Sunday 22nd May 2011
I hate preaching. I enjoy preaching. I hate preaching (and on it goes).
I usually find the first week back from holidays difficult. This week more so because I decided to begin a series on Romans! I have always wanted to preach through the letter and figured now was as a good a time as any. Furthermore, I accpeted an invitation to preach at another church in the evening. I shouldn’t do that first week back!
I don’t know about others but I have a rhythm when it comes to preparing sermons. If I try to short cut the process even a little I find myself lost and I struggle to ever get to a place where I am comfortable with what I am saying. It doesn’t mean God won’t speak but I know I haven’t been true to what I know need to be done in order to hear the Word of God. It happened this way this week. You think I would learn!
My text this morning was Romans 1:1-7:
Paul’s letter to the Romans (Paul’s authorship is rarely challenged) is a breathtaking vision of the Christian life. The letter towers over the rest of the New Testament. I am sure when Paul was writing the letter from Corinth or nearby he had no idea the controversy his words would spark through the ages. I will leave my last word to the great Bishop who says this about Romans,
“This letter is about the way in which, through the lens of the gospel, the covenant plan and purpose of the one true God has been unveiled before the world…the creator of the world has brought world history to its climax. Paul is urging the Roman Christians to understand this purpose, and their own place in it so they can live and work appropriately” (NT Wright, NIB, P.416)
Peace be with you,
Mark
the archives near Emmaus 
Romans is awesome and good choice of Wright as a commentary partner. Have you ever listened to ‘Romans in a Week’, audio from a class he did at Regent College in the 90’s? It is really awesome.
Romans is a great book when properly approached and understood, which you will definitely do.
Also, I’m kind of intrigued as to what your sermon preparation rhythm is. Would you care to share some time? I am always interested in how people prepare for sermons.
@Mark: One thing you shouldn’t mention when you tell Ryan about your sermon preparation is how you smoke the reefer. 🙂
Let me rephrase my question: Can I firsthand witness your sermon preparation? 🙂 LOL
Wow, I must be getting old. I had to look up what reefer meant.
Well Ryan, it does begin with an espresso everytime. Strangely this does not ever get missed.
My rhythm is faily simple. I start with the text. Translate it and then exegete the text without any help from commentaries. I make notes I try to establish a structure etc. I do some research in dictionaries etc.
This is the hardest part because if time is slipping away it is easy for me to move straight to the next stage which is commentaries.
Then I check a few commentaries. Then I like to let it sit for a day and allow the creatvity to flow so that I can come to the sermon writing stage with all of the notes and info and begin to write (I use a full manuscript.
One thing I try to do is start my sermon first thing Tuesday (1st day back). Wednesday is pretty well out with meetings, admin and some pastoral care. If I start Thursday I know it is going to be harder on me. I like a 1st draft by Thursday lunch time. If I have that I come back on Friday morning and rewrite it. usually the whole process takes about 20 hours.
How do you do it Ryan?
@Mark: Looks good. I like how you take the text and translate it first. It seems your process is very text/context focused instead of coming to the sermon with an already established idea of where you’re going. It seems like you let the Spirit and the text dictate where you go, and I like seeing that from Pastors.
I can’t honestly say how I do it. I have not prepared a sermon in years, and when I did, it was for a topical sermon so I approached texts with what I already wanted to speak about. If I were to do it, I would do it very much the same way you do. My Greek is terrible so I would need some help on New Testament texts, but essentially I would translate it, exegete it, and go from there. Like you, I think I would consult commentaries prior to composition, just to see if there are any other views, added important notes, etc.
As for composition, whenever presenting something I usually would do a detailed bullet point. When I prepared sermons years ago, I tried using full manuscript but ditched it for a detailed outline. I was afraid that I would rely too heavily on it and read. Do you try to memorize much of it? How do you prepare to where it doesn’t seem like you’re just straight reading it? Larger font? What’s the trick?
Thanks for sharing. This is something I am always interested in, even though I am not involved in it right now. I know one day I will need to be prepared with a basic concept of how to do it, so I am always asking whenever possible.
@Mark: Maybe “reefer” is an American thing and it doesn’t have anything to do with age (giving you a way out…)?
we call it dope, mary jane, weed, hash etc.
I am going to purchase Wright’s series today for $23! Being a download is extremely helpful. I have heard his Romans in a day but not in a week. should be great.
Ryan, I used to use bullet points but I feel I am a more faithful preacher when I use notes.
@Mark: Good deal. When the time comes, I’ll give it a go. Thanks for sharing!