Preaching Cohort Week 1

Purpose

Mission: The Harvest City Preaching Cohort aims to provide intensive homiletic training to prepare men to preach a sermon at Harvest City Church.

Preaching Goal: High view of God

Sermon Goal: Life change

10 Step Sermon Prep

Step 1: Prepare the Heart

All sermons start with our dependence on God. Every day (especially sermon prep day) should begin with repentance, praise, petitions, and meditation on the main text that will be preached.

Goal: A heart open to what the Lord is saying through the text

Step 2: Examine the Text

Before commentaries, contextual/historical resources, or any other materials; you need to know what the text says. Read and study the words. Diagram the verse.

Goal: Verse diagram

 Step 3: Compile the Truth

Analyze the verse diagram to develop an exegetical outline. This exegetical outline should have a “Big Idea” and subpoints that are answering: “What is the text saying?” Or “What would the original audience hear?”

Goal: Exegetical Outline and subpoints

 Step 4: Organize the Structure

Translate the “Exegetical Outline” to an “Applicational Outline.” The applicational outline should be directed to your modern congregation. The outline will start with the “Big Idea” translated to your people. The Big Ideamust be less than 10 words and include an applicational question. “How does this text apply to the listener’slife?” Subpoints should answer the question and point to the “Big Idea.”

Goal: Sermon “Big Idea” with an applicational outline

Step 5: Inspect the Framework

Now open your commentaries. Commentaries do not tell you how or what to think. They give you research and lexicon details that you may not have known. Use the following commentaries: Historical, Theological, Lexical, Devotional

Goal: Confirm your interpretation with experts *Preaching Prep Doc

Step 6: Write the Sermon

Move your “Big Idea” and you subpoints to your sermon outline. Fill out the sermon outline to whatever style best fits you (outline, manuscript, etc.). Each point should include Explanation, Illustration, and Application.

Goal: Sermon content outline

Step 7: Color the Sermon

Write introduction, outro, and all illustrations. Illustrations should be personal and specific. Intro and outroshould “bookend” the sermon. The goal is to take the content and reach the heart. Quick rules to sermon illustration: 

1. You are not the hero

2. Illustrations highlight the text, not the other way around

3. Be vulnerable4

. Be specific

Goal: Complete Sermon

Step 8: Put the Sermon Away

Take a breath. The Holy Spirit has been working through you. Trust the process and put the sermon away and enjoy your family. 

Goal: Trust the process & enjoy your life

Step 9: Consecrate the Sermon

Before you preach take the sermon out, review it, walk through it, and (most importantly) pray through it. Let the sermon hit your heart one more time.

Goal: Heart preparation for preaching

 Step 10: Proclaim the Sermon

Grip it and rip it. Preach with fire.

Goal: Do what you are called to do

Hermeneutics

Hermeneutics is the science and art of interpreting the Bible, focusing on principles, methods, and rules to understand its intended meaning, bridging ancient texts with contemporary life, and applying divine truths to daily living, often with a Christ-centered focus, ensuring accurate, faithful, and respectful understanding of God's Word.

Basic Hermeneutics

The Bible is broken down into two Testaments—What are they?

Old Testament

Genres

Narrative/history

Law

Wisdom/Poetry

Prophecy

Audience

Israelites

New Testament

Genres

Narrative/history/biographical

Epistles/Letters

Apocalyptic

Audience

The Church

Both Testaments point toward one moment in History

Jesus’s life, death, and resurrection.

Exegesis v. Eisegesis

Verse diagram

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