Study Time Roller Coaster
As the official day of winter is approaching (which just means rain in California), I thought it might be interesting to get people's thoughts on study habits. So, here's the two-part question:
1. what day of the week do you do the LEAST amount of study (my assumption is that since many of us preach and teach on Sunday, we tend to relax a bit on Monday)
2. If you had to pick a season of year that you open up Logos and crank out hour upon hour of studies, more than at any other time of the year, what season would that be?
Thoughts?
Comments
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I am not currently in full time vocational ministry, but my views have morphed a bit since I was.
Dennis Davis said:what day of the week do you do the LEAST amount of study (my assumption is that since many of us preach and teach on Sunday, we tend to relax a bit on Monday)
My answer would be Thursday or Friday. Formerly I used monday as a day off... but I think I would not choose that now. Firstly, it would be good to reflect on Sunday more close to the day. Secondly, it would be good to mull over the topic for the next service ASAP.
Also, I would want to be working on the sermon two weeks in advance. Monday would probably be a review of the sermon I already wrote the week before and beginning work on the sermon for next week.
Dennis Davis said:If you had to pick a season of year that you open up Logos and crank out hour upon hour of studies, more than at any other time of the year, what season would that be?
Late summer, preparing for fall. Formerly having worked in student ministry, I am wired to think that way... but it makes sense to me anyway. Families tend to think in terms of school years. I would want to map out the school year... not that things won't/don't change (they will), but it provides a road map and brings intentionality into the preaching calendar.
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Deuteronomy tells us that His Word should be ever present in our thoughts. So there really shouldn't be a least, but maybe better in how we carry it out. I was reading something yesterday that makes a case for working (studying) for 58 minutes of an hour and walking (not just standing) for 2 minutes.
I prepare in batches and then do chores. We're supposed to be ready in season and out, so if we're not studying, the least we should do is reading scripture. Whatever off day is, maybe that isn't focused on preaching, just what you are reading for nourishment.
I'm trying to prepare for next year, so my new schedule is in design to work on core skills.
The mind of man is the mill of God, not to grind chaff, but wheat. Thomas Manton | Study hard, for the well is deep, and our brains are shallow. Richard Baxter
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I would say Winter and Spring are the season when I do most studying. Currently, I am not serving a church nor taking any classes. When I am, it is summer that is the season I mostly study in.
Sunday is the day I do the least amount of study for obvious reasons. Next, would be Saturday is the day other than Sunday with the least amount of study.
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I like your idea of studying in batches, Mab. Personally, I find that my best study times are early in the morning when my household is asleep and on Mondays I try to just study or read but not for sermon prep. I try each week to carve out study time that doesn't involve a sermon but just for education and edification. In terms of seasons, I've noticed that spring & summers seem to be my most productive season; possibly because the sun rises earlier and I like to study and watch the sky at the same time.
However, as you correctly quoted, we should all be ready in season and out of season which is one of the reasons I enjoy using Logos because it makes switching to different texts and topics so easy and enjoyable. Just my 2 cents.
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Sunday, I do the least amount of personal study,
It is difficult to pick a single season for hours and hours of personal study with Logos, as I generally do hours and hours of study (and reading) all year round, but if I only had one to choose from, I would say mid spring.
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I forgot to mention no matter the season or day my study time is in the early a.m. My best study time comes between 0200 to 0600. That probably stems from my military service because 0200 was almost always a universal time for night time operations to commence.
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Good questions. Before I answer it, let me say that I prepare a new sermon for Sunday approximately 45 weeks per year and a different sermon for the evening service approximately 25 weeks per year (the others are taken up with special programs, canceling for holidays, travel, etc.)
1. I do the least amount of study on Saturdays/Sundays. My goal is always to have the sermon for Sunday ready no later than Thursday morning. I then use my study time on Friday to work on the following week's sermon. I review my preaching notes for Sunday's sermon(s) on Saturday evening before I go to bed. Sunday is spent preaching three times (twice in the AM & then the PM). I very, very rarely do any formal study on Saturday or Sunday - just personal Bible reading and devotion.
2. Rather than a particular season of the year, I have begun taking periodic "study retreats" to work on a sermon series, multiple sermons. For instance, let's say that I have my sermons planned out for the next quarter. There might be current events in the world or the church that cause me to change how I address or approach a given sermon. However, the exegesis of the text is exactly the same - whether I do it the week I actually preach the sermon or do it three months ahead of time. So, I guess you could say that I have begun trying to have multiple sermons in multiple stages of preparation.
Hope this helps!
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