My main preaching context is Gateway Church, where I have been since January 2008. I tend to preach about 30 Sundays each year here, but do this in blocks - For instance, I am currently in a run of preaching 11 out of 14 Sundays, but then at another point in the year might go a couple of months without preaching at all. As well as preaching at Gateway I am involved in teaching in a number of training and conference settings.
Here are some answers to my own questions:
When & where was this sermon preached?
Last Sunday, at Gateway, at both our 9 & 11 services.
Was it a special occasion or regular Sunday?
A regular Sunday.
Why did you choose this subject/text?
This term I am preaching a series called 'The Big Story - Exploring the Story of God' which is basically an exercise in biblical theology, focussing on the themes of covenant and kingdom. Last Sunday I was up to God's covenant with Abraham.
On average, how long does it take you to prepare a sermon?
This is actually quite hard to judge. I tend to plan preaching series a long way in advance (I knew over a year ago that I was going to do this one) which means that I am musing over the content for a long time. I have sermon titles and a precis of content prepared before the series starts. My preferred pattern of preparation in the week before preaching is to spend two or three hours in background work on a Wednesday morning, and to then talk this through with a couple of other guys in the office (including our children's worker, as he produces curriculum for the kids tied in to what I am preaching). I then leave it till Friday, when I would spend another three hours working up my notes. I often then talk it through with Mrs Hosier on Saturday evening, and then give it another couple of hours on Sunday morning.
On average, for how long do you preach?
This was a long one, at about 50 minutes. Normally I shoot for about 40.
What do you find most challenging about preaching?
Preparation almost always costs me blood, sweat and tears. It is a great challenge to stay true to the word and allow it to impose upon me, rather than me trying to impose upon it. I also find it tough when it feels as though my words are falling on deaf ears!
What do you most enjoy about preaching?
When I can see people suddenly coming into revelation about something they haven't seen before - when sinners repent, or strongholds are broken, and the saints built up.
You can listen to the sermon here.
And here are my notes - I normally preach from a page and a half or so of bullet points. The notes for this sermon were a bit denser than is normal:
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