Many have strong opinions on the amount of time a pastor should take to prepare his weekly sermon, with many affirming that roughly 20 hrs is not just normal but advisable. We’ve probably seen pastors piling up their commentaries on the book they’re preaching on (with an almost obligatory social media post) as they begin their weekly tough slog through the mysteries of the text. Such a pastor spends a few hours in additional reading, a few hours on the Greek/Hebrew exegetical work, a few hours writing a manuscript, a few hours praying, and a few hours revising and familiarizing himself with the sermon. If 20 hours is advisable, does that apply to the pastor who preaches two different sermons each week? When I am asked how long I spend preparing a sermon, I honestly don’t know. And there’s a good reason for that, namely: I am in a sense always preparing. Sure, there are more formal times spent at one’s desk or in prayer, but I am also preparing in other ways and at various times.
