Preparation of the Preacher
A Lecture on Preparing to Preach
Scripture
Sermon Description
The vocation of a minister is unique. A minister does not leave his work behind, whether late at night or on vacation. A minister is a man who is always preparing; he never frees himself from his calling because everything he does finds relevance to his work. How then does a preacher organize his life in light of this reality? What are some practices that will aid the minster in his preparation for preaching? The key factor, says Dr. Martyn Lloyd-Jones, is for the minister to know himself. In this lecture on the preparation of the preacher, from the “Preaching and Preachers” lecture series, Dr. Lloyd-Jones articulates several points for ministers to consider as they labor to prepare for weekly preaching. Under this guiding principle of knowing one’s own temperament and personality, he encourages pastors in the fundamentals of prayer and Bible reading. Also in this lecture, Dr. Lloyd-Jones challenges pastors to other kinds of reading. Whether it is devotional reading of the Puritans, or more intellectual material such as theology, church history, or apologetics, the overarching goal is to prepare the minster for his pulpit ministry. Listen as Dr. Lloyd-Jones outlines a blueprint for personal preparation that will benefit the minister as well as the congregation.
Sermon Breakdown
- The preacher is always preparing. There is no such thing as a holiday in the spiritual realm.
- The most important preparation is the preparation of oneself, not the sermon.
- The preacher must maintain a general discipline of life. He must safeguard his mornings and not let interruptions interfere.
- The preacher must know himself, including physically and temperamentally. He cannot follow prescribed rules and programs. He must find what works for him.
- Prayer is vital to the preacher. He must obey every impulse to pray. Prayer should be ongoing throughout the day, not just in the morning.
- The preacher must read the Bible systematically, not just for sermon texts. He should read the whole Bible at least once a year. When a verse speaks to him, he should stop and work out a sermon outline.
- The preacher should read devotional works, like the Puritans, to nourish his soul. He should choose reading appropriate for his current spiritual state.
- The preacher should read theology, church history, biographies of preachers, and apologetics to strengthen his mind. He should balance heavy reading with lighter reading.
- The preacher should read religious periodicals to keep up with current issues and trends. He needs to assess what his congregation is exposed to.
- The purpose of reading is not primarily to get sermon ideas but to stimulate thinking. The preacher should not just transmit ideas but think for himself.
- The preacher should engage in general reading like history, biography, and literature for mental rest and new ideas. But he must not let it distract from his calling.
- Music can help put the preacher in the right mood or frame of mind for thinking and study. He should use whatever helps him.
- The preacher must know the variations in his life and ministry and have resources to draw upon in different seasons. He must treat himself appropriately for his condition.
Sermons: Preaching and Preachers
Dr. Martyn Lloyd-Jones
Dr. Martyn Lloyd-Jones (1899-1981) was a Welsh evangelical minister who preached and taught in the Reformed tradition. His principal ministry was at Westminster Chapel, in central London, from 1939-1968, where he delivered multi-year expositions on books of the bible such as Romans, Ephesians and the Gospel of John. In addition to the MLJ Trust’s collection of 1,600 of these sermons in audio format, most of these great sermon series are available in book form (including a 14 volume collection of the Romans sermons), as are other series such as "Spiritual Depression", "Studies in the Sermon on the Mount" and "Great Biblical Doctrines". He is considered by many evangelical leaders today to be an authority on biblical truth and the sufficiency of Scripture.