that we can learn vicariously by watching the strengths and weaknesses of each judge. But if you look up the meaning of the names of the judges, the town, the enemies they fought you see it in so much depth. Far more fun to teach like that. But only if you are open to change the subject if the Holy Spirit tells you to. Our pastor teaches us how to research for a BIble study.

    • http://www.clintarcher.com/ Clint

      Thanks Heather. Yup, Paul told Timothy to be a worker who doesn’t need to be ashamed, rightly handling the word of truth. A good expository sermon can take 20+ hours of prep. I’m pretty sure DeYoung was exaggerating. Then again, when a week is crammed with funerals, weddings, counseling, and multiple meetings, Bible studies, and two Sunday sermons, unfortunately some pastors are forced to run on fumes. The solution is a church that respects and guards their pastor’s study time. Also, people should be considerate about when they die.

      • http://www.xanga.com/wondering04 Heather Marsten

        Yep. Our pastor is raising up people to step in the gap and help out. I volunteer to answer the phone at church on some days and I do understand that a pastor’s life is busy with all the other things and there are people that constantly call with problems. I feel sorry for pastors that have to maintain a full-time job as well as preach. Our pastor finally realized he needed to take at least one day off to rest – but he seldom gets a full day. And you are right, people deal with stuff, people die, people get sick, and make demands at the most challenging of times.