I can't quite describe the feeling that I have after giving a sermon that I've worked extra hard at preparing. I typically spend about 15 hours of prep per sermon, but lately that's been going up. The sermon I preached on John 1 took about 35 hours of prep, which doesn't count the 20-25 hours of prep I put into the series as a whole. And I didn't prepare for this alone. Several people helped me think through the sermon and offered me some helpful evaluation.
So for those interested, here is a basic timeline of what went into this sermon (and it will give you an idea of what goes into most of them):

-November-January: I spent time praying over, studying for, and discussing the series themes. I also keep a folder of stuff that I add-to if I come across something (while doing something else) that might fit well.

-February: I met with our Preaching Team, which is a team of people who love to study & read, and they work well discussing the topics with others. I spent a lot of time on the first two sermons of this series (today and next Sunday). I'm trying to feel pretty comfortable with a sermon over a week before I give it. This gives me the week before the sermon to write it all out, adjust it and to work on other elements (like the monologue that Shae did a great job doing this morning).

-Last Monday: I met with Dale about the sermon & how the whole service will fit. I also crash into Dave & Lane's offices often to ask for their help in talking through ideas.

-Thursday: I sent a manuscript of my sermon to several people on the Preaching Team who offer me feedback. The manuscript is really close to being word-for-word. I also practice it and time it. Often I've had to shave several minutes off of it. This hurts.

-Friday morning: I finish up what will go in the bulletin, power point or other video elements. I also print-off my sermon notes. This morning this was almost the same as my full manuscript, but typically it's a couple of half-pages with brief notes that just keep me on track. This morning I used a pulpit and stuck to my notes. Next week I'll memorize most of it and just have a couple of notes to remind me of where I'm going next.

-Sunday morning: I get to the office anywhere between 6:30-7:30 AM to rehearse my sermon a time or two and hang-out with the tech team as they set stuff up.

On my way across the parking lot this afternoon, a friend waved me down and told me of how some things have turned around in his life, and these good things began while attending one of our services a couple of months ago. That will be enough to get me up and back after it in the morning.
I'm really grateful for my job. I love studying and i love preaching and I love HP.
(by the way, the sermon will be on our web site by Monday afternoon)
hp website