Pastor & Preaching prep problems
Pastoral dereliction of duty.
I almost fell out of my chair when I read this! I am studying The Christian Pastor by Wayne E. Oates ( https://www.amazon.com/Christian-Pastor-Third-Revised/dp/066424372X) and he quotes a survey of preachers revealed that the average time they spent in a day in sermon prep was only 34 minutes ! God help us if that's true! A good pastor spends more than that on creating the outline and major points to cover in the message. Any good pastor would hang their head in shame if they only used 34 minutes a day each WEEK in preparing a sermon for Sunday.
A pastor who fails to study and grow as a Christian is not only failing HIMSELF, he is also failing his CONGREGATION!
Any Pastor only spending that amt of time on sermons is failing as man of God and a pastor. He can not possibly do what he was called to do by Jesus: "FEED MY SHEEP”.
And this is another reason why expository preaching is the gold standard. How you do your preaching influences the way your congregation studies the Word.
Note...Lifeway did a survey in 2008 showing it’s now around 14 hrs a week in sermon prep (for those surveyed).
But even then, hours put in isn’t the only metric. As long as he is very well studied in the Word, understands the text and creates a solid message to explain it to the congregation, then he’s done his job. Some weeks that may take more study than others depending on the text. But sermons need to be longer than 30 minutes. 45 minutes to an hour are best as the congregants only get spiritually fed & shepherded by them once it twice a week.
A pastor was talking about this issue with a Bible scholar and he was sayinh that half of the pastor's time should be devoted just to sermons. Nothing short of 12 weekly hours dedicated to research, preparation... and additional time in prayer.
A pastor who fails to study and grow as a Christian is not only failing HIMSELF, he is also failing his CONGREGATION!
Any Pastor only spending that amt of time on sermons is failing as man of God and a pastor. He can not possibly do what he was called to do by Jesus: "FEED MY SHEEP”.
And this is another reason why expository preaching is the gold standard. How you do your preaching influences the way your congregation studies the Word.
Note...Lifeway did a survey in 2008 showing it’s now around 14 hrs a week in sermon prep (for those surveyed).
But even then, hours put in isn’t the only metric. As long as he is very well studied in the Word, understands the text and creates a solid message to explain it to the congregation, then he’s done his job. Some weeks that may take more study than others depending on the text. But sermons need to be longer than 30 minutes. 45 minutes to an hour are best as the congregants only get spiritually fed & shepherded by them once it twice a week.
A pastor was talking about this issue with a Bible scholar and he was sayinh that half of the pastor's time should be devoted just to sermons. Nothing short of 12 weekly hours dedicated to research, preparation... and additional time in prayer.
This statistic also doesn't account for preachers preaching 3 times a week, plus ones leading some type of discipleship during the week or every other week. He must prioritize Sermons over all else.
Pastors not doing the key thing God tasked them with, preaching, is exactly why the Church is in the shambles it is today.
Do not go to a church where a Pastor doesn't spent long solid hours in the Word preparing sermons for the flock, and can't delegate other work to the decons and other leaders. Also, seek a church with more than one Pastor. A church is to be run by elders [multiple pastors].
Pastors not doing the key thing God tasked them with, preaching, is exactly why the Church is in the shambles it is today.
Do not go to a church where a Pastor doesn't spent long solid hours in the Word preparing sermons for the flock, and can't delegate other work to the decons and other leaders. Also, seek a church with more than one Pastor. A church is to be run by elders [multiple pastors].
Make sure any church you are at that has a pastoral search committee is not only inquiring of these kinds of questions when looking for a pastor but are upholding & holding him to requirements of such in their contract, and no ai usage or downloaded sermons allowed... to cut corners either! You need a man of God who fears God and is truly called by God to be a pastor.
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