David Buffaloe

commented on Feb 13, 2013

What of the Spirit?

Brandon H

commented on Feb 13, 2013

Good question. Freeing yourself up from notes and internalizing the message you prepared (that is of course bathed in prayer and inspiration from the Spirit) allows more room for the Holy Spirit drop a thought into your head on stage.

Christopher Williams

commented on Feb 13, 2013

Don't agree with the assessment here. I know of many dynamic and powerful preachers who use a pulpit and either notes, outlines, or a full manuscript and still engage and impact their audience. Everyone is not able to, nor have time to memorize their sermon. A danger not?mentioned with this "without notes" method is that it is far easier to run down rabbit trails and thus get away from the point of the text or sermon.?I preach with a skeleton outline. Whatever method used, we all must depend on the power of the Holy Spirit.

Leslye Haller

commented on Feb 13, 2013

Great article Brandon, however, I disagree. I am a manuscript preacher. I would give anything to be able to do like some of my friends and preach without notes, being free to roam about the stage. However, the ability to do this is a gift--one God did not bless me with--at least not yet. And this is okay! Even though I have a manuscript, I also have the freedom to leave it if the Holy Spirit is taking me a different direction, which he loves to do from time to time. With my manuscript, I have a place to "re-land". Without my manuscript, I tend to flail around like a lost child. I know--I've tried. I also know my manuscript so well that I have nearly steady eye contact with the congregation--much more than a pastor I know who preaches without any notes at all and looks almost the whole time at some random spot on the wall opposite the stage. Or another friend of mine who preaches without notes and randomly goes from one point to another until the congregation is so lost they've completely lost the message. I keep trying the "no notes" method. I crave your freedom, but I'm not there yet. If God decides to cut the ties between me and my manuscript, I'll celebrate! But if He decides to keep me with a manuscript, I'm okay with that too. We're not all the same, and we're not all able to preach without notes, anymore than some of us can sing on key and some of us cannot. Keep preaching the Word, Brandon, and God bless you, your ministry and the people God has blessed you with to shepherd!

Brandon H

commented on Feb 13, 2013

Thanks Leslye. I appreciate your honesty. My intention isn't to put down manuscript preachers. I agree that many pastors preach from manuscripts and do it well. However, my hope was to encourage preachers to take risks and find the freedom of no notes (or less notes) on stage. It's definitely not easy. ?Brandon

Rodney Shanner

commented on Feb 13, 2013

I write out a full manuscript, take it to the pulpit, walk all over the stage, walk out into the congregation and go back to the pulpit when necessary. Why make it either, or?

Tim Burns

commented on Feb 13, 2013

I understand completely what Brandon is saying. I am a pastor who leads worship once in a while. I use a stand but know the words and music. I look at the music occasionally. This frees me up to lead the congregation in worship. When I preach I go in with less notes and occasionally refer to them throughout the message. It's difficult to go noteless but I am not bogged down by them as I use to be. Thanks for the thoughts everyone.

Jeff Glenn

commented on Feb 13, 2013

I would love to preach without notes, but as I learned early in my ministerial studies, using written notes is similiar to a builder using a blueprint. Besides my wife (who is my biggest fan and my worst critic!) says that when I don't use notes I "ramble" and "chase too many rabbits". I do sometimes when I am using notes! LOL! (Laughing at myself on that one!) I greatly admire preachers who don't use notes and can stay with the topic. Maybe someday I will be able too!

Brandon H

commented on Feb 13, 2013

Many of these comments bring up a good question: Is being able to preach without notes a gift that some pastors just have or is it a skill that can be learned? Definitely something for me to chew in. Thanks. -Brandon

Brandon H

commented on Feb 13, 2013

Many of these comments bring up a good question: Is being able to preach without notes a gift that some pastors just have or is it a skill that can be learned? Definitely something for me to chew in. Thanks. -Brandon

Darryl Woodson

commented on Feb 13, 2013

It's a lot more work to internalize and even memorize the message. But always worth it.

