how to prepare a sermon

7/31/2019 How to Prepare a Sermon

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HOW TO PREPARE ASERMON

Dr. Franco G. Teves

ARISE CHRISTIAN MINISTRIES, INC.

Preach the Word; be prepared in season

and out of season; correct, rebuke andencourage with great patience andcareful instruction. 2 Timothy 4:2


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Consider this:

The frontline in spiritual battle

today is a battle for the truth.


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What is a sermon?

A discourse for the purpose of religiousinstruction or exhortation

Any serious speech, discourse, orexhortation especially on a moral issue


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What is preaching?

The art of preaching is called homiletics

To preach is to proclaim or make known ina sermon, the Gospel/Word of God

To stand in the pulpit and teach is aserious business you either bring peoplecloser to God or you drive them far fromHim, expressed in James 3:1

There are gifted preachers and teachers,but anyone willing to be used by God canlearn


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Objectives of the workshop

To enable a disciple of Christ to effectivelypreach the Word of God by learning

- how to select a theme

- how to choose and interpret a text

- how to organize a sermon

- how sermons are classified and how toconstruct them

- how to prepare an introduction and a

conclusion- how to improve the preaching style


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How to select a theme

A themeless sermon is like a flood whichspreads in every direction.

A sermon with a theme is like a river flowingwithin its banks in a certain direction.

A train cannot go anywhere no matter howmuch power the engine has, unless it stays

on the track.

A sermon may make a great display ofsteam, but it does not reach home unless itfollows its theme.


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Difference between theme andtopic

A topic - accurately suggests thetheme

- suited for the bulletin board ornewspaper

- announced at the beginningbefore the text is read orimmediately afterward

A theme - is nearly always longer andmore complete than a topic

- stated more fully somewherein the introduction (or implied)

- sometimes called the

proposition


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Two kinds of theme

Rhetorical theme a subject with its modifiers e.g.The Blessings of Gods People, The Perils ofLifes Journey

Single words such as Repentance or Faith are

too general and need modifiers to make themspecific for themes

Logical theme consists of a subject and apredicate e.g. Faith in Christ is the Only Means to

Salvation, Why is Faith in Christ Necessary toSalvation?

Suggests divisions as proofs of the theme

If in a question form, the divisions are answers tothe question


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The right theme for each occasion

A sermon must meet the present needs ofthe people

A doctor does not give all his patients thesame medicine, nor does he give medicineat all without diagnosis

A preacher who preaches sermons withouta diagnosis of his peoples needs is a

ministerial quack and will do people about

as much good as a quack doctor


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How are the peoples needs

discovered?

In prayer (many needs are secret needs)

By listening to members as they sharetheir needs

General condition in the community(epidemic, calamity, moral trend)

Special holidays


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Qualities of a sermon theme

Comprehensive should express thewhole aim of the sermon

Biblical no matter how elaborate themessage is, if non-biblical, cannot qualifyas a sermon; biblical themes are moreauthoritative

Dynamicstarts the hearers mindthinking to a certain direction, arouses

interest and stirs mental activity

Specific drives specific points that areeasy to grasp and apply


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How to choose and interpret a text

If it is the business of the preacher topreach the Gospel, if the Gospel is foundonly in the Bible, if the Bible is the divinelyinspired revelation of Gods will; then a

sermon ought to be based on a text ofScripture.

Theme first followed by text, or text firstfollowed by theme?

If theme first, exact wording should await

text selection for harmony, and text shouldbe chosen that will best support the theme

A No No in preaching!: distorting oraccommodating the text (out of context

verse/ verses forced into the theme)


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Five rules for selecting a text

Select a real text a real text is one

which is a complete statement, precept, ornarrative used with the sense intended bythe author.

Texts which are isolated from the context

and accommodated to an applicationforeign to the purpose of the author are notproper texts.

The words of Scripture cease to be

Scripture when they are accommodated. Example: Shall we go on sinning so that

grace may increase? is found in theBible, but when isolated from the context it

is contrary to the teaching of the sacredauthor, and as such, is not Scripture.


