The Most Helpful Practice for Sermon Prep

In this discussion, H. B. Charles Jr. (pastor of Shiloh Metropolitan Baptist Church in Jacksonville, Florida), Bryan Chapell (pastor of Grace Presbyterian Church in Peoria, Illinois), and Ray Ortlund (pastor of Immanuel Church in Nashville, Tennessee) share what is their most helpful sermon preparation practice in addition to prayer and exegetical study.

Related:

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5 Ways to Battle Anxiety in the Pulpit (Gerald McDermott)
What Book Do I Preach First? (Sean Michael Lucas)
6 Ways to Stir Your Affections for Weekly Preaching (Tony Merida)
How Has Your Preaching Changed Over the Years? (H. B. Charles Jr., Bryan Chapell, Ray Ortlund)
5 Things Not to Trust in Your Preaching (Thabiti Anyabwile)
How Long Should It Take Me to Prepare a Sermon? (Dave Harvey)

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H. B. Charles Jr. (Master’s Seminary and Gordon-Conwell Theological Seminary) is pastor of Shiloh Metropolitan Baptist Church in Jacksonville, Florida, and a Council member of The Gospel Coalition. He is the author (or contributing author) of several books, including It Happens After Prayer. He and his wife, Crystal, have three children.

Bryan Chapell (MDiv, Covenant Theological Seminary; PhD, Southern Illinois University Carbondale) is a founding Council member of The Gospel Coalition, pastor emeritus of the historic Grace Presbyterian Church and president emeritus of Covenant Theological Seminary. His preaching and teaching are broadcast in many nations through Unlimited Grace Media. Bryan is the author of many books, including The Multigenerational Church Crisis, Christ-Centered Preaching, and The Hardest Sermons You’ll Ever Have to Preach. He and his wife, Kathy, have four adult children and a growing number of grandchildren.

Ray Ortlund (ThM, Dallas Theological Seminary; MA, University of California, Berkeley; PhD, University of Aberdeen, Scotland) is president of Renewal Ministries and an Emeritus Council member of The Gospel Coalition. He founded Immanuel Church in Nashville, Tennessee, and now serves from Immanuel as pastor to pastors. Ray has authored a number of books, including The Gospel: How The Church Portrays The Beauty of Christ, Marriage and the Mystery of the Gospel, and, with Sam Allberry, You’re Not Crazy: Gospel Sanity for Weary Churches. He and his wife, Jani, have four children.