Pray, Study, Write: Ed Compean on Preparing a Sermon from Start to Finish

Before outlining a sermon or opening a commentary, Ed Compean begins with prayer. In this recording from an Expositors Collective training event in Uganda, he offers a grounded and practical walkthrough of sermon preparation that starts with dependence on God and flows toward a faithful final draft.

Drawing from years of pastoral ministry, including church planting and leadership training in Kenya, Ed shares the rhythms that shape his weekly approach to preaching. He explains why he handwrites the passage, how he draws on trusted voices from church history and the global church, and what to keep - or cut - on the “cutting room floor.” He also unpacks the value of a strong sermon introduction and how the classic “Explain, Illustrate, Apply” model still serves the preacher and the congregation well.

Whether you’re a church planter, a teaching pastor, or a developing preacher, this episode is a helpful and humble guide to crafting sermons that are rooted in prayer and faithful to Scripture.

Topics Covered:

• Why every sermon must begin in prayer
• Writing out the passage by hand to slow down and engage
• Learning from others who have been with God
• Managing time and knowing what to cut
• Crafting compelling introductions
• Structuring the sermon: Explain, Illustrate, Apply

About Ed Compean:
Ed Compean is the lead pastor of Shoreline Calvary in Morro Bay, California. Before that, he planted churches and coached leaders in Nairobi, Kenya. He now serves with the Cultivate Church Planting Initiative of Calvary Global Network and is passionate about seeing Jesus exalted through thriving local churches.

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