I usually complete my sermon on Saturday. During the week I think through angles and points and puzzle connections. I rest on the ideas and often awake with whole paragraphs completed in my head.
This week has been different. I began with a project we are calling our 50 days of prayer. A weekly study guide had been completed by one of our denomination’s pastors. I skimmed them over a few weeks ago when they first arrived on my computer.
Monday morning I took a closer look. Monday afternoon I thought there was a gathering storm of ideas that could work. The devotionals and a sermon which had been prepared as an introduction to the 50 days of prayer, rolled around my head last night.
As I sat at my desk this morning I sensed some editing, rearrangement and original input could make next Sunday’s talk work! By late afternoon the sermon was completed.
Now, from experience I know that sermons are never completed until the words issue from your mouth. Completing a sermon early means I will cogitate on it over the week. Hopefully I’ll be able to improve on what I’ve started.
One thing – I’ll have a little more time this week to rest and relax – a sabbath might occur this week!
Dear Ron: I am the fellow who wrote those studies. My prayer is that they help our churches recapture the vision to reach the least reached people groups on earth, and that our churches embrace this vision. If the study has helped this happen, then the mission is accomplished. Praise God.
In Him,
David Chotka