How Much Time Should a Pastor Spend on a Sermon?

Estimated reading time: 5 minutes

How much time should a pastor spend on sermon preparation? Some say it takes a lifetime to prepare a sermon, while others suggest a pastor should sped no less than twenty hours on sermon preparation time. Still others insist that a pastor should be able to speak at a moment’s notice without preparation, citing 2 Timothy 4:2. The simple answer is that the pastor should spend as much time as it takes to understand the Biblical text or doctrine and devise a plan to adequately explain and apply it to God’s people. Yet even this statement is governed by certain non-variables and variables in life and ministry.

Non-variables

Preaching is but one facet of ministry and not the whole of it. In fact, the sermon is a means to accomplishing ministry and not an end in itself. The sermon, then, is governed by these two non-variables in the Christians church. What we mean by “non-variables” is that every pastor or preacher of Christ’s church is under obligation to fulfill these mandates of ministry and preaching.

Biblical ministry

Preaching is designed to accomplish the purpose and nature of Christ’s church. The Church is the Body of Christ, composed of all those redeemed by His blood. The Church exists to exalt God in worship (Ephesians 1:3-14; Acts 2:42; Colossians 1:24-29), to equip the saints (Ephesians 4:1-16), and to evangelize the lost by the proclamation of the blessed Gospel (Matthew 28:18-20; Acts 1:8; 5:42). This is the supreme purpose of the Church, and preaching is one of the means of helping accomplish its purpose. No preacher is exempt from this task.

Biblical preaching

Christian preaching is governed by the principles of Biblical preaching, where the sermon’s source is the Bible, and it is committed to explaining and applying its content to the church (2 Timothy 3:16-4:4). Biblical preaching is governed by these three rules:

1. Biblical exegesis – The proper understanding and interpretation of the Biblical text and doctrine.
2. Explanation and application – The preacher’s task is to explain and apply the Word of God to the current generation.
3. Proclamation – the public proclamation of divine truth through the personality of the preacher.

The first two steps are governed by time; the third step is not completed until the moment of delivery. Thus, we can say that sermon preparation can be done in a certain amount of time, but we can also say that it is not truly complete until the moment of delivery.

Variables

The purpose of this article is to help us accomplish the first two steps in sermon preparation, which affect the amount of time it takes to prepare a sermon for delivery. What factors influence the time a pastor spends on preparing a sermon? We must keep in mind that we all have the same 24 hours in a day. The average pastor spends between 40-55 hours a week in the task of pastoring the church (if he is a full-time pastor). He must also guard his family, spiritual health, and physical health in the process. Time is limited, and sermon preparation is affected by the following variables.

His personal preparation

The time necessary to prepare a sermon is directly influenced by the preacher’s personal preparation for ministry the preacher’s maturity, knowledge of Scripture, and comprehension of truth (Hebrews 5:11-14; 1 Corinthians 3:1-2; 2 Timothy 3:14-15) provide a great head start to sermon preparation.

Theological training also significantly condenses the time required for preparation, especially if it includes biblical exegesis and homiletics. Bypassing theological training can haunt a preacher for the rest of his ministry. Acquiring a good biblical library further maximizes sermon preparation time.

The preacher’s spiritual gifts and natural abilities also play a role. those skilled in organizing their thoughts or gifted communicators can move from exegesis to explanation more efficiently. Continual personal preparation results in less time needed for sermon preparation.

The nature of the pastor’s church

The type of church a pastor serves influences sermon preparation. A church is seasoned believers demands deeper sermons, while one of new converts may require less depth but more repetition. Rural or small-town churches may favor sermons with “cookies on the lower shelf,” as J. Vernon McGee would say. Conversely, urban churches demand higher academic rigor.

The type of ministry

The demands if the pastors ministry also affect sermon preparation time.

• Bi-vocational vs. full-time ministry – Bi-vocational pastors must balance secular work with ministry responsibilities.
• Small church vs. mega church – Small churches often require pastors to juggle numerous tasks, while mega churches may afford dedicated sermon preparation time.
• Traditional vs. contemporary services – Traditional churches often require more sermons and pastoral duties, while contemporary churches focus on fewer services and reduced traditional expectations.

The type of sermon he preaches

The type of preaching (textual, topical, or expository) also affects preparation time.

• Textual preaching is often quicker, but are limited once familiar texts are exhausted.
• Topical Preaching demands mastery of the topic, which can vary in preparation time.
• Expository preaching requires extensive initial study but less time as chapter progress.

Additionally, pastors who preach from a manuscript will spend more preparation time than those who preach extemporaneously.

Priorities

Every pastor’s setting and calling are unique, but the following priorities should guide sermon preparation:

1. Strive for a clear explanation and application. Preach a full, complete sermon (2 Timothy 3:16-4:4)
2. Strive to complete pastoral duties. Balance preaching with other responsibilities (Acts 20:28; 2 Timothy 4:5)
3. Strive to depend on God. Prepare as though it all depends on you, but preach relying on God’s power (Acts 4:29-31; Ephesians 6:19-20)

©2025 Alex Montoya. All rights reserved. Used with permission.