Advance Preparation: Introduction
Probably one of the best ways to lighten the weekly and daily work in the preparation of individual presentations is to do advance planning and preparation of a whole series. Then, you can take advantage of that initial work for each week’s preparation, with no need to repeat the work already done.
Tasks to Do Prior to Starting a Series
Several tasks are included in this preliminary preparation:
- Distribute each pericope according to the week in which it will be presented.
- Carry out an initial background study of the biblical book.
- Understand the basic structure of the book along with its main arguments.
- Develop a summary of the basic facts that will inform the interpretation of each pericope.
Done well and stored in a strategic way for later use, this groundwork can considerably lighten the load of your daily and weekly study. The following articles explain these basic tasks in a logical and practical order. I present them in the form of 6 advance-preparation tasks.
- Task 1. Begin repeated panoramic reading.
- Task 2. Record initial observations and questions.
- Task 3. Gather and organize necessary resources.
- Task 4. Research and summarize introductory information.
- Task 5. Outline the book’s flow of thought.
- Task 6. Distribute the pericopes for the series.
The final article is a brief conclusion along with some additional ideas for the brave.
If you are already familiar with the process, download a Quick Start guide for Advance Preparation here.