A Note to Ministers and Those Desiring to Be Used in Ministry (Part 1)

In this post, I’d like to share some practical tips and key principles for sermon preparation.

Our ministry should overflow from His presence.

We should preach and teach the things that have touched us and that we practice in our personal lives. At the same time, we must never alter the Word based on our experiences. The Holy Spirit wants us to share His message with His people rather than our own. It is not about preaching a good message; it is about sharing His heart. Only the Word we receive directly from God carries the weight and authenticity to touch and transform lives.

When you get an opportunity to share a message, don't immediately go to ChatGPT or YouTube. It is not wrong to use these platforms for reference, correction, or study, but we will never grow until we learn to build messages in our secret place with God.

A simple message or word that you have received directly from God can change someone's life. Don't overthink the topic, structure, or content. Give room for the Holy Spirit to move. Ask the Holy Spirit, "What should I share with Your people?" He will surely give you a word.

Sometimes, if you are not sure in your heart about the message, prepare something that is already burning in your heart, something that has deeply blessed you. But always be ready to change your message when the Holy Spirit speaks. This can happen while you are on the pulpit or even in the middle of your message.

It is the secret place of prayer that prepares us for public ministry. It is holiness in our private life that enables us to overcome in our public life.

When we live in God's presence in the secret place, the same Presence that touches us in private will flow through us and touch others in public.

What we receive and cultivate in the secret place is what sustains and establishes us in public ministry.

Spend more time in prayer and worship than you spend preparing a sermon. Preparing our hearts is more important than preparing a message.

To God, both the messenger and the message are important.

Whatever we carry in our hearts will eventually overflow. Therefore, we must regularly examine our hearts and allow the Holy Spirit to search us, so that we are free from offense, bitterness, grief, or anything else that hinders His work.

Look after each other so that none of you fails to receive the grace of God. Watch out that no poisonous root of bitterness grows up to trouble you, corrupting many. (Heb 12:15 NLT)

Pray for those who will hear the message, asking God to prepare their hearts to receive His Word. A prepared heart receives the seed of God's Word and bears fruit.

Don't go to the Word only to prepare a sermon. Studying, meditating on, and speaking the Word should be our lifestyle. The Word of God renews our minds, transforms our lives, and prepares us for eternity. When the Word of God dwells richly within us, it becomes a reservoir from which the Holy Spirit can draw at any time to bless His people in any situation.