When preparing a sermon, most pastors check off the usual steps—commentary research, word studies in Hebrew and Greek, cross-referencing passages, and outlining the main points. All of that is essential. But if you want to take your preaching to the next level and deepen your impact, there are a few areas of preparation that often get overlooked.
These aren’t just bonus tips—they’re game-changers. If you incorporate these six often-neglected practices into your sermon prep, you’ll not only craft better sermons but also engage your congregation on a deeper level.
- Understand Your Congregation
It’s easy to get so caught up in studying your passage that you forget to study your people. But here’s the truth—if you don’t know your audience, you’re just talking at them, not to them.
Ask yourself:
- What does a typical Monday morning look like for the families in your congregation?
- What worries keep them up at night?
- Are they struggling to make ends meet? Wrestling with doubt? Dealing with loneliness?
- What media are they consuming? What language do they use to talk about their lives?
The better you know your people, the better you’ll know how to apply Scripture to their real-life situations. Spend time with them. Invite families over for dinner. Attend community events. Sit with them in small groups. Text them during the week to check in. Don’t just prepare your message—prepare your heart by walking in their shoes. When you truly know the people you’re preaching to, your sermons will resonate in ways they never did before.
- Stand in Awe of God’s Truth
It’s easy to get into “analysis mode” during sermon prep—breaking down the Greek, interpreting debated passages, and crafting an airtight outline. But before you preach to others, make sure you let the passage preach to you.
Pause long enough to let the weight of God’s Word settle into your soul. Ask yourself:
- What about this passage leaves me in awe of God’s grace?
- Where is the Holy Spirit convicting or challenging me personally?
- How does this truth transform my heart before I try to share it with others?
When you approach your sermon with awe and wonder, your delivery won’t be stale—it will be charged with the power of someone who has been personally transformed by the message they’re sharing.
- Create Concise, Memorable Takeaways
People don’t remember 20-minute explanations or three-point outlines. But they will remember a single sentence that sticks.
Once you’ve explained the passage and unpacked its meaning, ask:
- How can I boil this truth down to one memorable takeaway?
- What phrase can I give people that they’ll still be thinking about on Tuesday morning?
You don’t have to get too cute or clever. You’re not writing ad copy. But a well-crafted, memorable takeaway helps people carry the truth of your message with them long after Sunday morning. Use language your congregation already uses. Listen to how they describe their lives, and reflect that language back to them in a simple, repeatable phrase that anchors your message in their hearts and minds.
- Rehearse Your Entire Sermon
Let’s be honest—life as a pastor is full. You’re making hospital visits, leading staff meetings, planning outreach events, counseling struggling couples, and maybe even working a second job to support your ministry. With everything on your plate, it’s tempting to skip the rehearsal and just go over your sermon in your head.
But skipping this step can cost you.
Rehearsing your sermon out loud helps you:
- Catch awkward phrases or unclear points before you’re on stage.
- Refine your transitions and ensure your sermon flows smoothly.
- Build confidence in your delivery, reducing the chances of stumbling or losing your place.
Even better—ask a few trusted leaders or volunteers to sit in on a run-through and offer honest feedback. Their insights can help you tighten your message and ensure it lands the way you intend. It’s a small time investment that pays off in a big way when Sunday morning arrives.
- Use Tools to Focus on What Matters Most
Let’s be real—ministry is demanding. And if you’re spending hours wrestling with formatting sermon slides or trying to organize your notes, that’s time that could be spent investing in your people or deepening your message.
Leverage tools that free you up to focus on what really matters. A platform like Sermonary can streamline your sermon preparation with features like:
- A distraction-free sermon editor that keeps your focus on content, not formatting.
- Podium mode for smooth delivery without paper notes.
- Built-in illustration libraries to enhance your message.
- Integration with other church tools to make collaboration seamless.
Don’t be afraid to invest in tools that make your sermon prep more efficient. The time you save can be poured back into prayer, relationships, and refining your message.
- Trust God with the Unseen
Here’s the part that’s easiest to forget—God is at work in ways you can’t see.
You may feel discouraged after preaching a sermon that seemed to land flat. You may wonder if that family who walked out during your message is ever coming back. But the truth is, God’s Word never returns void (Isaiah 55:11).
The critical email you got after Sunday’s service? God is still working in that person’s heart.
The congregation member who left early? Seeds of truth were planted that you can’t see yet.
The blank stares during your sermon? The Holy Spirit was doing more than you’ll ever know.
As much as you plan, prepare, and pour into your message, the outcome is not ultimately in your hands. It’s in God’s. Preach faithfully, trust deeply, and remember that God is always doing more than we can see.
Final Thoughts
Sermon prep isn’t just about crafting a message—it’s about preparing your heart, knowing your people, and trusting God to do what only He can do.
So as you prepare for your next sermon, don’t just focus on the Greek and Hebrew. Take time to:
- Understand your congregation.
- Stand in awe of God’s truth.
- Create concise, memorable takeaways.
- Rehearse your sermon so it lands with clarity.
- Use tools that keep your focus on what matters.
- Trust God with the unseen.
When you bring all of that together, you’re not just delivering a sermon—you’re creating a space where God can move, change hearts, and draw people closer to Him. And that’s what it’s all about.