Washington Washington ConferenceConference

Planning a Preaching Planning a Preaching CalendarCalendar

Dr. Derek J. MorrisDr. Derek J. Morris

Moving from panic Moving from panic to purposeto purpose

My experience as a young preacherMy experience as a young preacher Planning your preaching calendar Planning your preaching calendar

takes time and energytakes time and energy Planning your preaching calendar Planning your preaching calendar

avoids a lot of wasted time and avoids a lot of wasted time and wasted energywasted energy

Your life will be less stressful and Your life will be less stressful and your preaching will be more your preaching will be more purposefulpurposeful

Step #1: Select a sermon Step #1: Select a sermon planning groupplanning group

You select the group (6-12 people) Make the group representative of

the diversity in your congregation/s Give them a 30-day assignment

Talk to church members, family and friends: “what sermons would interest you in the coming year?” “What are your areas of felt need?”

Step #2: Meet for a Step #2: Meet for a debriefing sessiondebriefing session

I plan this session for a Sunday morning and provide breakfast

Give each member of the sermon planning group an opportunity to report to the whole group

Take notes Observe patterns that emerge

Sermon series on Sermon series on Philippians:Philippians:

Rejoicing in the LordRejoicing in the Lord Two reasons to rejoice-1:1-11Two reasons to rejoice-1:1-11 Rejoicing in the midst of adversity-1:12-21Rejoicing in the midst of adversity-1:12-21 Joy unspeakable and full of glory-2:1-11Joy unspeakable and full of glory-2:1-11 Rejoicing together-2:12-18Rejoicing together-2:12-18 Rejoicing in Jesus alone-3:1-4:1Rejoicing in Jesus alone-3:1-4:1 Always rejoicing-4:2-23Always rejoicing-4:2-23 www.preachwithpower.com www.forestlakechurch.org

The Radical Teachings of The Radical Teachings of JesusJesus

www.theradicalteachingsofJesus.comwww.theradicalteachingsofJesus.com What Jesus Taught about HimselfWhat Jesus Taught about Himself What Jesus Taught about the ScripturesWhat Jesus Taught about the Scriptures What Jesus Taught about SalvationWhat Jesus Taught about Salvation What Jesus Taught about His ReturnWhat Jesus Taught about His Return What Jesus Taught about the SabbathWhat Jesus Taught about the Sabbath What Jesus Taught about the JudgmentWhat Jesus Taught about the Judgment What Jesus Taught about DeathWhat Jesus Taught about Death What Jesus Taught about His ChurchWhat Jesus Taught about His Church

Step #3: Solicit feedback Step #3: Solicit feedback from your leadership from your leadership

teamteam Review the suggestions from

the Sermon Planning Group Listen to recommendations for

additions and deletions Prayerfully make adjustments Example: Healthy Christians

series

Healthy ChristiansHealthy Christians(Adventist Preaching volume 11)(Adventist Preaching volume 11)

Healthy lifestyles (textual: problem/solution)Healthy lifestyles (textual: problem/solution) Healthy families (topical: multiple voices)Healthy families (topical: multiple voices) Healthy financesHealthy finances (topical with outline in (topical with outline in

bulletin)bulletin) Healthy relationships (textual: idea explained)Healthy relationships (textual: idea explained) Healthy bodies (topical: NEWSTART with ppt)Healthy bodies (topical: NEWSTART with ppt) Healthy minds (textual: not this, but this)Healthy minds (textual: not this, but this) www.preachwithpower.com www.forestlakechurch.org

Step #4: Take a time of Step #4: Take a time of spiritual retreatspiritual retreat

Take this rough draft of your preaching calendar and spend some significant time in spiritual retreat

Prayerfully make additions and deletions

Create a revised draft of your preaching calendar. Include for each sermon:

Preaching passage Exegetical idea Preaching idea

Example:Example: What Jesus Taught - Part 5What Jesus Taught - Part 5 Sermon Title: What Jesus Taught about the Sermon Title: What Jesus Taught about the

JudgmentJudgment Preaching passage: John 5:19-24Preaching passage: John 5:19-24 Exegetical Exegetical idea:Jesus tells those who accept idea:Jesus tells those who accept

Him as the Son whom the Father has sent Him as the Son whom the Father has sent that they will not come into judgment but that they will not come into judgment but have passed from death into life.have passed from death into life.

Preaching idea: Preaching idea: For those who belong to For those who belong to Jesus, the judgment is good news!Jesus, the judgment is good news!

Benefits of planning a Benefits of planning a preaching calendarpreaching calendar

You avoid panic and wasted time You are looking at the big picture You can do advance preparation

for sermons (Emmaus Road series) Your worship team can prepare Your media team can notify the

community about future sermons

Recognize that changes Recognize that changes will occurwill occur

Events in your church family or Events in your church family or community might require an community might require an addition to your preaching addition to your preaching calendarcalendar

You may be convicted to shorten You may be convicted to shorten or lengthen a series of sermonsor lengthen a series of sermons

Change is not a sign of failure Change is not a sign of failure but a sign of responsiveness to but a sign of responsiveness to God and to your communityGod and to your community

For a copy of this For a copy of this presentation:presentation:

MorrisD@gc.adventist.orgMorrisD@gc.adventist.org

Questions?Questions?