Preaching From Memory

I had a traumatic experience on Saturday...my IPad got broken! This is a terrible occurrence I can assure you!

I won't go into the details of how this happened, but it leads me to the story. When I say it got broken, I am referring to the screen. I was horrified because my sermon for Sunday morning was on that iPad! As I examined the thing, I found that it would still turn on and seemed to function normally. I decided to go ahead and preach from it anyway!

As I began preaching Sunday morning, it happened! The screen went black and refused to come back on! I was right in the middle of my first point! I swallowed hard and tried not to let the panic in my heart show on my face!

I know you will tell me that I go what I deserve for not having my outline on paper! You maybe right, but that didn't change the situation now!

Thankfully, I have recently learned what I believe is a more effective way to prepare and deliver a sermon than I had previously done. This method involves certain ways of preparation that keep you from preparing something last minute. I am sure no other Preachers ever throw something together last minute!

Because of this, I had been thinking about and praying over my outline for the previous four days. I knew my outline by heart! I missed a few of my scripture references, and God brought some others to mind, but otherwise the sermon went off with no noticeable difference. This was testified to by numerous people. In fact that message has been the most requested sermon I have preached in months!

I do not tell you this embarrassing story to brag on myself. I do, however, want to encourage those of you who have the honor of preaching or teaching God's Word, to ask yourself whether you are preparing your lessons or sermons thoroughly enough, that if necessary, you could preach or teach from memory! Is your message so ingrained in your heart that you could deliver it without a outline? An outline is a tool, but for some it becomes a crutch. Which is it for you?

Decide today to start preparing for your important task by getting your message into your heart, and not just onto your paper...or iPad...or margin...whatever!


- Posted using BlogPress from my broken iPad