Dividing my work across the entirety of my week has sped up my process exponentially. I do textual work and outlining on Monday and group preparation on Tuesday.

How you say what you say has everything to do with the way it’s received and how it makes people feel as a result. Will you conclude with an encouraging tone? Will you close with urgency by creating a crisis moment and calling people to a decision? Will your tone be confrontational? This is not to be glossed over.

Setting clear daily milestones for my preparation has alleviated the wondering and worrying. I not only work a little bit each day, but also have specific goals for each day that keep me on track.

Our minds, hearts, and behaviors should be progressively changed as we sit under the authority of God’s Word.

While we know the Holy Spirit does the work of illumination, we also know that He uses the work of other men and women to sharpen and clarify our thinking.

So, what should I do? It’s a question of application and implication. Other questions include: What action are we supposed to take in light of what we’ve just heard? Why does this matter?

Preparing an outline and having a clear path does not rob them of interest. Rather, it helps them track with you. Furthermore, the likelihood that they retain points from the sermon is much higher if you have clearly framed it for them.

If your sermon prep starts with something other than an open Bible and a blank page, you’re doing it wrong.

Is there a point for which you need better language? Is there an application you want them to help you think through? Is there an illustration you’re not sure is clear?