I can’t remember the last time I preached my first draft of a sermon. I’m sure that I’ve done it, but I’m also sure that it isn’t my ordinary practice. This past Sunday I preached D4 of a sermon on Genesis 3. The Sunday before that I preached D4b of a sermon on Genesis 2:24-25. “D4” indicates that it was “Draft 4”, and “b” indicates that it was a light re-write or update of Draft 4.
In general, I use new numbers whenever I significantly alter the structure of a sermon and letters for lighter revisions and updates within the existing structure. I typically write my first draft on Tuesday whereupon I send it out to the other preachers in our Preaching Workshop. We then discuss the sermon on Wednesday, along with any other sermons submitted by the members of the group, whereupon I make further revisions on Wednesday afternoon.