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

Jun 10, 2025

Ed Compean, the lead pastor of Shoreline Calvary, shares his wealth of experience in sermon preparation. He highlights the importance of starting every sermon with prayer, drawing parallels to the dedication of Olympic athletes. Ed discusses his practice of handwriting scripture to enhance engagement and the value of crafting a strong introduction. He also emphasizes the classic structure of "Explain, Illustrate, Apply" for impactful preaching, encouraging pastors to seek feedback and focus their message on Jesus rather than themselves.

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ANECDOTE

Olympic Athlete Sermon Prep Analogy

Ed Compean compares preaching preparation to an Olympic athlete's diligent training and hard work.
He highlights the value of commitment to delivering an eternal gospel message, unlike temporary athletic achievements.

ADVICE

Start Sermon Prep in Prayer

Begin sermon prep with prayer and being with God before opening your Bible.
Write out or paraphrase the passage by hand to engage deeply and capture insights.

ADVICE

Use Tools Wisely and Time Management

Use trusted Bible study tools like commentaries, lexicons, and online resources but manage your time wisely.
Accept that much deeper study may inform you but not all will make it into the final sermon.

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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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