Anyone who knows me as a preacher knows that I believe very strongly that a sermon should have a clear central idea. I believe a preacher should be able to give the essence of the entire sermon in a single sentence. As Haddon Robinson has said, "A sermon is a bullet, not buckshot." The benefits of having identified the "Big Idea" are numerous. I want to take the time to discuss one in particular.
We have probably all heard sermons in which the application was either non-existent or sufficiently vague to be of very little use. Applying the message of the sermon faithfully and specifically is not always an easy task. But having identified the central idea of the text can help tremendously. Let me show you what I mean.
Recently I preached a message from Nehemiah 8:13-18. The big idea was, "There is no spiritual renewal without obedience." How does nailing down the primary idea of that text help me in the area of specific, faithful application? It's really pretty simple. Ask yourself a couple of questions. How would someone think or act if he didn't know, believe, or practice this truth? What would be the consequences? What might his false assumptions or expectations be?
If someone believed they could have spiritual renewal apart from obedience, how might they go about seeking it? How would you be able to spot such a person? What would be the consequences of his failure to believe this truth? Such a person might believe that simply praying and asking for forgiveness of sin is all that is necessary for spiritual renewal. He might experience frustration and disillusionment when the renewal he seeks fails to come. He may connect spiritual renewal with a flood of emotions felt during a revival service. This kind of information will help you apply the sermon to specific people in specific situations.
See how it works? You start with the solution, the big idea of the sermon. Then you simply ask yourself, "What is the problem for which this truth is the solution?" Answering that question will help you paint a profile of the kind of person/people that could benefit most from hearing this particular sermon. Give it a try. I think you'll find it is extremely helpful.
Wednesday, June 22, 2016
Tuesday, June 7, 2016
When Is a Sermon Ready to Be Written?
Expository preaching demands a thorough study of the text of Scripture you have selected for your sermon. At some point, however, you will have to stop studying the text and start writing the sermon. After all, Sunday is coming. I have no doubt that if you have preached very much at all you have had an experience like this one. You begin to write your sermon only to discover you need to go back and study some more. Most of the struggles that come in the writing out of the sermon are the result of beginning the process prematurely. So, when is a sermon ready to be written? A sermon is ready to be written out when you can write out a sermon summary that includes the following:
1. The essence of the sermon in a sentence. Haddon Robinson calls this sentence the big idea. If you cannot communicate the essence of your sermon in one sentence you aren't ready to write the sermon.
2. The fallen condition focus. This is a term coined by Bryan Chapell. The fallen condition focus answers the question, "Why does anyone need to hear this sermon?" Humans, in our fallen condition, need the truth of God's Word. What is it about fallen man that makes him need the specific truth you will present in your sermon?
3. The sermon outline. Every sermon needs organization. People need to be able to follow you as you work your way through the text of Scripture. How will you organize your sermon so that it can be communicated in a logical, coherent way that is both faithful to Scripture and easy to follow?
4. The connection to Christ. Christian preachers are gospel preachers. We preach Christ and Him crucified. That doesn't mean we only preach the cross and evangelistic messages. It does mean, however, that every passage passage of Scripture will in some way connect to the person and work of Christ. This is especially important to remember when preaching from the Old Testament. If the passage has no immediately obvious connection to Christ, consider if it may predict, prepare for, reflect, or be the result of the person and work of Christ. If you could preach your sermon in a synagogue or mosque without offending anyone you aren't ready to write it out.
5. The objectives for the sermon. What is it you hope to accomplish with this particular sermon? How should the listeners think after hearing this sermon? How should the listeners feel after hearing this sermon? How should the listeners act after hearing this sermon? If you don't have a target, you won't hit it.
How can you write a sermon if you don't even know what it is about? How will you convince people to listen if you haven't considered why they need to listen? How will you present the material in your sermon in a logical, coherent way if you haven't planned how you will do so? How will you preach a Christian sermon if you have no idea how it connects to the person and work of Christ? How will you accomplish biblical objectives with your sermon if you haven't even considered what those objectives are?
I fill out a sermon summary sheet before I attempt to write out any sermon. I would suggest you consider doing the same. If you'd like a copy of the one I use, just leave me a comment. If you will continue in study, prayer, and meditation until you have identified these five things, I think you will find you'll have a lot less trouble writing out your sermon.
1. The essence of the sermon in a sentence. Haddon Robinson calls this sentence the big idea. If you cannot communicate the essence of your sermon in one sentence you aren't ready to write the sermon.
2. The fallen condition focus. This is a term coined by Bryan Chapell. The fallen condition focus answers the question, "Why does anyone need to hear this sermon?" Humans, in our fallen condition, need the truth of God's Word. What is it about fallen man that makes him need the specific truth you will present in your sermon?
3. The sermon outline. Every sermon needs organization. People need to be able to follow you as you work your way through the text of Scripture. How will you organize your sermon so that it can be communicated in a logical, coherent way that is both faithful to Scripture and easy to follow?
4. The connection to Christ. Christian preachers are gospel preachers. We preach Christ and Him crucified. That doesn't mean we only preach the cross and evangelistic messages. It does mean, however, that every passage passage of Scripture will in some way connect to the person and work of Christ. This is especially important to remember when preaching from the Old Testament. If the passage has no immediately obvious connection to Christ, consider if it may predict, prepare for, reflect, or be the result of the person and work of Christ. If you could preach your sermon in a synagogue or mosque without offending anyone you aren't ready to write it out.
5. The objectives for the sermon. What is it you hope to accomplish with this particular sermon? How should the listeners think after hearing this sermon? How should the listeners feel after hearing this sermon? How should the listeners act after hearing this sermon? If you don't have a target, you won't hit it.
How can you write a sermon if you don't even know what it is about? How will you convince people to listen if you haven't considered why they need to listen? How will you present the material in your sermon in a logical, coherent way if you haven't planned how you will do so? How will you preach a Christian sermon if you have no idea how it connects to the person and work of Christ? How will you accomplish biblical objectives with your sermon if you haven't even considered what those objectives are?
I fill out a sermon summary sheet before I attempt to write out any sermon. I would suggest you consider doing the same. If you'd like a copy of the one I use, just leave me a comment. If you will continue in study, prayer, and meditation until you have identified these five things, I think you will find you'll have a lot less trouble writing out your sermon.
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