Confessions of a Manuscript Preacher

Here's my dilemma. I love to preach without notes, or at least with a skinny outline BUT I have a horrible memory and find this hard to do week in and week out. I've told my preaching friends that I have a strong suspicion that I'm an outline preacher with a manuscript mind. And at times this has really bothered me because I love the prolonged eye contact and the mobility that comes when my message is more in my head then on my paper.

I remember a couple of years ago I preached a visual sermon in which I used some stage props and didn't use a single note. I loved it, but it took me nearly two weeks to memorize. This past Sunday, though I brought notes on stage, our format allowed me to free lance a lot more than usual and I have to say that I thoroughly enjoyed it.

So what will I do this week? Saying it's Thursday and my message is far from complete...I'll probably bring my trusty manuscript. Maybe someday I'll be a note less communicator, but until then, I will continue to bring to the platform what God gives me, even if I have to write it down.

Maybe someday I'll be a noteless communicator, but until then, I will continue to bring to the platform what God gives me, even if I have to write it down.