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.

Read more from Ron Edmondson »

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.

The Future of Church Outreach: 3 Key Trends We Must Engage

EDITORIAL Leading Mission | Andy Cook Standing on the steps of the Wheaton College Billy Graham Hall in 1980, Graham asked his audience a pivotal question: How...

Hills Church: New Name, Same Mission

Hills Church has grown, in part, due to Marksman—a strategy for men focused on reaching and discipling other men that includes a 6-week Bible study boot camp.

Mike Housholder: The Wind of the Spirit

“Churches are called to make their cities better. The best way to do that is to genuinely and authentically love our neighbors. If there are needs in our community, we want to get involved.” - Pastor Mike Housholder