Let me say at the outset, preaching without notes is not referring to impromptu or extemporaneous preaching.

On the contrary, preaching without notes is a technique when mastered will help you preach with freedom in the pulpit without being tied to your notes.

Usually, impromptu or extemporaneous preaching involves little preparation; whereas, preaching without notes is all about preparation. That is, preparing your sermon in a way that allows you to preach without notes.

How To Preach Without Notes - The Key

To preach without notes, you must have a good sermon outline. After all, your sermon outline is your road map for sermon.

Sermon outlines consist of the main preaching point, sub-points and incident points. For example, your sermon outline may look like this: (see preaching sermons that work from romans 13)

There are three reasons why Christians need to service the debt of love. They are:

1. It is a continuous debt (Romans 13:8)
2. It is a practical debt (Romans 13:9)
3. It is a noble debt (Romnas 13:10)

Having a clearly defined sermon outline will free you from your notes in the pulpit. Futhermore, your sermon outline simply expands and explains your main preaching point.

When I preached the sermon above, I simply introduced the main preaching point, which was servicing the debt of love, by sharing a story about the need to love.

Once I introduced the main preaching point, I simply expanded and explained it with the three sub-points. It went something like this:

The first reason why we should service the debt of love is because it is a continuous debt. Then I expanded and explained the first sub- point. Next!

The second reason why we should service the debt of love is because it is a practical debt. Then I expanded and explained this second sub-point by telling a pertinent story. Next!

The third reason why we should service the debt of love is because it is a noble debt. Then I expanded and explained this point. 

I concluded the sermon by simply restating the main preaching point and sub-points and by applying the main preaching point with a challenge.

Although I preached this sermon about 10 years ago, nevertheless I think I could easily preach this sermon again without notes. I still can remember putting this sermon together all those years ago. The sermon outline is still etched in my mind. Why? The reason is because I spend the time studying the passage of Scripture and putting the main preaching point into a sermon outline that allowed me to preach without notes.

What technique do you use to preach without notes?

Regards,

Rev. David Blackburn BA GDM

Related Links:

Homiletics, Hermeneutics, How To Write A Sermon Outline, How To Prepare Deductive Sermons, How To Prepare Inductive Sermons

When it comes to the interpretive process, it is essential to understand the four main terms used in the field of study.

The four terms we need to grasp the meaning of are: hermeneutics, exegesis, exposition and preunderstanding.

1. Hermeneutics is a set of principles that is used to determine the meaning of the biblical text under investigation.

2. Exegesis is the skilful application of sound hermeneutical principles to the biblical text under investigation in order to determine the author’s intended meaning.

3. Exposition is the communication of the meaning of the text of Scripture along with its relevance to present-day hearers.

4. Preunderstanding is the body of assumptions and attitudes the exegete brings to the text under investigation.

In other words, the interpretive process involves a set of principles (hermeneutics) that can be applied to a text of Scripture in order to find the author’s intended meaning (exegesis) so that the meaning and relevancy of the text can be communicated to the present-day hearers (exposition) with total objectivity (repressing of one’s preunderstanding).

Hermeneutics is a set of principles or guidelines; whereas, exegesis is the application of those principles or guidelines.

I learned hermeneutics in my formal training; however, it was not until I did further study that I completely understood the the four main terms in the interpretive process.

How did you learn and develop your understanding of hermeneutics in your ministry experience?

I would love to hear your feedback to this importance process in the preaching of God’s word.

Regards,

Rev. David Blackburn BA GDM

I have created this blog in order to discuss sermon preparation tips. In my many years as a preacher of the Word of God, I have deliberately defined the process of sermon preparation or what we often called homiletics – the science and art of preaching.

When you write two or three sermons a week, you need to have a process in place so that you can confidently produce sermons for your congregation.

I learned the basics of sermon preparation in my formal training. However,  it was in my ministry experience that I really developed and  defined my personal paradigm for sermon preparation.

In my early years of preaching, I tended to write deductive sermon outlines in my sermon preparation.

That is, I started with the main preaching point followed by sub-points and incidental points.

Later in my ministry experience, I had the opportunity to learn how to write an inductive sermon outline, especially with the narrative Scriptures.

Over the years I have continued to develop and define these methods of sermon preparation. In fact, I find it absolutely fasinating the process of writing and preparing sermons.

In light of all that I have said thus far, I would like to hear from other preachers their sermon preparation tips or how they developed and defined the science and art of preaching in their ministry.

Regards,

Rev. David Blackburn BA GDM