Manuscript vs. Outline in Preaching: Which is Better? 

Thank you for this, I really needed it. I am the same way. I am attending RTS Charlotte this fall, pursuing pastoral ministry. I got to preach at my church a few Sundays ago and I was for the most part dependent on a manuscript that I typed out. It made me feel lesser than or unequipped, as if a preacher should be able to get up there with little to no notes and just preach. I'm glad to hear what you said in this, it was very comforting. Thank you for all you do and I pray the Lord continues to bless your ministry.

Thank you for your transparency 🙏🏼

Very much appreciate this. I don't preach, but I've had several opportunities to teach our adult and youth Sunday school classes. I've gone with outlines before, but I find myself forgetting exactly what it was I wanted to say or exactly how to say it. Going to try to manuscript my next lesson and see if that helps me get everything straight better. Thanks!

Thank you Pastor for going over this subject. I too, have used a manuscript primarily when delivering a sermon or Sunday School Lesson. I also preach the manuscript aloud multiple times, firstly, to gauge the time it will take to deliver it. This let's me know whether I have too much or too little information in the sermon/lesson to deliver in the time frame allotted. Using a manuscript also allows me to go over my sentences and learn how to say something as concisely as possible in order to cram as much biblical truth as possible into that allotted time frame. I will cite certain important scripture references but will also incorporate partial scripture quotes (in their proper context and meaning) right in the very flow of the sentences which I have written down so that the majority of the sermon/lesson is the Word of God, and less of my own words. This is one aspect that preaching from a manuscript allows the speaker to do, which the other methods do not. By preaching the sermon/lesson aloud multiple times, it helps to solidify it my memory so that when it is time for delivery, there is not as big of a need to look down at the page and I can focus on connecting directly with the audience. In seminary, at Bible Conference, there would be a "preacher boy" "contest". It was required to preach from a manuscript, but in the finals one had to memorize the entire sermon, word for word, and deliver it entirely from memory. It required a lot of preparation and work, but I must confess.. the liberty I had when delivering it inspired even more confidence. When one has studied, exegeted, poured over the original languages for nuances that perhaps are not apparent in the translation, located the most appropriate illustrations to use, identified personal applications from the text, in context, all the while bathing one's study in prayer for the Holy Spirit's help and blessing upon it when it is time to deliver it to His people, there is a confidence that is gained from it, that I do not get when using the other delivery methods. I have also used basic extemporaneous outlines, but have not used visual aides, though I am not averse to them. I agree they all have their uses and one should focus on their own strengths. I have heard those who can masterfully deliver a sermon with a basic outline. I've appreciated and benefitted from those who teach using digital visual aides. We should use the tools at our disposal to deliver the unadulterated, Biblical truth to those who will hear it, for the glory of Christ and the edification and building up of His Church and Kingdom. Thank you again for your diligence and willingness to share your experience and wisdom with us. May the Peace and Power of Christ rest upon you, your family, and your ministry.

You make a lot of good points here…as usual. Good information! Try switching to an iPad. It was a game changer for me. No more paper. So nice.

Thanks for this Matt, I appreciate your comments re preaching. I found helpful the comment to know yourself. I think one of the things we can struggle with as preachers is the temptation to feel like we have to be someone else, as you said, either John Piper, or John M, or even our senior pastor or trusted mentor. I have felt that temptation a lot. It has taken me a while to work this out for me, but I use an outline method, sometimes with fuller points (quotes from authors I have in full in my notes). I also currently write my outline notes in a journal by hand (there is something about having a pen in my hand as I'm preparing my notes. I typically use a moleskin journal -- I like the paper). For me this helps me guard against perfectionism, and it actually helps the message sink into my heart. It has also freed me up to actually engage my audience when I speak. It usually is a very structured outline. Also, currently being essentially bi-vocational (leading our Evening service where I preach regularly and working a number of part time jobs), this works for me as I prepare from the text of Scripture ( I love my wide margin ESV and CSB Bibles --I write all over them!). I may change this method when I'm in full time vocational ministry (which I am pursuing), but for now it works for me. Anyway, I always find your insights instructive and encouraging. Grace and Peace,

I've never used a Manuscript when preaching on Sunday but I have used Outline, and notes in my bible. Over the last few years, I have moved to No or just application points notes. I'm a reformed Baptist and I preach line by line. I think as you thought that whatever makes for a good message the preacher should use what they can faithfully exegete the scripture. Great preaching formation video!

Outline easily. Not only for my use but when I hear other preachers, I appreciate when the sermon is not being just read off a piece of paper or an ipad.

My language arts program, IEW, has a very interesting method for taking notes. Basically you have this outline, called a key word outline, or KWO: I 1 2 3 4 5 You can use 4 words per line, hyphenated words count for 1 word. numbers, dates and abbreviations are free, and you can use the first letter of a word to refer to something. so you take information from a paragraph and you put it in the outline--And you could do this for each sentence if you want. This method makes it quicker to read, but you have to "transpose" it into words. Definitely works for studying papers and what not.

The second Book of Homilies, the several titles whereof we have joined under this Article, doth contain a godly and wholesome Doctrine, and necessary for these times, as doth the former Book of Homilies, which were set forth in the time of Edward the Sixth; and therefore we judge them to be read in Churches by the Ministers, diligently and distinctly, that they may be understanded of the people. 39 Articles of Religion

Matt, good stuff here! I am also a full manuscript guy. I'm curious as to the size of the font you use. What size and which font do you use? I also it's single spaced. I am impressed as I need readers an mine needs to be 14 cambria and double spaced. I also have color in mine to draw my eye. How long are your sermons generally? Mine are 32-35 minutes.

What font and font size do you use? Blessings!

Matt, question for you: Whenever I preach, I always have to run through it out loud some three to four times prior to preaching it in order to feel free in the pulpit and not overly tied to looking at my notes. I don't know whether my manuscript is too tedious in language and precise phrasing or whether I am too reliant on memorizing my message rather than understanding it. Either way, I've felt that the practice of writing a manuscript itself is not what is laborious for me, but rather the rehearsing of it out loud for nearly 2-3 hours before preaching it. It feels increasingly unsustainable. How have you found freedom in this regard?

How do you prepare/plan a series?

Thanks, pastor Everhard! I always wondered what would be your opinion on RC Sproul who almost never taught from manuscripts, even rarely used notes. Is that something we should do as well? Is it a special gifting or there is a another reason?

I manuscript my sermons. But I try to know it well enough that I’m not reading from my page.

You got powerpoint? Nah we got google slides Wha da heck 😫Oh the pain.

You have a pulpit?! How 13th century. Seriously though, what's with the love of saying "pulpit" by so many, as if the word itself conveys a special sacredness. The word is virtually anachronistic as a physical reality, and it was meaningless to the early church. The apostles and early church leaders did not have pulpits, nor do most modern church buildings. For some five to six centuries larger cathedrals had pulpits. It seems like an affectation to me to say "pulpit," yet I guess we're stuck with it. That said - I appreciate your work, brother. The Lord keep you strong in Him.