Comments on: Normal sermon prep? Really?

By: Graham

Graham — Thu, 24 May 2012 12:16:22 +0000

http://biblicalpreaching.net/2010/09/10/extended-gestation/

By: Stephen Dunning

Stephen Dunning — Wed, 23 May 2012 07:17:58 +0000

Thank you for raising this issue. I have complained on a couple of blogs recently where people have shared how they do sermon prep. In each case they had more time for one sermon than most of us have for three. It is not helpful or encouraging to hear of people able to give 20 hours per sermon.

By: What I Read Online – 05/23/2012 (a.m.) | Emeth Aletheia

What I Read Online – 05/23/2012 (a.m.) | Emeth Aletheia — Wed, 23 May 2012 00:36:06 +0000

[...] Normal Sermon Prep? Really? | HeadHeartHand Blog [...]

By: Luke Simmons

Luke Simmons — Wed, 23 May 2012 00:33:12 +0000

I agree that 20 hours is pretty unrealistic. At least if you want to do anything else valuable like develop leaders, lead a staff, meet with new people, etc.

I agree about not advising starting with the “group think” before individual study, but I disagree that having a collaborative experience diminishes the “thus saith the Lord” aspect. We are a multi-congregational church, each with a lead teaching pastor but studying the same things at the same time. My insights into the text as well as my overall preaching has improved greatly by getting insights and perspectives from other gifted, godly preachers. It’s also an outstanding environment to develop exegetes and future preachers who sit in with us and participate.

By: Michael Whitcomb

Michael Whitcomb — Tue, 22 May 2012 20:24:21 +0000

Gotcha,
I totally missed your “amusing bit”. I thought you were criticizing his lack of sermon prep time because of what Tripp said. Now I see your humor and agree with you. I was wondering how much you were being paid for spending 140+ hours in sermon prep alone! My guess is that Um preaches only once a week, in which case 20 hours doesn’t seem too egregious. (avg. 4 hours a day). Just my opinion! Thanks for the clarity and insight.

By: Bob Wiegers

Bob Wiegers — Tue, 22 May 2012 20:13:15 +0000

I understand that you’re saying this method isn’t advisable (nor possible in most circumstances, for that matter), but would you consider it un-Biblical?

By: David Murray

David Murray — Tue, 22 May 2012 20:12:09 +0000

Michael: If a regular 15-20 hours per sermon is the counsel of perfection, 35 hours is the counsel of despair!! I’ve never spent 35 hours on a sermon in my life. I average 7 hours probably. Wish it could be more but I can’t ignore other responsibilities.

By: Jacob Young

Jacob Young — Tue, 22 May 2012 20:11:55 +0000

Hi David,

Very helpful thoughts here, especially on the hours needed for prep! One small question here, and if you answer this elsewhere, please just point me in the right direction. Could you talk me through this point: The “strangely common [practice] for pastors to circulate their almost-completed sermon to fellow elders and other pastors before preaching”. It seems to me that whether a pastor manuscripts or not, talking through a sermon with other pastors (of their local church) prior to preaching is a good way to bring clarity to a message, check against unnecessary or unhelpful points, and is a means of bringing a functional plurality of elders into the teaching and preaching of a congregation. Thoughts on this? I feel that I’m potentially taking your point to far, or missing the mark here. Thanks for your time!

By: Michael Whitcomb

Michael Whitcomb — Tue, 22 May 2012 20:07:23 +0000

David,
I agree with your points of caution with doing “corporate” exegesis prior to personal, I would do that later in the week as well. I question your citation of Tripp concerning a 35 hour sermon prep per sermon. Did you (or do you) spend on average of 35 hours studying per sermon? If so, that means when you were preaching 4 times a week, that was 140 hours of work per week total on sermon prep alone. I’m just wondering if you had a family then, any other pastoral responsibilities, or slept during those years of spending that kind of time per sermon. Perhaps you could shed some light on those who only preach once a week and then have multiple other pastoral duties.

By: Mike Leake

Mike Leake — Tue, 22 May 2012 19:55:53 +0000

David,

Thanks for bringing out this corrective. I’m still chewing on it. I linked to the TGC article this morning and will link to your article tomorrow.

I think there can be some benefit to mulling over a text within the community of believers and other pastors. I found that interesting. I’m honestly not sure where I’m landing on this one yet. But I greatly appreciate you giving this caution.