Sermon Notes

[Ron]

How many here use Sermon Notes? Are they on paper, or are they on a Laptop?
Do you use them?

Originally Posted by Ron

How many here use Sermon Notes? Are they on paper, or are they on a Laptop?
Do you use them?

I do, yes, yes, yes

[Ron]

Originally Posted by Threvtl

I do, yes, yes, yes

On paper or laptop?

[Neck]

Originally Posted by Ron

How many here use Sermon Notes? Are they on paper, or are they on a Laptop?
Do you use them?

I started out preaching in 1984. Then at my local church I did not go out an evangelize.

I then went into business after being married.

I work in sales and always carry supporting documents.

However much of what I say, I know to the letter.

If a salesman can know very highly technical data at a moments thought.

Why can't a minister who is studied preach without notes.

What I have found is many of the notes preachers.

Usually have many thoughts from books or from some sermon tape etc.

Thus they have to have the words of the other person written down.

When they are your thoughts, studied and given of the Holy Spirit you will just speak them.

I always would tell the congregation the passage of scriptures we were to use first.

Like this we will look at Mark 3, Isaiah 4, Romans 3.

Then go into the sermon.

If you follow the thought and build on it.

You will not need notes......

If a man of God looks and sounds convinced, then he will be effective.

[BoredOutOfMyMind]

Originally Posted by Ron

How many here use Sermon Notes? Are they on paper, or are they on a Laptop?
Do you use them?

When I started preaching, I would write out my sermon almost word for word including illustrations. I found out there were plenty of Scriptures to be used instead of stories. I found the sermons flowed better and I never had that nagging at the end for what I had oversaid.

I have had better sermons with no notes than extensive notes. I could put my notes on my Palm Tungsten if needed!

I'm a 'notes' preacher. I type mine out almost word for word. I never preach them 'word for word' but it's a discipline that I've held for my life. My notes are basically 3 part:
1. I have a napkin, scrap of paper... basically whatever is present... to put my thought / title on wherever I may be.
2. When I get home I organize them into 'rough draft' in a 'sermons in preparation' directory on my computer where I have anywhere from 30 to 50 thoughts 'cooking' at a time.
3. When I feel direction to preach one of those thoughts I invest time and thought into what will eventually become the finished product.

Contrary to our Bro. Eckstadt's supposition, I'm a 'notes' preacher that don't utilize other's sermons. I strive to be very original (I guess 'original' is a virtue when 'good' is out of reach!) in my messages.

I seldom ever walk to a pulpit without 10 hours of study and prayer in that message. God doesn't require it; I do. Again, it's a discipline that I have applied to my life because I don't have much confidence in myself and have all the confidence in the world in God's touch on my life. Hence, there are many times I walk out and God sends me off in another direction but I NEVER go unprepared... period.

As for paper / computer? I have filing cabinets full of notes that I print out (average of 20 to 25 pages for sermons or 'one night' Bible studies / 100 to 150 pages for 'series studies' that I put together) but have been preaching off my small laptop computer for the last several years. The reason? I travel a lot and it sure beats carrying an extra briefcase full of notes.

I take my ministry very seriously and teach the young preachers that sit under me (or have gone out from under me) that part of taking your ministry serious is being serious about sermon preparation.

[Ron]

Originally Posted by Steadfast

I'm a 'notes' preacher. I type mine out almost word for word. I never preach them 'word for word' but it's a discipline that I've held for my life. My notes are basically 3 part:
1. I have a napkin, scrap of paper... basically whatever is present... to put my thought / title on wherever I may be.
2. When I get home I organize them into 'rough draft' in a 'sermons in preparation' directory on my computer where I have anywhere from 30 to 50 thoughts 'cooking' at a time.
3. When I feel direction to preach one of those thoughts I invest time and thought into what will eventually become the finished product.

Contrary to our Bro. Eckstadt's supposition, I'm a 'notes' preacher that don't utilize other's sermons. I strive to be very original (I guess 'original' is a virtue when 'good' is out of reach!) in my messages.

I seldom ever walk to a pulpit without 10 hours of study and prayer in that message. God doesn't require it; I do. Again, it's a discipline that I have applied to my life because I don't have much confidence in myself and have all the confidence in the world in God's touch on my life. Hence, there are many times I walk out and God sends me off in another direction but I NEVER go unprepared... period.

As for paper / computer? I have filing cabinets full of notes that I print out (average of 20 to 25 pages for sermons or 'one night' Bible studies / 100 to 150 pages for 'series studies' that I put together) but have been preaching off my small laptop computer for the last several years. The reason? I travel a lot and it sure beats carrying an extra briefcase full of notes.

I take my ministry very seriously and teach the young preachers that sit under me (or have gone out from under me) that part of taking your ministry serious is being serious about sermon preparation.

This is good Steadfast. You sound an awful lot blike my Pastor.
He believes in being very prepared, but can open a Scripture and have God take him in another direction!

It helps having 38 yrs of experince in the Pulpit under your belt.

Ye, be prepared, take it seriously.

Well, I haven't been doing it for 38 years but 27 years is pretty close. I'm not sure it makes my messages any better but it sure settles my heart to know that I've done my part... so He can do His!

[AmazingGrace]

Bro Steadfast you sound just like my husband... and boy does he believe in being prepared. And if someone asks him to preach and he doesnt have his notes with him he gets crazy!!!! He doesnt end up using them half the time but its the having them part that gets him! The very first time we left to visit another church that he didnt have them with him he was asked to preach and did a wonderful job I might add but the fact that he didnt have them with him made him a madman.... Now I have some in my car and he has plenty in his car and on his laptop... Its more important that AMEX!!! He is assured he says that if he has them with him no one will ask him to preach unannounced.. however if he forgets them he will assuredly be asked! ROFL

[LadyChocolate]

My husband always has notes...at least that is what he called them... I looked at them one day and all he had were scriptures. I guess you just have to have a gift to gab! lol He's never at a loss for words.