Skip to content

Soul Preaching

Menu
  • Home
  • Contact Us
  • Popular Updates
    • Preaching Methods
    • Homiletic Theory
    • Sermon Construction
    • Exegesis
    • Feature Articles
  • SUBSCRIBE
Menu

Practicing Preaching and Christian Living – Lessons from the Trumpet

Posted on April 7, 2015

As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.

When I was growing up, I had the opportunity to play the trumpet. I was no expert, but I did play in a number of churches over the years. I studied privately with a number of trumpet teachers. Many of these teachers recommended that I practice at least an hour every day. In addition, I was to spend some time in composition and music theory.

That requirement is largely why I am not a good trumpet player today. But I digress…I do want to ask a question, How did I spend this practice time and how does this relate to preaching? And even more than preaching, living the Christian life.

The Practice Routine

Soul Theology: The Heart of American Black CultureWell I spent a significant amount of time practicing the fundamentals of music. I played many scales and arpeggios (chords). I turned them into patterns and exercises. I played major and minor scales. I played them from memory as well as sight read the scales and patterns. I would play many different patterns and piece them together in different ways. I played them high, play them low, play them staccato, play them legato, play whole notes, half notes, quarter, etc.

mirachi trumpetAfter playing around with scales, I would also play some music pieces. I would practice them with and without background music. This was a bit more enjoyable than playing scales and the time would go faster. I would then include time in improvisation. Here I would just play whatever I felt and whatever came to me. It was here that the fundamentals as well as the song playing came together in an interesting combination.

For a time I also had some breath exercises to improve breath control and power. All of these things helped to make me a better trumpet player and a better musician.

Then after all that, I would do some composition. Create simple songs. I would also transcribe some songs. TOO BAD I DIDN’T KEEP IT UP!!!

The Hum: Call and Response in African American Preaching (Abingdon Preacher\'s Library)The other day I realized that I spent much more time practicing the trumpet than in practicing preaching. It is true that I do spend some time in sermon preparation, but that time is more comparable to my trumpet composition time than my trumpet practice schedule.

Now someone might question whether such practice is necessary. Some might argue that one should totally depend on the Spirit for such things. I would disagree that practice demonstrates a lack of dependence on the Spirit. I practiced my trumpet diligetnly when I was to play in church. Why practice less when I am to preach?

Improving Sermon Presentation by Practicing

I began to think about how my sermonic presentation might improve if I tried to “practice” my preaching just as I practiced my trumpet. I admit that I often practiced my preaching by practicing a particular sermon, but my trumpet practice included more than just the piece of music I was to play. It included fundamentals and other components of musicianship. Because of this, I need to think about how a preaching practice session would look.

First, we need some of the rudiments of preaching. Here we might practice the presentation of theological concepts and scriptural passages. For example, in the African American Church the concept of “God’s goodness” is often stated as “God is Good all the Time and All the Time God Is Good!” “Practicing” the presentation of this would include practicing preaching the concept in different ways. Think about preaching the concept in a funeral situation. How would it look? What texts would I use? Now think about preaching the concept at a 9-11 commemoration. Is it possible? Can we do it? Should we do it? Certainly the presentation would be different. Now think about preaching it at a church anniversary.

Scales in Preaching

In addition to these basic theological concepts (Henry Mitchell’s Soul Theology provides 10 for the African American church) I would also need to memorize scriptures. Why not look at fundamental texts that are important to your community. In the Original African American Bible there are 101 texts that are important to African Americans. These texts could be a good starting point to have memorized and ready. These are the fundamentals of preaching in the African American Community.

These are your fundamentals. These are your scales. Practice them. Memorize them. Fit them in messages. See where they fit and where they don’t. What about texts that are important to your ecclesial tradition? Memorize them. To our Baptist sisters and brothers, have you practiced how baptism by immersion can illuminate other things? How does it fit in when you are preaching different sermons in different contexts. What about the historic Baptist call for liberty. How does that fit in? Those are your scales.

The cross. We all preach the cross, but some of us when we preach it it is always shoehorned in like it is an addition to the message. Have you practiced that fundamental? What does the cross say to those who have lost love ones? What about to those who have lost a job. How about who have just received a promotion.