Jason Cardwell

commented on Feb 13, 2013

This certainly wouldn't work for everyone, but we use PowerPoint, and essentially, what's on the slides ARE my notes. I control my own slide changes, and as I have prayerfully shaped the message slides, they are my breadcrumbs back through the terrain with the congregation.

Doug Conley

commented on Feb 14, 2013

For a preacher with no elders and no men who are either not willing or able to teach, it's hard to find the time to "internalize" my sermon. I do my best to memorize it, but adding three classes, evangelizing, and having a semblance of a family life takes a lot of my time. I do my personal reading before I go to sleep. I know that I'm not the only one in this circumstance.

Leslye Haller

commented on Feb 14, 2013

Hi Brandon, I just read your response to my post and I apologize if I came across as being offended by your article. I was not at all! Heavens, no apology is necessary. I thoroughly enjoyed it. I greatly admire pastors like you who are able to successfully preach without notes, and I should have mentioned another friend of mine who does that and is wonderful. I praise God for the gift He has given you and thank you for being a faithful servant. Blessings to you in this Lenten season!

Gene Cobb

commented on Feb 14, 2013

Love the article and all the comments. My husband and I co Pastor and our preaching methods are totally different. I write just enough notes to keep my points in order. Many times once I am behind the pulpit I won't use any of them. My husband on the other hand used to preach without any notes but about 10 years ago began to write his sermons down word for word. When the Ipad came on the scene, he now has his vehicle for his sermons. He puts them on his Ipad and can even have a computer voice read them back to him. He can then change his manuscript or not. My point, God can speak through notes, no notes, and we would all be very wise to remember, He doesn't need any of us either! We need Him! We are just thankful to be called to this life of ministry. Is the Word of God reaching people? Is Jesus Christ being preached? Then I say God bless us All! And now I need to finish my message for Sunday! Pastor LaFern

Mh Constantine

commented on Feb 15, 2013

I believe that my reliance on the Spirit must infuse all my preparation as well as provide momentary inspiration. The preparation of a message does not chain me down or bind the Spirit, but it does mean that I have done what G. Campbell Morgan calls "original work." Preparation of the message includes preparation of the messenger, or at least should.

Michael Garner

commented on Apr 15, 2015

I learned long ago as a singer in large choirs that memorization is not as difficult as it sounds and not as scary as you might think. However, when preaching, I use bullet point notes for a couple of reasons. First, I am 68 years old and memory is becoming a minor issue. I do a lot of preparation and really hate it when I forget to include something that I feel is really important. I have certainly experienced the Spirit's lead in the middle of a message and have tried to follow Him faithfully when that happens. But, in the normal course of preaching, sometimes I get a random thought that I feel will amplify my notes, but end up "chasing rabbits". Notes are absolutely essential for me.

Stephen Belokur

commented on Apr 15, 2015

Interesting but certainly not a universal concept. Alistair Begg rarely moves from behind the pulpit and my friend Dennis King is a word-smith who carefully and passionately proclaims the Word of God from a manuscript and I am always challenged by one of his sermons. The "one size fits all" makes for nice articles but we should feel free to preach as our Instructor calls us to preach. That's why God doesn't use a cookie cutter to form his pastors. Just sayin' ... and ... God bless you, Brandon Hilgemann!

Lawrence Webb

commented on Apr 15, 2015

Somebody earlier in this thread said, in effect, the Lord doesn't use a cookie cutter when He makes us. I agree. Perhaps I have nothing new to add. So maybe I shouldn't clutter the website with no new contribution. But it's important to vote, just like in a public election. So I vote for each man or woman to use the talent that works best. I work from a full manuscript. And, because I speak each week on the radio, I can't stray far from the pulpit.

Kent Dickerson

commented on Dec 5, 2019

I both lead worship and preach on the occasional basis. Thanks, Brandon, for the challenge. I admit I still use the music stand as a crutch. I know I do a better job, though if I really learn the songs. I'll have to try it without the stand and see how it goes. Most of the time for sermons, I use the slides for my notes. They keep things in order and I can read the scriptures as they come.