Jotting down notes...

A few of my notes on the call of Abram from Genesis 12

In a recent post about inspiration, I said that part of my sermon wrting process is to jot down ideas as a sermon is percolating. Because this is such an important part of my process, I wanted to share a bit more about it.

My preference (ha!) is to begin this process early in the week. It doesn't always happen that way. But I've found that the discipline of sitting down with the lessons early in the week, even if it's just for 15 minutes, helps me write the sermon later in the week.

Here's what I do:

• I almost always use a pen and paper for these notes. The format and writing instrument has changed through the years, but there's something about putting pen to paper that helps my brain. I used to use legal pads, and I'd fill those pages with scrawls from commentaries and chunks of stories. Now, I use a notebook from Rhodia because the paper is beautiful and the notes stay better preserved. (Yes, I go back to read notes from prior years!)

• Sometimes, I don't have the notebook, so I'll put something into the Notes app on my phone. I keep a note entitled "Sermon" pinned there, and I use it exclusively for current sermons (in other words, I don't save these notes forever and ever).

• What do I write? All kinds of stuff. Sometimes, it's an idea for a hook. Sometimes, it's notes from a commentary or a footnote in a Bible. Sometimes, I'll ask a question (which doesn't always get answered). Lots of what I write doesn't end up in a final sermon, but it's there to get juices flowing.

• Every so often, I'll sit down and just start writing the sermon in these pages. This happens rarely for me, as I'm much more of a write-as-I-type kind of person. But sometimes, the sermon will flow better from my pen, and when that's the case, that's what I do.

• Normally, then, at the end of the week (Thursday? Friday? Saturday?), I'll read through my notes and start writing on my laptop.

Frankly, there are times when I don't get to use the above process much at all. But - for me, I've found that the above process allows me the study and contemplation of the Scriptures that I need in order to be the best preacher I can be.

What about you? What process do you use? I'd love to find out more!