Actscelerate.com

Do you preach from an outline or manuscript?

Acts Mod Posts: 25305 **2/10/21 7:49 am**

I prefer outline because it gives me more flexibility and I have prior experience in public speaking using outlines.

Your preference?
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Doctor of Bovinamodulation

Acts-celerater Posts: 714 **2/10/21 8:10 am**

Manuscript - which looks like a coloring book - I color code.
I am usually very familiar with the manuscript and the colors codes make me stay on track.
I have cut back on my rabbit trails in a huge way and dropped down to around 30 minutes or less for the main message.
It has produced good results.
Plus it gives time for ministry when needed.
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IT'S GOD'S TIME FOR SOUTH CAROLINA

Yes I Do

Acts-celerater Posts: 875 **2/10/21 8:57 am**

I use an outline or a manuscript. But always a manuscript. I heard one pastor say "I use a full manuscript in case I don't get anointed."

Roughrider...some thoughts

Hon. Dr. in Acts-celeratology Posts: 6042 **2/10/21 1:00 pm**

For decades, my dad always preached from an outline. He could quote verses by heart to an amazing extent (still can). But I don't know if it was age, the coming of Bible programs and word processors, or perhaps a desire to leave a better record of his sermons as a legacy--or none of the above--but he has went to a manuscript style for the last few years.

I always preach from a manuscript, even though I will digress or add additional spoken comments as I feel the need. I do so because, for one thing, I may not be that good at doing an outline. The other reason is that I would hate to leave out some really good part because it slipped my mind.

I tend to think that my dad, now 81, likely uses a manuscript now because it is easy, at his age (and mine!) to perhaps overlook something you very much wanted to say. But, yeah, back in the day, he was hammer down.

I also create a manuscript so that I can, with a few slight changes (e.g., perhaps taking out references that would apply only to my church), I can post my sermon to our church's Facebook page.

While I don't know if my written sermons are very impressive, it is for sure that my preached sermons are even less so. I just hope that I am, indeed, like Paul was--where my written sermons are more weighty than my physical presence.

I dare say that we all have to find the way that works best for us. Some are gifted at extemporaneous preaching...others aren't. I can speak that way on some subject or another, perhaps, but preaching an actual sermon, I doubt I'd be very good at that.

Acts-perienced Poster Posts: 11849 **2/10/21 1:31 pm**

Outline.

Acts Enthusiast Posts: 1055 **2/10/21 2:28 pm**

Manuscript.

Thoughts flow as I write. I have a hard time conveying what I haven't written, for some reason.
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Eddie Wiggins

Manuscript

Acts Enthusiast Posts: 1607 **2/10/21 4:23 pm**

When I was a wee lad in MIP we visited a church as part of the program. The pastor asked how many used an outline. I raised my hand with others. I had learned from my dad and used his model of a color coded outline. (Went through a lot of highlighters in those days).
He explained his reason for using a manuscript. He said, if you pastor you won't want to lose vital resources that you have used before. And if you look at an old outline and it says "story about mother and child," you won't remember what that story was. But if it's in manuscript you will have it.
It took me awhile, but I've developed the ability to prepare and preach from manuscript without being married to the pulpit or the iPad. Oh yeah, that's another transition I made some years ago. No more paper notes.

Acts Mod Posts: 3346 **2/11/21 12:53 pm**

I was called to preach in 1974. We attended the same church Billy Swain (S. Ga.) attended. Billy was in the process of building his house in 74. He asked if I would like to ride to another city with him where he was in revival. On the way he asked if I would preach that night. I was not about to preach for the best known preacher in our state for him. So he gave me some advice. He suggested I write down everything I was going to say when I preached. He went on to say you may not use all of it but it is good to have in you need it.

I tried to follow his advice but that simply did not work for me.

I admire you who can. I use a lot of scripture so my notes are some outline with many scriptures. This works for me.

Since I am retired from pastoring I don't get to preach near as much as I would like.

Planning to go to Eatonton Ga soon to preach and to N. Fl to preach for one of our Actscelerators soon.
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Recorded Sermons @ www.pastorwiley.com

No one who died without Christ is happy about their decision.

Thanks for reminding me!

Hon. Dr. in Acts-celeratology Posts: 6042 **2/11/21 3:18 pm**

4th Generation...

Hon. Dr. in Acts-celeratology Posts: 6042 **2/11/21 3:25 pm**

Aaron

Acts Mod Posts: 3346 **2/13/21 9:42 am**

If you can make that a 30 minute window, I am in.
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Recorded Sermons @ www.pastorwiley.com

No one who died without Christ is happy about their decision.

Acts-perienced Poster Posts: 11849 **2/13/21 10:25 am**

Do any of you manuscript guys sound like you are reading?

[Insert Acts Pun Here] Posts: 12817 **2/13/21 1:24 pm**

I will use an outline if I happen to be preaching a topical sermon. When Iâ€™m preaching expositionally, I usually just preach from the passage itself without notes.

JLarry...

Hon. Dr. in Acts-celeratology Posts: 6042 **2/15/21 8:14 pm**

Depends

Acts-dicted Posts: 7766 **2/17/21 9:09 am**

Early on in the ministry it was strictly outline and I would "free preach", that is, use the outline as the guide to the sermon. But that lends itself to a topical approach and if I want to do expository preaching, I do manuscripts. While pastoring, I stick only to them. But other places I've done combinations of the two. It's never been quite the same. JMHO.
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