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

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

Author: Mike Neglia June 10, 2025 Duration: 39:21

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.



For information about our upcoming training events visit ExpositorsCollective.com 


The Expositors Collective podcast is part of the CGNMedia, Working together to proclaim the Gospel, make disciples, and plant churches. For more content like this, visit https://cgnmedia.org/


Join our private Facebook group to continue the conversation: https://www.facebook.com/groups/ExpositorsCollective


Donate to support the work of Expositors Collective, in person training events and a free weekly podcast: https://cgn.churchcenter.com/giving/to/expositors-collective


Mike Neglia hosts Expositors Collective: Expository Preaching, Bible Teaching and Sermon Preparation, a space dedicated to the craft of clearly opening the Scriptures. Rather than offering abstract theory, this podcast grounds itself in the tangible realities faced by pastors and teachers every week. You'll hear genuine conversations that feel like pulling up a chair in a mentor's study, where experienced practitioners discuss the challenges and joys of preparing messages that faithfully explain the biblical text. Episodes often take the form of interviews or practical workshops, delving into the nuances of effective communication for diverse settings like church pulpits, youth groups, or women's ministries. The collective wisdom shared here is about more than just structure; it's about the spiritual discipline of listening to a passage before speaking on it, ensuring the sermon's heart beats in rhythm with the Bible's intent. Tuning into this podcast provides a form of ongoing coaching, a resource for anyone who wants their teaching to be both deeply rooted and readily understood. It’s for those who believe that the careful work of exposition is a profound act of service, and who are looking for a companion on that journey.
Author: Language: en-us Episodes: 100

Expositors Collective: Expository Preaching, Bible Teaching and Sermon Preparation
Podcast Episodes
We're coming to St Petersburg Florida, August 22-23! [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 0:50
In these interactive seminars, attendees will meet in groups and build ongoing relationships. Our next training weekend will be held at Calvary Chapel St Petersburg.8900 US Hwy 19 N, Pinellas Park, Florida 33782August 22…
Preaching for Life: Kevin Sanders on Clarity and Conviction [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 47:41
Title: Preaching for Life: Kevin Sanders on Clarity and Conviction In this episode, Kevin Sanders joins Mike Neglia for a focused and practical conversation on the art and discipline of preaching. Together, they explore…
Generational Curses, Spiritual Fatherhood and Church Discipline [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:02:45
“What if the pastor who put you under discipline has died? Can you still be forgiven?”That’s just one of the hard-hitting questions tackled in this raw and riveting panel discussion recorded live in Kampala, Uganda. With…
The Urgent Need for Mentorship in Ministry [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 50:49
What happens when a generation of preachers rises up without mentors? In this energising and deeply personal talk, Rev Raymond L. Bukenya challenges pastors and leaders to take the biblical call to mentoring preachers se…
FBI Raids, Gospel Renewal and Church Planting with Esteban Valenzuela [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 41:48
What does it look like when gospel renewal is forged through suffering and planted in the heart of a global city? In this conversation, Esteban Valenzuela, pastor of Raíces Madrid Evangelical Christian Church, shares his…
How Women Hear the Sermon (with Pamela MacRae) [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 47:48
In this episode, Mike speaks with Dr Pamela MacRae, Professor of Ministry to Women and Ministry to Victims of Sexual Exploitation at Moody Bible Institute in Chicago. With decades of experience in local church ministry a…