In Episode 329 of the 95 Podcast, Dale Sellers and Joseph Bennett interview lead pastor Kevin Robison about building a repeatable sermon prep system, getting weeks ahead, using feedback between services, and setting boundaries so ministry does not sabotage marriage and family life.

Pastor Kevin and his wife Katie met in a small group at Foothills in 2011. Today, they are happily married with three children, Hayley, Anna, and Caleb. Kevin has served in various roles at Foothills over the years before becoming lead pastor and also served at a church in his hometown, Franklin, TN. They have made it their lives’ mission to help people find and follow Jesus and are thrilled to continue that mission through Foothills, in the upstate and beyond!

Key Points In Brief

• Sermon prep improves when it becomes a repeatable system, not a last-minute inspiration hunt.
• Getting 4–5 weeks ahead may not change preaching quality as much as it changes family presence and emotional health.
• Kevin’s prep rhythm includes: prayer, Scripture first, curated commentaries, idea-sparking sermons, reading, and full manuscript writing.
• Shorter, clearer sermons with one aim often land better than multiple points people cannot retain.
• Healthy leaders protect time and learn to say no to good things.
• Strong feedback loops include pre-message review, between-service adjustments, and post-message evaluation.

Key Takeaways

• Start with alignment, not content. Kevin begins sermon prep by praying, seeking God’s direction, and dealing with “known sin” to remove spiritual and emotional friction.
• Read the passage before outside sources. The message should be shaped by Scripture and the church’s needs before commentaries or other materials.
• Use external sermons as a spark, not a template. The goal is to protect a unique voice while still generating ideas.
• A process prevents the “Saturday Night Special.” Systems reduce anxiety and late-night scrambling.
• Getting ahead creates margin for relationships. The biggest win of being ahead is becoming a present spouse and parent.
• Respect time to build trust. Long services can damage trust with guests, families, and volunteers, especially children’s workers.
• Do not weaponize the pulpit. Address personal conflicts directly. Do not use sermons to indirectly confront individuals.
• Raise up leaders when you are overwhelmed. If everything depends on one person, growth will eventually break the system.

Notable Quotes

• “I needed a process that would a process and a system that would help me… and not just wait for this inspirational moment.”
• “Every single time that I confess known sin, it just it opens the gate again for my connection with God.”
• “What did happen when I got ahead is I became a present dad and a present husband…”
• “Our promptness… our ability to stick to a time… is one massive way to build or break trust.”
• “If I’m not going to the individual first, I’m not going to go on the platform and bully them.”
• “Every yes you make is no to something else.”
• “If you’re overwhelmed that’s not Jesus.”

Next Steps (for pastors preparing for Easter)

• Choose your Easter text and define your timeline today. Set a “Wednesday at noon” style deadline (or similar) that protects your weekend.
• Build a simple prep checklist you can repeat weekly (prayer → passage → notes → commentaries → illustrations → manuscript → review).
• Identify 1 protected block this week for sermon work (even 2–3 hours) and guard it.
• Create a feedback circle of 2–4 people who are encouraging and constructive.
• Decide what you are saying “no” to during Easter season so you can say “yes” to message prep and family health.
• If you are overloaded, delegate one responsibility this week to begin building the next system.

Link To Podcast Audio: 95Podcast 329

 

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Q & A Transcript

Q: What does the new “weight” of preaching feel like for a first-time lead pastor? Kevin shares that worship ministry helped with service “story arc,” but weekly preaching requires a process because you cannot repeat the same “song” every week.

Q: What is your sermon prep system? Kevin: start with prayer and getting right with God, confess known sin, read the passage for what God wants to say to the church, then use commentaries, idea-sparking sermons, reading, and finally manuscript the message.

Q: Do you work 20 hours back-to-back or spread out? Kevin spreads prep across protected blocks (especially Tuesdays plus other half-days). He records the manuscript midweek and listens later instead of rehearsing on Saturday.

Q: Why take Friday off instead of Monday? Kevin finds Friday off creates more family mileage, even if Monday includes some exhaustion and some inspiration from Sunday.

Q: When is the message “Sunday ready”? How far ahead are you? Latest deadline is Wednesday (before staff prayer hour). Kevin writes about 4–5 weeks ahead and refreshes the message the week of delivery.

Q: Does writing weeks ahead make you a better preacher? Kevin: preaching quality may not change dramatically, but personal life does. Being ahead reduces anxiety and increases presence at home.

Q: How long should a sermon be? Kevin often preaches about 40–45 minutes, but agrees that one clear aim can be more effective than multiple points that people forget.

Q: How do you keep services from running too long? Kevin notes that people bring their whole lives with them. Sticking to a promised timeframe builds trust, especially with guests and families.

Q: How do you evaluate and get feedback? Kevin uses his spouse as a front-end filter for tone and clarity. He also watches his message on mute to evaluate pacing and body language. Between services, a small circle answers: what to repeat, what not to repeat.

Q: Should pastors use sermons to address problems in the church? Kevin: never use the platform to avoid direct conversations. Address individuals directly first. Also, never use someone as an illustration without permission.

Q: How do you set boundaries with constant speaking requests? Kevin preaches about 40 times a year and teaches staff monthly. For outside invitations, he avoids writing brand-new sermons and often reuses an existing message with fresh application.

Q: What if I feel like I’m drowning in responsibilities? Dale and Kevin emphasize raising up leaders, rebuilding systems as the church grows, and remembering that growth often breaks old systems.