The Preacher’s Checklist [PDF Included for Email Subscribers]

It ensures you don't miss a step.

If you’re subscribed by email, check the footer of your email where you’ll find a PDF version of The Preacher’s Checklist. If you’re not subscribed by email, subscribe here so you don’t miss out on future freebies exclusively for email subscribers.

---

One of the most productive things you can do to ensure you don’t miss a step in your work as a pastor is to create a checklist for all projects that require multiple tasks. It’s more work in the short term but saves you time and headaches in the long run. You can create a checklist for baptisms, order of service planning, sermon preparation, and more. In any aspect of your work where multiple tasks are required, especially if multiple people are involved, a checklist ensures a thorough job is done.

A checklist is not something you set and forget. It’s a living document that often needs tweaking. How do you create one?

Let’s use baptism as an example.

To create a checklist for baptism, write down all the steps you already know that are required to do a baptism. After the baptism is over, you’ll likely realize a few more tasks that can be added to your checklist. Write down those tasks. Keep refining the checklist until no more tasks are required to add or change.

By God’s grace, I’ve baptized five adults in the past couple of months. At our church, we barely had documents or a formal process for baptism. Getting the first baptism together was stressful. What’s supposed to be an amazing spiritual highlight as a local church pastor turns into stress because we don’t have adequate structures and systems. After a couple of baptisms, I created a checklist. That has made the baptism process more enjoyable and less stressful.

Is the checklist perfect? No. Even after posting it, I see how it can be better. There are other tasks to include. You can assign tasks to people on your staff, and categorize the tasks by dates.

The Preacher’s Checklist

That brings me to preaching. One of the most helpful places to create a checklist is for your sermon preparation process. Experienced preachers may rely on intuition. But even experienced preachers can become sloppy with sermon preparation. Having a checklist holds you accountable for not skipping any needed steps for an effective sermon.

Below you’ll find one I use. I don’t always follow it perfectly, and I find it’s more helpful in the beginning part of the process than in the end. I also don’t always succeed in getting every step done on the designated day. That’s okay. Checklists were created for man, not the other way around. Feel free to use and tweak as needed. And if you’re reading this post via email, don’t forget to snag your PDF copy.

Monday

• Pray for illumination

• Copy and paste sermon text in Logos and format

• Read the text in ESV, NIV, and NASB

• Write questions and observations in Logos

• Come up with rough big idea, FCF, applications, main points, and illustrations

• Read ESV, NIV, NASB, and Systematic Study Bible

• Read One Volume Bible Commentary

Tuesday

• Read two exegetical commentaries

• Read one pastoral/devotional/preaching commentary

• Come up with official big idea, FCF, applications, main points

• Write out applications.

• Consult original languages

• Team Sermon Prep

Wednesday

• Read two-three exegetical commentaries

• Read one pastoral/devotional/preaching commentary

• Read any other books as needed

• Begin writing sermon

Thursday

• Read one-two more commentaries

• Finish and print sermon

Friday

• Off day

Saturday

• Read anything else on text

• Read sermon once in mind

Sunday

• Read sermon once aloud

• Print out sermon