Sermon preparation is like preparing a meal. You plan the meal, gather the ingredients – from the pantry, garden, grocery store – and then at some point, you cook the meal. When do you cook the meal? You prepare what you can ahead of time, but most of the blending of ingredients and cooking takes place just before guests arrive. It’s fresh that way.

That’s how I prepare sermons. I love the gathering stage and sometimes don’t know when to stop. The prayerful blending of ingredients often takes place just before the sermon is delivered. It may not be the best way, but it is the only way I can do it.

Finally, there’s the meal – or the sermon in my case. That’s the fun part. And it’s always a better experience if I’ve done well with gathering, blending and cooking.

Then, there’s the clean-up.