1. Introduction to writing a sermon manuscript.
2. Preparing a sermon flowchart.
A sermon is never easy to write, but knowing what your purpose is makes it much easier. If you have done a thorough job of text study and have written both a faith statement and a purpose statement for your sermon, you are well on the way to having your sermon written.
Using a computer to write sermons makes it easier to make changes and adjustments in the sermon during the critical run-through process. (Process #3) One of the secrets of being willing to make changes in a sermon as you go along is not having too much time invested in the writing of the manuscript. If you use a computer changes are easily made. Be sure and leave plenty of space between things when writing your sermon. During the run-through process you will be making many additions and corrections to the manuscript and you will need the room.
There are no short cuts in preparing a well written sermon, but in the Process Preaching system you do not have to be as careful and as complete in what you write. This is because the exact words you use for the sermon will be chosen during the run-throughs and the final act of speaking. This means that you do not have to get hung up during the writing process with carefully crafting sentences. You do, of course, want to get the general ideas and the way you plan to express them down on paper. However, your final presentation will be a combination of all your run-throughs, (each of which will be slightly different) so you do not have to worry about having your manuscript perfectly written.
It helps during the run-through process to know
exactly what you had in mind. This is particularly true if there
is any time gap between the writing process and the run-through
process.
It gives you a copy for your files. This can then be
refrenced at a later date. If you write only sketchy notes for a
sermon, it is very difficult to know what was in the sermon
originally. It is also helpful to write a full manuscript if you
have plans to distribute written copies of your sermon to the
congregation.
Although the manuscript is only referred to or looked
at occasionally during delivery, it is good to have it there in
case you have a memory lapse.
Before you begin to write the manuscript, a flow chart should be prepared. You can write this flow chart out on a very large sheet of paper. This chart will serve as your guide when you sit down to write the sermon. Give yourself enough room to put all the elements down that you are planning to include in the sermon.
THE TEXT - in this section write down the part of the
text you are focusing on in your sermon. You have already written
a purpose statement so this should be a relatively easy matter.
ELEMENTS
OF THE SERMON - Here you can list those items you have decided to
include in your sermon. (stories, illustrations, theological
points, references etc.) Remember to judge the appropriateness of
these items by holding them up to your faith statement and
purpose statement.
THE
STEPS, BLOCKS OR MOVES OF THE SERMON - In this area you will
place the elements of the sermon in the order you want them to be
in the sermon. For example, you may plan to begin your sermon by
telling a story that you have deemed appropriate for the sermon.
The next step in your sermon may be to look at the text and to
begin doing some explaining of your interpretation of the text.
You may discover that these steps or blocks get switched around
once you begin writing the sermon or running - through the sermon.
Nevertheless, it is good to get them in some kind of order on the
flow chart. This gives you a starting point for the writing of
the manuscript.
FAITH
AND PURPOSE STATEMENTS - These statements should be located at
the end of the flow chart to indicate the fact that they describe
the goal of the sermon. If you have the flow chart before you as
you are writing the sermon you can easily check these statements
from time to time. They are particularly helpful when you are
making decisions about what to include in the sermon or in what
order things should be placed.
TITLE
- It can also be helpful to put the title of your sermon on the
flow chart if you have one. This is just one more way to help you
keep your focus for the sermon.
(If you E-mail your regular address to me I will send
you a copy of a flow chart I have written and which can be copied.
It is on a piece of 11x17 paper and needs to be sent by way of
the regular mail. It gives you plenty of room to include all of
the above flow chart items.)
The key to writing a sermon in the Process Preaching system is to not be overly fastidious about it. If you pride yourself in your writing this is not the time to show off your abilities. Seldom is it true that what we write sounds much good when it is read word for word. Just "slam" things down on the computer or typewriter and don't take a lot of time in doing it. Later, when you run through the sermon you will often be using completely different words in a completely different order. You will do this because when you speak the words you have written out loud, you will often discover a better and more effective way of saying things.
This concludes process #2 of the Process Preaching system. Please go to Process #3 - Delivering the Sermon.
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