Categories: uncategorized
Date: 19 February 2008 12:40:56
I'm one of those people who starts his sermon with a vague, or no, idea as to what will end up on paper. I always write down my sermon so that I don't have to worry about my mind going blank part way through. However I use it as a basis and, when I feel led, extemporise.
Usually I end up with 3 partial sermons that are discarded and then the finished article. It's also usual for sermon draft 1 to bear no resemblance whatsoever with the final one; even the text and content are unrelated. To FW's amazement the draft sermons are all consigned to the recycle bin.
I actually believe that the message I end up with is not mine. It amazes me that I can begin with nothing and within 2-3 hours have 14 pages of sermon. It must come from God because 9 times out of 10 it has nothing to do with what has gone through my mind over the past few days.
I always make sure that I pray before I start and ask that He provides me with what He wants the people to hear. It can be most disconcerting when you stand in front of a church and think: "Is this message really for this audience"? As I watch the faces of the congregation you can see them change as the word unfolds; then, at the end, you see smiles, and hear a gladness in their voices, as they thank you for what they've heard.
Tomorrow I'll tell you what the message ended up being about.