How to Preach With a Full Manuscript (without anyone being able to tell!)

In Preaching classes the professor often warns the students of the tendency many have to become "note-bound" -- especially if he or she is using sermon notes that have the message written out word-for-word (or "full manuscript"). I have sat through many sermons myself where the preacher read, rather than preached, the message. It is quite cumbersome to follow someone who does this, and the warning by our well-meaning professors needs to be heeded. But at the same time, many of us who are in the pulpit week after week know that it is next to impossible to memorize the entire message, and have failed miserably at speaking extemporaneously, even if we have gone over the sermon again and again.

The following suggestions for preaching with a full manuscript while looking like you are preaching with little or no notes comes from years of experience. I have many people ask me how I preach without notes, when the fact is, I have five or more pages of single-spaced, typed notes in front of me the entire time. Here is how I do it:

1. Use a large enough font to see from a distance (I use 14 point).
2. Use Clear, Relevant, and Simple Main Points and Sub-Points (in BOLD CAPITAL LETTERS).
3. Start every sentence with a new line.
4. Start every sentence with a hyphen (-).
5. Use the ampersand (&) instead of "and" and use shortened forms of "with" (w/) and "without" (w/0).
6. Use commas (,), colons (:), and semi-colons (;) as you normally would.
7. Put all illustrative material in brackets [Illustration].
8. Type all of your scripture texts in italics other than the scripture reference.
9. Take a Yellow Highlighter and highlight all Main Points and Sub-Points, the hyphen (-) that begins each new line, the ampersands (&), "with" and "withouts" (w/, w/o), commas (,), colons (:), and semi-colons (;). Also, highlight all scripture text (but not the reference), and draw a line (with the highlighter) down the left-hand margin of your page alongside any sermon illustrations you have.

After you've done this you will see a single-spaced sermon manuscript with yellow markings all over it. It will look like the graphic below:

(Click the link for an actual sermon -- http://www.sermonworld.com/wiaic3.doc)

What this will do will be to allow you to scan a good portion of the page, taking in much more than you would be able to otherwise. You will find yourself only glancing at the page occasionally, and facing your congregation a much higher percentage of the time. In addition, if you provide your congregation with a "fill-in-the-blank" type outline, the majority of them will be looking down at the page when you state your Main and Sub-Points, allowing you to rapidly focus your eyes on the text below the points and look back up at your audience before they are done writing on the sermon notes page.

One more thing -- go over your notes the evening before you preach, and again about 15 minutes to an hour before you actually deliver the message. You will be so familiar with your sermon that you will find yourself glancing at the highlighted portions and barely needing to skim the notes at all. But at the same time, you have the security of your manuscript "just in case!"

In Christ,
Barry L. Davis, D.Min.
http://www.sermonworld.com
http://www.pastorshelper.com