Rev. Curtis’s Strategies for Impactful Preaching
Build a Strong Foundation
🗓️ Develop Consistent Habits – Establish a disciplined prayer and devotional practice to create a well of knowledge that fuels sermon preparation.
📝 Notebook System – Organize your sermon ideas with a notebook, discarding irrelevant details and storing valuable insights for later use.
⏰ Plan Ahead – Begin sermon preparation early, with a timeline that includes a first draft by Monday, a refined version by Wednesday, and a polished final edit by Thursday.
Make Text Selection Matter
🔍 Choose Resonant Passages – Preach on texts that continually weigh on your heart and mind; these often hold the most depth for contemporary application.
📚 Dive into Biblical Context – Research the audience’s living conditions, spiritual challenges, and social reality to uncover the text’s original purpose.
🏛️ Examine Societal Dynamics – Study the broader context, including the empire’s structure and the oppression faced by the original audience, to draw meaningful parallels.
Leverage Resources Thoughtfully
📊 Three-Tier Approach to Research – Consult easy-to-digest Christian bookstore material, expand to general biblical resources, and dig into in-depth scholarly works.
🤖 Use AI with Discernment – Gather insights through AI tools, but selectively incorporate only the most relevant findings for your sermon.
📱 Stay Relatable – Draw on literature and resources familiar to your congregation to bridge the gap between theology and their lived experiences.
Craft Sermons with Intention
✍️ Let Mood Shape the Message – Align the tone of your sermon with the text’s natural mood, whether celebratory or reflective, for a cohesive presentation.
🖼️ Illustrate with Purpose – Employ illustrations to clarify and support the text, ensuring they enhance rather than detract from your core message.
📱💻🖥️ Refine Through Technology – Work through drafts on multiple devices—a phone, laptop, and tablet—to engage the material from different perspectives.
Preach with Precision
🎭 Match Presentation to Intent – Ensure the tone of your delivery reflects the message of the text, recognizing that not all sermons need to conclude on a celebratory note.
🔄 Debate and Refine Ideas – Foster continuity by allowing sermon ideas to challenge one another, even if it means sacrificing some creative elements.
🖼️ Keep Focused Illustrations – Avoid cluttering the message by using illustrations strictly to illuminate the text’s meaning.
Understand Your Calling
🎯 Awaken and Nurture – A preacher’s role is twofold, as Rev. Curtis explains—awakening the conscience of the community and nurturing the spirituality of individuals.
🌱 Root Messages in Real Life – Create sermons that resonate with lived experiences, enabling the congregation to discover their own voices in the biblical text.
📖 Stay Biblically Grounded – Ensure your sermons remain faithful to Scripture, touching hearts while prompting reflection and action.
Take Action
Rev. Curtis’s practical and visionary insights remind us that preaching is about more than just sharing ideas—it’s about fostering change, connection, and faith. His holistic approach ensures that messages don’t just inspire but also leave lasting spiritual impact.
Looking to experience this wisdom in person? Don’t miss your chance to learn from leaders like Rev. Curtis at the 2025 TKN Leadership Summit. Discover how you can continue refining your ministry while exploring the Academy’s wealth of resources.
