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Sermon preparation often proves to be challenging, although leading the flock to good pasture and allowing them to feed well on the Word of God is the primary responsibility of a Pastor.
As a result, there are times when Pastors seek out various ways and tools to help them prepare a good sermon.
While these tools can be helpful, there is one element that serves as the fulcrum for effective sermon preparation and subsequently a good sermon: the Pastor’s preparedness.
Every suggestion taken, every tool used, and every model followed will prove to be a failure if the Pastor himself is not personally prepared.
This preparation sets the base and tone upon which effective and good sermon preparation is built. The Pastor ought to be prepared not only spiritually, but also physically, emotionally, and mentally.
How can a Pastor ensure his own preparedness before preparing a good sermon?
While there are many suggestions on how a Pastor can ensure his preparedness, here are some timeless truths that undergird them all:
1. Prayer
Of course, this would not catch you by surprise and might even seem cliché. However, it remains the foundational building block that ensures the Pastor’s preparedness for the task ahead of preparing a good sermon.
What must the Pastor pray for?
Remember, this is not the Pastor’s general time of prayer wherein he prays for the needs around him among other things. This is his dedicated time of prayer to ensure his own preparedness before getting started on the task of sermon preparation.
Therefore, he must pray for:
- Receptiveness to the Holy Spirit’s Voice
His own receptiveness to the Holy Spirit’s voice. This helps the Pastor lean in and listen for the Spirit’s voice, who knows just what the flock needs to hear and who is able to give the Pastor that specific seed to be sown in their hearts. - Overcoming Previous Learnings and Preconceived Ideas
His previously learned lessons and preconceived ideas about the text to not hinder fresh and new learnings. While it is likely that the Pastor would have prior learnings that come to his mind while reading a text, it is important for him to approach the reading of the text without those previous learnings and preconceived ideas superseding the dynamism of God’s Word. There is always a new learning each and every time a particular text is read, and therefore it is important for him to pray that he is able to acquire these fresh learnings. - Efficient Preparation
His time of preparation to be effective and efficiently managed. - Dependence on God
All confidence in his own eloquence and capabilities to be replaced by total dependence on the Holy Spirit and the Word of God.
2. Personal Study of God’s Word
Sermon preparation does not equate to, nor can it ever substitute, the Pastor’s personal study of God’s Word. Having his own personal time of studying God’s Word aside from sermon preparation enables the shaping of the perspectives of his mind and the posture of his heart, suitable for sermon preparation thereafter.
3. Personal Preparation
Apart from preparing himself through prayer and personal study of God’s Word, the Pastor must also prepare himself in other aspects that would enable him to then prepare a good and transformational sermon. Some of these other aspects include:
- Ensuring Physical Preparedness
Ensuring that he has had adequate rest to ensure physical preparedness. Carrying out the duties and responsibilities of a Pastor can be exhausting. It is therefore important that he sets aside some time to get adequate rest before preparing a sermon so that he is not weighed down by pastoral fatigue. - Ensuring Task Completion
Ensuring the completion of any pending tasks, whether at home or in the office, to avoid disturbance or disruption of the time set aside for sermon preparation. - Resolving Conflicts
Ensuring that there are no unresolved conflicts to ensure that he is mentally prepared and not weighed down with unnecessary and disturbing thoughts that could hinder sermon preparation, making it a challenge to have a clear and focused mind during preparation.
A sermon prepared by a Pastor who has prepared himself in this manner will not fail to be a good and transformational sermon. Remember, sermon preparation is only as effective and efficient as the preparedness of the Pastor preparing the sermon.
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