Study Day

This is what my sermon looks like right now:

Isn't that cute?  :) 

I'm using new mind mapping software called MindManager 7 that Chris introduced me to, and so far I'm loving it!  Saves me tons of writing and re-writing and crossing out in what usually results in an entire legal pad FILLED with handwritten mumbo-jumbo that not even the most committed Pentecostal could translate. 

Back to the map...

Comments

[terry timm]

hey scott - looks interesting. what map are you using for message prep?

[Barrett]

Scott,

I was trying to see what you had written down, but the type is too small to read even when zoomed in upon.

Do you have another picture that shows your writing? Are you willing to share it? If not, I understand.

Thanks for the heads-up on this. It looks like helpful software.

Thanks.

[Larry Boatright]

Hmm. I use this same software. I have a friend I introduced this to about a year ago. He never used it per my suggestion.
I heard today another friend introduced it to him, and now he uses it. Interesting :)

[Marla Saunders]

I'd be interested to see a follow-up post on this in a couple of weeks or a month, to see how using this software might change how you actually approach writing. I'm wondering if it will help you clarify your points earlier in the process, or if (since you can throw nearly any piece of spaghetti at the wall and see if it sticks) you find yourself making different connections than you normally would

Let us know how it is going in a few weeks!

[paul merrill]

Cool sermon!

[David Anasco]

Pastor Scott, I love Mindmanager for writing sermons and preparing talks and such. It has truly made such tasks easier and the end result for me is a clearer and more unified sermon After I complete my map, I usually just print the map and preach from that rather than rewriting an entire outline. I pray God's continued blessings on you, your family, and your ministry. You remain in my regular prayers, Pastor.

[Rob]

MindMapping is a great creative tool, and MindJet is an awesome software. I've often printed out a map and carried it with me to speak--no notes, no manuscript, just the map. I find it really freeing.

Have you used the buttons that export your map directly into PowerPoint or one of the other applications? I mapped a presentation I was doing last year and then had it auto-export into PowerPoint. It took about 3 minutes, and it probably saved me 4 hours of work creating slides. Awesome stuff!

I've also got a friend who maps every book he reads--one bubble for each chapter, then spiders off it with the main ideas.

[Anthony Coppedge]

I've been a big fan of MindManager and have found dragging external stuff into it (videos, pics, web links, documents, etc) and emailing it out to folks to be a great way to keep the flow in thought going beyond my brain.

They've got a new sharing tool coming out on the PC side (us Mac guys get less love) soon (playing with the beta) and it'll be neat to see collaborative maps start popping up as pastors share sermon development as a group. Ah...embrace the tools!

Glad to see you trying new things. Schweet.

[travis spencer]

i heard guys use a lot of art in their mind map. Your is just text? Any thoughts?

[Jason]

Scott,

I too would love to see a closer view of it to read and try to figure out how you use it. Being a pastor myself, I'm always looking for things that will help my process and I'd like to see how a fellow pastor uses this and try to better understand this software.

[daleschaeffer]

I love MindManager! Use it for planning agendas, event planning and sermon planning...love it!

[Lemmings]

I was going to say how great MindManager is too...apparently there are lots of fans! I use it for writing, but also at work for managing different projects, etc.

Good stuff!

[Jenni Catron]

Looks like I need to check this out!

[Marty]

Hey Scott,
post again in a few weeks and let us know how the new system is working...I think I would benefit greatly from something like this.
thanks again bro,

Marty

[Rich]

Scott, I'm a bit of a software junkie, but I've never been able to get excited about mind-mapping software. I know Ed Young Jr. and lots of other very creative speakers use it, but I just haven't been able to grasp the process.

I'd love to see the image larger, and hear more about the process by which you develop the talk.

[Nathan Ketsdever]

My guess is folks who don't like mindmapping either

--aren't as visual
--or are more oriented toward linear thinking

Is $300 vs. the $30 for a lot of mindmapping software really worth it?? I think there are some online alternatives that might be free.

[Eric M.]

I have been using "FreeMind" for several years. It does the same things as MindMapper... but it is free and available for MAC and Windows.

http://freemind.sourceforge.net/wiki/index.php/Main_Page