Take a text and see what the text says about the cross. What does the text say about your other fundamentals. Maybe it doesn’t say anything, maybe it does. But remember we are practicing.

God\'s Trombones: Seven Negro Sermons in Verse (Penguin Twentieth-Century Classics)How about Improvisation. Take those fundamentals and improvise on them. Evans Crawford talks about riffing on James Weldon Johnson’s book God’s Trombones. Why not begin with one of them and then take it in a different direction. Then how about taking a text and letting it take you in a different direction. Preach the text and then preach a sermon.

The Jazz of Preaching: How to Preach With Great Freedom and JoyThe equivalent of playing songs would be to read sermons and “preach them.” One can practice Sermons from others and your own sermons. Follow the text closely in this practice and then improvise over the text.

Sadly, many just copy others sermons and then preach them verbatim in the worship service. But I am not talking about that, I am talking about preaching them in the practice room. Preach them. There are tons of sermons available online. Or get a book. Classic sermons and even head on over to sermoncentral.com and check out some contemporary ones.

Now some will say that they don’t have time to practice. I hear you, but what if I would have said that in my trumpet practice and then attempted to play. Well you know what would have happened. I think that we should spend more time practicing than just when we are preaching in the pulpit. Adapting a practice schedule of a trumpet player may not be exactly what we need, but certainly we can learn from those who spend time diligently working on their craft.

Amazon and the Amazon logo are trademarks of Amazon.com, Inc, or its affiliates.

Related posts:

Nommo – Creative Power of the Word Default ThumbnailKerygma and Didache Default ThumbnailProphetic Preaching Default ThumbnailAuthenticity and Preaching

14 thoughts on “Practicing Preaching and Christian Living – Lessons from the Trumpet”

  1. hannibal says:
    January 16, 2008 at 10:51 pm

    Doc,
    I’d sure like to know where I could find those pivtal pericopes of scripture! In addition, I really love this concept and find it useful as a pulpit novice.

    Galatians 6:17 (NRSV)
    From now on, let no one make trouble for me; for I carry the marks of Jesus branded on my body.

  2. Brady Williams says:
    January 6, 2012 at 6:01 pm

    Brother Cox

    Yes I believe that practice will make you a better preacher. but will it make you a better leader or a better man of God. I believe that the body has many members and each member has it’s own purpose to fulfill. is every one a preacher simply because they have practice to be one. I am thinking of the story of Josheph the son of Jacob. He was born with the gift of leadership along with the gift of interperting dreams. I guess those two gifts run hand in hand. Anyway his gift was dispised by his brothers yet it was that very gift that saved not only his family but all ther people in that reagion from a servere famine. I guess my question would be; what percentage of a shepherd’s responsibility should be preaching? Another question for the body would be; Should the leader of God’s people be someone who has practticed to be a leader or someone who has the natural gift of leadership and preaching.

  3. Sherman Haywood Cox II says:
    January 6, 2012 at 6:13 pm

    That is a good question that comes up from time to time…but you do understand it is byond the scope of this Blog…We only talk about preaching. But yours is an important point that preaching is not all there is to the pastor’s responsibility. I have talked about someone starting a “soulpastoring” blog, but I am not the one to write that blog…when will someone pick up that mantle? I will help that one as best I can…

    as to your questions should it be someone who is practiced or naturally gifted…I believe you set up a false dichotomy. One who is naturally gifted still is bettered by practice. One who has no gifts or calling will not manufacture one by practice. To go back to the example, I didn’t attempt to play the trumpet without practice due to having a gift or calling. No the gift and the calling propelled me to work and practice…

    thanks for your comments…

  4. Damien Bonner says:
    January 6, 2012 at 6:44 pm

    Doc,

    The Lord bless you. I have a new concept on the idea of practicing for presentation.

  5. Otha Davis says:
    January 6, 2012 at 7:43 pm

    Great Concept! I have enjoyed all your teachings thus far. Keep it coming. I’m trying to soak up all I can. Thanks for everything!

