It took me 34 years to develop my weekly rhythm for sermon prep, but I can share it with you in just a few minutes.
It’s about walking with God all week so you can stand and speak His Word with clarity and passion.
Here are practical sermon prep steps any pastor can adapt. 🧵
It’s about walking with God all week so you can stand and speak His Word with clarity and passion.
Here are practical sermon prep steps any pastor can adapt. 🧵
Sunday Night → Begin with the Text 📖
Read next Sunday’s passage several times.
Make initial notes: themes, phrases, questions.
Pray for God’s wisdom and transformation.
Great preaching starts long before Sunday. It begins with listening.
Read next Sunday’s passage several times.
Make initial notes: themes, phrases, questions.
Pray for God’s wisdom and transformation.
Great preaching starts long before Sunday. It begins with listening.
Monday → Spadework + Progress 🛠️
Do something! Always move the sermon forward, even if just re-reading the passage.
Make observations, ask questions, start light research.
Work toward a main idea and a working outline.
Small, steady steps on Monday set up momentum for the week.
Do something! Always move the sermon forward, even if just re-reading the passage.
Make observations, ask questions, start light research.
Work toward a main idea and a working outline.
Small, steady steps on Monday set up momentum for the week.
Tuesday → Leadership + Light Study 🗂️
Focus on pastoral leadership: calls, visits, meetings.
Lead staff devotion and prayer.
Use remaining time for additional sermon research.
Tuesday carries the weight of shepherding while keeping the text close.
Focus on pastoral leadership: calls, visits, meetings.
Lead staff devotion and prayer.
Use remaining time for additional sermon research.
Tuesday carries the weight of shepherding while keeping the text close.
Wednesday Afternoon → Planned Neglect ⏳
After lunch, everything waits except midweek prep.
Reserve 4–5 uninterrupted hours for your Wednesday message.
Streamlined study → structure → substance.
Preach Wednesday night with full notes.
After lunch, everything waits except midweek prep.
Reserve 4–5 uninterrupted hours for your Wednesday message.
Streamlined study → structure → substance.
Preach Wednesday night with full notes.
Thursday → Anchor Day for Sunday Sermon 🪨
Big day for study and sermon development
Focus on substance:
• Explain → make meaning clear
• Illustrate → make truth vivid
• Apply → make message personal
Goal: complete manuscript by day’s end (2,700–3,000 words).
Big day for study and sermon development
Focus on substance:
• Explain → make meaning clear
• Illustrate → make truth vivid
• Apply → make message personal
Goal: complete manuscript by day’s end (2,700–3,000 words).
Friday → Saturday Afternoon → Rest + Renewal 🌿
Treat this as a personal sabbath.
Rest physically.
Spend unhurried time with family.
Create space for spiritual renewal.
Healthy preachers preach better sermons.
Treat this as a personal sabbath.
Rest physically.
Spend unhurried time with family.
Create space for spiritual renewal.
Healthy preachers preach better sermons.
Saturday Evening → Internalize the Message 🧠❤️
Pray thru manuscript.
Talk thru intro, points, transitions, and conclusion.
Mark Bible thoroughly: key words, cross-references, points.
Pray over sermon and your people.
“Study prepares the sermon. Prayer prepares the preacher.”
Pray thru manuscript.
Talk thru intro, points, transitions, and conclusion.
Mark Bible thoroughly: key words, cross-references, points.
Pray over sermon and your people.
“Study prepares the sermon. Prayer prepares the preacher.”
Sunday Morning → Preach with Joy 🙌
Prepare practically Saturday night: shoes and clothes ready, breakfast set. No decisions to make.
Arrive at church early.
Pray over your message.
Meet leaders for prayer.
Step into the pulpit spiritually centered and ready to proclaim Christ.
Prepare practically Saturday night: shoes and clothes ready, breakfast set. No decisions to make.
Arrive at church early.
Pray over your message.
Meet leaders for prayer.
Step into the pulpit spiritually centered and ready to proclaim Christ.
This rhythm has anchored my preaching for decades:
📌 Start early — Sunday night sets the pace.
📌 Thursday is the anchor.
📌 Internalize, don’t memorize.
📌 Protect rest.
📌 Pray as much as you study.
Faithful preaching flows from a faithful rhythm.
📌 Start early — Sunday night sets the pace.
📌 Thursday is the anchor.
📌 Internalize, don’t memorize.
📌 Protect rest.
📌 Pray as much as you study.
Faithful preaching flows from a faithful rhythm.
• • •
Missing some Tweet in this thread? You can try to
force a refresh
