For the second year in a row, I’ve planned about a year’s worth of preaching themes/series for the upcoming year. During October-December 2010, I planned texts and series for most of 2011. And during this October-December, I’m finishing up plans texts and series for most of 2012.
This has been a big step for me, though I’ve typically planned series 4-6 months out. I’ve found it to be tremendously beneficial. It’s allowed me to do much more prep work and meditation on upcoming texts and topics, thus deepening what I’m able to present each weekend. In addition, it’s given our creative team (video and graphic design) much more time to work on sermon video teasers, slide design, and other visuals. It provides our worship leaders the opportunity to consider special music, etc. and have plenty of time for rehearsal. Further, it’s allowed leaders in other ministries like Children’s and Youth to see what’s coming up and to choose whether or not to tie their teaching topics to what the church is hearing from the stage each weekend.
I’ve followed a similar format the last two years:
First, in September, I notify my elders, staff, and other ministry leaders that I’m starting the planning process. I seek their input for texts, topics, themes, and series. I also post on Facebook and elsewhere, asking others for input.
Second, September-October, I do preliminary research. I scan websites and catalogs, looking at what books people are reading, what some of my preaching-mentors have been preaching, investigating cultural trends, etc.
Third, In October, I take one or two weeks, usually blocking out at least an entire week, to prayerfully begin sketching out large blocks for the upcoming year. Primarily, I’m seeking God’s answers to the following 9 questions:
- Spiritual Disciplines-what spiritual practices should be emphasized in the next year?
- Following Jesus/Nonconformity – what aspects of following Jesus/differing from culture should be emphasized?
- Contemporary Cultural Issues – what cultural issues need to be addressed?
- Systematic Theology/Doctrine – what basic doctrines need to be reframed and restated?
- OT/NT Book/Block of Texts – what books/texts are of particular importance for next year?
- Justice/Compassion – what aspects of our mission to the poor need to be emphasized?
- Family – what marriage/parenting issues should be emphasized?
- Evangelism – what aspects of our mission to the lost need to be addressed?
- Belief Barriers – what barriers make belief difficult for people in our community?
Fourth, during November, I begin to lay out these blocks on a calendar. I have certain seasons which I typically follow: a season on spiritual growth at the beginning of the year, a season leading up to Easter which focuses on Jesus, two seasons each year on missions/ministry to the poor which culminate in our Special Contributions for World and Urban Missions, a season on marriage or parenting from Mother’s Day to Father’s Day, a season on personal evangelism in August/September, and a season leading up to Christmas. I put these series in place first, and then begin to work around them.
Fifth, through December, I work on titles for the series and the individual sermons within the series.
All of this is done “in pencil,” with a flexibility to change as circumstances and needs change.
What about you? How do you plan your preaching?
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