Preaching QNA: Part 2a
Sermon Preparation
Jay, Andrew, Patrick, and Jeremy asked about the preparation process: “Who helps? How do we plan? How far ahead do we work?”
As I respond to these questions, please remember that there is no right answer. The way we do things reflects our gifts and passions. Our method is not right for everyone. With that said, I’ll share a “behind the scenes” look at our preparation process.
The way I come up with series varies. It is usually something that God is burning on my heart. Occasionally—and I hate to admit this—nothing is burning. In that case, I go to a list of working ideas I keep filed. It is a list of maybe 20 or 30 series ideas. I’ll pray about those ideas, and generally God sparks a passion for one.
To me it’s important that I plan series myself. I don’t use a committee. Others may suggest ideas, but my ideas are almost always born from personal time with God.
Once I have an idea, I tell our creative team the general concept. Then they might suggest a series title and come up with a design for it. (I’ll share more about the use of series in another post).
No matter whether I’m doing a topical or verse-by-verse message, I start with Scripture. I’ll look up tons of verses. We don’t look for Scripture to support what we want to say. We want to say what Scripture says.
Then I cross-reference Scriptures and copy and paste them all onto one document. Then I start reading them over and over again. In time, they start talking to me. The ones that grab me the most, I select. The rest go away.
While I’m gathering information, I’ll study appropriate commentaries. Then I start organizing the information. Once I have it organized, I work hard on the flow of the Scriptural story. I think about how the hearer might receive this information. Then I begin to illustrate it.
(We’ll stop here. I’ll post more later in the day.)
Please jump in and tell us about your preparation process.
Visit 
“We don’t look for Scripture to support what we want to say. We want to say what Scripture says.”
Craig,
I agree with that statement. We do 6- 10 week series. My staff which is just 3 of us get together and discuss that the church needs to hear. We have a theme for every year. We get together and decided on the topics and the length for each series. Then I pray about what God wants me to say and chose the scripture to be used. I do exactly what you say in the quote above. Sometimes my intended message changes as I read and study the passage.
I use a lot of powerpoint slides. As I am preparing I use google and yahoo pictures to get photos that I show to make points. I use a lot of stories usually from my own life. I learned years ago if I make fun of anyone it should be me and not anyone else. I try to finish the message by Wednesday so I can practice on Thursday. I’m off on Fridays. I review on Saturday night.
Kevin,
Great thoughts. Thanks.
“We don’t look for Scripture to support what we want to say. We want to say what Scripture says.�
Bravo, Craig! Could you briefly explain what tools you use to help compile your Scriptures? Specific websites, Bible study programs, etc.?
BTW, Jonah #1 was sensational. I can tell the Lord has refreshed you and filled you with renewed passion for preaching the Word. Vacation works. Great job!
Kyle,
Glad to hear Jonah 1 ministered to you!
I just use PC Study Bible. I spend a lot of time cross referencing verses and using the concordance. As far as commentaries are concerned, I use the NIV Application Commentaries, Barclay, MacArthur, Wiersbe, and Matthew Henry.
I’d be interested to hear what the rest of you use!
For our preparation process I create a yearly message series schedule. I keep a running list of ideas for message series. We do one series each month to keep things fresh and moving.
One month out the children’s pastor and I sit down and create a series synopsis for the series. Then each week we will create the rough outline.
We have created a skeleton of the elements we put in each message composed of Introduction, Connection Points, Big Idea, Biblical Foundation, Application, Vision, Salvation Call.
We then sit down and fill it in.
On the day I’m speaking, I will type out the entire message as it helps me bring my thoughts together for the day.
Normally I will use PC Study Bible and Biblegateway.com along with books. Doing the process together allows us to really talk out the theology in a practical and relational way.
Craig, thanks for taking the time to share your advice with us on this topic. I think it’s way to easy in today’s ministry culture to just grab the latest/greatest series from some web site and customize it to make it fit your message. I like your way of going at it from a scriptural approach and affirming what God already said. I don’t think there is anything wrong with using culture as a tool to communicate the message of the gospel - just so long as it doesn’t become the primary focus.
By the way, when I am studying for a message I use http://bible.crosswalk.com to look up scriptures and cross-reference it in different translations. You can also use that site to look up the passage in the original Greek/Hebrew or a host of other commentaries.
I really don’t have anything to contribute to preparation advice, but I did want to commend the things you wrote. Specifically:
-There is no right answer…Our method is not right for everyone.
