Early on a Sunday morning, I was reading through the full text of my sermon
based on the blood of Christ as revealed in Hebrews chapter nine. I couldn't
escape the sense after thoroughly reviewing the written sermon, that I should
lay it aside and preach with no notes. I felt free to speak from my heart on
this most sacred and wonderful theme. If I feel that I am tied to my notes,
I need to take the risk of preaching without them. Sometimes, what feels like
a symphony in the study becomes a sour note on Sunday. Why does this happen?
While I might have thoroughly studied and carefully outlined the Scripture text,
I have not carefully anticipated my audience. Setting the notes aside helps
me communicate with my listeners more conversationally.
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It is a mistake to assume that preaching without notes makes sermon preparation
or delivery easier. I've noticed no difference in my passion while preaching
with full text, brief notes or no notes. After a worship service during which
I preached from the book of James, someone said “James is easy to preach from,
right?” Wrong! His assumption was that the practical nature of the book of
James required less effort in preparation and delivery. There are no easy sermons.
During the opening face-off of a game between an elite team and an underdog,
a TV commentator observed that there are no easy games in the National Hockey
League. In our most holy task of delivering God's powerful word, there is no
easy method of ensuring maximum impact. What matters is that we embrace the
word of God with passionate intellect and communicate it with passionate love
for the Lord and the listener. Then you can hit your stride whether you preach
with a full text in hand, brief notes or the sacred text alone.
_____________________
Grant
McDowell is Lead Pastor of Leduc Alliance Church in Leduc, Alberta.