Why and How I Preach Without Notes

Sometimes folks ask and wonder how I preach without having notes in front of me. It’s a practice that I’ve kept up for years. There are great reasons for this, some of which I will share below. 

Please note that effective preaching does not require a speaker to be without notes. I've heard biblical, relevant, and life-changing sermons delivered using notes or even a manuscript. However, it's the principles behind "note-less preaching" that contribute to any sermon's effectiveness. So, we will start with why, before I share how.

Why Do I Preach Without Notes?

• Preaching Without Notes Keeps My Sermon Simple.
  If I know that I'm going to be without notes, I write my message so that it's simple. For me, this means I draw a single point from the biblical text. All of my sermon's content either leads to that point (biblical context) or flows out of that point (modern-day application). Ultimately, I keep my message simple so that it's memorable. After all, if our goal as preachers is to exposit the Bible to change lives, we need our listeners to remember the main point. 

• Preaching Without Notes Keeps My Sermon Biblical.
  Let’s make something clear. It’s not true that I preach without notes. I have the Bible in front of me! Preaching without notes helps me make sure that I am always referring to the Scriptures. I walk my hearers through the text, showing how the main point comes from the Word of God, not me. Anything that is not related to the Bible passage doesn't end up in the sermon. It keeps me from going off on irrelevant rabbit trails (which are often just me showing off). If our goal as preachers is to change lives by expositing the Bible, then let's stick to expositing the Bible. 

• Preaching Without Notes Frees Up My Whole Body.
  Without notes, I pay more attention to the way I preach: my tone, relative volume, the pace of speaking, and the use of pauses. I prefer to have an informal and conversational style with short sentences and everyday vocabulary to connect with my hearers. All of these can enhance the delivery of the sermon. Also, it's not just about my voice. You've probably heard it before: only a fraction of communication is verbal. By preaching without notes, I am not tied to the lectern/podium/pulpit. I can make eye contact with my hearers, reducing the perceived distance between preacher and pew. I can use my hands to gesture while I am speaking. I can use the entire stage to illustrate space and distance. There are so many ways to communicate more effectively when my body is freed. 

How Do I Preach Without Notes?

“Preaching without notes helps me make sure that I am always referring to the Scriptures. I walk my hearers through the text, showing how the main point comes from the Word of God, not me. ”

• Prepare Ahead of Time.
  Preaching without notes requires me to prepare the sermon far in advance. There's no way around this, and it takes discipline. I do not write my sermon on Saturday night. Preaching has so much potential to impact the most people. Let's not put it off. Note that preparing ahead of time does not mean it requires more time. It just means that the budgeted preparation time is far in advance. If you're a solo pastor, perhaps you can ask permission from your church board to get a few guest preachers so that you can get ahead (and stay ahead) in your sermon preparation. I typically have my sermon written two weeks ahead of time so that I can…

• Record it and Listen to it Over and Over Again.
  A professor in seminary recommended this, and I've been doing it ever since. I record myself reading my sermon manuscript, and then I listen to my sermon over and over again. This is how I "redeem" my commute or walking to the grocery store. I used to burn my recorded messages on CDs and play them in my car, but now I play them off my phone (sometimes on 1.5x speed). If I am preaching weekly, recording a sermon two weeks in advance means that I have a playlist of two sermons: the one for the coming weekend, and the one for the following weekend. By the time it's time to preach, I know my message pretty well.

• Don't Memorize; Internalize!
  I stick to a familiar formula for my preaching outlines. This way, I know where I am in my sermon at all times. I recommend that you find a formula for a biblical sermon that works for you: whether it be the old 'Hook, Look, Book, Took,' Andy Stanley's ME, WE, GOD, YOU, WE, or something else you can remember. I might commit a key sentence or two to memory, but I don't memorize my sermon word-for-word. I internalize my outline, which for me is focused on one point. Besides, the biblical text gives me most of my outline already. As long as I know my outline and where I'm going next, I can preach confidently without notes. Besides, sometimes the Holy Spirit directs me to add something during the sermon, which I can do with confidence, knowing how to return to my planned outline. Internalizing the message helps me be in the moment, and preach with the Spirit’s guidance.

• Pray!
  I have a poor memory, to which my wife can attest. I'm just not great at remembering things. Because of this, preaching without notes brings me to my knees in prayer. I am always asking the Lord to guide my preparation, keep my message internalized, and change the lives of our hearers. Preaching is not about my ability, but all about God's Word. Doing it without notes forces me to rely on him all the more.

Remember, it's not the lack of notes that counts. For sermon effectiveness, it's the principles behind this practice that make a difference. Fellow preachers, let's work at our craft so that God can change the lives of our hearers.