Create Sermons in a Sacred Space
by Ronald “Dee” Vaughan, Associate
Let’s begin by agreeing that I don’t have to make a case to support these truths:
1. The Sunday sermon needs to be done well because it is the pastor’s opportunity to minister to the most people at once.
2. Effective preaching requires time and focus for spiritual reflection, research, writing, and rehearsal.
3. A church office can be one of the worst places to attempt that holy work.
A church office is, at times, an ecclesiastical anthill of busy people, paid and volunteer, who need guidance or reassurance in order to move forward with their work. Many people know no other way to satisfy that hunger than to take a bite out of the pastor’s time and attention. These aren’t bad people. They’re not doing a bad thing. But the sum total of their interruptions is enough to fragment the pastor’s focus and quench the spirit of creativity.
Those who preach need to create sacred space in which to prepare. You can create this space in terms of time or location.
Time
You can create sacred space by designating blocks of time in your week for study. Ask your coworkers not to interrupt that time with anything less than an emergency. Post a sign on your door that states, clearly but kindly, “This is my study time. I’ll be available this afternoon.” Turn off your telephone and close your email. Eliminate as many distractions as possible during your preparation time.
Location
If this approach doesn’t work well for you, you may also create sacred space by doing your sermon preparation in a different location. Keeping interruptions by others to a minimum isn’t enough if you create your own distractions. I can be my own worst enemy by allowing other church-related tasks, the reminders of which are numerous in my office at the church, to pop up and divert me from preparation. If you suffer from that same weakness, creating a separate place for preparation may be helpful. You may find another place on the church campus where you can work peacefully and privately. You may create your sermon preparation space at home. Some find the space they need at a library or coffee shop. You may have to try several places to find the one that works for you.
Let me close by sharing the solution that works best for me. I have designated Wednesday morning as time I will devote solely to sermon preparation. My staff and members have learned this is my practice and, by and large, respect it. I stay home Wednesday mornings and work in my study (a guestroom with a desk and computer). I have usually begun my sermon work before Wednesday but keep this time set apart to focus on that one ministry opportunity. My goal is to complete a first draft of Sunday’s message by noon. What I have found is that when I create that sacred space for preparation, I’m able to return to the church and be more fully present with coworkers and church members and far less inclined to experience my interactions with them as interruptions.
Do you hold a sacred space for your sermon preparation? When and where? I believe much can be gained by keeping this practice. If you’d like to share how you create sacred space for sermon preparation, let me hear from you.