Study time for a message

[Joey]

If you are a minister, would you please share the amount of time it Usually takes you to prepare a message.
Comment if desired.

[RamboPreacher]

other. it depends on the message/direction I am being lead for that message. sometimes it can take many hours, of reading and research and prep, sometimes, being instant in season or when I am not "ready", and still am.

[darylscook]

Joey

In studing just for a message it may be only a couple of hours of writing, noting, arranging. But, how do you count the time you spend each morning reading God's Word with the intent to be led and directed as you reading/studying and God gives you a thought. Each morning before work, I read/study the Bible for about 1 to 1 1/2 hours before I go pray. But it only took me less than 2 hours to get ready. Then another 20 minutes or so the paste the scripture into PPT for the message.

What do I answer? I picked other.

[MrDanger]

For me, it depends. There are times that I research for weeks, study for more before it is ready. Other times, it flows pretty quickly. Then, after I have it written out, I read it to myself, talk it out loud to make sure when I hear it, that it makes sense. Usually, there is an hour or two of adjustments after that to "finesse" it.

[paul]

Hard to place a set number of hours. To me preparing a sermon it a life long process. Not just sitting downa nd saying I will preach this so where are my proof scriptures.

I spend time daily, just meditating on the word of God. When I out walking I am alsways conscience of things around me and listen to the voice of God. I read the Word, I listen to tapes, praise and worship music. And it is from these that the sermons are birthed. For lifes experience. No matter how theological it may be if it doesn't relate to where people live it will not effect their lives.

What I think you are asking, is. If I preach a sermon this week how much time does one generally spend to put it together.

I do a daily television program. The message is generally about 25 minutes. Putting the material together, going oveer the notes generally takes about 2-3 hours. But studying and preparing for it takes a life-time

[scooter]

I'm kinda with Paul.

It depends upon when I get the green light for the sermon.

Say it's a normal Sunday AM many times the Lord will have birthed a topic for fodder. I meditate on it constantly,after it comes, the Lord floods in the information and avenues to pursue. I get a chance to sit down Sat. evening or Sunday AM pray a little get the verses together and continue to meditate.

[ToJJB]

Well in my homiletics class in my master's we were instructed that every minute of preaching should be prepared by at least an hour of prep via prayer and study. I had several professors that said they prepared at least 40 hours to preach a 35-45 minute sermon.

I unfortunately haven't been preparing that much lately and maybe that is why T.D. Jakes isn't calling on me to come down and preach for him...LOL.

[Pastor Gary]

When I first started pastoring, it was 20+ hours a week. Now I think it is closer to 10. (Like Paul, it is not a self-contained process -- it flows from my entire life and daily pondering.)

It takes me longer than a few minutes of getting some verses together because I am a manuscript teacher --- I write sermons. I do not always read them word-for-word, but I structure the message, the key illustrations, the sequence of scriptural exposition in a way that feels natural for me and flows toward a conclusion. I interject things during the delivery but find the manuscript process helps me stay on target and avoid drifting off on a rabbit trail too much.

One thing that has reduced my prep time a lot is that I almost always preach series messages. Sometimes it is a verse-by-verse walk through a book of the Bible... it can take months to complete a book! Sometimes it is a topical series; recently I have focused on "The heart of the matter is the matter of the heart" with a series of sermons all having the word "heart" in the title.

Series sermons help cut prep time overall -- the first weeks are difficult, because you do a lot of blocking things out in advance and overall study, but then the weekly prep gets shorter because some of the study and structure flows from the earlier prep.

I read, pray, think throughout the week, but never write the message until Saturday. I tend to lock myself in my office Saturday afternoon and come out at 2 or 3 AM Sunday.

[Dr. Ron]

As with Pastor Gary , I almost always preach series sermons. I can't imagine a pastor preaching ad hoc every Sunday with no continuity to his vision and focus.

However, as an evangelist, I preached a very different style and sermon. I was almost totally an expository preacher looking for an immediate reaction to the sermon, ie altar call . Now, I do as much teaching as preaching and maybe more.

My prep time is divided so much I can't imagine keeping up with it. I stopped that a long time ago. It's all about guilt to me. When I was a young evangelist, we were in some seminars where we were told that if we didn't pray and read and fast at least four hours a day, we shouldn't be in the pulpit. I lived in guilt all the time because I could not do that. It was impossible. So, I don't keep a log. I don't fret myself with that. I have my time that is dear to me with the Lord. Sometimes it has to be on the way to a funeral or coming from a hospital or when ever I can grab some time. Suffice it to say .......some sermons are just born over time. Ask anyone who knew Dorlan Queener.

[Pastor Bill]

It really depends for me, like many have said, for me a message tends to grow in my heart and mind effecting and being influenced by all my study, what music I hear, my prayer time, even sometimes a show on TV or posts on Jude2!

In addition to that I have moved away from the type of structure Pastor Gary uses (what works for some doesn't for others) in my situation I was so structured at times that I would plan and study for my message so much that I wasn't putting the prayer and seeking into it that I needed. The result was well planned out messages on what I wanted to say, rather than led by God. early on in my ministry my pastor called me and talked to me about it, not directly what was going on, but gave me some advice and I realized from there what I was doing. Now I tend to pray and seek more than plan and structure.

I think every message is different, and every messenger is different.

[Poimen]

As far as actually sermon prep time probably about 2 hours for a sermon.
That does not count additional prayers and study time besides the actual sermon prep itself.

[paul]

As with Pastor Gary , I almost always preach series sermons. I can't imagine a pastor preaching ad hoc every Sunday with no continuity to his vision and focus.

When I do the television program, I always use a series. Generally I will feel the prompting to minister on a subject. As I prepare it I get a feel for the time frame I will need to minister. Recently a series was six programs.

After preparing all the material I will divide it according to the television time slots. When recording I will preach the entire series at one time. Then come back and do the editing for time slots. The session might last up to five or six hours or longer. This give me the continuity and low of Spirit for the message. I also feel that it is more effective for the viewer to receive.

However, as an evangelist, I preached a very different style and sermon. I was almost totally an expository preacher looking for an immediate reaction to the sermon, ie altar call . Now, I do as much teaching as preaching and maybe more.

Preaching in the outdoor crusades is my passion. Hard to explain it. But the message is always centered around Jesus. I do not spend time on bashing other religions and how their leaders are no good. I simply point to the joy and blessings and benifits of knowing a living Savior, and allow the Holy Spirit to perform the signs, wonders and miracles. You never know which way it will go until you see the crowd, sense the oposing spirits and strongholds. Then the Holy Spirit gives the direction.


...

some sermons are just born over time. Ask anyone who knew Dorlan Queener.

My Hopalong Cassity, Kit Carson, Wild Bill Hickock, and Sissco Kid all roled up into one

[pastorables]

Other for me also. I have put together sermons that took weeks, and I have also preached from memory or a few scriptures as God would direct me in a different direction for a particular service, etc.

However, on average through 20 years of ministry, I would say 4 or 5 hours for actual sermon prep. This is not accounting the meditation, prayers, or living out the thought as has been stated by others.

pa