Pastor, Stop Writing a Manuscript
Here are four reasons pastors should not manuscript their whole sermon. Notice that I said "their whole sermon." I think there is place for being careful with words. It is appropriate to write out something that needs to be said in a certain way. I don't think the whole sermon should be written out though.
First, preaching from outlines or notes instead of a manuscript allows you to look at the people you are preaching to. Most preachers who preach from a manuscript look down too much. Ronald Reagan read his speeches in such a way that you didn't know he was reading them. John Piper can get away with reading his sermons. Those who preach to thousands can get away with it. It is not as effective, though, as a preacher who makes eye contact. I believe that preaching is proclaiming God's word to the people in the room. A preacher who looks down too much breaks the connection that the preacher should have with the congregation that he is supposed to be preaching to.
Second, preaching without a manuscript requires authenticity and knowledge. It shows that the preacher knows what he wants to say. A preacher can hide behind a manuscript. He say things exactly right that he doesn't know or believe. I think we should raise the bar on what a pastor should know, love, and believe. Manuscripting is often like bumpers in a bowling alley. It helps people who are starting out, but you have to get rid of the bumpers if you want to actually grow into a serious bowler.
Third, preaching without a manuscript means a lot in the age of AI. AI will write you a great sermon in seconds. I've heard people talk about how good AI will do it in the style of a favorite preacher. If you carry a manuscript into the pulpit, then no one would know if you or an AI agent wrote it. It is a slight shift from a manuscript that you write to an AI-generated one and only you know. You read it just the same. If you want to walk to the pulpit with handwritten notes and a fire in your belly, then you will have no short cuts. I hope the church notices.
Four, preaching without a manuscript will save you time. I don't believe that the hours it takes to write a sermon are necessary. Research is necessary. Personal preparation is necessary. Crafting the sermon is. Finding illustrations are. Deciding on applications is necessary. Writing is not. I couldn't imagine writing a sermon manuscript in less than 5 hours. I imagine it would take closer to 8-10. That is time that could be spent on other things in the church like prayer, discipleship, organization, etc.
There are reasons to manuscript in whole or part. I have a friend who writes a manuscript every week so that his church's deaf interpreter can prepare. I understand that. I have written out a section of my sermon if I felt that I could serve my church better by being very specific with my words. I just don't think that writing a manuscript is necessary or advisable in most cases.
I heard Kevin DeYoung recently comment to Alistair Begg that there are no great preachers in this generation. If he is right, then one reason is that every preacher reads his sermon. I suspect that J.C. Ryle would not read his sermon. He was so convicted when he realized that the men in his church liked his preaching because they knew they could get a good nap in. He changed his approach to preaching after hearing that so that his preaching would make a difference. May we be willing to do that too.