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The Preparation of Sermons

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Review and Herald Publishing Association · Takoma Park Station, Washington, D.C. · Dec 29, 1910

FromReview and Herald, Vol. 87, No. 52.

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The Preparation of Sermons

By C. H. Bliss

C. H. BLISS
When one enters the pulpit, he should sense the fact that he occupies an important position. The minister stands before the people as a mouthpiece for God. He is Christ's representative, and he should speak and act as Christ would if he were here. If the minister enters the pulpit in a thoughtless, careless way, if he laughs and jests with others while sitting on the rostrum, his preaching will lose much of its effect upon those who observe him. He ought to show, by every word and act, and even by the expression of his face, that he realizes the responsibility that rests upon him.
Again, if the minister feels the burden of his work as he should, he will make the best possible preparation, so that he can, aided and guided by the Holy Spirit, deliver his sermon in an intelligent, effective manner.
If he partakes of a hearty meal just before speaking, his mind will be inactive. Many excellent sermons have been spoiled through the indulgence of appetite. The blood is drawn from the brain to digest the food; and because of this the speaker lacks energy, and delivers his sermon in a careless, listless manner, and it has but little effect upon his audience. Then if he does not study and arrange his discourse before entering the pulpit, he is very apt to introduce things which are not directly connected with his subject.
Some have thought it unnecessary to prepare their sermons, but say they will let the Lord suggest the thoughts to be presented while speaking. But the Lord can certainly speak as easily to a man while in his study as when in the pulpit. And if ever one needed to commune alone with God, it is when arranging and preparing a message to deliver to the people.
It is much better to make a few points definite and plain than to undertake too much, and make nothing clear. We should certainly aim to accomplish something definite in every sermon. Some truth or truths should be settled beyond all question or doubt in the minds of the hearers.
Some speakers unconsciously exalt themselves by making strong statements,then offering but little proof to support their position. Such a course has a tendency to cause the people to rest their faith in the speaker instead of in the Word of God; and if such ministers afterward depart from the faith, such converts often follow them.
It is certainly preferable, while preaching, to place ourselves with our congregations as earnest inquirers after truth. Let the plain statements from the Word of God decide every question. In this way the attention of the people is drawn from the speaker to the infallible Word. Thus the minister is lost sight of, and the Bible is exalted. When people learn to believe what God says, and build their faith upon that, they soon become rooted and grounded in the truth, and are not easily moved by the opinions of men. We can not exalt too highly the Word of God. Let us hide behind the cross; then our preaching will bear fruit in the salvation of souls.
Shelbyville, Ill.