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Feedback Needed: What’s Your Sermon Development Process?

Joshua Gordon
By
Joshua Gordon
Joshua Gordon Senior Editor

I've spent 15+ years at the intersection of ministry, editorial leadership, and content strategy. As Editor at Black & White Zebra, I help church leaders build lasting ministries. I founded Lazarus Books, which produces books and content for mission-driven organizations. In 2020, I co-authored the bestseller Stunned by Grace. I studied Theology and Leadership at Rocky Mountain College and have served as a lay pastor since 2019.

More about Joshua
15+ years in ministry, editorial leadership, and Christian publishing.

We're putting together a resource on sermon development, and before we write a word, we want to hear from you.

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What's Your Sermon Prep?

How many hours per week do you spend in sermon prep?
What sort of tools do you use?

Every pastor develops their sermons differently.

Some of us start with the text and let it simmer for a week. Others work backward from a felt need in their congregation. Some outline everything. Some barely outline at all.

While I'm not the primary speaker at New Life Fellowship, I AM in the preaching rotation. As a lay pastor too, I don't have as much time to put towards a sermon as other paid staff might. That being said, most sermon prep for me takes 10-15 hrs or so, give or take.

Personally, if I were to break my process into percentages, it'd be as follows:

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  • 40% of my time is sitting in the passage I've chosen
  • 25% of the process is noting down all of my thoughts
  • 25% is organizing everything, and looking for good illustrations
  • 10% in reviewing and practicing delivery

My sermon prep is typically only half of the process.

When I get on stage to deliver the sermon, my responsibility changes. THEN, it's time to be carefully attentive to the Holy Spirit. I often find that the sermon that gets delivered is often different than my notes might suggest...

Enough about me, though!

Your Turn: Answer Some Questions?

I'm planning on publishing a "here's a bunch of details on how pastors like you prep their sermons" in the next few weeks.

Before I write a word, I want your input.

HEY! If you're not a member of TheLeadPastor.com...

Well, your day can only get better. Now is the perfect time to sign up.

We'd love to have you.

Joshua Gordon
By Joshua Gordon

I've spent 15+ years at the intersection of ministry, editorial leadership, and content strategy. As Editor at Black & White Zebra, I help church leaders build lasting ministries. I founded Lazarus Books, which produces books and content for mission-driven organizations. In 2020, I co-authored the bestseller Stunned by Grace. I studied Theology and Leadership at Rocky Mountain College and have served as a lay pastor since 2019.

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