Sermon Preparation (Lecture)

by: Rev. Francisco B. Bilog

SERMON PREPARATION

Preaching- It means the divine truth through personality or the truth of God voiced by a chosen personality to meet human needs.

The bringing of truth through personality and as the communication of truth by man to men. Thus it is the communication of the divine truth to man.

    No minister can tell how he starts to prepare a sermon. Everything he does and whatever happens to him is relevant for preaching.

     However a young preacher should be aware that the ideas of a sermon may come out of his study or while at work in his study, or it may also come out outside his study and it may also come out from the preacher’s seed plot.

SPECIFIC PREPARATION:

1. Sermon preparation begins with a prepared preacher. Sermon begins with men who are under orders of God and who regularly experiences a living vital relationship with God. So he begins his sermon preparation with a prayer, since he is handling divine truth, and he must therefore be in touch with God.

2. Write down your purpose and keep the statement of purpose in view as you work through the sermon. As a marksman aims at his target and bull’s eye, so a preacher must have a definite point/goal/objective, which he has to hit. He uses it to guide all he does with the sermon. It guides him in accumulating materials and in determining what to retain. It truly governs the growth of the sermon. The purpose has to do with moving the will of the hearers to action which may be only within the heart. There the spirit of God takes over.  In determining the broad goal of a sermon it is helpful To identify its major thrust with one of the following categories.

A. KERYGMATIC– This is called evangelistic sermon. The goal is to win people to Christ.

B. DIDACTIC- This is called doctrinal sermon. The emphasis is on learning and understanding, leading to maturity in the Christian life.

C. DIDACTIC- This is called doctrinal sermon. The emphasis is on learning and understanding, leading to maturity in the Christian life.

D. THERAPEUTIC– This is sometimes called devotional and psychological sermon. The emphasis is dealing with the problems of Christian living. The preacher seeks to exhort, counsel, comfort, encourage and inspire people.

E. PROPHETIC– This kind of sermon is sometimes called social or social Prophetic. The emphasis is on social issues, problems of evil from a Christian perspective. The preacher is not just to denounce social evils, but to expose it, to show causes, to seek solutions, and to motivate Christians to work to remove the evil.

F. APOLOGETIC – It seeks to defend the Christian faith and the Christian position at point where it is attack by its opponents.

CLASSIFICATION OF SERMON ACCORDING TO STRUCTURE.

1. Topical Sermon. This kind of sermon is built around a subject, an idea that bears no analytical relation to any one particular passage. The topic is the dominant factor. All the text gives to the development of the basic idea. This kind of preaching grants greater freedom to the preacher and makes it easier to obtain unity.

       Stewardship of Income:

          Earn all you can.

                   Save all you can.

                   Give all you can.

2.   Textual Sermon. This sermon is based on a verse or two verses from the Bible. The main theme and major subdivisions come from the text. The thoughts of the sermon must always be consonant with the text.

    Advantages of the Method.

1.    1.) Fixes attention to one part of the scripture.

2.) Beginner finds it easier to prepare.

3. The hearers can easily follow. Ex. Isa. 40:31. They shall mount up as eagles; They shall run and be weary. They shall walk and not faint
4. Brings the hearers close to the heart of the Bible.

Expository Sermon. An expository sermon means one it grows out of a Bible passage longer than two or threeCLASSIFICATION OF SERMON ACCORDING TO STRUCTURE.

1. Topical Sermon. This kind of sermon is built around a subject, an idea that bears no analytical relation to any one particular passage. The topic is the dominant factor. All the text gives to the development of the basic idea. This kind of preaching grants greater freedom to the preacher and makes it easier to obtain unity.

       Stewardship of Income:

           Earn all you can.

                   Save all you can.

                   Give all you can.

2.   Textual Sermon. This sermon is based on a verse or two verses from the Bible. The main theme and major subdivisions come from the text. The thoughts of the sermon must always be consonant with the text.

    Advantages of the Method.

1.) Fixes attention to one part of the scripture.

2.) Beginner finds it easier to prepare.

3. The hearers can easily follow. Ex. Isa. 40:31. They shall mount up as eagles; They shall run and be weary. They shall walk and not faint
4. Brings the hearers close to the heart of the Bible.

3. Expository Sermon. An expository sermon means one it grows out of a Bible passage longer than two or three verses. Theoretically, such a sermon differs from the textual sermon chiefly in the length of the scripture units. It receives not only the theme and basic divisions from the text but also the weight of its  supporting materials. It is a sermon with a single theme and that theme acts as a basis for the selection of materials from the passage. Truly the thought of the sermon should come out of the passage of the scripture.

3. Choose the subject and the theme. The subject is the broad area to be treated and the theme is the limited aspects of the subject. (Ex. subject- wisdom; Theme-Obtaining wisdom.)

4. Chose a text in line with the purpose.

Suggestions in choosing a text:

1. Begin with your aim/purpose.
2. Watch the season of the year.
3. Be sure that the text belongs in the Bible.
4. Choose a text that makes sense.
5. As a rule give preference to a positive rather a negative text.
6. As a rule have only one text for a lesson and make that one text glow.
7. Choose a variety of text from week to weeks.

5. The next step is the study of the text.  The preoccupation of the preacher is the exposition of the text. He begins with an inductive Bible study, which can be followed or divided into 4 steps.

1. Read the Text in the original version or compare the different translation. The text that accomplishes the goal is the best translation text.
2. Observe the Text.- What kind of literature am I

reading? History, parable, prophecy, poetry or apocalyptic?  Is the language literal or symbolic? What is the central action? Where and when the action takes place? What are the important ideas, words, doctrines? What is the historical setting of the passage? What does the surrounding context contribute to its meaning.  

