| Sermon Preparation Materials |
With the support of your Pastor and local ministry, you will have opportunities to develop your specific gift. I do want to mention that simply because you've been called into ministry does not automatically mean that you've been called to a pulpit ministry. There is a specific anointing upon those that have been assigned to pulpit ministry... that is, standing before people to PROCLAIM the gospel of Jesus Christ. You are not less than a minister if this isn't your assignment. Learn to become comfortable in your assignment.
If you have been called to a pulpit ministry, you too need to become comfortable in who God has called you to be. There are many, many ministers who are suffering and not growing like they should because they are developing their gift to mimic someone else's style. It's a great thing to use someone else's delivery and style and lessons to learn from. But you should NEVER try to duplicate it. That's impossible!
So, the assumption is that you already understand the implications of preaching.
I am also assuming that you are working to discipline yourself to understand that no book or other resource is going to be as beneficial to you as specific time in personal Bible study. Studying your Bible should be the first place that you begin, as to pull specific Biblical truths, principles, and concepts out. This will also be the first place to establish what truth you will pull out to prepare.
This is a good time for me to say also, that with all of my exposure to various ministers, preachers, and evangelists, and all of the questions that I've asked, I have never heard anyone say that there is only ONE SPECIFIC way to prepare your sermons. Again, you'll have to develop your own style.
Now that you have your truth, take time to Interpret the Text.
Now determine the general subject and topic of your sermon based upon the Biblical truth that you've already read and evaluated.
You should also be simultaneously gathering support materials from newspapers, articles, video clippings, personal examples, and the whole nine.
Take time now to allow the subject matter and supporting materials to begin to sink in a little bit. Don't rush this part of the process. You must become married to this so that it becomes authentic in your delivery.
It has been said, the last thing you do is develop your title from the meat of your sermon. I'll admit to you that sometimes it doesn't always work this way, but it'll be much easier to develop a clear and relevant title if you do.
