Cheap Preaching?

I have heard many sermons which were merely delivered but not prepared, i.e. they were taken from the internet. Good preaching is not cheap.

Unashamed Workman asked some well known preachers about their time spent in preparing a sermon as well as other aspects of their preaching – this was question 3:

3. How long (on average) does it take you to prepare a sermon?

Thabiti Anyabwile: Currently, I devote two full days to sermon preparation—Thursday and Friday. I’ll generally spend about twenty hours over those two days and a few hours through the week reading the text and making notes.

Tim Keller: I pastor a large church and have a large staff and so I give special prominence to preparing the sermon. I give it 15-20 hours a week. I would not advise younger ministers to spend so much time, however. The main way to become a good preacher is to preach a lot, and to spend tons of time in people work–that is how you grow from becoming not just a Bible commentator but a flesh and blood preacher. When I was a pastor without a large staff I put in 6-8 hours on a sermon.

Matt Chandler: On average 6-10 hours.  It used to take me much longer but the more I have studied and preached the quicker it has started to come.

Peter Grainger: Depending on the difficulty of the passage and my familiarity with it, between 15-25 hours.

Ray Ortlund Jr: Early in my ministry, I needed twenty-plus hours to prepare. By now, the disciplines are more streamlined. I average perhaps ten hours or so.

One final quote from Unashamed Workman quoting T. David Gordon:

True preaching requires close examination and study of a quality text, something non-readers have no experience of today.  People don’t study classical languages.  They don’t read literature.  They aren’t equipped to really study a text. People read for content, but don’t learn to look at how a text communicates.

True preaching requires careful composition.  But people don’t write letters anymore.  They talk on the phone. Instead of careful composition, we live in a day of easy and cheap talk.

True preaching requires a sensibility of the significant.  But the only way to watch hours of television is to turn off such sensibility, so most do.

Unashamed Workman recommends some excellent resources to help your preparation.

Why aren’t you asleep?

napping.jpgAs I don’t sleep well at night I love taking a nap. Ideally it should happen a couple of times a day, maybe for 15 minutes each – what a blessing that would be. Modern thinking tends to decry such ideas – we are meant to be busy with hectic schedules. Well the good news is that napping is meant to be good for you, according to this blogger the benefits include:

Increases alertness – a 20 minute nap is more effective than either 200 mg of caffeine or a bout of exercise.

Improves learning and working memory.

Prevents burnout and reverses information overload – putting in extra hours without rest dramatically reduces your productivity. It would be better to take a 30 minute nap and return to your work refreshed.

Heightens your senses and creativity – “napping can improve your sensory perception as effectively as a night of sleep. This means that steak tastes better, the sunset looks purtier, and music sounds better after a nap.”

Improves health – When you sleep, you release growth hormone which which boosts your immune system, primes your sexual function, reduces stress and anxiety, and aids in muscle repair and weight loss.

Improves mood – “napping bathes your brain in serotonin, reversing those effects and creating a more positive outlook.”

Saves money – instead of spending money on coffee, coke or other stimulants.

If you are still not convinced read about the habits of famous people who napped.

Wayne Grudem on continued revelation

If I had to choose on theology book – assuming I have time before being cast onto a desert island, and having my Bible already in hand – I would choose Systematic Theology by Wayne Grudem. It is a ‘must read’ for thinking Christians – though if you are put off by the 1200 pages there is a smaller version, Bible Doctrine, which comes in at approximately 500 pages without the footnotes.

In the video below Dr. Grudem talks about ongoing revelation and the ‘gifts’ of the Holy Spirit today. It is clear and a good defence from someone who is not a ‘crazy charismatic’.

Rob Bell in his own words

I have posted a couple of entries about how other people saw and commented on Rob Bell’s book, Love Wins. I was happy to see this interview with Rob where he gets some chance to defend his point of view. In spite of the overly aggressive nature of the interviewer it is worth watching and trying to understand Bell’s point of view.

I originally saw this here in a post which includes some other useful stuff about Hell.

Thinking Theologically – Is there something wrong, a comprehensive response

You will remember that I posted a two blogs regarding the forthcoming book by Rob Bell, Love Wins. Kevin DeYoung has posted a more comprehensive response to the whole idea of Hell and whether the Gospel would include such an awful concept. It is a good read and as I doubt that this subject is going to go away it is worth taking the time and energy to go through.

Theology I – Possible Exam Questions

Just sitting writing some stuff in preparation for the mid-term exam. Here are a couple of ideas I have had so far – who knows whether they will appear?

1. Give a biblical / theological (God focussed) view on how should a Christian view the idea of retirement (a prolonged period of non-work and leisure after you have completed years of ‘normal’ work)? (10 marks)

2. Give a biblical / theological view on whether Christians should take part in dangerous sports, e.g. parachuting, motor car racing etc. (10 marks)

3. How should a correct (orthodox Christian) view of God (the doctrine of God) affect my daily life? (10 marks)