Sermon Preparation

Sermon Preparation (Based on Haddon Robinson’s Development of Expository Messages)

Select the Passage

Make sure it is a complete unit of thought (pericope)

Study the Passage

Read your pericope in different Bible versions (at least 5)

Read the entire chapter (sometimes book) for context

Write your thoughts on the passage down on paper (brainstorming)

Next thing to consult is personally respected Christian authors

Tools: Lexicons, concordances, Bible dictionaries, commentaries

Discover the exegetical idea

Textual Considerations

Linguistics

Grammatical difficulties

Irregularities in the text

Syntax

Literary Analysis

Delimitation

Poetic Analysis

Structure

Genre

Literary Unity

Word Studies

Historical Background

Theological Implications

Interpretation (meaning)

Relevance

Analyze the exegetical idea

What does it mean?

Is it true?

What difference does it make?

Formulate the homiletical idea

Consider the audience, exegetical idea and come up with a sentence that states the main idea.

Determine the sermons purpose

Sermon types:

Idea explained

Proposition proved

Principle stated

Story Told

Subject complemented

Deductive arrangement - the idea appears as part of the introduction, and the body explains, proves, or applies it.

Inductive arrangement - the introduction introduces only the first point in the sermon, and then with a strong transition each new point links to the previous point until the idea emerges in the conclusion.

Decide how to accomplish the sermons purpose

Outline the sermon

Fill in the sermon outline

Sermon supports:

Repetition

Restatement

Explanation

Definition

Factual Information

Quotations

Narrations

Illustrations

Prepare the introduction & Conclusion

Landing a sermon:

Summary

Illustration

Quotation

Prayer

Specific directions

Visualization

Don’t forget to:

Be well dressed & well groomed

Make your gestures spontaneous, definite, varied & properly timed.

Maintain eye contact

Vocally: pitch, punch, progress, pause

Key questions:

What are you talking about? (Subject)

What are you saying about what you are talking about? (Compliments)

What does this mean?

It is true?

What difference does it make?

ALWAYS CALL THE PEOPLE TO SOME ACTION, OR TO MAKE SOME DECISION!