Step-by-Step Sermon Preparation

A preacher must design a sermon to engage and teach the audience.

Most churches conduct a teaching time once a week, typically on Sunday morning. With only a small window of teaching time, it's crucial that the pastor be prepared to teach a coherent sermon that will touch the lives of the attendees. The sermon must therefore be constructed in a very specific and prayerful way.

Instructions

1. Choose passages from the Bible. There are many different styles and techniques for delivering sermons, but regardless of methodology, all sermons should contain a wealth of Bible verses. Select Bible verses that you feel adequately deal with the issue you wish to teach about.

2. Study the selected verses. Read the Bible verses multiple times. Read them in English, and in the original language if you are able to. Perform word studies with the aid of a concordance and consult Bible dictionaries to further your understanding of the text. Be sure to read the context of the passages to ensure you are not misinterpreting the verses.

3. Create an outline. There are innumerable sermon outlines, and it is up to you to choose the best one for the topic you have chosen. A great outline is the three-point sermon. Simply choose three key points to support your topic, and create an introduction and conclusion. Arrange your verses to fit the format and to be unfold in the most effective order, and make sure that the material flows together coherently.

4. Create the "meat" of the sermon. Now that you have assembled the necessary Bible verses and decided upon the outline to put them in, concentrate on explaining the verses. Read commentaries to get new insights into the passages and tie the verses in with your chosen topic. The idea is to introduce teaching and doctrine, while backing them up with scripture.

5. Pray about the sermon. Once you have the first draft, read through it and pray that God will direct your attention to any areas. Trust that God will show you if you have something that is incorrect or misleading. Be honest with yourself and allow God to direct your focus. Make any revisions that you feel should be made and write the final draft.

References

• Biblicalstudies.com; Preparation for Preaching