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Five rules

Select the great doctrinal and ethical

texts of the Bible

Do not fear that people will think of you asnave or a beginner because you use afamiliar text

Texts are familiar and common becausethe great preachers of every age haveused these texts that give comfort and light

in dark places


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Five rules

Avoid texts that are known to be

interpolations

Portions which have crept into the latermanuscripts through scribes errors or

additions from marginal notes which arenot to be found in the oldest and mostreliable manuscripts

Also known as spurious texts

Though spurious texts are few, they canbe avoided by using several acceptedversions of the Bible


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Five rules

Do not choose texts simply because

they are odd or queer

A serious preacher has no time fornovelties and curiosities, joyful but notfrivolous

Good humour is permissible, but oneshould not be funny at the expense of theHoly Word

Example: TopicHalf Baked

TextEphraim is a Cake notTurned


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Eight rules of Biblicalinterpretation

Hermeneutics branch of theology thatdeals with the principles of Biblicalexegesis or interpretation

2 Timothy 2:15Do your best to presentyourself to God as one approved, aworkman who does not need to beashamed and who correctly handles the

Word of truth.


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Rule # 1 Interpret the text in thelight of the context

A verse of Scripture which seems to haveone meaning may be seen to meansomething else when the context is read.

Example: Colossians 2:21Do nothandle! Do not taste! Do not touch!seemsto be a good prohibition text such asagainst alcoholism, smoking, etc. But whatis the context? Quotation of some negative

precepts (legalism) that legalistic teacherswere using.


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Rule # 2 Interpret a text in harmonywith the teaching of the whole Bible

The Bible does not contradict itself,therefore when a text can have two meanings,the one to be taken is the one in harmony withthe teaching of the body of Scripture.

Example: Luke 14:26If anyone comes tome and does not hate his father and mother,his wife and children, his brothers and sistersyes, even his own life he cannot be mydisciple.

Are we really to hate our near relatives? Thegreat body of Scripture teaches love, thereforethe word hate must be taken figuratively as ahyperbole. The meaning then is that thedisciple must be willing to utterly give up hometies to heed the call to service.


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Rule # 6 Make use of thescholar of other translators

Use several accepted versions of the Biblewhen trying to interpret a text

It is not sound to claim that only oneversion or translation of the Bible is correct


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R l # 8 C l d


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Rule # 8 Consult goodcommentaries of the critical,exegetical type

Devotional commentaries are helpful insuggesting points for elaboration, butseldom give much attention tointerpretation.

Writers of good exegetical commentariesare careful Bible scholars conversant withtheology and the original languages, butare not infallible.

Do not be a slavish follower of

commentaries, but do not either reject theirexplanations without good reason andcareful study.


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How to organize a sermon

Not all preachers preach organizedsermons; in some cases because thevalue of organization is not appreciated, inother cases because the methods of

organization are not known


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Examples of sermon outlines

Example 1

I. God Saves Mankind

II. Men Ought to Love One Another

III. Faith Is Necessary to SalvationIV. Sin Will Bring Eternal Condemnation

V. Lying Is a Great Sin

VI. There are Many Signs of Christs Soon

Return


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Examples of sermon outlines

Example 2

Text: John 3:16

I. The Great Lake God So Loved the

WorldII. The River That He Gave His Son

III. The Pitcher Whosoever Believeth onHim

IV. The Drink Should Have EverlastingLife

Which of the two sermons will most likely

be remembered?


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Some reasons for organization

4. The organized sermon can be more easily

understood organization dispels ambiguity

5. Organization increases the effectivenessof the sermon the Holy Spirit is the largestpower in the sermon and the preacher mustpray over his sermon and commit it to God.But if man has a part in the sermon, he

should make his part as effective as possible


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Five Qualities

3. Progressassures that the hearersattention will be carried along to thegoal; listening to a sermon is likeriding a bicycle, as soon as the

progress stops, one falls off; hinderedby side trips and too much elaboration ofone division.

