Preaching: As you’re preparing, do you write a manuscript or do you make notes?
Stanley: If I wrote a manuscript, I couldn’t even preach it—I couldn’t! I outline. I have about a six or seven page outline, and I just think that way. By the time I have put it on the computer screen, and looked at it and developed it, then I don’t have to do much studying because it’s just sort of in me, you know? It’s a part of you.
Preaching: Do you carry any notes with you into the pulpit?
Stanley: I may jot a few things down in the margin of my Bible, but a long time ago I decided I just didn’t want to start doing that. I thought, “Well Lord if I make mistakes, I’ll just have to make them, and if I miss something I’ll miss it,” but I can’t carry paper with me. If I can’t jot down a few things in the margin, then I just don’t do it. I’m freer that way. I have to be free, that’s why I don’t stand behind the pulpit.
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Preaching: That’s becoming more and more common for pastors, to step away from or even not have a pulpit altogether. How long have you been doing it that way?
Stanley: I’ve been doing it that way for probably 20 years.
Preaching: Do you find that really helps with your communication?
Stanley: Yeah I do, because there’s nothing between me and them. What I used to realize was I would step around the side of it; it’s like something inside of me wanted to get out in the middle of where they are. So once that was removed, I feel like that’s where I am. If you notice the way our worship center is built, people are around me, all around me, and I like it that way.
Preaching: What do you enjoy most about preaching?
Stanley: I love studying, but I also love delivering. There’s nothing in the world like that. I do love getting in a passage of scripture, and just studying, and knowing that I’ve got God’s theme; there’s something very satisfying about that. I can’t study enough once I get that going.
Preaching: What do you find most challenging about preaching?
Stanley: Sometimes it’s a challenge to know exactly what is the need. I think that’s a challenge: To be sure I’m dealing with a need that’s evident and that people—the persons out there who are listening, and myself— that we’re in agreement that here’s a need and I want to help meet that need.
For most pastors, the time to study is a major issue. I’m very blessed with having a great staff at In Touch and a great staff at church, so I have time. I don’t have any excuse for that, but I think for most, that’s probably a major issue.
Preaching: If you had one word of counsel or encouragement for other pastors and preachers, what would that be?
Stanley: Here’s what it would be: I would say to them the most important thing in their preaching today, tomorrow, next year, the last sermon they ever preach is their personal, intimate relationship with Jesus Christ. That is the key.
And I think the most important thing I do is spend time praying, talking, listening to God. I learned a long time ago it’s the greatest time saver in the ministry. The way I learned that was that I would study, study, study, and I didn’t have a theme, and I’d get in the prayer room. I’d start praying, and I’d go to sleep. I’d sort of berate myself for going to sleep. But then I’d wake up, I went back to the study; I went back to the desk and sat down. It was just amazing. My subconscious got busy, after I got out of the way. The prayer time is the most advantageous timesaving element in the ministry. ❖