I love sharing Gods word. Every week I want to share the narrative of scripture in a way that is understandable and applicable to the everyday average person, not just to the weekly church goer, or someone who has a steady personal study time with God.
I don't know about you, but I've found that where I prepare my messages has a big effect on how I write and deliver them. So through the years I have been very step by step oriented in my message preparation. Here is what I do and where I do it.
Study time at Home Office.
About six months ago I moved my office to my house. My message preparation begins here. I do the big rock lifting of foundational scriptures, theming, and commentary study in this first phase. Blocking off the overall direction on my whiteboard.
Team Teaching Meeting.
Every Wednesday I get with a small group of people to go over my big thoughts and direction of the message. Critiquing it and coming up with better ways to deliver the thoughts not only for that week but for the entire series we are working on. I really love this meeting.
Writing Time at Home Office.
After the team teaching meeting, is when I start the doing the detail work of the message. Prayer, study, writing out the points, illustrations, and thinking through the actual pacing and timing of delivery.
Panera Bread, Coffee Shop, McDonalds
Most weeks, at the end of my message prep, I will go to a public place, get out my notes and just read over the message about 5 to 6 times. As I sit there, seeing the people around me, and hearing there conversations, I begin to run the points of my message through the filter of "if this person beside me at the coffee shop is at my church on Sunday, would they be able understand and apply what I've written so far".
I've found that getting out of the house and going to a public place helps me bring the message to a much more applicable place for the people who are at our weekend gatherings or watching online.
I would love to hear what you do for your message prep. Feel free to comment below or email me at growmoore@gmail.com
If you are a Youth Pastor find out about message prep and more at YOUTH MINISTRY UNIVERSITY.