On writing and sermons

We sometimes speak of writing sermons. 

But sermons are primarily spoken. Better to prepare to speak. 

Many will do this by writing the sermon out in full. And some will then read it out. 

Writing a sermon is very unlike writing a novel. A serious novel takes at least a year to write. Probably two or three years. 

The best sermons have something poetic about them because the best sermons and poems both seek to speak of the infinite. 

The preacher must have something to say every week. In this he is like the newspaper columnist. Both have their deadline and a typical word limit. 

Both preacher and writer will probably want to draft and re-drift. They must both afix themselves to their study chairs until their work is ready for the public.

Likely the preacher and the newspaper man both want some angle, some way in, some conclusion. Both will give attention to form and structure. They will want to say their piece as well as they can - colourfully, memorably, movingly. 

Does the columnist seek to educate, inform and entertain? Perhaps he wants to persuade? He wants people to read him. He wants his fee. 

The preacher too hopes to command interest. But his aims are rather different. He speaks for the glory of God. To convert, to edify. And he has a text or texts from which he ought to speak. His message is not his own. He speaks as one speaking the very words of God. 

For all the similarities between writers and sermoners, it is perhaps worth dwelling on the differences.