84 - Three Ways To Preach Without Notes

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Every preacher needs to be able to preach without notes on some occasions.

It is not a freakish skill that only some possess or a unique style that only some need to cultivate. It is something every preacher can and sometimes needs to do. In this episode, I suggest ways to cultivate the ability to preach without notes when the situation calls for it. It can be helpful to distinguish between three different modes of preaching without notes.

Impromptu Preaching - Impromptu preaching involves almost no preparation. Calls to impromptu preaching come through many parts of a pastor’s life.

Impromptu preaching can be strengthened, primarily through attention to the four rules of thumb.

Say one thing.
Play your riffs.
Don’t be afraid to pause.
Know how you will end.

Extemporaneous Preaching impromptu preaching happens with little warning; extemporaneous preaching allows for some focused time for preparation. Extemporaneous preaching involves working from an outline. Some preachers make extemporaneous preaching their usual style. Others use it for services when they do not have as much time to prepare as they might like. Whatever the occasion, these rules of thumb can guide the preparation of an excellent extemporaneous sermon:
Craft a strong, clear structure for the sermon.
Talk your way to the sermon.
Work out the beginning and the ending of the sermon in more detail.

Internalized Manuscript - Like an extemporaneous sermon, a sermon from what I will call an internalized manuscript is composed through a mixture of speaking and writing. Preaching in this style requires extensive time for preparation. It involves writing out a complete sermon manuscript, digesting it deeply, and then setting aside the manuscript to preach the sermon without notes of any kind. Digesting a manuscript is different than memorizing it word-for-word. Digestion requires internalizing a manuscript’s sense, form, and key phrases and then bringing that internalized manuscript to life in speech.
Craft a strong, clear, and simple structur

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