In a recent article, Charles Stone posed the question: How long should a pastor spend preparing a sermon? While acknowledging that pastors of varying levels of experience may take more or less time, offered a few thoughts to consider as you answer this question for yourself.
• Schedule your study and prep time during your best, most alert hours.
• Set reasonable expectations. An hour or two is too little time for most just as 35 hours is probably too much.
• Use computer tools readily available. I own a Mac and use both Accordance and Logos. I rarely use paper books. These tools have made my study time more efficient.
• Trust God to use your faithful preparation. Seldom do ministry demands allow us to study as much as we’d like. We must do our best and trust the Holy Spirit to fill in the gaps. (Click to read the full article.)
