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November 30, 2018 19 Comments

Five Common Ways Pastors Overcome Sermon Blocks – Rainer on Leadership #489

Podcast Episode #489

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Sunday comes every week for a pastor. And that means a sermon needed nearly every week. Today, we discuss how to combat sermon block if and when that happens.

Some highlights from today’s episode include:

  • The more you can plan ahead with sermon prep, the less likely you are to fight sermon block the week of the sermon.
  • Both church members and staff can be sources for sermon pointers.
  • Pastors, if you plagiarize your sermons, people will notice.
  • Being prepared (mentally and spiritually) and starting early are two main keys to beating sermon block.

The five methods we cover to combat sermon block are:

  1. Preach through books of the Bible
  2. Take sermon preparation retreats
  3. Brainstorm with staff and church members
  4. Listen to other preachers’ podcasts (BUT DON’T PLAGIARIZE!)
  5. Start early in the week

Resources mentioned in today’s podcast

  • Church Answers
  • Revitalize Network

Episode Sponsors

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Feedback

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Related

Comments

  1. Kevin says

    November 30, 2018 at 7:22 am

    Don’t forget the value of going for a walk! Some of my better ideas come while moving, not sitting at my desk.

    Reply
    • Thom Rainer says

      November 30, 2018 at 7:29 am

      True.

      Reply
  2. John says

    November 30, 2018 at 7:52 am

    Hey Thom, What’s this “Sunday morning sermon” stuff? Some of us need 3 sermons a week: Sunday morning, evening and Wednesday evening. Help!

    Reply
    • Thom Rainer says

      November 30, 2018 at 7:58 am

      I know. I feel for you guys.

      Reply
    • David Walters says

      December 1, 2018 at 8:25 pm

      If a pastor feels his calling is to give good weekly sermons to his congregation then he is missing God’s plan for his life. Most pastors are really teachers as the pastoral ministry is a gift not a position. Even children do pastoral ministry when they take care of their younger siblings, sing to and pray for people in nursing homes and hospitals. A sermon a week will not make disciples, only churchgoers. The divine call of the five fold ministry gifts is to equip the saints that they may be able to do the work of the ministry. From a former pastor that learned how to wean people off of him onto the Lord.

      Reply
  3. Jeffrey Hicks says

    November 30, 2018 at 8:16 am

    Our new pastor came and I suspected she was plagerizing others sermons. A simple Google search revealed my suspicions were correct. Who series of sermons stolen. I had a conference with our district leader who said it was perfectly normal and that I should be happy to have such a good pastor. What happened to the days of inspiration, exegesis of the Scripture and prayer? Needless to say, she continues to steal sermons down to the illustrations, so we have found a new place to worship.

    Reply
    • Mark Smith says

      November 30, 2018 at 8:29 am

      I went to the doctor and he did his thing the same way another doctor in Philadelphia does it…

      I went to the mechanic and he does it the same way another mechanic does it across town…

      I went to the dentist and she did it the same way she was taught in school… identically, down to the illustrations!

      I went to the plumber and he fixed it the SAME WAY his teacher taught him… identically!

      I’m sorry, what is the issue again? (Just food for thought)

      Reply
      • Jeff says

        December 1, 2018 at 8:53 am

        The difference is presenting ideas and thoughts as your own which have been taken from another and not acknowledging the fact. Look up the word plagiarism. Not anywhere in the neighborhood of your suggested ideas.

        Reply
    • Craig Giddens says

      November 30, 2018 at 8:49 am

      Well the first problem is … “Our new pastor came and I suspected SHE …. “”

      Reply
      • Scottie Shelton says

        December 2, 2018 at 8:47 am

        Meaning…..

        Reply
        • William Secrest says

          December 2, 2018 at 12:57 pm

          You will find that Craig has a real problem with women being ministers. Whether he likes it or not, it is a reality that should not be ignored. The SBC has not done itself any favors in its treatment of women ministers. I have been in pastoral ministry for 17 years and I have a great deal of respect for those women who have been called to ministry. How about a pod cast on this issue. I pastor when the American Baptist tradition and we have become the denomination where many former Southern Baptist women have landed to continue their calling to ministry.

          Reply
      • John says

        December 3, 2018 at 9:19 am

        Right on!!!

        Reply
  4. John Carlton says

    November 30, 2018 at 8:25 am

    A question about plagiarized sermons, I borrow outlines and illustrations from other pastors but I give credit when I do: is this the same as plagiarizing a sermon? If available I ask the pastor for permission to use it.

    Reply
    • Thom Rainer says

      November 30, 2018 at 8:26 am

      Not at all. Permission and giving credit is not plagiarism.

      Reply
  5. Mark says

    November 30, 2018 at 10:11 am

    First, I would use a lectionary so that you have a few options for preaching. Then I would go to a coffee house or a university student union for part of a morning and do some work and look at what is going on in the real world. If you hear conversations and people are sitting down for a minute, talk to people. You might hear things that you don’t want to hear. You might be out of your comfort zone, but someone needs to do it and you will definitely get idea for applicability of the scripture portion.

    Reply
  6. Paul says

    November 30, 2018 at 10:49 am

    Thom:
    I am truly grateful that you are addressing this subject matter. I have been encouraging fellow pastors to listen to this message. You truly help me in this podcast and in church answers address this subject matter. I am proud to say that you and the guys have really helped me overcome sermon blocks.
    Blessings
    PS: Only on Sat. will I be rooting for Bama. As a gator fan, I rather see Bama win than UGA!!!

    Reply
    • Thom Rainer says

      November 30, 2018 at 11:25 am

      RTR!

      Reply
  7. Craig Giddens says

    November 30, 2018 at 3:59 pm

    This is certainly an extremely important topic. Paul called the church the pillar and ground of the truth. The preaching and teaching of the Bible should be the primary focus of all churches whether it is one-on-one mentoring, small group Bible study or sermons to the body of believers at the local assembly. Not only should the pastor be engaged in expository preaching, but he should be teaching the members how to study for themselves. Something I don’t see going on in a lot churches is the Pastor reaching out and training men to teach Bible studies and preach to the body. These men would in turn do the same for others.

    Reply
  8. Bill Pitcher says

    November 30, 2018 at 9:02 pm

    An early mentor taught me to that a good way to study the Bible was focus on the verbs. When I look at a text several times and still draw a blank, I start taking the verbs apart. An outline generally takes shape pretty quickly.

    Reply

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