Example:

Text: Mark 1:14-15I. Jesus Came His Advent

II. Jesus Came Preaching - His Mission

III. Jesus Came Preaching Repentance HisMessage


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How sermons are classified

1. Topical sermon takes from a text onlya topic or subject

Example:

REDEMPTION

I. The Meaning of Redemption

II. The Necessity of RedemptionIII. The Method of Redemption

IV. The Results of Redemption


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How sermons are classified

3. Expository sermon takes from the texta subject, main divisions, and allsubdivisions; most Scriptural typetherefore has more power and authority

Example:

TEMPTATION

James 1:12-15

I. The Origin of Temptation, Vs. 13-14

A. Not from God, Vs. 13

B. From inward desire, Vs. 14


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Continued

II. The Results of Yielding to Temptation, Vs. 15

A. First sin, Vs. 15

B. Then death, Vs. 15

III. The Reward for Enduring Temptation, Vs. 12A. Blessedness, Vs. 12

B. A Crown of life, Vs. 12


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Topical sermon

4. By order of materials

Example:

CHRISTIAN TITHING

I. Explain It what it meansII. Prove It quote Scriptures

III. Illustrate It give examples of benefitedtithers

IV. Apply It urge hearers to adopt it


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Topical sermon

5. By analogy

Example:

THE COURTROOM OF LIFE

I. The Judge God, the FatherII. The Accuser Satan

III. The Advocate Jesus

IV. The Verdict Not Guilty


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How to construct a textualsermon

1. Analysis the easiest and most naturalway of dividing a text; ideas are taken inorder as they occur in the text

Example:

THREE DUTIES OF A YOUNG MINISTER

I Timothy 4:13

I. Reading (the Scripture in public)

II. Preaching (exhorting the believers)III. Teaching (doctrine)


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Textual sermon

2. Synthesis Biblical material is from thetext, but the total design is invented;order of ideas may be rearrangedwithout distorting the message ormeaning; the whole is more than thesum of the parts

Example:

PERFECT MANHOOD IN CHRIST

Ephesians 4:13

I. Perfect Manhood is the Christians Aim

II. Perfect Manhood is Seen in Christ

III. Perfect Manhood is Achieved by Unitywith and Knowledge of Christ


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How to construct an expositorysermon

Varieties of expository sermons:

1. Doctrinal aim is to expound the doctrinalteaching of a text

2. Ethical aim is to discover, explain and enforcerules of right Christian conduct

3. Inferential divisions are derived from inferencesdrawn from the fact and details of a narrative text

4. Biographical concentrates on the successes or

failures, good or bad characteristics of a Biblecharacter

5. Analogical divisions are related parts of ananalogy

6. Propositional divisions of the sermon are the

arguments in proof of a proposition


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Examine the following outline:

JUSTIFICATIONRomans 5:1-9

I. The Need of JustificationA. Man is without strength Vs. 6B. Man is a sinner Vs. 8

II. The Provision for JustificationA. Gods love - Vs. 8

B. Christs death Vs. 6III. The Appropriation of Justification Vs. 1-2 By

FaithIV. The Results of Justification

A. Access to grace Vs. 2

B. Peace with God Vs. 1C. Salvation from wrath Vs. 9D. Victory in tribulation Vs. 3E. Development of character Vs. 3-5

1. Patience to experience2. Experience to hope3. Hope to shamelessness


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How to prepare an introduction and aconclusion

Qualities of a good introduction:

1. Striking

2. Clear

3. Unity4. Brevity

5. Modest

6. Unapologetic

7. Specific


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Qualities of a good conclusion

1. Clarity

2. Unity

3. Brevity

4. Intensity


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Three types of conclusions

1. The lesson conclusion

2. The summary conclusion

3. The appeal type of conclusion


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How to improve the preachingstyle

1. Clear

2. Precise

3. Beautiful

4. Forceful5. Interesting


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