After church a few weeks ago, I went up and spoke to our pastor for a few moments. Nothing major, just thanking him for a solid message and encouraging him a bit. He took part of what I said and replied with “that might be a good idea for a sermon”. Like any good pastor, he sees the world through sermon-colored glasses and is always looking for new ideas.
It kind of adds onto my thought from a few years ago that daily blogging is like a photographer that goes on a photo walk — everything around is an opportunity for content. Now, I see it as three different levels of content:
- Quick content, like a photographer. This is similar to someone that posts on social media multiple times every day.
- Longer content, like this blog. Compared to many, most of my posts are fairly short, but they’re still more involved than just a photo or a social post.
- Deep content, like a sermon. Preparing and delivering a 25-minute sermon takes a lot of effort. Not only do you need multiple ideas and points, but then you need to take the time to find ways to weave them together. I do that a bit on here, but a longer talk is a whole different level and I’m impressed by those that do it well.
While the three areas are different, they all follow the same concept — you need to keep your eyes open. This is a big reason why I write every day; simply being aware throughout the day and noticing opportunities for posts helps me pay closer attention to what’s in front of me.
For example, I listen to a few hours worth of podcasts each week. Rather than just putting them on in the background, I actively listen to see if I get post ideas. Even if I don’t get one out of a particular show, the act of listening with intent helps me derive more value while I listen.
Now I’ll be sure to pay close attention in church in the coming weeks to see if I notice this particular sermon idea getting weaved in anywhere.
