Sermon Tone Analysis

BASIC PARTS OF AN EXPOSITORY SERMON

The list below is not what “must be included” in every expository sermon, but what is often included.

1. Opening statement

2. Historical background and context

2. Historical background and context

3. The text and possibly some of the greater near context

4. Second person plural noun proposition with a “so that” statement

5. Main points and sub-points of the sermon

• Observation

• Interpretation

• Interpretation

• Interpretation

• Doctrinal development (Cross References, Key Quotes)

• Doctrinal development (Cross References, Key Quotes)

• Illustration (All Throughout Sermon)

• Illustration (All Throughout Sermon)

• Application

• Application

6.

Conclusion of the sermon

➢ ALWAYS START WITH AN EXEGETICAL OUTLINE OF THE TEXT

1.

To have an expository sermon the outline must in some way be derived from an accurate understanding of information gleaned from the text of Scripture to be preached.

(Remember this is a step by step overview and other resources may be needed to help you make it through the process.)

2. Sometimes a sermon outline might be derived from the sentence structure and grammar of a text, this is referred to as a syntactical outline.

Syntactical outlines work best when preaching propositional (epistle-like truth) from smaller texts.

3. Other times, outlines may be derived from themes or key words found in different parts of the text being preached.

This is called a thematic or synthetic outline.

A synthetic outline often works best from medium to larger sized texts.

4. Other times outlines can be derived from blocks of related information, like different movements in a story.

This usually works well when preaching larger sections of narrative and is referred to as a block outline or an outline based on a block diagram of the text.

5.

At other times an artificial doctrinal outline might be constructed from an accurate interpretation of a doctrine found in a text.

Upon discovering a doctrine in the text, you expound upon that doctrine in greater detail, creating an artificial outline to organize what the Bible says about that doctrine, its meaning, importance, and application.

If your text is very small, just a word or small phrase, you won’t have enough grammar to construct a syntactical outline.

You need to accurately interpret the phrase in its context and then create an artificial outline based on the interpretation and meaning of the text.

Thus, an artificial outline may be used as long as it is derived from the meaning of doctrine found in the text of Scripture being preached.

6. Make your outline points personal and concrete, not abstract and impersonal.

7. Include in each outline point second person “you” or “your,” a command, or an all-inclusive statement “everyone,” “all who,” “whosoever,” etc.

The reason for doing this is it makes your entire sermon into application, not just the few suggestions you might insert at the end.

❖ Example of an abstract, impersonal outline for :

I. IT IS LIVING II.

IT IS ACTIVE III.

IT IS SHARP IV.

IT IS PIERCING V. IT JUDGES Notice how the points in the outline are dry, not personal, and very abstract.

You can’t even tell what is being talked about from the outline.

❖ Example of a concrete, personal outline for :

I. YOUR BIBLE IS LIVING II.

YOUR BIBLE IS ACTIVE III.

YOUR BIBLE IS SHARP IV.

YOUR BIBLE IS PIERCING V. YOUR BIBLE IS ABLE TO JUDGE

Notice how this outline is personal and concrete.

You know each point is talking about the Bible and not just any Bible, but the Bible your listeners own, read, and study!

➢ WRITE A PROPOSITIONAL STATEMENT

1. Once an outline is constructed, then a propositional statement can be written.

A propositional statement summarizes the main points of the sermon into a single sentence.

Propositional statements are not a necessary part of an expository sermon, but they are helpful in letting your hearers understand, in a concise way, the content and purpose of the sermon they are about to hear.

It helps them orient their minds to what you are going teach them from the text you are preaching from.

Think of a proposition as a single sentence summary of the entire sermon and its main outline points.

I like to include the features below in my propositional statements.

2. I usually create a plural noun proposition.

I tell them the number of points in the sermon outline and use a noun (person, place, or thing) to describe the outline points.

Examples:

I. “three keys . .

.”

II.

“four steps . .

.”

III.

“two warnings . .

.”

3. I usually include second person, “you,” or “your,” or a command (because all commands imply second person address), or I include all-inclusive words e.g., “everyone” or “anyone” or “whosoever,” etc. in my propositions.

I do this because I want my hearers to know that everything in the sermon is for them, not just the application that may appear at the end.

Examples: I. From (your text) I want to show you [second person] four ingredients [there is the plural noun] needed to … II.

In (your text) you [second person] will see seven reasons [plural noun] to …

III.

(Your text) teaches three ways [plural noun] you [second person] can pray in the will of God …

4. Finally, I include a “so that” or “in order that” purpose statement at the end of my proposition so people understand the reason for learning what you will be preaching from God’s Word.

Examples:

I.

Here in God gives you [second person] five steps [plural noun] you [second person again] must take in order [purpose statement] to receive and enjoy the benefits of God’s gracious gift of salvation.

(Notice in this example the outline’s points themselves are not listed.

I only tell them how many points there will be.

This is what I usually do.)

II.

From you [second person] will see that God requires men to submit to four aspects [plural noun] of prayer in public worship in order [purpose statement] to give Him glory. 1) You must submit to apostolic instruction, 2) You must submit to men leading the congregation in prayer, 3) You must submit to worshiping in holiness, and 4) You must submit without conflict.

(Notice in this example I listed the entire outline points after the proposition.)

The two examples of propositional statements above are second person, plural noun propositions with a “so that” statement.

This is how I like to my propositional statements because it lets the congregation know that the entire sermon is for them personally and that there is a reason for learning what they are about to hear.

I usually place my propositional statement after reading the Scripture to be preached.

➢ INSERT THE TEXT TO BE ADDRESSED UNDER EACH POINT

Now that you have an outline, you need to include the portion of the text that fits under each outline point, unless it is an artificial outline used to explain doctrine found in the text.

In the case of an artificial outline you would first show the doctrine in the text, then tell them you are going to give them an artificial outline to help them understand that doctrine.

Your proposition would follow.

However, normally you will have a syntactical, thematic, or block diagram based outline derived from the text itself.

If so, include the portion of Scripture to be addressed under each outline point.

If the text is larger you will need to break it down into smaller sections under each outline point.

(Example given at the end of this paper.)

➢ CRAFT AN OPENING STATEMENT

Once you have an outline and proposition you can craft an opening statement.

You don’t have to create an opening statement at this time.

In fact, you can wait until the very end, after you finish everything else, so you can craft an opening statement that matches your sermon content exactly.

The soonest you can create an opening statement is after the outline and proposition are completed.

Opening statements are used to get people’s attention, to help them focus on what God is saying to them in the text you are preaching, or to create a need or desire to hear what you are about to preach from God’s Word.

Opening statements can be stories, a hypothetical situation, something interesting you read, statistics, a parable, anything that is going to get people focused, listening intently, and wanting to know what God’s Word says in the text you are preaching.

While opening statements are not a necessary, they are helpful if done well and serve the main idea of the text being preached.