IIntroduction

The words preaching and homiletics are often used interchangeably however Preaching is the larger of the terms because it refers more to the total task of preparing and delivering sermons. Homiletics, on the other hand is more involved with preparing sermons only.

Preaching is a science and an art. The focus of this outline will be the science or the preparation for sermon delivery(The delivery is the art).

 Sermon Structure

Sermon Structure will help the preacher avoid talking in circles or rambling on without purpose which robs the conjuration of the real meat of the message. Structure is a vehicle to allow the substance of the sermon to be more effectively communicated.

The sermon structure must not call attention to itself as clever or profound. The purpose of the plan is to help the people see past it to the truth being set forth. The structure is the frame of the painting, which contains and draw attention to the beautiful without distracting from it. Frames help us to focus our attention to separate the art from all else. Likewise, Sermon Structure aids hearers by setting the revelation of God in an orderly and limited arrangement with which they can deal on a given occasion.

Benefits of Good Structure

Benefits for the Pastor

Confirms and solidifies the preachers grasp of the material being presented.

Helps the preacher emphasize one central idea in. sermon.

Encourages the preacher to know his target clearly and not digress from it.

Results in good sermonic movement toward an appropriate climax.

Results in a "balanced attack," avoiding the error of overloading and underloading certain parts of the sermon.

Encourages a natural flow of ideal from one idea to the next.

Enhances the preacher’s credibility with the congregation.

Benefits for the Congregation

Helps the listener follow the arguments being presented.

Gives the listener a feel for where the sermon is headed.

Helps the listener remember the thrust of the sermon.

Helps the attention span by giving the congregation periodic mental breaks.

Four Characteristics of Good Structure

A well structured sermon is Unified.

A well structured sermon has discernible order.

A well structured sermon has balance arrangement.

A well structured sermon moves toward a specific target and arrives their climactically.

Types of Sermon Structures

Topical Sermons

These are sermons whose subject is based on a given Scripture text while the main points and the subpoints are based on a related text or arrived at by other means such as questioning, faceting(looking at a subject from different angles), or formal reasoning.

Textual Sermons

These type of sermons are based on one or two verses of Scripture, with the main points of the message coming from the text itself, often from phrases or clauses that are of somewhat equal weight in importance.

Expository Sermons

This structure style has traditionally been understood to refer to sermons based on texts longer than two verses . Some schools of thought believe that this type of sermon uses a main point and sub-points based on parts of the text and that every part of the text be used. Still other believe that the entire text should be understood thematically and that the main points and subpoints should support that theme.

 Section II Preparing for the Homiletic Task

Select a Suitable Text

Consider the length and depth of the sermon relative to the occasion.

Questionable text should not be used.

Don’t shy away from using text that may be familiar to the congregation.

Choose the text as far in advance of the preaching engagement as possible.

Perform Contextual Research

Become intimately familiarity with the wording of the immediate passage and its larger context.

Determine the type of genre of the passage.

Determine who wrote the passage and research his background and life.

Determine the chronology of the text.

Determine the geographical location of where the events took place.

Determine the specific aim of the passage.

Perform Textual Study

Translate the passage from it’s original language.

Determine the correct reading of the passage.

Perform an analytical outline f the passage.

Perform Word study of important words.

Study the grammar of the text.

Note the parallel ideas of the text.

Determine the most inclusive and broad subject of the text (ex: sin, faith, praise etc.).

Determine the theme or the most important aspect of the subject discussed.

 Section III Methods of Homiletics

The Keyword Method

The Keyword method is most often used with expository and textual type of sermons and consist of twelve steps. If these steps will help to ensure that the finished sermon will be unified in its theme, clear in its purpose, followable in its argument, scriptural in its authority, and applicable in its thrust. Following are the twelve steps.

Isolate the Subject

The subject should be broad.(Faith, Power, Temptation, Worship etc.).

Determine the Theme

The theme is the specific aspect of the subject to be covered. It should be stated as a phase.

For example if the subject is the "Holy Spirit", the preacher must discover what it is about the Holy Spirit that this particular text emphasizes.

Note: Their should only be one subject and one theme, this will avoid confusion.

Write a Proposition

This is a brief, simple sentence that declares to the hearer what would be known about the theme of the sermon. The proposition embodies the single truth that the preacher hopes to communication. Everything else in the sermon revolves around, or in some way relates to the proposition. A sermon without a clear proposition is like a ship without a rudder or an automobile without a steering wheel. There three basic types of propositions:

Proposition of Ability.. answers the question of how something is to be done.

Proposition of Obligation answers the question of why something should be done.

Proposition of Value answers the question of the question of comparative worth.

Compose a Propositional Interrogative

Ask a question of the Proposition. This step is important in helping the preacher to transition from the introduction to the body of the sermon.

Choose a Keyword

The keyword is a homiletical device used to identify the main points of the sermon. This keyword will almost always be a plural noun, for it is used to identify two or more ideas, or main points..The keyword is a direct response to the propositional interrogative.

Formulate a Transitional Sentence

This homitetical tool should informed the conjuration precisely of the central idea about to be discussed and tells them how this idea is going to be handled.

Develop the Main Points

This will establish the proposition of the sermon. Each main point will be one of whatever the keyword is. For example if the main point is guidelines than each main point will be one guideline. Each main point should be followed up with scriptural support.

Formulate the Subpoints

There are three basic type of subpoints:

Explanation involves clarifying ideas, words, or concepts.

Exemplification means giving understandable examples of the truth being explained.

Accentuation entails emphasizing that truth.

