I envy preachers who are able to approach creativity as a science. I really do. I have friends who prepare sermons the same exact way every single week. They study at the same times, in the same setting, organizing thoughts in the same sequence…that must be nice!
I’ve tried to emulate this approach, because I honestly think it would be the most effective way to do it. Sadly, I’ve never been able to make it work for me.
For me, creativity is compulsive. Ideas are like waves, and I’m just a guy with a board. No matter how good I get at riding these waves, I can’t generate them. I can locate the best beaches, even, but I can’t control the tide.
Recently I recorded an audio blog in response to a FAQ:
Explain to me how you prepare sermons.
I laugh when someone says that to me, because whether they know it or not, it’s kind of like a kid saying to his dad:
Explain to me how babies are made.
See, you don’t really want to know. You’ll find it disgusting. It’s messy. It’s traumatic. It’s downright awkward to discuss.
But parts of the process are a lot of fun. And the end result is new life, which makes the pain worthwhile.