Advice for a Young Preacher Preaching His First Sermon

The greatest fear for the majority of people is that of public speaking—and that counts for young ministers as well. While the heart may be on fire to preach God’s Word, once it’s settled that there will be a time and place to actually preach that Word, a lot of different emotions come to the fore.  I want to share with you some brief thoughts on how to approach this momentous preaching event!

1. Pray!  (Colossians 4:2-4)
2. Prepare! (Ezra 7:10)
3. Process!  Give the sermon that God gave you time to process in your mind (Mark 6:30-34)
4. Don’t apologize about this being your first time (Romans 1:16-17). 
5. Remember your ultimate audience is Christ, and that the congregation is ultimately secondary (Colossians 1:24-29). 
6. Don’t work to impress your listeners (see #5).
7. Seek wise counsel about your sermon.  There is nothing unspiritual about getting advice on how something sounds and if that something is doctrinally true and makes sense (Proverbs 15:22).
8. Be who God made you to be.  We already have a John MacArthur and every other preacher on the scene.  God called you with the personality and the gifts he bestowed on you (1 Corinthians 15:10). 
9. Know that not everyone will respond well, even to the most faithful of sermons (Acts 19:21-41).
10. Sleep well when it’s done (Isaiah 55:10-11).