Thoughts On Preaching.

Pastor Mitchell preached from an outline. He did not write out his entire sermon. He gave himself key words or ideas that he then, because he had studied, could expound on. He stayed on his notes. That is why he could say more in 30 minutes than some preachers can say in over an hour.

What's an outline you ask? It looks something like this.

I Main Point

  A Sub point

      1 Reasons supporting

         a Verses, illustrations, poems, etc.

A sermon should have 3 main points, two or three sub points per main point, and as many other finer points as needed to flesh out your idea. You can learn a system that works for you.

I have heard pastor Mitchell get sidetracked by inspiration and then, to save time, skip to the last point of his sermon.  He ascribed to the idea that the mind can only understand what the seat can endure.

A preacher can be inspired early in the week for what he will say on Sunday. He does not have to wait until he is behind the pulpit to get the mind of God. A wise preacher can do this, an immature pastor maybe not.

Show me a pastor who gets behind the pulpit with a well thought out sermon that is prepared and ready to preach and I will show you a pastor that is on his way to greatness. Show me a pastor who shoots from the hip and wings it and I will show you a flash in the pan who is only effective when he feels emotionally stirred up. He is more rattle than revival.

The Scout Motto is: Be Prepared. That ought to be the Fellowship motto for preachers.