    Yours in CHRIST

  6. Pastor Frederick D. Harris says:
    January 6, 2012 at 8:41 pm

    It’s been awhile, but I see that you’re still passing on good information Sir. I’m in agreement with you Bro Cox, the more I practice my gift, the more mature the presentation of it will be.

  7. Sylvia Moseley-Robinson says:
    January 7, 2012 at 11:28 am

    Great Concept,after time in the word, prayer and direction from the Holy Spirit how do we continue to give God our best as preachers? There were some very good practical ideas for practicing preaching. I search relentlessly for books and materials on preaching the Gospel that will help make it plain to my community. Thank you for more information on how to give God and my community my best!!

  8. barbara prescott-chambliss says:
    January 7, 2012 at 1:02 pm

    I have completed my theology class and received a Bac Degree in 2008 but I have not preached a sermon or even know how to prepare a sermon. What steps to take and how to put it together. I really want to be ordained but I need to preach my first sermon according to my church Pastor. Can anyone help me?

  9. Pastor Walters says:
    January 8, 2012 at 9:21 pm

    A very interesting perspective indeed! Having played trumpet myself, I can relate. Practicing to become a better speaker is what the article is really espousing. Those who preach are unique speakers, but the skill itself can and should be developed. The details of that implementation need to be worked out in the mind of the individual and the resources cited provide an excellent starting point. Now the challenge is to fit it in with everything else. I’m not reading less or praying less to make time to do this.

    Good food for thought.

  10. Marcell Thomas says:
    January 15, 2012 at 2:43 am

    Hello brother Williams I appreciate the thought you put into your questions sir. However to answer the question Joseph gift of interpreting dreams,and leadership manifested because he served,followed,and humbled himself which means he went through the process of development the word process simply means he practiced. As a result of him practicing he developed in god.

  11. Rev. Derrick M. Kelly, Esq. says:
    July 24, 2013 at 11:13 am

    Rev. Cox,

    I must say that this article is one of the finest that you have written. Very timely, insightful, and honest. Excellent!

    Thanks much,

    Rev. Derrick M. Kelly, Esq.

  12. Pastor Benjamin says:
    July 25, 2013 at 10:57 am

    I have never read anything like this on preaching. I listen to sermons to learn more techniques, but never thought of actually preaching them myself. Some of the old preaching books speak about the voice and enunciation too. But, there is not really anything like that in the modern preaching books. Thanks. There’s good food for thought here!

  13. R Wayne Hamilton says:
    July 26, 2013 at 9:05 pm

    Original African American Bible?

  14. Catherine says:
    April 12, 2015 at 8:40 pm

    Thank you . I. Needed this !!!!

Leave a Reply

You must be logged in to post a comment.

This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.

Recent Posts

  • Stop Sleeping In The Pulpit
  • Thou Shalt Have Good News
  • The Answer Is In The Records
  • Just Keep the Ball In Play
  • The Importance of Good News
  • Preaching Advent With Imagination
  • Why The Thorn

Free Email Training

Sign up for the New Preaching TIPS Email Newsletter. You will recieve 5-7 emails a week.

Click Here

Revised Common Lectionary

    Instagram

    shermancox

    Instagram post 18041906996079829 Instagram post 18041906996079829
    Instagram post 17910296783919000 Instagram post 17910296783919000
    Instagram post 18035493148903548 Instagram post 18035493148903548
    Instagram post 17887097775081541 Instagram post 17887097775081541
    #smule #smuleduet #easylikesundaymorning #smule #smuleduet #easylikesundaymorning
    I feel Good #smule #smuleglobal I feel Good #smule #smuleglobal
    Instagram post 18087447073438590 Instagram post 18087447073438590
    Instagram post 17851233018147535 Instagram post 17851233018147535
    Instagram post 17907649217946063 Instagram post 17907649217946063
    Intro to prayer Intro to prayer
    Instagram post 17982108473571505 Instagram post 17982108473571505
    Instagram post 18030258256647195 Instagram post 18030258256647195
    Instagram post 18128574130309862 Instagram post 18128574130309862
    Instagram post 18388873843007811 Instagram post 18388873843007811
    What’s on the wall when I’m singing? What’s on the wall when I’m singing?
    How bout some blues harp. With a blues guitarist. How bout some blues harp. With a blues guitarist.
    Goodness of God cover. Goodness of God cover.
    Instagram post 18229306630087412 Instagram post 18229306630087412
    Instagram post 17972316937910455 Instagram post 17972316937910455
    Logged into lose it and it said Logged into lose it and it said
    Load More Follow on Instagram

