On The Shoulders Of Giants: Sermon Preparation Resources For Pastors

The Weight of Sermon Preparation

Every pastor knows the weight of sermon preparation. The quiet hours of study, the blank page staring back, and the prayerful hope that our words will both honor God and feed His people. Preaching is a holy calling—but it’s never a solo endeavor.

Behind every sermon stand countless influences: scholars who wrestled with Scripture, pastors who left behind sermon notes, congregants whose stories shape illustrations, and digital preaching tools that bring centuries of wisdom within reach.

That’s why sermon preparation resources like commentaries, sermon databases, biblical dictionaries, Bible software, and feedback from peers are so vital. They don’t replace prayer or the Spirit’s leading, but they enrich, clarify, and inspire our preaching. Each time we prepare to preach, we step into a larger conversation that stretches across centuries and congregations.

A Tapestry of Influence

Think of a sermon as a tapestry.

• The warp threads are the Word of God—the biblical text, faithfully interpreted.
• The weft threads are the influences we weave in: commentaries, cultural insights, peer feedback, and theological tradition.
• The loom is our own heart—our relationship with Christ, the Spirit’s conviction, and our pastoral calling.

Every message draws its strength not from one thread alone but from the way these threads are woven together. Sermons are not created in isolation—they are born in community.

Using Commentaries & Biblical Dictionaries

When a pastor opens a commentary, they are entering a conversation with centuries of scholars who wrestled with Scripture. Commentaries—whether the classic notes of Matthew Henry or modern voices like N.T. Wright—bring linguistic insight, historical context, and theological clarity.

Biblical dictionaries provide quick, reliable background on customs, places, names, and ideas, enriching our illustrations and grounding our exposition. Together, these tools save pastors time, sharpen interpretation, and help ensure sermons remain faithful and relevant.

Learning from Sermon Notes & Online Sermon Databases

Veteran pastors often leave behind sermon notes—reflections, illustrations, outlines—that form a legacy of faithful preaching. For younger pastors, these notes aren’t a shortcut but a classroom, offering lessons in what resonated with congregations and what fell flat.

Online sermon databases—such as those found on platforms like SermonCentral—provide similar value on a global scale. They offer outlines, manuscripts, and thematic ideas that can spark creativity and prevent redundancy. These resources don’t replace the Spirit’s leading but remind us that we are part of a great cloud of witnesses still speaking today.

Peer & Congregational Feedback

A sermon doesn’t reach its full form until it meets the ears and hearts of listeners. Trusted colleagues—fellow pastors, elders, or ministry partners—offer feedback that can clarify doctrine, refine tone, and strengthen application.

Equally valuable is feedback from congregants themselves. Their reflections help us see whether our words connect, challenge, or comfort as intended. Effective sermon preparation involves both speaking and listening; it is a dialogue between preacher and congregation.

Preaching with Theological Foundations

Jesus Himself preached with deep roots in Scripture, building on familiar texts and traditions. In the same way, pastors today stand on the theological foundations of creeds, confessions, and catechisms.

Drawing from this heritage safeguards our sermons against drift and unites us with the global church. We are not inventing new truth each week—we are proclaiming the timeless gospel in fresh ways.

Digital Tools for Preaching

In today’s age, Bible software like Logos, Accordance, or SermonMaker accelerates preparation. These platforms gather commentaries, dictionaries, cross-references, and illustrations into a single searchable hub.

What once took hours of page-flipping now happens in seconds. Yet even here, pastors do not work alone. Each digital tool represents the labor of developers, scholars, and designers whose efforts support our ministry.

The Great Cloud of Witnesses

Hebrews reminds us that we are surrounded by “a great cloud of witnesses” (Hebrews 12:1). Our mentors, parents, Sunday school teachers, and spiritual leaders all leave imprints on our ministry. Their encouragement, correction, and example shape our sermons more than we may realize.

Even when unnamed, their influence lives in the way we phrase an illustration, extend an invitation, or pray for our congregation.

Preaching in Context

No sermon exists apart from culture and context. Pastors must preach into specific moments—seasons of grief, celebration, division, or renewal. Understanding these contexts requires empathy and collaboration with community leaders, educators, counselors, and lay members.

From hymns and contemporary songs to local stories and cultural touchpoints, effective sermons bridge the eternal truth of Scripture with the lived reality of the congregation.

The Humility of Acknowledgment

Acknowledging that our sermons are shaped by others is not weakness—it is faithfulness. When we reference a commentary or share insights from another pastor, we model humility before God and transparency before our people. We remind our congregations that the Word of God is best understood in community, guided by the Spirit.

Standing on the Shoulders of Giants

When we pause to consider all the voices shaping our preaching—the commentators, mentors, peers, software developers, congregants, theologians, and the “great cloud of witnesses”—we see the profound truth: no sermon is ever crafted in isolation.

This doesn’t diminish the role of the Holy Spirit—it magnifies it. The Spirit takes these diverse threads, weaves them through our calling, and shapes a message tailored for the people we shepherd today.

As pastors, we stand on the shoulders of giants so we can see further, serve better, and proclaim Christ more clearly. Our sermons are more than personal reflections; they are part of a larger story God has been writing for generations.

So the next time you open a commentary, scroll through a sermon database, or invite feedback from your congregation, remember this: you’re not just preparing another message—you’re joining a chorus of faithful voices pointing people to Jesus, the One at the center of it all.