Interpret the Text. We observe the text to find what it says. we interpret the text to find out what it means. Key words must be define. If narrative, ask why the people  act as they do.

Apply the text. Ask a few questions. What does the text to me? Is there any sin to forsake? Any error to avoid? Any command to obey? Any promise to claim? Any example to follow? Any principles for relating to fellow Christians or non-Christians? To what situation of experiences does this text apply? What style of life are suggested by the text? What changes in my life would to be done? What new problems would have to be faced? What new creative possibilities would be open to me?

Questions of application must be asked by the preacher first for his own life then ask again for the life of others.

6. The next step is the gathering of materials, and arranging them. Here the preacher needs to gather materials which will expand, explain, illustrate and apply the central idea. Sources of these are: Bibles, Bible dictionaries, word studies, topical concordance, commentaries, magazines articles, journal articles, conference notes, books, and sermons.

    Organize the sermon materials on a preliminary way or to make a tentative outline and fit in materials as they are found.  Arrange the materials according to aim.

  7. Let the whole matter incubate for a while. Allow abundance of time for the sermon to grow.

  8. Begin to think about appropriate topic of the sermon. Every topic should lead to a sermon that glows. It is the name of the sermon. Suggested questions to ask to arrive at a good topic. 1.) Is my topic interesting but not sensational?  2.) Is it clear?  3.) Is the topic short but not abrupt?  4.) Is it accurate? does it include everything in the sermon? 5.) Is it religious? 

  9. Begin to think about illustrations.

     Why the use of illustrations:

a). For the sake of human interest.

b) Clearness. To make the sermon clear.

c) Beauty.

d. Completeness.

  Working Rules of having illustrations:

1. Limit the number of illustration. Have a sense of proportion.
2. Plan for a variety of illustrations.
3. A preacher may start with an illustration.

  Negative Counsels on choosing illustrations:

1. Avoid canned goods- be yourself.
2. Never use the preacher’s cliché: A story is told…
3. Refrain from relating anecdotes especially ones that is not probable if not impossible.
4. Be careful about allusions to persons.
5. Avoid references to yourself.
6. Do not relate a number of examples in a row but plan for one at a time.
7. Quote poetry sparingly.
8. Do not apply a negative illustration.

Major types of Illustrations:

1. Parable- earthly stories with heavenly meaning.
2. Metaphors- picture phrase that makes the truth vivid and memorable. “I am a virgin?”
3. Simile- Something is like something.
4. Allegory- Stories about animals, plants, children with theological points,
5. Fable- Fictitious stories used to make a point.
6. Historical allusions.
7. Anecdotes. stories happening from newspapers, etc.

  Further rules in Illustrations:

1. Make sure the illustrations fit exactly.
2. Make sure the illustrations fit exactly.
3. Make sure the illustration is accurate (facts, figures, etc.)
4. Don’t use too many illustrations.
5. Don’t let the illustration steal the show.
6. Keep it short.
7. Commit to memory.
8. Make illustration practical and realistic.

        10. Decide the Introduction. 

 The purpose of the introduction is to arouse interest, 

secure favor and prepare to lead.

a). Establish contact of the central idea to the occasion and thought of the people.  

  b). Motivate attention.

  c). Provide background for the sermonic journey.

  d). Disclose and limit the theme and purpose.

  e). Make transition to the body of the discourse.

          Characteristics of a good sermon introduction.

   a). It is interesting.         d). Friendly

   b). It is short.                 e). Clear 

   c). Appropriate.               f). Vary from week to weeks.

            List of Sermon Gates.

Textual approach.                       Illustration

Contextual approach.                  News Item or cartoon.

Dramatic description.                  The occasional Introduction

The topical approach.                  The psychological approach

The problem approach.                The Life situation

Direct statement of the purpose.   The general statement

Striking quotation.

11. Write your sermon outline.

                   Marks of a good outline.

1. Unity. Unity means the preacher preaches only one sermon at a time.

    2. Order. Means the various parts in relation to a whole. It follows a study of the  message in its part, one after the other.     

3. 3. Symmetry. Proportion of the various parts to the whole message.

     4. Progress. It must move to a climax.

   5. Integrity. Should be faithful to the intention of the text and shape of the text.

            Example of an Outline:

       Topic:  Obtaining Wisdom.

       Text:   James 1:5-8

Thesis: “Believers can obtain wisdom when they recognized they lack it, when they ask for it, believe they receive it.”

    Introduction.

    Body:

9. The first condition is recognizing you lack it.

a.

b.

c.

        II. The second condition is asking for it.

             a.

             b.

             c. Illustration.

III. The third condition is believing you will have it.

             a.

             b.

             c.

      Conclusion: direct appeal to the hearers to seek wisdom now and to seek it urgently because it will affect our present success and joy in life.

12. Write out the sermon as a whole at one sitting. Some preachers write only the outline but it is better to write the sermon word for word. writing the sermon will make the preacher see the balance of his points. It also helps the timing of the sermon. He sees his grammar.

13.  The next day revise the manuscript with care.

14.  Decide or plan the conclusion.

          Characteristic of a good conclusion.

1. Brief    2. Appropriate    3. Arresting     4. Positive     

 5. Definite or personal.

           Variety of Endings.

1. Direct appeal               5.. Appeal to imagination.

2. Practical application      6.. Closing poem.

3. Final summary             7.. Missing Conclusion

4. Contrasting truth.         8. Final Sentence.

15.  Prepare to deliver the message by rehearsing it. It should be made over several times, and preached out loud to get the feel of the movement of the sermon.

16.  Final step is preaching the sermon. At the pulpit forget about preparation and trust God to bless the preaching of his word.