Preaching Methods, Part 1: Christ-Centered Preaching Series 4 of 6

By Larry Kirk

Developing a Faithful and Practical Path for Sermon Preparation

Faithful preaching requires more than good instincts or spiritual passion alone. It requires hard work—thoughtful, disciplined, and prayerful labor shaped by deep conviction. As Paul reminds us in Colossians 1:28–29, we proclaim Christ, “struggling with all his energy that he powerfully works within me.” That kind of labor benefits greatly from a clear method.

Over the years, I have found it immensely helpful to approach sermon preparation with a practical path—a process I can trust to guide me through everything I need to see, consider, and accomplish. I often describe this as a preaching path, much like a well-marked trail in a national forest. Forest rangers design trails intentionally so hikers can see the most important vistas. In a similar way, a good preaching method helps ensure that we do not miss what matters most in the biblical text or in the lives of our people.

Hunters understand this instinctively. In the woods, animals follow well-worn game trails—paths that reliably lead from bedding areas to water, to food, and back again. Over time, those trails become clear because they work. Sermon preparation benefits from the same wisdom: a trusted path that leads us where we need to go, week after week.

Why Preachers Need a Method and a Checklist

Some pastors resist structured methods, fearing they will stifle creativity or the Spirit’s work. But experience—and research—suggests the opposite.

A helpful illustration comes from surgeon Atul Gawande, who studied ways to reduce surgical complications worldwide. His surprising discovery was that the most effective intervention was not better training, but simple checklists. Surgeons resisted checklists because they felt unnecessary and humbling. Yet when implemented across hospitals—from Tanzania to Seattle—complications dropped by 35 percent and death rates by nearly 50 percent.

The checklist did not replace skill or judgment; it ensured that critical steps were not overlooked under pressure.

Sermon preparation works much the same way. A method does not replace prayer, insight, or gifting. It supports them. And if this particular method I share with you does not resonate with you, the larger principle still stands: every preacher needs a thoughtful process—a checklist that ensures faithfulness to the text, attentiveness to people, and clarity of message.

A Practical Pathway and Checklist for Sermon Preparation

What follows are six key practices that together form a practical approach to sermon preparation.

1. Prepare Yourself and Your Materials

Before preparing a sermon’s message, the preacher must prepare his own heart. Gospel-centered preaching flows from a soul that is listening before it speaks.

Early in the week, I try to approach the text devotionally—not analytically. I read it prayerfully, allowing it to settle into my mind and heart. I want the text to begin shaping me before I attempt to shape a sermon from it.

At the same time, preparation includes gathering materials. This might involve pulling commentaries from the shelf, downloading sermons or lectures to listen to during the week, or organizing articles and notes.

Just as athletes or outdoorsmen prepare their equipment before heading out, preachers must prepare both spiritually and practically.

2. Read and Reflect on the Text

This step is distinct from formal exegesis. Here, the goal is humble reflection—meditating on the text in your own language--and sometimes in several translations--noting themes, tensions, questions, and initial impressions.

This reflective reading allows the preacher to encounter the passage personally before consulting other voices. Writing down early observations is especially helpful, whether by hand or digitally. These first impressions often surface pastoral insights that can be lost if we rush too quickly into technical analysis.

3. Exegete the Text in Its Original Context

Only after reflection do we move into careful exegesis. This is where seminary-level training can be especially helpful: understanding the historical setting, literary structure, grammatical details, and theological intent of the passage.

Words, syntax, and literary features matter. Sometimes what initially captures our attention turns out not to be the author’s main point at all. Faithful preaching requires submitting our instincts to the discipline of careful interpretation so that we proclaim what the text actually says—not merely what resonates with us.

4. Ask Contextual and Pastoral Questions

Before writing the sermon, pause and ask questions that bridge text and people.

Every congregation is unique. There are no generic churches. Preachers must resist the temptation to imitate voices or styles shaped for very different contexts. What speaks powerfully in one city or culture may miss the mark—or even cause harm—in another.

Ask questions such as:

• Who are my people?

• How will believers hear this?

• How might skeptics or seekers respond?

• What cultural assumptions or “defeater beliefs” might block understanding?

In every culture and ministry context, certain beliefs are so deeply assumed that they can short-circuit biblical truth before it is fairly considered. Wise preaching anticipates these obstacles and addresses them with patience and clarity.

5. Construct a Clear Outline

Outlines are not restrictive; they are liberating. A clear structure helps listeners follow the message, helps the preacher stay focused, and reinforces the unity of the sermon.

A good outline allows you to preach with freedom rather than being tethered to notes. It also disciplines you to clarify what truly matters in the passage.

6. Highlight and Hone the Big Idea

Every biblical text has a dominant burden—a central message. Everything else in the sermon should serve that main idea.

Highlighting means distinguishing what is primary from what is subordinate. Honing means sharpening how that central truth is expressed—making it clear, compelling, and memorable.

The goal is not to showcase insight or eloquence, but to proclaim Christ with clarity and power so that God’s word does its intended work in the hearts of his people.

Conclusion

Faithful preaching is both spiritual and disciplined. It requires prayerful dependence on the Spirit and thoughtful attention to process. A practical method does not quench the Spirit; it creates space for faithful labor guided by conviction, humility, and love for God’s people. 

By developing a clear path for sermon preparation—one that prepares the preacher’s heart, honors the biblical text, engages the real lives of listeners, and sharpens the central message—we position ourselves to proclaim Christ with faithfulness and fruitfulness, week after week.