One of the things he keeps me busy on most days is answering the phone and helping my students understand the process of sermon preparation I teach with the Preaching with Power course. Some days are very busy when I will give five or six phone calls and have to spend several hours with my students on the phone. Other days I wonder if the phone is even working. I've come to the conclusion that most of my students are preparing sermons later in the week and on weekends. Because that's when most of the calls occur.

One of the biggest problems most students have is determining the purpose of the sermon. They want to start a sermon preparation process with the title or by first writing an introduction. Neither one of these are good idea. When you start with a title it narrowly defines the sermon to the point that you are no longer open to properly exegete the Scripture. When you write an introduction first it does the same thing. It's not necessarily bad to narrowly define your subject, but when you start with an introduction or start with a title you actually put your mind in a rut. Your mind tends to focus on the title or the introduction to the exclusion of all other creative ways that the sermon could develop. So I always advise to start your sermon with a purpose statement and then develop your main points in your sub points. After this development, write your conclusion or your call to action and then write an introduction. When all that is done it is now time to put a title on the sermon.

When determining the purpose of the sermon students have a hard time separating their subject from their purpose. The purpose needs to be stated in concrete terms that deal with what you want the congregation to do or believe because they heard the sermon. For instance, a good purpose might be, to lead believers to pray everyday. This type of purpose is concrete and well-defined and will guide your mind and your heart as you prepare your points. It helps you stay on track and not chase rabbits.

In Chapter 1 of the Preaching with Power course I teach that concept. Anyone who is interested in learning a direct approach to sermon preparation can read more about this at the following websites: Http://www.calledtopreach.com Http://www.preachwithpower.org Http://www.sermoncraft.com