Template for Preparing a Sermon/Lesson

I’m running a little late today in posting my Saturday briefing; I’ve been playing catch-up today after having been out of town this week on a mission’s trip (a subject for another day).

However as promised, following is a template that I run every message or lesson through.  It is very simple but if I do my homework it helps me to be clear on what it is I want to say and what it is I want the people to do.  This provides both clarity and purpose which is the foundation for preparing a meaningful message of hope for God’s people.

So here goes:

Prayer: 

• I always type out a prayer each time I work on a particular message.  I date it and number it.  This provides a record of accountability to myself (and to God) of my faithfulness (or lack of faithfulness) in preparing for the message I’m working on. 
• Furthermore, not than anyone has ever asked, but if they did, I could show my people with integrity that I did indeed prepare for the message I inspired or afflicted them with.  By the way, the reason people don’t ask how much you study is they can tell by listening to you.

Title:

• I don’t remember who suggested it, but years ago in one of the books I read on preaching the author recommended that the preacher/teacher wait until the end of their studies to determine the title for their message.  The reason being is that often a title has a way of “kidnapping” a message.  In other words, we come up with a catchy title and then try to make the message work around the title.  I have found this to be a good habit.

 Text:

• Much of my preaching is expository so I cut and paste the text that I am studying here and add notes over the weeks that I am studying it.  As I do this the message begins to reveal itself. 

 Thesis/Premise:

• Carefully crafting the thesis or premise of your message/lesson is one of the most vital things you do.  Until you can clearly state the essence of your message in a one-three sentences you are not prepared.  (Don’t compromise here!)

Mission Statement:

• This is another very important process to work through.  The thesis statement is a statement describing what you are going to talk about.  The mission statement (what I hope to achieve with this message) is a statement of why it matters.  (Again, don’t compromise on this!)

Vision Statement (Focus everyone on the desired future):

• The vision statement is what you see for your people (how you want them to respond).  This is especially where the conclusion and invitation come together.  Again, until this is done you’re not done.

• The following three questions are answered as I work through the text and the Thesis, Mission and Vision statements. 

1)     What do I want them to know? 

• Working on the Thesis, Mission and Vision statements keeps this short.  As a student of the word there will be much that you’d like for your people to know; but you will burden your people with an “overkill” if you’re not careful.  Keep in mind that what they need to know for the message you’re working on is what is related to your Thesis, Mission and Vision statements.

2)     What do I want them to do?

• This is an important question to answer.  It’s amazing how many times we prepare great messages/lessons but have not thought through carefully what it is exactly the people should do as a result of giving us valuable moments of their life to hear what we’ve got to say. 

3)     How do I want my people to feel? (The bread & fish issues)

• Remember, people will forget most of what you have to say in each message but they will remember forever how you make them feel.  As Emerson Eggerichs says in his book, Love & Respect: “You can be right but wrong at the top of your voice.”
• Jesus preached and taught for three straight days (don’t try this at home) but in the end he realized that even with all the new and lofty spiritual principles that he was teaching the people they still had earthy, human needs that mattered to them – like eating.  So before he let them go he fed them.  In other words, they left feeling fed as well as being fed.
• Another way of putting this: When preaching on hell, preach like you don’t want them to go there.

• Note: I work through this template in the order that I’ve given it to you.  Take your time and work through these questions.  As you become more clear on one the other one begins to become clearer and as you get deeper into the template the outline (frame) for communicating becomes clear as well.

 

• If I could leave you with two other things it would be this:

 1)     Whatever you’re preaching on give your people hope.  Hope is the oxygen of the soul, without it people die.  Furthermore, the church is really the only place that can truly and honestly give people hope.  The naturalistic fatalism that rules our world is ultimately empty and void of all lasting hope.

2)     Keep your problems and the church’s problems out of the pulpit.  My dad (a retired pastor) often reminded me: “Son, while you’re trying to hit the goats you’re also hitting the sheep.”

Well, that’s a lot to work through but I pray that it will be a blessing to you.

Blessings to you,

A fellow preacher and teacher of the Gospel (what a privilege!),

david l. kemp

P.S. Remember God called you to preach or teach, He will not let you down tomorrow or the next time you speak.