Preaching Today: Could you tell us a bit about your planning process for preaching?
Leith Anderson: Each July, I plan the following year's preaching schedule, including titles, texts, themes, sermon summaries, benedictions, and thematic elements for the services. Once that's determined, the elders and pastors of Wooddale are free to comment on the planned year. With a mostly finished product in hand, then, I create a folder for each sermon. Throughout the year, materials are added to the folder, building up a reservoir of commentary notes, illustrations, pertinent articles, and other creative ideas.
Tell us about your weekly preparation process.
Because of all the work done in advance, I often only have to spend Wednesday through Friday in sermon completion. Much of my sermon preparation is done away from the office, usually at home or on the road. I find commentaries to be most helpful along the way, but the most important things in my preparation are the extended times I spend in prayer and reflection.
We've talked about planning and preparation - what about any personal advice for us as preachers?
There are two crucial pieces of advice I would offer. First of all, preaching advances preaching. Keep at this sacred act because frequency often helps quality. Second, and most important, create space for devotional time. Read through the Bible and other devotional works and make time to think and meditate - it will do wonders for your preaching!
Posted by Brian Lowery at 2:18 PM on July 5, 2007
Comments
I like this brief exchange on a very important matter. I am convinced planning preaching in a western culture is crucial. Some say it stiffles the Spirit, but I find it like preaching without notes. If a person prepares throughly, then the goods will be there in the end.
A couple of good books might help: PLANNING YOUR PREACHING by J. Winston Pearce. He taught at Golden Gate Seminary. It's an old book but good.
Also, THE BIG IDEA by Dave Ferguson. This is brand new. I shows how to wrap everything in a church weekend around the "Big Idea."
Posted by: Alan Stoddard on July 9, 2007