In this brief but powerful excerpt, Dr. Keeney Dickenson shares a unique and personal method he uses during sermon preparation: prayeraphrasing—turning the biblical text into prayer. By rewording Scripture into intimate dialogue with God, Keeney internalizes the passage, aligns his heart with its message, and allows the Holy Spirit to shape both the sermon and the preacher.
This prayer-saturated approach reflects Keeney’s broader conviction that sermon prep is not merely academic or technical—it’s devotional. His process is shaped by years of pastoral experience, a deep commitment to expositional preaching, and the influence of Charles Spurgeon’s prayerful ministry.