The Process of Writing and Delivering a Sermon

REFLECTION: THE PROCESS OF WRITING AND DELIVERING A SERMON

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Reflection: The Process of Writing and Delivering a Sermon

One of my greatest honors is the opportunity to deliver the word of God to congregants. Right from a young age, I have interacted with numerous ministers, people, scriptures, and resources that have shaped how I approach the writing and delivery of sermons. One such individual is Pastor Denis Carl Jones, who has provided guidance for the major part of my life. He has accorded me numerous opportunities to deliver the word of God, and through him, I have learned how to craft and deliver sermons clearly and in an impactful manner. I still consider myself a learner, as every day, we learn new things that shape how we approach preaching. In this sense, the book Writing for the Ear, Preaching from the Heart by Donna Giver-Johnston has provided me with important insights about writing and delivering sermons that will influence my approach to sermons going forward. In this paper, I reflect on the process of writing and delivering a sermon based on my experiences and what I have learned from others, including Giver-Johnston.

While the process of writing and delivering a sermon are connected, I would like to begin with how I approach writing, and then I will later reflect on the delivery. I believe preparation is at the heart of every meaningful sermon. While delivering a message may take about an hour, preparing a meaningful sermon takes days or weeks. Before preparing any element of the sermon, I first pray to God to give me guidance and to reveal to me the message intended for His people. As Giver-Johnston puts it, it is important for preachers to prayerfully and intentionally prepare for sermons as the spiritual process of preparations shapes both the sermon and the preacher. After selecting