I found the chapter on sermon preparation interesting. Here’s an excerpt:
One night at the Bible discussion group, we were in the midst of our conversation about Mark 5… Most weeks when we start the discussion group, I give a bit of context to what we’re doing. I say we aren’t meeting to study the Bible but to enter into discussion with it and with one another and that the content of our discussion will be carried over to a coming Sundy in a larger conversation during our worship time…
This part of the preparation process is one of the more unique characteristics of our community, but it isn’t a radical idea. I’m just suggesting what is normally done between the pastor and a commentary be done between the pastor and the community. The commentary can be part of the conversation, but it’s not the only outside contributor.
As a former youth minister and associate minister who has preached and taught countless lessons over seven years I can’t think of one time I really dialogued with someone else about what I was going to teach in order to get feedback. Much of my prep was done at a coffee shop with my laptop, Bible, and my thoughts.
If you are a preacher, speaker, or teacher, do you include others in your prep? What do you think of Doug’s method?
I personally wonder how much more relevant and personal my messages would have been if I had incorporated the community into my preparation?
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