Web Watch:
Preaching Resources
on the Internet

by Dennis Bratcher

Many pastors and preachers are discovering that there is a wealth of resources for sermon preparation on the Internet. However, ease of accessibility to information also presents difficulties. For example, it is easy to become preoccupied with following links in pursuit of a topic only to end up with little usable information. A well-defined goal, planning, and some discipline will focus research efforts to help invest time wisely and produce more usable information. The following are a few helpful hints on how to make your Internet search most productive:

1. Know where to begin. It is rarely productive to begin with blind searches by entering key words in a search engine. There are simply too many possible sites to wade through to find specific information. It is better to begin with proven resource or portal sites and follow links from there. That requires taking some extra time in the beginning to become familiar with a few useful sites. But that initial effort will save time later. "The Text This Week" (http://www.textweek.com) is one of the best portal sites from which to begin in sermon preparation.

2. Know what to look for. Develop an order of material for which to search. Prioritize the list according to time and need, and the nature of the text. Or simply develop an order of searching that follows the steps used in sermon preparation. In any case, once a priority list is developed, stick to it. Such lists will vary according to personal background and preference. One list might look like this:

1. compare various translations of the text
2. overview of the text
3. background information
4. detailed theological commentary
5. preaching suggestions
6. application/illustrations

3. Focus on the immediate goal. Don't be tempted to follow links to check out interesting information for other purposes. The immediate goal is not just to collect information, or even to find material helpful in ministry, but specifically to prepare a sermon. Stick with links that contribute to that goal. Schedule other times to explore other resources. If there is a promising link for another aspect of ministry, bookmark the site to return later.

4. Organize resources. Make generous use of bookmarks for sites or pages that contain worthwhile resources. The key to using resources efficiently is to organize them so they can be found again quickly when needed. A series of folders should be set up for the bookmarks ("Edit Bookmarks" in Netscape and "Organize Favorites" in MS Explorer). Names for bookmark folders can follow the priority list or some other organizational scheme such as biblical books, themes, topics, or seasons of the church year. The purpose is to develop a system that will allow quick access to information or sites that have already proven helpful.

5. Know when to stop. Sometimes the Internet can become mesmerizing, and the search for resources becomes an end in itself. It is easy to fall into the trap of looking at just one more site, hoping it will contain that nugget of truth to make it all come together. Yet Internet resources are only one aspect of the tools and the building blocks of the sermon, along with other resources.

The Internet cannot become the desperate last resort of poor planning (in spite of the name of one preaching site, "The Desperate Preacher's Site" at http://desperatepreacher.com). But as part of a well-planned and disciplined approach to sermon preparation, it can be a valuable asset.

Dennis Bratcher is the director of The Christian Resource Institute, a nonprofit corporation that operates The Voice web site with resources for teaching, preaching, and personal spiritual growth. He also serves as director of Christian education for the Christ Community Church of the Nazarene in Warr Acres, Oklahoma.