A few days before the time I speak I pull everything together and look at what God has given me. When all of this is over I have put about a week’s thoughts together and it all comes into a passionate message because they are things that I am dealing with in my own life or have been watching through others.

The best thing for me after that process is to meditate on the message through out that day always having the opportunity to make any changes that I feel led to do.

One thing that someone told me a long time ago that has helped me as much as anything is that I am the only one who will ever see the message, if I get through it all GREAT if I only get one page done in a four page sermon GREAT! God has sent us the Holy Spirit to lead us an guide us allow the thoughts God gives you create a passionate message from the inside out!

Your context is a bit different, as Craig’s post was really to pastors. I am not sure if “preaching the Wednesday message” was the most important thing I did as a youth pastor. I am not even sure it was in the top three. Perhaps you ARE giving the message enough time. Perhaps things like leadership development are more important in your particular ministry. Perhaps not. But, those are the kinds of questions I would be asking. It might be that God reveals a way for you to do all that you are doing AND add in what you are not. Or, perhaps He will reveal that some things that take up your time are more important than others.

One thing you can know… He longs for you to share out of the overflow of the Joy and Hope He instills in you, so ask Him how that is supposed to happen in your schedul :).

And Craig, thanks for posting stuff like this!

I remember you posting earlier on about young leaders “microwaving” their sermons. That’s what I used to do.

But then I stopped! :)

Now I let it oven bake!

I also interview other people because of your example!

God bless you! Glory be to God for making you into who you are and putting you near me!

I wonder if sometimes the “work” of preaching might be a psychological barrier sometimes too…

Some things I do that in my mind involve work get put off just because it sems like work, like taking out the trash, or mowing the yard…sometimes spending time with my kids can fall into that mindset, and I have to remember what a privilege I have as a father…

I think sometimes it is good just to realize what a joy it is to share a message God has given you, and a privilege to do it in a free country, where the word of God can go forth unbound…and all the resources available to be more faithful to the message than in almost any other nation…

Just an observation… sometimes we take for granted things that are such a privilege just because we view it as “work”…

What an honor to be a mouthpiece for God… I envy you teaching pastors, I hope you don’t get bogged down in the “work” mindset, but enjoy that privilege…and the opportunity…

Heck, why did I pay a grand this semester for my homiletics course when this pretty much sums it all up?!?! ha ha.

Thanks for the great post.

I’ll comment more later when I have time! (im in class right now!)

God bless!

1) Get a decent electronic library - shell out some cash and get a real system that does a lot of the cross-referencing for you that would previously have taken hours to do. Leverage the technology God’s given us. (See Libronix, Logos)

2) The guys in the bigger churches have something you don’t: research/message teams. This concept is incredibly powerful and you can have access to their research for a few dollars - see PreachingToday.com, creativepastors, saddlebackresources, or even better free at open.lifechurch.tv) - I agree 100% with Craig - don’t rip it off - don’t steal it - but DO use the research - treat it as if that manuscript was a friend sitting in the room with you offering “ideas” but not the final word.

3) Throw off everything non-essential. Give away ministry - just this week I gave away the changing on the message board outside (you know the kind - “Sign broke, message inside”) - now I’ve got an extra hour per week. Replicate that 40x and now your primary job to lead and feed becomes a lot more do-able.

Just a few of my thoughts and practice from the last few years - I’m still pressed for time, but working harder and smarter keeps me failing forward as I go.

-clark

Amy, I feel your pain. For me, just having time for the message to marinate in my spirit is important. It doesn’t mean I have always multiple hours in front of a bible or concordances. Sometimes it simply helps to go to bed and wake up the next day and look at the same message from a different perspective.

Maybe some of the rest of you can help Amy and Jason with some wisdom.

@Jason - I know what it is like to be in the small church, and our pastor often feels the same pressure I hear from you. One thing we do as his support (I say we, it is me + lay people!) is force him to focus on the preaching. We have systematically required him to hand over things that keep him from spending the time he wants on his message. Our lay leadership has gotten a Much better idea of what he actually does, and he now has much more time to let a message cook.

I don’t know what guys like Craig would say, but from my limited experience I have found that larger church does not = More free time for pastor. Set the priorities now that you want to have when you are 10 times your size, and see if God can fill your needs where you are.

The length of time isn’t the magic number. Some people can study for w/o losing focus. Some can barely sit still for an hour.

I’m not sure how to answer your question. I think we all need to find rhythms that work for us at our current stage of ministry.

My question is how do we do this when our church is small in comparison to yours? The reason why I ask this is because I find 3 hours to be a lot of time when I have so much other stuff to do. We have a small budget and so can’t afford to hire many staff members thus leaving plenty for myself to do.

:) Have you got any suggestions?