Sermon Structure Template

Sermon Structure

Introduction (Connect with audience)

Biblical / Historical Context (Start with a relatable context)

Expository Biblical Context

Link with a Relatable context

Identify common experiences or situations your audience understands. These could be cultural references, familiar scenarios, or shared struggles. Jesus started with farming, family dynamics, or everyday social encounters.

Illustration (Introducing the Main Characters )

Use a memorable illustration / story

And build some form of main characters (Objects or Personas)

Create simple, relatable characters that the audience can easily identify with. Jesus used farmers, fathers, kings, servants, or everyday workers.

The setting

Problem Statement (Present a conflict or problem)

Set up a problem or tension that needs resolution. This engages the listener and keeps them interested. Jesus often framed his stories around choices, mistakes, or dilemmas that characters faced.

The Biblical Twist (Incorporate an Element of Surprise or Reversal)

Include a twist or unexpected outcome that challenges conventional wisdom or expectations. This keeps the audience attentive and opens them up to new perspectives.

Exposition (The Expository points) - (The Plot-Reveal the Deeper Spiritual or Moral Truth )

Word Explanations

Avoid doing a commentary

Use Scripture to explain itself

Define and Explain phrases relavant to the main focus

Expand Definition with implications (Strengthen the points / plot)

Application - the You (Invite reflection and Application)

Bring it home, and include everyone in the primary message

Rather than spelling out the lesson too overtly, leave room for personal reflection and application. Jesus didn’t always explain his parables but let the audience interpret them, encouraging deeper thought.

Conclusion (Relate to the Audience’s Spiritual Journey)

Ensure your story connects with the spiritual or moral journey of the listener. Like Jesus, you want to encourage growth, change, or introspection in a meaningful way.

Introduction

Read Passage

The Context: Listen My beloved brothers

Listen

Beloved Brothers

As a continuation of partiality (Include Review)

The Illustraiton

The Story of the poor man and the Tax Collector

James Reveals 2 Chatacters to Us

The Poor Man (Both Poor in spirit, but more directly physically poor) Also Referring to the Saved

And the Rich Man (Probably referring to the wealthy Sadducess) Unsaved

The Setting (Problem Statement)

We actually see two major thoughts James is conveing. One is this overarching theme of partiality and favouritism, secondly he breifly highlights what the Jews already suppose to know (from the Gospels)

To have a correct understanding of being poor

Many times we simply run after riches, and that contributes to our lack of care for the poor

We run after our own wellbeing and wouldn’t help the poor.

Story of people giving my parents furnature.

My dad Giving away a house

My dad giving away a car

How much are you willing to give? Yes to the point of even being physically poor but for the furtherance of the Kingdom?

How much are you willing to sacrifice to have God’s character in you?

Exposition

Understanding the divine choice of the Poor

Rich in faith

Heirs of the kingdom

But you dishonored teh poor man

Hospitible, and maybe even to angels

what you do the least of them you do to Christ (verse)

Understanding the evil blasphemy of the Rich

Blaspheme the GOOD NAME

They Currently oppress you

Drag you ingo courts

But you choose to Honor those?

Application

How are you serving the body of Christ? Are you running after wealth to the point of discriminating the Body of Christ

God Called us to LOVE one another (we’ll look that that Lord willing next week)

How are we showing dishonor? How are we showing equal love?

Later in verse 12 James sums up what we need to do

First he showed us our problem (partiality) in all forms

Then he said LISTEN HERE let me remind you!

Then in verse 12 he says, SO! Speak and SO act as those who are to be judged (we’ll look at that later too)

But the idea here is Our WORDS (The man that can BRIDLE HIS OWN TONGUE) who show’s undefiled religion, should SPEAK and ACT without partiality.

Wheter it’s ‘Jokes’ or real talk, NO PARTIALITY should be seen in you! It is SIN (verse 9!)

Thinking the number of pigmentation in your skin suddenly earns you a higher position in society. And don’t sit and think for a moment it’s in only ‘white’ peoples minds, the world has just turned the tables around and now its the other way around. The SAME sin is being pushed into our churches, and Christian Communities just with a different approach. God is NOT PARTIAL

Don’t treat ANYONE with partiality!

Conclusion

Given the world we are in, and my active thinking about partiality I’ve taken inventory of my own life. The nuances of partiality in my life jumped out at me.

Madadeni Hospital visit

Then what I heard afterwards, compared with my actual experience.

When i went to go buy something at the local shop the looks I recieved, The initial thoughts in my mind

‘Feeling out of place...”

‘Feeling unsafe’

Wondering to myself if I shouldn’t rather drive to town “Just for a water” The thoughts came up in my mind

I had to remind myself of what James said. It’s sooo easy for us to be caught in the deception and lies being thrown our way that when we think strictly Church it’s comprable. But in the real world?

Test yourself, I’ve done it to myself, it’s actually harder than you think. But test yourself and your thinking. In what ways are you showing forms of partiality because things aren’t good for you?

Jesus, Paul, or any of the apostles (with the occasional exception of Peter, until Paul rebuked him) showed partiality. Because there is none in God.