So, You Want To Give A Sermon? Read This!



Posted: Monday, June 22, 2009

by Gary West
http://www.onlinebiblesermons.com

So, you want to give a sermon. Well, before you dive into the biblical waters, so to speak, you might want to read this article first. If you’ve seen ministers give sermons, you know it looks so easy. Well, part of the reason it looks so easy is because they work very hard on preparation beforehand. This article is going to touch on a few things you need to know before giving your first sermon so that it isn’t your last.

First of all, it’s important to know that your congregation wants to like your sermon. Nothing makes them feel more miserable than thinking that they’re going to be listening to some bore of a lecture. It’s bad enough that most of them are at church because they feel that they have to be there. Don’t make them suffer through the process. Point is, they want to be on your side. They want to like what’s coming. So you’ve already got a head start on pleasing them, kind of like a comic at a comedy club.

Secondly, you need to be prepared. You CANNOT wing this. So many people have tried to go up to that pulpit and just speak off the cuff. It’s very hard to do. What usually ends up happening is that you end up wandering all over the place with no real destination in mind. These sermons usually end up going on for 30 minutes or longer. And let me tell you, any sermon over 10 minutes is in serious danger of losing the congregation. So whatever you do, don’t wing it. Be prepared!

Finally, and this is something few people think about, come with a strong speaking voice and plenty of water. Nerves are going to get to you. They get to everybody. Dry mouth is going to creep in like mold on a wet soggy day. So having plenty of water to drink is going to be a must. You’re not going to get through a whole sermon without it. As for your voice, do some vocal exercises to loosen it up before you start speaking.

Like I said, giving a sermon LOOKS easy. That’s because a lot of work goes into giving one before the first words are even spoken, such as a specific bible verse to lecture off of, a well written outline, and some personality thrown into the mix to keep everybody awake. That is what makes a good sermon.

Check out my blog here for some free sermon samples and a review of a great sermon service
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Top-level comments on this article: (1 total)
» left by Mark Ste. Marie
 2 years 325 days ago.
11 fans.
Gary, great tips for public speaking. I've done plenty of it and you're right, water isn't a luxury.
 
Mark
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