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Text Box: not just review the sermon, but to so do in a manner which imitates actual delivery of the sermon. Reading it aloud is not always necessary, but at the very least mentally speaking the sermon is a must. (But avoid over rehearsing. Actually, do not rehearse. Just be sufficiently familiar with the sermon so-as-to avoid “messing up”.) Not only will this provide an opportunity to check continuity, but also will expose potential problems in phrasing. Actually voicing the sermon will provide the additional opportunity of avoiding “tongue twisters”, awkward phrasing, awkward pauses or lack of a pause where one really is needed, and other similar potential problems. But this may also be readily accomplished mentally. If your written out sermon is too boring for you to read it, why inflict it upon your congregation? If your written out sermon is too long for you to comfortably read it, by what right do you intend to condemn your congregation to its arduous character? In a liturgical worship setting a sermon usually or often is nothing more than an ancillary complement. It should never be even remotely considered, or even worse, presented, as a university lecture. If the one giving a sermon wishes to give a university lecture, the one giving the sermon should give a university lecture - in a university class. Every sermon should be a gem of teaching. Even if it repeats a lesson often taught it often is possible to present the lesson from a different aspect, in a different light, very often using contemporary events - but when using contemporary events one must avoid demeaning or ridicule. But emphasizing overt evil emanating from an individual or group is permissible provided an expression of desire for the reformation and salvation of the individual or group is

Text Box: also expressed. So too is illuminating the effects of such evil permissible, with the same or similar caveats. If a sermon is worth giving, why would the one who is giving the sermon NOT wish to retain a written record of the sermon? (And if it is not worth giving, why give it?) Also, maintaining a record of your sermons allows you ready access to an archive of your own work. Should you be “dry” in preparing a sermon, you will have a ready library from which to draw. Often when one is “dry” one will find the simple process of reviewing one’s sermons for the same feast, or same scripture, or similar topic, unleashes very welcome inspiration. Another advantage of a written sermon is impossible for one who delivers an extemporaneous sermon to experience. Even if the subject matter of the extemporaneous sermon is one with the one giving the sermon is very familiar, when it is said and done, it is gone. But with a written sermon, even one well prepared and reviewed, if it is written a day or so prior to its being delivered, the one giving the sermon is experiencing it anew - often as though it is for the first time. And in presenting the written sermon the one who wrote it and is delivering it often is taught by their own sermon. It is not unusual for such a one to say within themselves, “I must remember this. It will help me spiritually.” For a carefully written sermon is instructive to the writer as well as to the congregation. And the fullness of the instruction is delivered when the sermon is formally delivered to the congregation. Even if your congregation is you, write your sermon. And deliver it in its appropriate place. Everyone in your congregation deserves your best. Of course, so doing requires the devotion of time, thought, and diligence. Considering it is being done for Christ, in the Name of Christ, in fulfillment of one’s divinely instituted office, to assist others

Text Box: in attaining eternal salvation - well, do you want to do a sloppy job or do you want to do your best? +

Text Box: For a carefully written sermon is instructive to the writer as well as to the congregation. And the fullness of the instruction is delivered when the sermon is formally

Text Box: THE GENIUS AUTOMOBILE DRIVER (Humor??, thank you Paul) A man recently saw a distraught young lady weeping beside her car. “Do you need some help?” he asked. She replied, “I knew I should have replaced the battery to this remote door unlocker. Now I can't get into my car. Do you think they (pointing to a distant convenience store) would have a battery to fit this?” “Hmmm, I don't know. Do you have an alarm, too?” he asked. “No, just this remote thingy,” she answered, handing it and the car keys to the man. As he took the key and manually unlocked the door, he replied, “Why don't you drive over there and check about the batteries. It's a long walk . . . ” +

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