Mountain Home bulletin. (Mountain Home, Idaho) 1888-1889, 1888-06-09
WRITING a SERMON.


WRITING A SERMON.
4 Distinguished Chicago Clergyman Tell,
How He Does 1t.
You have requested me to tell You
how make my sermons. l hardly
know what to answer, as, in my judg.
ment, nearly all preachers prepare
substantially in the same way How
do painters mix their colorsp How do
brickmakers make their bricksp How
do wall builders build their walls; or
shipwrights their vesselsP In all these
cases there are accepted principles on
which these artisans proceed, and the
same is true of sermon manufacturing.
II you are anxious to find out Rubens'
secret of coloring. or Beecher's art OF
Illuminating an idea, or the charm that
hangs over the composition of various
men. you will never be gratiied; for
that is something they themselves can
not explain, even if they try. What
the public would really like to know of
the Celebrations of genius can not be
impaired, and what remains may be
learned in any book on homiletics, with
simply tho uninteresting addenda as to
whether certain mortals write or do
not write, or whether they write only
notes, or in full. These details are pit.
iably Indifferent. But as you wish
them in my case, who have no secret
of genius to trouble me or others, l
comply with your desire.
Some sermons are born; others. like
Topsy, grow. just as the poet has an
inspiration and writes, so at times a
thought comes to the preacher. and
easily, almost without effort, it shapes
itself on paper. But other discourses
are painfully elaborated. They have
to be carefully planned. sketched,
revised and re-revised before the desired
result is reached. My custom has been
to read the Bible regularly and studi.
ously, and to note any text that i'm.
presses me, appending such ideas as il
may have given rise to; and in some in.
stances that is all the preparation giver
to the sermon. The text has taken hold
OF me. reused my entire spiritual ant
mental being, has shaped itself. ant
appropriate words generally are fount
when the hour comes for delivery
These, however, are exceptional cases
Usually the marked passage in tn
Bible remains for future use; but, BY
the daily study of the book, subject
for the pulpit are kept on hand il
abundance. Having text and theme.
then, as rule. pencil rough outline
jotting down ideas and illustrations
After the plan is drawn up, if there i
need for the consultation of authorities
perform that part of my task.
As / read what l have Just put o,
paper, am reminded of story l hear,
of a celebrated and successful Indian
captain. He was asked what plan h,
adopted when fighting the redskins
He replied: II have very excellen
one always, and always mean to follow
it, but the redskins discomfort it, am
l have just to let the boys loose on them
with the advice not to miss when the,
fire." So it is with myself. have al
exalted idea of the way in which a ser
mon should be prepared, and l inten
always to do my best in that line; bu
circumstances are changing constantly
time can not always be found for clos
study, and ones battle must be decide
on the inspiration of the moment. M
rule is to move like the old captain, an
il can only succeed in hitting some
body or something l am happy, eve
though critics may be shocked. and I'll
old rifle recoil a little more yiolcntl
than is pleasant.
In conclusion. permit me to add TIL;
for effective pulpit work a rested brai
is the best of all immediate prepari
tions. Had l to choose between a maj
uscript with weary head on my shou
ders, and fresh head-not a new on
Of course-and no manuscript, wou'
select the head. This pre-supposes O
ucation. experience and the ability
command ones resources in publ
Given these general qualifications, al
contend the speaker will find qui
and repose an excellent library al
desk for what is before him. But b
ginners ought not to presume. Th'
ought to learn from this fact not
, neglect needful rest for mind and bod
! but, at the same time. they must n
8 forego careful discipline of though
: due reflection, and conscientious cor
: hitting of their ideas to paper.-Dr
!. C. Lortmer. in Writer.