Thank you for sharing that. As someone who’s been in those meetings, it seems as if the forefront of discussion is “well, this is how they do it here, or just straight up using resources from other churches (rather than being inspired by them).
-To me it’s important that I plan series myself. I don’t use a committee. Others may suggest ideas, but my ideas are almost always born from personal time with God…We don’t look for Scripture to support what we want to say. We want to say what Scripture says.
Again, (not currently) but in a former position we (the creative team) would have maybe 10 minutes with the pastor who’d say, “I wanna talk about wisdom for the next six weeks” and instantly we’d move from a support team to a research & development team. We’d track down passages, come up with ideas and map out the whole series. In the back of my mind, it seemed a little odd. Uh, I’m sorry guy, but ain’t you supposed to be headin’ up this ship?
Thanks for your thoughts…they’re quite encouraging & inspiring to many, I’m sure.
Me again. I forgot to mention to recommend http://www.bible.org as a resource. I use it quite frequently for prepping for leading my small group. You can download a version of the NET Bible directly to your desktop along with thousands of notes for FREE. I have only barely begun to scratch the surface of this amazing tool and I hope you all find it as valuable as I have.
How much time do you give yourself?
When God gives me a idea, I mull it over until it doesn’t make sense anymore and turns to mush. How do you keep it simple and within the original aspect of what God had in mind in the first place? Also, I have the problem of thinking too big, How do you stay focused? Who do you ask for help?
I am always reading current books (either ministry or books for fun) along with my daily scripture reading plan. When I read many times a idea will start to develop in my head and that will develop into a message. I see that happening in your life (Craig) when I look at your list of books you are currently reading. For example your “Fearless” series seemed to come out of your reading “In a Pit with a Lion on a Snowy Day”. I try to plan out my messages about 6 months in advance which gives the worship and education teams time to plan their areas in support of the message so the whole church is moving in the same direction.
Can anyone give Stacey some wisdom?
I usually check out the paper or internet for sermon ideas. For instance you could do alot with the Paris Hilton thing, u know, fortune, fame and looks does not always give you what you want. Most people dont read the Bible now days (unfortunately), therefore go to what they are hearing and reading, and go for it.
Lots of people are interested in what makes Christianity relevant too, especially with Islam and other world religions in the news alot.
Stacy,
I sometimes try preaching out of my own struggles. The more you can preach out of your own pain, the more authenic and real you come across. For instance I’m really struggling with obedience right now. How much does God require? Is a little obedience enough or does He want it all?
Stacy,
Keep it simple focus on one thought for the whole message. Use stories, scriptures, thought provoking statements, quotes, video illustrations, and teach people how to apply the thought.
I really agree with Craig…LESS IS MORE.
Craig, I think it is evident that you start with scripture! I love how you just bring the truth and then wrap it up with examples or illustrations because they are what make people remember the TRUTH! Craig, thank you for not compromising the word!!
Stacy, I don’t speak a ton, but I am with you when I do. When I over think something or try to make it “cool,” it ends up being a mess. However, when I speak from an overflow of God in me, it is amazing (it’s not me, it’s all Him)!
Sheri,
Thank you for the kind words. God’s best to you!
Thanks Craig. And thanks Kyle - http://www.bible.org is truly great.
[...] Mark Driscoll addresses Death by Ministry here, here and here. Steven Furtick said “What got you here won’t get you there.” Tony Morgan talks about why Heaven is Over-Rated in the world’s eyes. ChangeThis gave 10 Guidelines For Effective Brainstorming. Craig Groeschel has been hosting a Preaching QNA here, here, here, here… oh, and here, here, here and here. Guy Kawasaki gave some great tips on Speaking As A Performance Art. [...]
Stacy,
Luke 19:47 - “Every day he was teaching at the temple. But the chief priests, the teachers of the law and the leaders among the people were trying to kill him. Yet they could not find any way to do it, because all the people hung on his words.”
- Ask God to provide you with words that will be able to be “hung on”. Use these “catch-words” God provides to provide a daily impact on the people who hear them. And in your case, Stacy, ask God to give you words that you can “catch-on” to. That way you can have such a strong, positive catch on a positive set of words that they will stick to your mind and you can develop a message focused exactly on the subject intended.
[...] Craig Groeschel, on the other hand, doesn’t use a team in the same way. In fact it doesn’t even appear to be a team. He rotates different people in at times to bounce his thoughts off. Oh, it’s a team but it has a loose application. Although my use of a team is similar it is still different. I’m just not good enough to do it that way. [...]