Slow Cooked Sermons

Confession: I used to leave sermon preparation to the end of the week. I procrastinated until the pressure got to me, and I got going by Thursday or Friday, sometimes even Saturday or Sunday morning.

The pressure was a good motivator. Deadlines are like that. But my sermons suffered as a result. You can’t really rush the sermon preparation process.

It’s like the difference between microwaving a steak and using a slow cooker. Take the tenderest steak, and it will go tough in the microwave. Take the toughest steak, and it will get tender in the slow cooker.

Sermons are like that.

I’m convinced that one of the most significant steps a preacher can take to improve is to begin the preparation process sooner. You can tell the difference between a sermon that’s been slow cooked versus one that’s been microwaved every time.