I love Alistair Begg... As a young assistant pastor, hearing this is encouraging and disturbing at the same time. Encouraging because I see I'm not alone in the struggle, but looking at these seasoned veterans I realize it doesn't get easy. However, handling the word of God and feeding His people is a labor of love that shouldn't be taken lightly. A real honor. Thanks for sharing.
This is great! I agree, I don't consult commentaries until after I have interpreted a passage on my own and have a functioning outline. Then I check commentaries to correct any misinterpretation on my part and clean up my outline. Then I start my manuscript. The initial exegesis and outline is about 20% of my process, but it does about 80% of the work.
I agree, I begin by living my life in prayer. I am constantly listening. Then I read the scripture and let it soak in. only then do I go to outside sources. yes to correct but also understanding. I may use several sources if I think that I am missing something important. I do not want to make the scripture says something that does not say but neither do I want to overlook something that is key to understanding the scripture before me. The point being that I would know him and that I would cause others to know Him as well.
Wonderful. I would love to see some instruction geared to adult Bible teachers (Sunday school). That seems to be a forgotten role in our churches these days. These men are wonderful encourages to the body of Christ.
Making one point which goes home, rather than many which don't only really makes sense if you only have one listener. It may be that you need to make a number of points for different hearers. - But still, for me, the question remains 'What do I leave out?' rather than 'What do I include?'
I don't recall where, but I heard or read recently that it takes about 20 years to write a good sermon. I don't know that I could quantify it quite like that, but the meaning should be clear: namely, that sermon prep starts early in the life of a Christian wrestling daily with the Scriptures as he reads and interacts with them. Only at the last hour does he go to orchards he has planted in the back yard of where he as at home with the text and know where to pick the best fruit.
