I Prepare Sermons 4 Weeks in Advance: Why I started, How I do it, and What I think about it.

Last year, I started preparing sermons four weeks in advance. Now that I've done it for a while, I thought I would write on why I started, how I began, and what I think about it.

I decided to try it while reading Paul David Tripp's book Dangerous Calling. He writes in one section about the seriousness of the pastor's calling to preach and warned against preaching without meditation and personal application. He strongly advised preparing further out. 

I never did the Saturday night rush sermon. I thought I was doing well since I prepared on Monday (all day) and Tuesday (morning). That felt as far out as I could do. I decided to try it anyway and see what the results were.

I always use a checklist for sermon prep. I have it broken down into 10 or so steps. I decided that I could do the first half of my checklist four weeks out and then the second half the week I will give the sermon.

The first half of my sermon prep involves translating, outlining, rereading, studying notes, and writing out the Point of the Passage (I got that from Haddon Robinson). The second half of my sermon prep involves writing the Point of the Sermon (Robinson again), identifying the tension (Fallen Condition Focus from Bryan Chapell), writing the outline, deciding what to explain, listing illustrations, writing applications, figuring out how this passage points to or flows from the gospel, and explaining how our lives, families, church, and community will be different in light of this truth.

I began in late summer. Each week, I did 1.5 sermons. The .5 was the one four weeks out. I do the same amount of prep but it is split between two sermons. Now on Monday, I finish the sermon for that week, and I study for the one four weeks away on Tuesday morning. 

Here are three benefits of preparing further out.

1. Our church secretary told me that I'm more relaxed around the office. She told me that I was always extremely focused and reserved on Mondays but now am relaxed and talkative. I think I was always under the gun starting from scratch on Monday morning. My conversation with myself was that I had just 9 or 10 hours to get this ready. Everything felt urgent, and I was afraid of interruptions.

Now on Monday morning, I know that I am halfway to my sermon. An interruption will not destroy my week. My work is serious without being stressful.

2. I get the chance to meditate on the passage. I might specifically think of the passage during the month leading up to it, but I also might just find some thoughts pop into my head while I'm driving that apply. Twice, I've dictated a note into my phone with a full paragraph that I use later to help direct a future sermon. The chance to chew on the passage helps me return to what I 've studied with new ideas, insights, and applications.

Each week, I review really quickly my upcoming sermon and the point of the passage for each upcoming sermon. That way, I have it fresh in my mind what my upcoming sermons are about. I use the keyboard tray in my desk as a sermon organizing board.

3. I see the big picture for each series. I've had a nagging fear for the last few years that each sermon repeats itself. Since I only looked at one sermon at a time, I couldn't remember if I had said the exact same application the week before or if I had used the same keyword.

Now, I can see how each passage relates to the next and how all the sermons fit together in the series. I can reinforce similar truths without repeating. I can also highlight details that are important because I know what is coming up in future weeks.

I highly suggest a preacher try this even just a little preparation a few weeks out. It will be well worth the time.