Something happened this week - and it has been odd! Through an unintentional act of scheduling, I am not preaching today! We already had planned for our students to lead worship tonight (June 28). Over the last couple of weeks, we determined that this morning was also the best opportunity for us to hear from Brian and Felicia Henderson, who just returned from their training at the International Mission Board Training Center.
On Monday, I made one mental decision. I would not work "ahead" and get the following week's message done. After my normal prep for Wednesday night Revelation, I would just take a vacation from sermon preparation. It is the first time in a while that I have had a week where I just let sermon prep go! Well, it surprised me! I had no idea that sermon prep consumed so much of my on and off time.
I do not write or make outlines for a sermon until late in the week - usually starting on Thursday and finishing as late as Saturday! That doesn't mean that I am not working on the message. As I visit, meet in meetings, observe the news, do counseling, water the yard, watch tv , read - my thoughts often migrate to my upcoming message. I approve of and then reject certain outlines - certain points - or suddenly have a scripture come to mind that is perfect to illustrate a point. It is an ongoing process that never really ends.
For the first time in a long time - I deliberately shut down that process! Normally I would have just started early on the next week - but I have kept my mind free of sermon prep!
What have the results been? Well, a break from the routine was good! And I go to worship today under no pressure whatsoever! That will be a great experience!
And my brain has had a little down time! Nothing wrong with that!
Finally - I am ready to let the "sermon chip" in my brain reactivate! I love preaching - God has called me to preach - and my week, though restful in this area, is restless to get going! It is who I am and I love looking at everything I see and hearing everything I hear through a preaching filter!
I will enjoy today - but I will enjoy tomorrow better when the Lord starts building the next message in me!
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