Include Helpful Illustrations

Elements in a sermon that which allow the hearers to grasp more precisely the meaning the preacher intended. An illustration must clarify the idea being communicated.

Prepare an Introduction

This task should be done after the body of the sermon has been prepared for until that task is finished the preacher has nothing to introduce.

The introduction should only be 10 to 15 percent of the total speaking time.

The approach sentence should point in the direction of the subject.

The introduction should progress from the general subject to the specific theme. From the theme to a brief encounter with the biblical text. Following this, the transitional paragraph should be stated.

Prepare the Conclusion

The conclusion should remind the audience of the most important idea in the sermon.

The conclusion should help the audience understand the truth of what has just been preached to the point of conviction.

The conclusion should help to bring about a change in either behavior or attitude.

Choose the Title

This is the essence of what the sermon is all about.

Usually a matter of little concern other than advertising if necessary.

The Analytical Method

This method is closely identified with expository preaching and is more didactic than persuasive. The steps are similar to the Keyword Method however steps 4, 5, and 6 are unnecessary for this approach because the Analytical method doesn’t use a keyword device.

Steps to the Analytical Method of Sermon preparation.

Determine the Subject.

Determine the precise Theme

State a Clear Proposition

Formulate the Main Points

Prepare the Subpoints

Include Illustration

Prepare the Introduction

Complete the Conclusion

Choose a Title

The Textual Method

Similar to the Analytical method only shorter in scriptural reference. The same basic steps to preparation are similar to the Analytical Method thus they will not be repeated.

The Problem Solving Method

This special type of sermon is related to the problems of life that a congregation or a group of people may encounter. Their are several patterns for the organization of the preacher thoughts have been written about. Following are two patterns:

Interrogative Approach

Where are we?

How did we get here?

Where do we want to go?

How do we get there?

Problem Solving Approach

We need to solve the problem

Their are several nonbibical solutions proposed

Proposition: What is God’s solution to the problem

God’s solution to the problem

The Comparative Method

This method of sermon building is intended to be used when the heart of the preaching text is a simile or metaphor. The speaker compares some truth from nature, history, or human events and a corresponding spiritual truth. The sermon develops the spiritual truth by examining various facets of the single truth portrayed in the simile or metaphor.

The Syllogistic Method

This method is based on pure deduction, a form of reasoning that moves from a general truth to a specific truth.

A simple syllogism consist of there statements; the major premise, the minor premise, and the conclusion. Their are three types of syllogisms

Categorical

Hypothetical

Disjunctive

The Inductive Method

With this method, the structure moves from specific instances to a general truth. This allows the listener the right to participate in the movement and arrive at a conclusion that is his own, not just the preacher’s.

 The Narrative Method

In recent years, narrative preaching has become a term used to describe a sermon that varies from the traditional points that explain a central idea homiletical arrangement to one which purposely tells a single story, a story with a spiritual point.

Preachers in the Black Church have made extensive use of this type of preaching, often presenting a narrative biblical passage along with a contemporary parallel. This style of preaching is new for the while congregations and preachers.

A relative new spin-off of the narrative approach is referred to as the imaginary narratives, which include methods such as autobiographical monologue-impersonation; a story told in the usual manner, or in poetical form, or in the form of an imaginary letter or some other document; a dialogue in the form of an imaginary conversation between two or more characters.

Charles Rice, a noted and renowned preacher said that "Stories express the Chrisitan tradition so decisively that it become the normative mode of bibical revelatioin"

. Storytelling has a close affinity to both the content and form of Christian revelation. It is therefore, the hermeneutical key to interpreting Scriptures.

Narrative sermons preparation steps are substantially different from the other methods but keep in mind that a "story" sermon is still a sermon, upon which souls depend.

Narrative Methods for Sermon preparation.

Begin with a Text

The ground and root of the narrative story must be based on Scriptures.

Identify the Theological Purpose of the Text

The preacher should endeavor to understand the purpose that God had in dealing with people, places, and events for which the story sermon will be based on. How does the theological concept relate to the preacher and to the congregation?

Think in terms of a Plot

The preacher needs to think in terms of a plot and the story movements that are necessary to introduce and describe the plot, and finally lead to its resolution. Try to think first of the plot, keeping in mind that a good plot will always have some kind of bind or difficulty needing to be resolved.

Two types of Plots:

The "What will happen" plot

The "How will it happen" plot

The sense of the unknown is what give the plot life, and the bind that the plot presents is what holds the congregation attention. Genesis 22 is a good example.

Decide on a Point of View

Choose one the viewpoints of the characters involved to based the story sermon on. For example you may want to base the sermon story on the viewpoint of the King of Nineveh rather than Jonah.

Choose a Specific Storytelling Mode

There are three mode:

The "Third Person" mode

The "Autobiographical" mode in the first person.

A story can be told in the first person when the preacher takes upon himself the role of the person whose point of view is being presented.

Plan the Sermon’s General Organization

The preached must arrange is ideas in a way that will present the setting, the plot, the twist in the plot, and the resolution of the plot.

Summary

The steps outline in this discussion on Homiletics will help the serious minister of God perform better what he was already ordained to perform anyway. The different methods and styles of sermon preparation must always be saturated with feverant prayer and a life of sincere dedication.

(Eph 4:11 KJV) And he gave some, apostles; and some, prophets; and some, evangelists; and some, pastors and teachers;

(Eph 4:12 KJV) For the perfecting of the saints, for the work of the ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ:

These aforementioned two Scripture verses is the foundation of why I think the study of Homiletics is important for the serious preacher/teacher of God.