exchanged living.

The sermon went well yesterday. Each time I preach, I find out how much more preaching I need to do; like anything worth doing, you only gain skills by actually doing it. There may be a podcast link soon, and if so I’ll post it.

With this sermon, I used some of the “skill set” I’ve been developing in seminary over the past few years, and used these things in ways I never had. It’s amazing how training in languages, close reading and contextual understandings bring texts to life (to my understanding of things that is; not in my preaching…haha, I can’t speak to that).

I’m also finding that the one thing that helps me understand things better is drawing visual maps and diagrams of things as I explore them. I know others who mind-map from time to time in their sermon prep (and even just in their personal study), and I’m wondering what other tools some of you may use to help you better understand the structures and development of your thought as you read Scripture. Any thoughts?