Issue 31 What is Joy?Blog | How I prepare by Derek Pamment
How I prepare by Derek Pamment
Author: Andy PeckPost Date: 23.06.22
I want to share my approach to sermon preparation and how my work as a police chaplain supports and informs my work as a curate in the Anglican Church. Preaching is a real joy and must be both contextual and contemporary. The parish in which I have the privilege of ministering has a well-publicised vision and set of values and can be summarised as the church existing to share the love of Jesus. The narrative of this is communicated through the following values
Seeking the heart of God
Preaching the authentic gospel
Everyone is valuable and has gifts to offer
We are intentional about discipleship
Committed to outreach in the community and beyond.
Preaching may be from the lectionary or in line with a sermon series. Whichever, it starts with prayer followed by exploring the reading usually in the NIV Bible and a couple of other easy-to-read contemporary versions. A great resource, particularly for all age teaching, is God’s Word, My Voice: A Lectionary for Children by Lyn Zill Briggs. Seeking to ensure the message of the sermon fits with the vision and values and is missional, pastoral, and evangelistic is no mean feat. The balance between these components can be very difficult.
