Sermon prep takes how long???
How I Write My Sermons
One of the questions I get asked most often as a pastor is: “How do you write your sermons each week?”
The truth is—it’s a process filled with study, prayer, creativity, and a lot of time staring at a blank page asking the Holy Spirit to lead me. In this post, I want to pull back the curtain a little bit. Sermon preparation isn’t some mystical thing that just happens magically, and it’s definitely not something that can be accomplished in 30 minutes. It takes intentional time and focus to hear God’s voice, understand His Word, and prepare to share it faithfully.
I usually aim to spend 15–18 hours a week preparing my sermons. But the reality is that ministry life is busy, and often I end up with closer to 8–10 hours of prep time. Whether it’s on the longer or shorter end, I’ve learned to trust that God can multiply the hours I give Him.
Here’s a look at what my typical week of sermon prep looks like:
1. Research (1–3 Hours)
The first step for me is always diving into the Word itself. I’ll spend 1–3 hours digging into the passage, studying the original language, exploring cultural and historical references, and looking at the context around the story.
This deep understanding of Scripture is what allows me to be more easily led by God into the message He has for Passion Church in Kernersville. When I know the subject, timeline, or history well, I find that God can work more broadly than if I’m walking in unprepared and ignorant. Preparation gives God room to expand the message.
I’ve also found that the more I prepare, the freer I become when preaching. A personal goal for me is to use my notes as a reference, not a crutch. The deeper I know the material, the less I have to rely on reading my notes word-for-word, which leaves more space for the Spirit to move in the moment.
2. Learning from Others (2–4 Hours)
After that, I usually spend 2–4 hours watching other pastors preach on similar passages or themes.
It’s worth noting: at Passion Church, we draw a significant amount of inspiration for sermons and series from other churches, and we recommend that others do the same—with permission and proper referencing. A great example is Life.Church’s Open Church Resource, which provides free sermon series, graphics, and a wealth of resources to support local churches.
Now, I don’t recommend stealing an entire church’s series and replacing your prep with their work. Nor do I recommend following someone else’s script word-for-word, because that can remove room for the Spirit to lead. But inspiration can come from others—and God can absolutely use their work to spark something new in you. You never know how He may choose to work through the Body of Christ.
3. Prayer, Worship, and Reflection (2–4 Hours)
A big part of sermon prep for me is not just information, but transformation. I have to let the message work in me before I can share it with you.
That means I’ll spend 2–4 hours in prayer, worship, and reflection, asking God to show me what He wants to say to Passion Church this week. During this time, I also go back through my notes and manuscript, reading them aloud. Doing this while praying and worshiping helps calm my mind, keeps my heart centered on God, and cements everything into place before I step on stage.
4. Practice, Editing, and Refining
On weeks when I have more time, I’ll split extra hours between practicing the delivery, watching more sermons for inspiration, and spending even more time in prayer and worship.
I also personally find that editing my jokes takes up a significant amount of time. The more I prepare, the shorter my sermons usually run and the more “acceptable” my jokes become. Humor is a big part of preaching for me. I believe God loves me in spite of me—and that’s a reason to be joyful! Because of that, many of my sermons include intentional humor. Our relationship with God should absolutely be one of respect, love, and submission, but it should also be full of humor and joy.
For me, preaching isn’t just about content—it’s about carrying the presence of God and making His Word come alive for people.
5. Using Helpful Tools
Something that has surprised me in recent years is how helpful AI tools have become in this process. I use AI for research, organization, and even structuring my thoughts. It’s not a replacement for the Spirit’s leading (and it never will be), but it has helped me use my time more effectively so I can spend more of it in prayer and preparation.
At the end of the day, sermon writing is not just about crafting words—it’s about hearing from God and faithfully communicating His truth. Whether I spend 18 hours or 8 hours preparing, I remind myself of Jesus’ words:
“Apart from me, you can do nothing.” (John 15:5)
That’s why every sermon begins and ends with dependence on Him.
