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
Well 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.
After 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 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.
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 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.
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.
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.
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…
Doc,
The Lord bless you. I have a new concept on the idea of practicing for presentation.
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
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.
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!!
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?
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.
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.
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.
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!
Original African American Bible?
Thank you . I. Needed this !!!!