    Recent Posts

    • Stop Sleeping In The Pulpit
    • Thou Shalt Have Good News
    • The Answer Is In The Records
    • Just Keep the Ball In Play
    • The Importance of Good News

    Archives

    • September 2024
    • March 2024
    • December 2023
    • November 2023
    • October 2023
    • January 2020
    • December 2019
    • October 2019
    • September 2019
    • March 2019
    • August 2018
    • June 2018
    • January 2018
    • December 2017
    • November 2017
    • October 2017
    • September 2017
    • August 2017
    • April 2017
    • March 2017
    • February 2017
    • January 2017
    • December 2016
    • November 2016
    • October 2016
    • July 2016
    • June 2016
    • May 2016
    • April 2016
    • March 2016
    • February 2016
    • January 2016
    • November 2015
    • October 2015
    • September 2015
    • August 2015
    • July 2015
    • June 2015
    • May 2015
    • April 2015
    • March 2015
    • January 2015
    • November 2014
    • September 2014
    • August 2014
    • July 2014
    • June 2014
    • May 2014
    • April 2014
    • March 2014
    • February 2014
    • January 2014
    • November 2013
    • October 2013
    • September 2013
    • July 2013
    • June 2013
    • May 2013
    • April 2013
    • March 2013
    • December 2012
    • September 2012
    • August 2012
    • July 2012
    • June 2012
    • May 2012
    • April 2012
    • February 2012
    • January 2012
    • November 2011
    • October 2011
    • September 2011
    • August 2011
    • July 2011
    • June 2011
    • May 2011
    • April 2011
    • March 2011
    • February 2011
    • January 2011
    • December 2010
    • November 2010
    • October 2010
    • September 2010
    • August 2010
    • July 2010
    • June 2010
    • April 2010
    • March 2010
    • February 2010
    • January 2010
    • December 2009
    • November 2009
    • October 2009
    • September 2009
    • August 2009
    • July 2009
    • June 2009
    • May 2009
    • April 2009
    • March 2009
    • February 2009
    • January 2009
    • December 2008
    • November 2008
    • October 2008
    • September 2008
    • August 2008
    • July 2008
    • June 2008
    • May 2008
    • April 2008
    • March 2008
    • February 2008
    • January 2008
    • December 2007
    • November 2007
    • October 2007
    • September 2007
    • August 2007
    • July 2007
    • June 2007
    • May 2007
    • April 2007
    • March 2007
    • February 2007
    • January 2007
    • December 2006
    • November 2006
    • October 2006
    • September 2006

    Categories

    • 11Cartoons
    • 11Fiction
    • 11Instruction
    • Associate Ministry
    • Audio
    • Basic Preaching
    • Bible Study
    • Black Church
    • Black Preaching Style
    • blog
    • Book of the Month
    • Book Reviews
    • Devotional
    • Exegesis
    • Feature Articles
    • feedburner
    • Fixing the Sermon
    • Funeral
    • General
    • Gospel Music
    • Headline
    • History
    • Homiletic Theory
    • Issues
    • MiniBlog
    • Ministry
    • Negro Spirituals
    • Planning
    • Podcast
    • Practice
    • Prayer
    • Preaching
    • Preaching Methods
    • Preaching Style
    • Premium
    • Questions and Answers
    • racism
    • Scripture Selection
    • Sermon Analysis
    • Sermon Construction
    • Sermon Craft
    • Sermon Editing
    • Sermon Outline
    • Sermons
    • Software
    • Theology
    • Titles
    • Uncategorized
    • Video
    • Web Ministry
    • WebSeminar
    • Whooping
    • Without Notes
    ©2025 Soul Preaching | Design: Newspaperly WordPress Theme