Looking for a Church in Kernersville?
If you’ve been searching online for a church near me in Kernersville, exploring Kernersville churches, or simply wondering about Christian churches near me, we’d love to invite you to Passion Church in Kernersville.
We’re a community of authentic people doing our best to follow after Jesus Christ. Every message is preached and taught from God’s Word, and every service is designed to help you take your next step with Him.
Join us in person or online for one of our services—you’ll find a welcoming atmosphere, meaningful worship, and teaching rooted in Scripture.
👉 Learn more at www.passionchurchnc.com/PlanYourVisit
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There are certain moments in the life of a church that feel significant—not because of a building or an address, but because of what those things represent. For Passion Church, this is one of those moments. We are excited to announce that Passion Church is moving to our new home at 4368 Stokesdale Avenue in Walkertown, North Carolina . Located near the intersection of Walkertown, Kernersville, and Winston-Salem, this property gives us an opportunity to continue growing, serving, and investing in the communities we love while establishing a permanent place to call home. If you've followed our story over the past few years, you know that Passion Church has never been about a building. From the beginning, our mission has been simple: helping people find and follow Jesus. That mission has guided every decision we've made, every ministry we've launched, every small group we've started, and every conversation we've had with people searching for hope and purpose. While our location is changing, that mission remains exactly the same. In many ways, this move represents a new chapter, but not a new direction. We are still the same church that believes the Bible is the authoritative Word of God. We still believe that Jesus Christ is the Son of God, that His death and resurrection provide forgiveness of sins, and that He is the way to reconciliation with God. Those convictions have shaped who we are from day one, and they will continue to shape who we are in Walkertown and beyond. At the same time, we recognize that truth is most effective when it is shared through genuine relationships. One of the phrases you'll hear often at Passion Church is that we start with grace and lead to truth . We believe both are necessary. Grace creates space for people to be honest about where they are, while truth points them toward the hope and transformation found in Jesus. We don't see those ideas as competing with one another; we see them working together in the same way they did throughout the ministry of Christ. That philosophy affects how we approach ministry. While Sunday worship services are important, some of the most meaningful moments in our church happen around dinner tables, in living rooms, over coffee, and during everyday conversations. We believe life change happens in the context of relationships, which is why small groups, shared meals, community events, and serving opportunities are such an important part of who we are. We want to be more than a place people attend for an hour each week. We want to be a church family where people are known, encouraged, challenged, and supported through every season of life. As we prepare to move into Walkertown, one of the things we're most excited about is getting to know our new community. Every town has its own personality, history, strengths, and challenges. Our desire is not simply to occupy a building in Walkertown, but to become a meaningful part of the community. We look forward to building relationships with local families, schools, businesses, and organizations as we seek opportunities to serve and make a positive impact. We're also incredibly excited about what this move means for future generations. Passion Church places a high value on investing in children, students, and young families. We believe the local church should be one of the safest, most encouraging, and most life-giving environments a child can experience. Whether it's through Passion Kids, student ministry, family events, or simply creating spaces where young people can learn about Jesus and build healthy friendships, we are committed to helping the next generation develop a faith that lasts. For those who may be searching for a church home, we know that stepping into a church for the first time can feel intimidating. Maybe you've been away from church for years. Maybe you've had a difficult experience in the past. Maybe you're simply curious and trying to figure out what you believe. Wherever you find yourself, we want you to know that you're welcome here. You don't have to have everything figured out before you walk through the doors. As we look ahead to this new season, we're filled with gratitude for what God has already done and anticipation for what He will do next. We believe the best days of Passion Church are still ahead, not because of a new building, but because every new season creates new opportunities to help people encounter Jesus and experience the hope found in Him. Walkertown, we're excited to be your neighbors. We can't wait to meet you, serve alongside you, and continue helping people find and follow Jesus for years to come. Passion Church 4368 Stokesdale Avenue Walkertown, NC 27051 Helping People Find and Follow Jesus.
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