Teaching Basics

2 Types of Messages

Topical (Matthew 5-7) and text-driven (Acts 2)

Both are biblical, latter is usually better

Topical is better for doctrinal sermons. (e.g. a one-off sermon about the nature of hell)

In both, you still have to choose what to preach on, but the former has more room for picking and choosing.

Text-driven chooses one pericope and lets the text determine the content and tone of the message.

3 Priorities in Message Prep

Character (of the speaker) Content (of the message) Communication (by the speaker of the message)

1 > 2 > 3

3 Parts of Messages Prep

Figure out what the passage is saying.

Pray.

Read through the passage a few times.

Look at the wider context.

Figure out the author, audience, setting, etc.

Think about why it was originally written.

Verse by verse, write out things that stand out/points you might make.

Synthesize those into 1-3 main points.

This will be your explanation.

Think about how the passage points to Christ; you’ll use this in the exhortation.

Figure out the implications.

What does this mean for us today?

What are some potential applications for those you’ll speak to?

Figure out how to say it. (see below)

3 Parts of a Message

Intro — usually introducing either the topic itself or the setting of the passage

Explanation — How will you put your points in order? How will you give explanation to each point?

Exhortation — What change will you urge people to make? // How will you invite people to follow Jesus?

What analogies or metaphors can you add in?

What kind of tone should you use? (it comes from the tone of the passage)

Other thoughts

Some people write sermons out word for word, I typically have my major points written out, but have practiced it mentally enough that I can recall nearly word-for-word. I keep my notes written on a sheet of paper that fits in my Bible so it looks like I’m only looking at Scripture and is less distracting.

Anytime I preach on a Sunday am with any chance of a non-Christian in the audience, I give an evangelistic appeal of some sort. Remember that you’re talking to real people.

Keeping the audience in mind during the sermon (not just during prep) helps you balance that tension in preaching where it is conversational but not cavalier.

For Bible classes, I typically use this as a starting point and then shift it to make it more casual, often with some discussion. Some people start from a small group format and then work from there, making it less discussion based than a small group. I’d use whichever you like more as the starting point.

I keep a running list of illustrations I use in sermons to pull from (and when/where I’ve used them so I don’t overuse them with the same audience). I save all my sermon notes in a similar form as my illustrations.

I’m by no means an expert on preaching or the best to learn from, but I have noticed myself get better over the years by practicing some of these things, and hopefully will continue to improve.

More prayer + more practice = better preaching