Several years ago, I discovered a remarkable method of sermon preparation which, apart from the anointing of the Holy Spirit, has helped my pulpit effectiveness more than anything else I have ever encountered. I discovered the method shortly after my parents began attending Southeast Christian Church in Louisville, KY. I was intrigued by the pulpit skills of the church's senior pastor, Bob Russell. [For additional information about Russell's preaching, see interview in March-April 1995 issue of Preaching.]

In addition to having a keen insight into the biblical text, Russell seemed to have fresh, illustrative material to help communicate the truth of the text every single week. Since I was a pastor and knew the demands of serving a church, I was puzzled as to how he was able to read enough material and spend enough time in his study to prepare and assimilate that material into his sermons. Since then, I have learned his 'secret' and have applied similar meth-ods to my own sermon preparation.

Actually the method is no secret at all. Russell has always been open about the fact that some of his sermon prep-aration is done in a small group forum. Like Russell, I have chosen to be honest with colleagues and church members about benefiting from the research and study of other members of a study group. I share this method so that others will benefit as I have.

Biblical Precedent

Sharing resources with other pastors and teachers not only makes sense pragmatically, the idea of benefiting from the godly counsel of close friends has a biblical precedent. Ecclesiastes 4:9-12 reads, "Two are better than one, because they have a good return for their work: If one falls down, his friend can help him up. But pity the man who falls and has no one to help him up!... Though one may be overpowered, two can defend themselves. A cord of three strands is not quickly broken." Consider Proverbs 15:22: "Plans fail for lack of counsel, but with many advisers they succeed."

God uses the silence of one's time alone with Him to communicate biblical truth and ways to communicate His message. The wise preacher will realize the unique insights of others and will recognize the value of using the findings of others.

Readers of the New Testament benefit from the gospel story being told from not only one perspective, but four. Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John narrate the same basic story in the life and ministry of Jesus, but with unique perspectives, purposes, emphases, and insights. The Christian heritage is richer because God in His wisdom created each of these authors differ-ently. Under the guidance of His Holy Spirit, He told His message through these messengers in ways as unique as their fingerprints.

In our study meetings I have often felt like the man who, in a hurry to go to the church picnic, quickly grab-bed a bologna sandwich and ran out the door. After arriving at the picnic, a family asked him to join them in their meal of fried chicken, potato salad, and apple pie. To keep him from feeling guilty they said, "You share your sandwich with us and we'll share what we have with you." Some trade! He sat down like a pauper, but he ate like a king. I have gone into some of our study ses-sions without bringing much to the table, but I have always eaten like a king and left with precious nuggets of truth and insight from God's Word and His servants.