Chuck Swindoll’s Number One Tip for Sermon Preparation
By IFL Staff
If you’re like Pastor Chuck Swindoll, studying for sermon preparation is just exhilarating.
It’s not a burden at all for you to just throw yourself into this task week in and week out. One time, I remember Chuck saying that he could spend 12 to 14 hours, or more, doing his research on his study days. He just loves it.
But he’s not doing it merely to satisfy idle curiosity or even to deepen himself. He’s doing it as an act of service, an act of love, and in this video I want to share HOW he makes it an act of service.
First, though, I want you to read from Chuck himself on the WHY behind all his study. In his sermon titled, “A Non-Stop Day of Miracles,” from his series on Matthew, he said,
“My desire in communicating is to accurately present the Scriptures in a clear and unmistakable manner, free of code talk, free of inside nomenclature, so that anybody can understand it, and we can all see its significance and value in our lives.”
Wonderful wisdom from Chuck!
Now here’s Chuck’s tip for harnessing all that time in your books.
Study with your listeners in mind.
Chuck wrote an excellent book on preaching called, Saying It Well. Here’s what he writes about this point:
“As I prepare, I always keep the uninitiated in mind. I don’t have to do much explanation for the serious student of the Scriptures. I don’t preach to seminary professors. They might benefit from the application, but I don’t have to explain the Lord’s use of “cup” and “baptism. They already get it. The uninitiated, on the other hand, need more and more help as our society becomes increasingly more ignorant of the Bible. We can no longer afford to assume people know their Bibles.” (Saying It Well, 132)
Arguably, this is Chuck’s number one tip when it comes to the mechanics of sermon preparation because if no one can understand you, your preaching is literally useless.
Of course, your time in your study is necessary and biblical. Paul wrote, “Work hard so you can present yourself to God and receive his approval. “Be a good worker, one who does not need to be ashamed and who correctly explains the word of truth” (2 Timothy 2:15). In 1 Timothy 4:13–15, Paul tells preachers to throw themselves into the task of Scripture reading, encouragement (or exhortation), and teaching.
Useful preaching depends upon a lot of study.
But if we don’t perform this task with the right aim, then it fails to be an act of love. And that aim is clarity. That’s why Paul asked the church in Colossae to pray for him to preach Christ as clearly as he should (Colossians 4:4). An essential way for you to make your study time an act of service is to do it with your listeners in mind.
It’s to be asking:
- Do they need to know this?
- How can I help them understand this?
- How can I put this in concrete terms?
- How can I make this interesting?
- How can I say this so they instantly get it?
Here’s more of Chuck’s thinking on this. This statement is taken from his sermon, “A Brief Checklist for Believers,” in his series on Colossians. Preaching on Colossians 4:4, he said,
“That’s why Paul says, “Help me to make it clear. Help me guard against using words that will be offensive or confusing or over their heads.” C. S. Lewis writes, “Any fool can write learned language. The vernacular is the real test. If you can’t turn your faith into it, then you either don’t understand it, or you don’t believe it.” I like the way that sounds. If your words are so confusing and so high and mighty, you don’t really believe ‘em, you’re just mouthing empty words.
Charles Haddon Spurgeon put it well. “Christ said, ‘Feed My sheep. Feed My lambs.’ Some preachers, however, put the food so high that neither sheep nor lambs can reach it. They seem to have read the text, ‘Feed My giraffes.’”
You’re not giraffes! You’re sheep! I’m a sheep. So I deliberately keep it at the base level . . . not to insult you. As a matter of fact, that’s a compliment. I don’t want you to miss one main word of what we’re reading . . . .”
Whether it’s for 5 or 10 or 15 hours, studying is like climbing up a high mountain. But your climb was not on a straight and easy path. You had to zig zag, hit dead ends, and forge your way to the top. Then, when you preach, it’s like you are standing at the top of the mountain. And you want your listeners to join you up there and enjoy the scenic views.
When you study with your listeners in mind, as you translate what you are learning into simple and clear language anyone can understand and relate to—it’s like you are cutting a straight and clear path for your listeners to reach the top of the mountain with you. And the more you do that for them, the easier it is for them to get there.
In short, it’s Chuck’s love and respect for his listeners that make him so effective in this area. Despite his incredible skill and gifting, he works so hard to help them really get it. In fact, even after he’s done all his studying, after he has carefully crafted his detailed outline, while he is reading through his sermon notes, he’s still keeping them in mind.
In Saying It Well (112), he writes,
“While reading through the notes, I’ll pause occasionally and ask myself, “Is this clear? Does it make sense?” I put myself in the listener’s place and wonder, Will he or she get the point? If I have doubts, I return to my study and rework that part. I have this constant drive to connect with my hearer. I never forget the folks who are uninitiated.”
And our hope with this article is that you will never forget them either. Studying is necessary but it isn’t sufficient. You want to study with your listeners in mind so that you preach with clarity. And your listeners will love you for it.
Let’s conclude with one more statement from Chuck that reflects his heart and attitude toward his listeners. In his sermon titled, “Checklist for Lasting Joy,” from his series on Matthew, he said these words:
“Nineteen steps in my home lead from the first floor to the second floor and my study’s in the second floor. Taking those 19 steps I find myself more motivated and excited as the years pass. Now here’s the reason: Because in every ministry I’ve ever served, there have been people who hunger and thirst for righteousness. Some of you are here right now, listening to what I have to say. You have no idea how you fuel my fire. You have no awareness, I’m sure, of how you motivate me to take that flight of stairs every day of my life. To dig into the Scriptures because I know you want to know, “What is this saying, and how can I use this in my life?” You are hungering and thirsting for righteousness. And I want to say two words, “Thank you. Thank you. Thank you.” That’s more than two, but they’re the same words. “Thank you. Thank you. Thank you. Thank you for hungering! Thank you for staying thirsty!” My sister gave me a book years ago. I was in the Marine Corps; she sent it to me overseas and I got it and right in the front she had written the poem,
“Whom have we, Lord, but Thee? Soul thirst to satisfy? Exhaustless spring! The water’s free! All other streams are dry.””
Additional Resources
First, sign up for our Swindoll’s Insights on Ministry email where we bring you Chuck’s best thoughts on preaching, leadership, and ministry each week. By signing up, you’ll instantly receive a one-age checklist with 20 preaching insights from Chuck. See this page’s sidebar.
Second, check out our Preach the Word video series on YouTube where we’re posting Chuck’s best insights on this important calling. Coming early 2026!
Third, if you don’t own a copy of Chuck’s book on preaching, Saying It Well, we highly recommend you add it to your library. It’s his preaching memoir that is also like a practical preaching manual. You won’t be able to put it down.
Fourth, peruse more articles in this church leaders section.
About the author
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IFL Staff
