As a pastor, I was often asked what my routine was for preparing to preach on Sunday mornings. Ultimately, it’s all about Jesus, but I realize I have a responsibility as a shepherd to do all I can to be prepared.
Ideally, I always tried to be completely finished with my sermon Friday, so I could take Saturday off. Sometimes I would spend an hour or so on Saturday doing one final edit. I tried to limit my activities and get a good night’s rest Saturday night. I spent Sunday mornings doing one final edit of the message.
I had some Sunday morning routines, which best helped me prepare.
Preparing to preach on Sunday mornings:
Read something in the Bible other than the passage I’m preaching on
I wanted to feed myself before I try to teach others. Often I am reading through the Bible and I continued this on Sunday mornings.
Pray
I spent longer on Sunday mornings than other mornings in prayer. It prepared my heart. Prayer is part of preparing to preach. I prayed for those who will be in attendance and those who may still be debating attending. I prayed for God’s presence to be with us. I prayed for other leaders in the church. I sought a sense of oneness with God’s heart to mine.
Exercise
I didn’t get to do this every Sunday, but when I did I was more mentally alert and physically prepared than when I didn’t.
Worship
Ideally, I loved to put the Sunday morning line up of worship music in a playlist and allow the music to lead me in worship. Either way, I tried to find a time to worship on Sunday mornings. When I’ve made much of God before I get to church, I find I’m better able to make much of Him.
Pray
In preparing to preach — just before I preach — I have a fairly standard prayer. It goes something like this, “God, I can’t do this. You know I’m not worthy to speak on Your behalf. You know and I know that it’s only by Your grace I can be here this morning. If You don’t show up, today will be meaningless.”
That’s how I go about preparing to preach. What’s your process, pastor?
This article originally appeared here, and is used by permission.
