No, this one isn’t about topical sermons vs expositional or that sort of thing. They say you can’t teach an old dog new tricks, but during the shutdown, I’ve fallen into a new pattern for preaching that I hope to continue now that the slow march toward normalcy has begun.
I used to preach from handwritten notes. If you saw my handwriting, you’d know why that can be a total disaster. I’ve been using my computer to study and prepare notes for a long time. Since I moved here to Sioux City, I have been relying more and more on presentation software (still using old faithful – Powerpoint) for sermon notes – trying to help visual learners follow along.
One of the things I found, as I edited my sermons for the website, was that I was tending to run longer and longer. Of course, with my dashing good looks, that seems to be okay. Guys like Bart Barber, Matt Henslee, and of course, the rest of the Voices team, couldn’t get away with preaching sermons of 45 minutes or more. During the shutdown, while we were recording sermons, I wanted to control my time better, so I took to manuscripting my sermons.
Now, I tend to preach from the manuscript. For me, a 6 to 7 page manuscript, double spaced (12-point, Times New Roman) would give me about 27 to 30 minutes of a recorded message. In the last couple of weeks, I’ve both recorded and preached live. Sermons seem to run about 5 minutes longer (or more) in a live situation than when I’m recording.
So, what I’m doing now is manuscripting, putting up more general, less detailed notes on the screen, and trying to keep my message in the 35-minute range (and failing at times, but going toward 40 minutes, not 50!).
I’m not really asking you to judge my process, though go ahead. I’m just wondering what others do.
- Do you use presentation software?
- Do you manuscript?
- Any masochists out there who go into the pulpit with NO notes?
Just interested.
Rumor is that we at FBC Farmersville have a deacon on the sound board with instructions to cut off Bart’s microphone, if he goes longer than 35 minutes in the early service. You’re on your on, if you attend the 11 o’clock service. ?
i would suggest with Bart, shorter time limit.
I use handwritten notes – sometimes just bullet points though to keep me on track. I am with you Dave on your handwriting comment…. I doubt anyone could make heads or tails out of them except me – shoot I have looked back after the passage of time at old handwritten sermon bullets/notes – and could not read them myself! LOL No way I could do a transcript – too formal and stifling for me. More Power to those who do and can do it well! I used to do no notes or just a few post it notes –… Read more »
I use a fairly detailed power point presentation. For a 35 minute sermon I might have 40 slides. I was doing this even before the shutdown. People like to be able to see what I’m saying. I think it helps (and I need all the help I can get!). I edit the slides into a recorded video and upload it to YouTube. This takes a few hours. I’m currently prerecording the sermon and making it available for people who choose to stay home due to COVID on Sunday morning while I preach the same message with the same slides live… Read more »
I am still prerecording as well.
Once we’re back inside I plan on preaching from another room in front of a green screen, wearing all green, so just my head will appear on screen in the sanctuary like Max Headroom
Seems workable
I manuscript Dave. Other than the main text, all of the Scripture references are printed in the notes. I use 14pt. Helps me to see the notes without using my readers. Using this I generally have 11 to 12 pages of notes. The messages usually go 30 minutes.
i usually have a pretty full manuscript, it’s in outline form, but with full paragraphs, anywhere from 3 – 8 pages. Reduce it down to no more than three half-sheet pages to take into the pulpit. Usually preach way too long, 40-50 minutes. I’m working on being shorter, but it’s hard. (I’ve been a pastor for 36 years, but am still trying to improve, Dave, so I’m glad you youngsters are, too!)
I think that for me, as I get older, i trust my memory less. More notes.
10 minutes is an illustration.
I use an outline. 2 pages max. Gives me the freedom to speak naturally but keeps me on topic.
i do not read my manuscript, for sure. People generally dont want to listen ti someone read.
Not preaching much these days, but I always use a printed “expanded” outline. Usually manage with 3-4 half-sheet pages. Typical length from 25-35 minutes. If I have an unusually large number of Scripture references, I will print them out separately to avoid excessive page flipping. Same if I have a specific illustration that needs to be spelled out more for me that just an outline reminder. When possible, use PowerPoint or presentation program with at least the major outline points.
If it’s a narrative passage, I can on occasion go without notes, but I must have notes for other genres or for topical messages.
Cannot imagine ever entering the Pulpit without extensive notes.
Tgat is just my process
During the virus lock down, most of us had to video our sermons. I’ve read and heard that lots of preachers shortened their sermons for the webcast. Our staff media guy says that we should preach shorter on video.Personally, I use PowerPoint for preaching. People remember more if they can see and hear. Besides, PP helps them follow the sermon. For many years, I wrote my outline on 5X8 cards. Now, I print out the PPs and write notes about illustrations on that sheet or sheets. When I use a full manuscript, I end up reading a lot and my… Read more »
I have always used a manuscript for preaching. I tried several times to get away from a manuscript. But I could never cut the cord. After a little maturity in the pulpit I embraced manuscript preaching. I have found it helpful for many reasons. 1) It does help me know how long my sermon is. 2) It preserves the message. If someone takes me to task on something I said I can find it. And if I want to preach it again it is far easier to dust off. 3) It makes me a better wordsmith and less repetitive in… Read more »
Always a 1 page outline with notes – I discovered years ago that if it’s more than 1 page, it’s longer than 35 minutes and I don’t want to do that. I still use PowerPoint for slides, but I seldom look at them when I’m preaching. Usually about 15-20 slides per sermon – each time I transition thought or make a new point.
To the three questions: no, no, and yes.
Tell them what you’re going to tell them.
Tell them.
Then tell them what you told them.
I use a manuscript, but also put the Scripture with my points on Powerpoint on our monitors for the congregation. Since March I have intentionally chosen to cut my sermon time to 30 minutes, since we are Live Streaming, which I have found is approximately 3,000 words in Word, 12 font, Times New Roman. I have also found editing down my sermon to 3,000 words has made me more efficient in my speech and I have had comments that would seem to back that thought.
I usually do not have anything but my Bible app on my phone. However, a few caveats: I’m a new pastor with lots of missionary experience. My teaching moments over the years were often extemporaneous, and filled with extensive discussion. I’m having to learn how to preach a prepared sermon. My missions experience has not always permitted a note-filled presentation. I’ve taught under trees and in bars and on trains. I’ve just gotten comfortable teaching without anything in my hands. My audience here in the US is not an English-speaking audience. Writing out an English manuscript and then presenting my… Read more »
I start out praying for a subject to to deliver in a sermon. When I get the subject I search the scriptures that pertains to that subject. I usually choose approximately three passages that expounds on that subject. I usually use real life circumstances (where the rubber meets the highway) in everyday life. I close followed by invitation. The whole thing takes around 25 to 30 minutes. The church members sometimes makes the service longer by their testimonies of how the sermon touched their hearts and how exactly what I preached applied to their lives. A church isn’t going to… Read more »
We have propresenter as our presentation software but the only thing sermon wise I use it for is to have the verses on the screen. I preach from an outline. It keeps me on track and I use a large enough font that as I walk around I can just glance at it and find my place.
My lead pastor preaches without notes, and requires all preachers at our church to do the same. We fully manuscript and memorize our 40-45 minute message.
I’ve done it 3x now. I’m leaving to church plant and plan to go back to my old method – a short (half page) outline.