I have had the honour of preaching since the age of sixteen and I have tried a number of different techniques’ for the use of notes. Everything from writing out my sermons long hand to having no notes at all.
The process I follow right now is fairly simple although lengthy in time:
- A scripture passage will catch my attention’ (unless I am preaching through a book, in which case I use Baxter’s “Explore the Book” to help me section out the passage in an appropriate way).
- Make lot’s of notes on my bible – using Bible Arcing is very helpful at this stage
- Start writing it on Google Docs – I started using google instead of Word because I love that I can work on it regardless of the computer I happen to be on. Additionally it is useful having them available to me as I travel.
- Look over my notes and then highlight keywords.
- Read it over and over – editing and praying as I go
- Transfer the keywords to a post-it note or two.
It can look like I am ‘winging it’ as I preach as it appears I hve no notes. No notes doesn’t mean no preparation though – far from it.
My intention is to start a Sermon “Post-it” catagory on this blg where I can publish my sermon nanonotes.
For example, the following bullets reflect a recent sermon I preached:
Aaron and the Golden Calf
Ex 39
- Israel experienced God’s presence
- Still doubted
- Seeing is not believing
- Made demands from Aaron
- Gold – nothing wrong with gold
- sculpts the calf
- Idols in our loves are often MADE from good things
- We sculpt them – spend time over them
- God hates idolatry
- More reference to God’s wrath in the bible than His love
- Rom 1:24
- Aaron lies – makes excuses for behaviour
- There will be justice
- Propitiation – Jesus
- Gospel
