Whether you’re new to the pulpit or a seasoned pastor, you can probably benefit from a little organization or even just a fresh way of doing things. Maybe your spirit is overflowing with topics to preach about. Or, maybe you feel like you have covered the Bible from Genesis to Revelation already. No matter which category you fall into, here are a few tips to help you write your next sermon.
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1. Pray
Praying for guidance as you prepare to choose a sermon topic is the first thing you should do. Ask for wisdom, guidance, and the leading of the Holy Spirit as you prepare to reach your audience. This will also clear your mind of everything the world is throwing at you as you get ready to make your outline.
2. Choose a Topic
Now get out your notebook and pencil, or laptop, and prepare to make your sermon outline. If you don’t have something in mind for your topic, turn to your recent reading. Is there something that interested you or inspired you or that you underlined to share with your congregation later? You can build around that thought or sentence. Pull your bible out and look up scriptures that go along with it.
If you’re still drawing a blank, think about sermons or teachings you’ve heard yourself recently. Was there timely information to share? The word of God isn’t copyrighted. You won’t deliver the sermon word for word, but you can share what the Lord spoke through that man or woman of God and add your own thoughts on the subject.
Consider these two types of sermons you could write:
Topical sermon. A topical sermon, as the name implies, focuses on a specific topic, rather than meditating and discussing a passage of scripture. This could be the subjects of parenting, loving your neighbor, tithing, eating healthy, current events, even a holiday topic such as Christmas or Thanksgiving. You could get ideas for a topical sermon from anywhere!
Expository sermon. An expository sermon will involve a passage of scripture and how to apply it to our modern lives. Exegesis means the critical explanation or interpretation of a text. Since the bible was written so long ago, words may not have the same meanings today, or the passage may be about an obscure tradition in biblical times that your congregation needs help understanding. This is where you can step in to explain and help your congregation interpret the passage.
3. Study
Although you may be able to write a good sermon without studying, you shouldn’t. There are so many rich and wise sources and perspectives to draw from. How can you preach with any insight if you haven’t studied the matter thoroughly? You can begin to create a rough outline as you go, so you don’t forget anything you wanted to include.
Take some time to look up scriptures on the matter. Google other articles and books that have been written about the topic. Has one of your favorite leaders or pastors commented on your topic? Pull out your Strong’s Concordance and look up the Hebrew and Greek origins of keywords in your beginning outline. The more you can study, the more material you will have to work from as you write your sermon.
4. Solidify
Look at what you’ve gathered and outlined so far. Is the what, why and how of your outline clear? Is there too much information for one sermon? Don’t forget that you can always make this a series if you have found a rich topic!
This is the time to re-order the outline, fix any holes, and make sure you have a clear conclusion to your sermon. Try to make the outline and your thoughts so clearly that you can preach without looking at your notes much.
Can you think of ways to help your congregation remember the steps you are preaching about? For instance, if your congregation is taking notes, they will appreciate “three points” or “five ways” or “three scriptures” or any kind of organization for their own notes. Can you use alliteration? Rhyming? Is there a catchy spin for your youth group culture? Your goal is to get your message to stay in your audience’s heads to continue to instruct and encourage them throughout the coming week.
This is the time to solidify your main point. Flesh out any weak areas. Think ahead to what kind of questions about the material your audience may have and answer them from the pulpit. Try to make everything crystal clear.
5. Leave the Sermon Alone for a Day
If you have time, setting your draft aside for a day can be helpful. You can come back to your message with fresh eyes and see what might be missing or need clarification. Now is the time to revise for the final time. Read the outline aloud. Does it make sense? Did you forget something you wanted to point out? Have you thought of any other points in your day away from the topic? How is your ending? That will remain the freshest in everyone’s mind. Have you shown the grace and mercy of the Lord in your closing?
Throughout all these steps, make sure to continue to seek God’s guidance in everything you do, and remain open to anything God may want you to share with the congregation.
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