Early on in my ministry I had a humiliating experience that profoundly affected the way I prepare my church sermons. Our Sunday service was at 9:30 a.m. followed by a time for fellowship and then classes. One of the class options was to sit with the pastor and discuss his Sunday sermons. After introductions I would begin by asking for a volunteer to put into a sentence what that individual thought I was attempting to say.
One Sunday, during a sermon series on Romans, I had struggled trying to adequately cover a certain passage. I wasn’t feeling too good about my effort; nevertheless, I started the class in my typical way, asking for someone to put into a sentence what that person felt was the point of my message. After several people tried but had great trouble putting their thoughts into words a bold gentleman said, “Pastor, why don’t you try putting into a sentence what it was you were trying to say!”
Of course, I struggled like everyone else!
But that day I made a vow that I would never again be embarrassed like this. To avoid a repeat I would always early on in my Sunday sermon preparation write a clear sentence as to what my sermon subject was, plus the response I was calling for.
Decades and some multiplied hundreds of sermon ideas later; I have never failed to do this.
Interestingly enough, I have also never been embarrassed in a similar fashion. I believe that’s because forcing myself early on to be clear about my sermon subject and response has made me a far more effective preacher.
