Full Timers: Do You Memorize Your Sermons?

**KMK** · #1 (**permalink**) 09-05-2009, 10:34 AM

How many of you full-timers memorize your sermons before you deliver them? How important is memorization to the overall quality of a sermon?

Curt · #2 (**permalink**) 09-05-2009, 10:43 AM

I don't memorize. I figure if I spend enough time with the sermon during the week, I will know it well. Then I only preach with an outline.

nleshelman · #3 (**permalink**) 09-05-2009, 11:09 AM

I am still wet behind the ears, so to speak, but I believe that a strong outline is the most important.

I write a full manuscript and do not memorize the sermon.

ADKing · #4 (**permalink**) 09-05-2009, 11:26 AM

I used to memorize but over time as my sermons have grown in detail and length I have moved away from it.

Puritan Sailor · #5 (**permalink**) 09-05-2009, 11:26 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by nleshelman

I am still wet behind the ears, so to speak, but I believe that a strong outline is the most important.

I write a full manuscript and do not memorize the sermon.

I write it out and try to know it well so that I don't have to rely on the manuscript. Eventually I hope to move up to outlines.

Guido's Brother · #6 (**permalink**) 09-05-2009, 11:44 AM

No, I don't memorize. I would never have time for that. Like others, I write out a full manuscript, but I try to be familiar with it enough so that I don't have to (obviously) rely on it.

***fredtgreco*** · #7 (**permalink**) 09-05-2009, 11:45 AM

Personally, I think memorizing sermons is too time consuming and makes delivery a bit forced or stiff. (But it is different for each man). I also don't like writing a full manuscript, as it takes a long time, and I find that I become less flexible - wanting to look down and remember the "phrasing" that I worked on in the manuscript.

My personal practice is a (relatively) detailed outline that summarizes what I have thought about and put together during the week. I do that so as not to "forget" a point, and to keep me on pace. A typical outline is two landscape pages that I cut in half to get 4 half-sheets.

I've attached one from 1 Kings 1.

Curt · #8 (**permalink**) 09-05-2009, 11:58 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by fredtgreco

My personal practice is a (relatively) detailed outline that summarizes what I have thought about and put together during the week. I do that so as not to "forget" a point, and to keep me on pace. A typical outline is two landscape pages that I cut in half to get 4 half-sheets.

I've attached one from 1 Kings 1.

My outline is one page landscaped, so all I have to do is turn it over once.

(Thanks for the outline, Fred!).

itsreed · #9 (**permalink**) 09-05-2009, 06:51 PM

My practice is between Fred's and others' here. It is best described as an annotated outline. Verse by verse, I note what I want to remember as it pertains to the outline. I always use a standard outline: 1) intro, 2) body with three points (usually), and 3) conclusions.

The intro highlights the need(s) addressed in the passage. The body develops how the text addresses the need. Often this follows a law-gospel format, either within each point and/or from one major point to the next. The conclusion always focuses on some relevant aspect of the gospel. I intentionally tie Christ and his ministry (the relevant part(s)) to the text.

Like others' here, if I try to memorize, it hampers the delivery. For me as well, a full manuscript hampers. Given this, I need to really, really know the text before I preach it. (Currently I'm about a month ahead. My goal is to get 6 months ahead.)