That might be a great sermon idea
That might be a great sermon idea
After church a few weeks ago, I went up and spoke to our pastor for a few moments. Nothing major, just thanking him for a solid message and encouraging him a bit. He took part of what I said and replied with “that might be a good idea for a sermon”. Like any good pastor, he sees the world through sermon-colored glasses and is always looking for new ideas.
It kind of adds onto my thought from a few years ago that daily blogging is like a photographer that goes on a photo walk — everything around is an opportunity for content. Now, I see it as three different levels of content:
Quick content, like a photographer. This is similar to someone that posts on social media multiple times every day.
Longer content, like this blog. Compared to many, most of my posts are fairly short, but they’re still more involved than just a photo or a social post.
Deep content, like a sermon. Preparing and delivering a 25-minute sermon takes a lot of effort. Not only do you need multiple ideas and points, but then you need to take the time to find ways to weave them together. I do that a bit on here, but a longer talk is a whole different level and I’m impressed by those that do it well.
While the three areas are different, they all follow the same concept — you need to keep your eyes open. This is a big reason why I write every day; simply being aware throughout the day and noticing opportunities for posts helps me pay closer attention to what’s in front of me.
For example, I listen to a few hours worth of podcasts each week. Rather than just putting them on in the background, I actively listen to see if I get post ideas. Even if I don’t get one out of a particular show, the act of listening with intent helps me derive more value while I listen.
Now I’ll be sure to pay close attention in church in the coming weeks to see if I notice this particular sermon idea getting weaved in anywhere.