Pastors are busy. To make matters more hectic, many tasks of pastoral ministry cannot be planned. Phones ring with a crisis on the line. Folks drop by the office for a “visit.” Meetings run longer than expected. And as morbid as it is to think, it’s true: people do not pass away per a schedule. Welcome to the pastorate. These items and more can cause quite a lot of stress on pastors. They are, as it is often said, always on. Therefore pastors must make every attempt to manage their schedule or it will manage them. Just ask their wives.
One of the ways pastors can take back their schedule is to plan their preaching. I’m not referring to some dry, calendared approach, merely matching texts with dates. Rather, to plan one’s preaching is to demonstrate a sensitivity to both the leading of the Spirit and the needs of the people. Wise pastors also plan to accommodate the rhythms of their own life and family. To plan your preaching is more than a weekly enterprise. It is to take a look at the seasons, cast a vision, frame out a few months of Sundays so everyone can get on board.
There are many resources available on how to plan your preaching. But in this post, I want to give you four simple encouragements on why you should embark on such a project.
- Mondays are easier.
For me it’s a legal pad, an open Bible and a pencil in my hand. There I sit, with a Sunday behind me but “Behold!” another Sunday coming on the horizon. Every pastor knows the joy, but they also feel the pressure. Whenever and however you start to sermon prep, there is a moment when you begin. You can either spend precious time thinking and scheming (i.e., procrastinating) over what you should preach this coming Lord’s Day, or you could get after it. Allow me to suggest that you take away the guess work, alleviate the stress, and slay the inner critic. Prepare now to have a text in hand next Monday. - Congregations are helped.
The task of preaching is not a string of one-hit-wonders. Neither is it a collection of Saturday night specials. No, it’s a rhythmic succession of faithful expositions Sunday after Sunday that shape a congregation over the long haul. The best way to do that is to cast a vision for how you will preach “the whole counsel of God.” (Acts 20:27) Give your people direction for where you take them as you lead from the pulpit. Invite them to study with you, pray for you and join you in the labor of preaching. Publish your schedule. Encourage expository listening. Do everything you can to prepare the pew. They’ll help you more than you think. - Studies are deeper.
Early in my ministry a seasoned pastor told me: the more time you have, the more creative you will be. That’s proven true in my ministry for over a decade. Planned preaching provides a precious commodity: time. One doesn’t just study for Sunday, but next month, next summer, next year. With such time you can, as it’s been said, “think yourself empty, read yourself full, write yourself clear and pray yourself hot.” The preaching of the Word deserves such preparation. The pastor who plans his preaching will gladly find himself as Silas and Timothy found Paul in Macedonia, “occupied with the word.” (Acts 18:5) - Families are free.
One of the challenges pastors face is being mentally and emotionally present with their families. Dad may be at the dinner table, but his mind and heart are in his study. Wives and children know this scene all too well. When the sermon isn’t ready, neither is the pastor and stress abounds. Planning your preaching gives you the margin you and your family need. Take a day off, spend it with your wife, play with your kids. Know your text, even work ahead, and take time to relax.
My wife likes to plan our family meals. She knows what she’s cooking. The kids and I know what we’re having. It sure makes grocery shopping easier, along with a sense of stability for our family. There’s a plan in place, a vision for the kitchen.
Pastor, do you have such a plan? Have you piqued the appetites of your congregation? Do they know what their next meal will be, and if you’re busy preparing it? Take time to plan your preaching.
No comments have been added.