5 Things I Do Before I Preach

As a pastor, I’m often asked what my routine is as I prepare to preach on Sunday mornings. Ultimately, it’s all about Jesus, but I realize I have a responsibility as a shepherd to do all I can to be prepared.

Ideally, I always try to be completely finished with my sermon Friday, so I can take Saturday off. Sometimes I spend an hour or so on Saturday doing one final edit. I try to limit my activities and get a good night’s rest Saturday night. I spend Sunday mornings doing one final edit of the message.

I have some Sunday morning routines, which best help me prepare.

5 WAYS I PREPARE TO PREACH

1. Read Something in the Bible Other Than the Passage I’m Preaching On.

I want to feed myself before I try to teach others. Often I am reading through the Bible and I continue this on Sunday mornings.

2. Pray.

I spend longer on Sunday mornings than other mornings in prayer. It prepares my heart. I pray for those who will be in attendance and those who may still be debating attending. I pray for God’s presence to be with us. I pray for other leaders in the church. I seek a sense of oneness with God’s heart and mine.

3. Exercise.

I don’t get to do this every Sunday, but when I do I am more mentally alert and physically prepared than when I don’t.

4. Worship

Ideally, I love to put the Sunday morning lineup of worship music in a playlist and allow the music to lead me in worship. Either way, I try to find a time to worship on Sunday mornings. When I’ve made much of God before I get to church, I find I’m better able to make much of him when I preach.

5. Pray

Just before I preach I have a fairly standard prayer. It goes something like this, God, I can’t do this. You know I’m not worthy to speak on your behalf. You know and I know that it’s only by your grace I can be here this morning. If you don’t show up, today will be meaningless.

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This article originally appeared on RonEdmondson.com and is reposted here by permission.

Ron Edmondson
Ron Edmondsonhttp://ronedmondson.com

Ron Edmondson is the pastor of Immanuel Baptist Church in Lexington, Kentucky. He revitalized two churches and planted two more.

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