Guest Preacher Etiquette: What to Do When You're Preaching Somewhere New

Guest preaching is half sermon, half courtesy. The sermon gets you through Sunday; the courtesy gets you invited back.

Ask these before you go

1. How long should I preach, and does that include the reading and the invitation?
2. What comes before and after me in the service?
3. Who is the congregation: age, background, churched or not?
4. Is there an invitation or altar call, and who leads it?
5. What translation do they use, and do they have projection?
6. What should I wear?
7. Is there anything happening in the church I should know about?

On the day

• Arrive thirty minutes early. Meet the sound operator by name.
• Honor the pastor and the church out loud, briefly and sincerely.
• Preach the time you were given. Going long is the fastest way to never be asked again.
• Use their translation for your primary reading.
• Stay afterward and talk to people. This is part of the assignment.

Lines not to cross

• Do not correct the church's doctrine or leadership from their pulpit.
• Do not take up an offering for yourself or promote your platform hard.
• Do not comment on politics or internal church conflicts.
• Do not make jokes about the church, the town, or the music.

If you were called in at short notice, run How to Prepare a Sermon in One Hour.