7 easy steps to much faster sermon prep

I read this post about Seven easy steps to much faster writing and immediately saw the obvious transferability to preaching.

Before you go and read it  though, let me say that our motive should not be so much about preparing our sermons faster, but rather more efficiently. In some ways some of us need to slow down sermon preparation – to give time for prayer, meditation, and also divine promptings.

So my approval of these principles is not so much about getting out of the study quicker, but about using time in the study better – freeing up time for the deeper and more spiritual dimensions of sermon preparation. With that caveat in place, here are Ali’s main points with my summaries:

1. Find your best writing time: Not all hours are equal. Find out when you are most productive.
2. Minimize the risk of interruptions: Turn phone off. I repeat, turn phone off.
3. Cut out distractions: Turn email off. I repeat, turn email off.
4. Write an outline: Get this as early as possible in the process.
5. Set a timer: Focuses and concentrates the mind
6. Start wherever you want: Just get going – beginning, middle, or end. Wherever you have some thoughts, start there.
7. Don’t edit while you write: Don’t keep stopping to craft the perfect sentence. Write lots….then edit.

Read the whole article here. It could save you (or free up) a lot of time.