What makes an art exhibit compelling?
What is not there.
Huh?
A brilliant art exhibit is made by the decision of what not to put in the exhibit before it opens.
This is the work of the curator. It is also our work as preachers.
[You see, I had this helpful anecdote about how I am going to, “someday,” curate my CD collection and how a curated CD collection is better than a large CD collection. But I chose to leave it out. See? Curated for you!]
What to cut out of your sermon may be the most important decision you make before you preach it.
Here are some guiding questions to help you determine what to leave in and what to take out:
- Does this piece contribute to the central theme of the sermon or is it just an image, story or anecdote that I find compelling?
- Would removing this section ruin the sermon or enhance it?
- Is this chunk a part of this sermon or could it be used for another sermon?
And here are two fun ways to curate your sermons, depending on whether you are digital or analog:
- Digital: Type your sermon with a space between each small section. Print it out and cut it into strips. Start removing sections and sub-sections. What parts do not need to be there?
- Analog: Instead of writing your sermon on a legal pad or notebook paper, write it in small sections on index cards and then apply the same process above.
May your sermon this week be a curated exhibit pleasing to God and engaging for your hearers.