Sermon Prep: Not How Long, But Where?
Many have strong opinions on the amount of time a pastor should take to prepare his weekly sermon, with many affirming that roughly 20 hrs is not just normal but advisable.
We’ve probably seen pastors piling up their commentaries on the book they’re preaching on (with an almost obligatory social media post) as they begin their weekly tough slog through the mysteries of the text. Such a pastor spends a few hours in additional reading, a few hours on the Greek/Hebrew exegetical work, a few hours writing a manuscript, a few hours praying, and a few hours revising and familiarizing himself with the sermon. If 20 hours is advisable, does that apply to the pastor who preaches two different sermons each week?
When I am asked how long I spend preparing a sermon, I honestly don’t know. And there’s a good reason for that, namely: I am in a sense always preparing. Sure, there are more formal times spent at one’s desk or in prayer, but I am also preparing in other ways and at various times.
Our Lord’s example may be instructive here. His early life and adult life was one of preparation for the ministry: Isaiah 50:4, “The Lord GOD has given me
the tongue of those who are taught,
that I may know how to sustain with a word
him who is weary…”
Christ’s teaching from his Father was part of a whole life of preparation whereby we see ample evidence that our Lord was not only a keen student of the Scriptures (Luke 4), but also of nature and people (Matt. 13). We should be practising the former without neglecting the latter.
I think in ostensibly Reformed circles, many pastors are in danger of spending too much time in their office surrounded by books when they should be spending more time in the world and among people as part of their sermon preparation.
Most hearers don’t enjoy oft-repeated manufactured stories – the types found in a book on illustrations – but they seem to prefer illustrations from real life. Not infrequently I will use an illustration from something that happened during the week in my day-to-day living. For these types of illustrations to happen, which generally cause the congregation to perk up a little, I can’t live in my office. We should be careful not to become “Reformed monks” who apparently don’t spend enough time with people, either in society or their own church. Our Lord was frequently with people, the religious and the sinners (Matt. 9:11–13). He could preach to them because he spent time with them. I think pastors should spend time volunteering in a public capacity somewhere (e.g., help coach a sports team; volunteer at a shelter) or they may wish to find ways to be in public places interacting with people on a consistent basis (e.g., join a club: bridge, chess, sports, etc.).
One reason Reformed preaching can be so boring is because too much, not too little, time is spent in formal sermon preparation. Sermons become lectures because they are invariably crafted almost entirely in an office.
As pastors we are always preparing ourselves as we prepare the sermon. The importance of our own personal piety cannot be overstated: 1 Timothy 4:16, “Keep a close watch on yourself and on the teaching. Persist in this, for by so doing you will save both yourself and your hearers.” One reason “Johnny Can’t Preach” is because Johnny isn’t godly and doesn’t understand people. Some may need to get into their study, but others may need to get out of their study and show that the fruit of the Spirit is evident in their life. One normally needs to interact with people to exhibit gentleness or kindness. If the imitation of Jesus is something you wish to do, invite yourself over to someone’s house for dinner (Lk. 19:5).
Good preachers use every opportunity to make their sermons understandable, relatable, and intelligible to the common person. One needs to understand how the average person thinks and behaves to be an effective communicator to their souls with the Word of God.
I’m painfully aware of the general lack of biblical knowledge, even among pastors. We need to be in the Word far more than we are, and again our Lord is our example here (Matt. 22:29). A pastor must make preaching and prayer a priority. But I tend to think that many take that to mean they can justify shutting themselves up in their offices for far too long because they are preparing a sermon.
As one ages in the ministry, pulpit preparation also changes. Younger preachers, who preach occasionally, may need more “formal” time in their office as they learn how to craft a message. One’s style may change as well. Some start off with a heavier dependence upon a manuscript or notes and find themselves more comfortable and confident with less as they mature. Others don’t change a thing because they are who they are! I’m not so much concerned about all the specifics and styles of each preacher so much as I am troubled that we think we can gauge how many hours is spent on sermon preparation and that sermon preparation is what happens exclusively in an office.
How long does one prepare for each sermon? Personally, I just don’t know. I read what I have to read; maybe I’ll listen to a sermon on the text by someone else while driving; I pray, often finding it brings thoughts and ideas to light that would have remained closed off forever; I spend time with people in my church as well as with those outside of the kingdom; and I aim to keep watch over my life (and doctrine) so that I can aim to preach on all sins and virtues with a clear conscience. And since I prefer to preach without many notes, a lot of internal memorization takes place through the week (i.e., the sermon prep rarely leaves my mind for too long).
There will always be debates and opinions on preaching, but I’ve learned that good preaching rarely happens only in a study. It’s not that 20 hours is too much, but rather that 20 hrs in office prep is excessive and possibly a waste of time if you’re failing to effectively understand the people you’re preaching to (but don’t really know) each Lord’s Day. There are few things more important in a faithful ministry than sermon prep, but you might be surprised where some of that takes place.
Mark Jones (Ph.D., Leiden) has been the minister at Faith Vancouver Presbyterian Church (PCA), Canada since 2007.
