When you are preaching the Old Testament, there should always be a radar bleeping in your heart regarding where Christ fits into the message. Some will suggest that every message must be entirely and purely about Christ, whatever the text was originally intended to convey. I feel this approach can bring our view of the [...]
Archive for the ‘Stage 6 – Message Idea’ Category
Where Does Christ Fit?
Posted in Christianity, Homiletics, How to . . . ?, Old Testament, Preaching, Religion, Stage 3 - Passage Purpose, Stage 4 - Passage Idea, Stage 5 - Message Purpose, Stage 6 - Message Idea, Stage 7 - Message Outline, Stage 8 - Message Detail, tagged Christocentric Preaching on August 26, 2010 | 1 Comment »
When Expository Preaching Almost Isn’t
Posted in Christianity, Homiletics, Preaching, Religion, Stage 6 - Message Idea, Stage 7 - Message Outline, tagged Expository Preaching on August 18, 2010 | 2 Comments »
One approach to preaching a text is a particularly well worn path, but at times it verges on leaving the territory of the expository. If done well it doesn’t leave the territory, but it sometimes gets close to the fence. Let me see if I can help you see what I mean. Imagine you have [...]
Simply Good Preaching
Posted in Christianity, Delivery, Homiletics, How to . . . ?, Preaching, Religion, Stage 4 - Passage Idea, Stage 5 - Message Purpose, Stage 6 - Message Idea, Stage 7 - Message Outline, Stage 8 - Message Detail, tagged Keswick Convention on August 11, 2010 | 2 Comments »
Someone has said that you know it was a good sermon when you find yourself asking how the preacher knew all about you. That’s a nice sentiment that points to the importance of applicational relevance in preaching. Now allow me to give you my statement. This is not a complete statement, or a forever statement. [...]
Have I Mentioned This Before?
Posted in Christianity, Homiletics, Preaching, Religion, Stage 6 - Message Idea, Stage 7 - Message Outline, tagged Unity Order Progress on August 10, 2010 | 1 Comment »
I suspect somewhere in more than a thousand posts on here, I have mentioned once or twice about the importance of unity in a message. Order is often present, if only by virtue of the progression of the text. Progress is sort of present, inasmuch as the number of verses are running out, as is [...]
Preview for Clarity
Posted in Audience Analysis, Christianity, Homiletics, How to . . . ?, Preaching, Religion, Stage 5 - Message Purpose, Stage 6 - Message Idea, Stage 7 - Message Outline, Stage 8 - Message Detail, tagged Expository Preaching, Sermon Preview on July 5, 2010 | Leave a Comment »
Some people like to take the complexity and intricacy of preaching and turn it into a one-size fits all template. This is unfortunate because preaching has so many variables to be enjoyed and utilized. Take, for instance, the preview. As part of the introduction to a message, the preacher may choose to give an outline [...]
Speeding the Process
Posted in Christianity, Homiletics, Preaching, Religion, Stage 1 - Passage Selection, Stage 2 - Passage Study, Stage 3 - Passage Purpose, Stage 4 - Passage Idea, Stage 6 - Message Idea, Stage 7 - Message Outline on June 15, 2010 | Leave a Comment »
A couple of other ideas that can be added to yesterday’s post: “Sermon Ideation Groups to plan a series through a book.” John suggested this and I heartily concur. Mapping out passages and initial ideas can be a great headstart to the sermon series planning process. Anything that helps to avoid the “from scratch” sensation [...]
Some Thoughts on Preparing to Preach Psalm 22
Posted in Christianity, Homiletics, How to . . . ?, Old Testament, Preaching, Religion, Stage 2 - Passage Study, Stage 4 - Passage Idea, Stage 5 - Message Purpose, Stage 6 - Message Idea, Stage 7 - Message Outline, Stage 8 - Message Detail on June 5, 2010 | Leave a Comment »
This is not a complete post, but it may be helpful. I received the following question from a good friend: I have been asked to preach on psalm 22 and am at the moment soaking myself in it to try and make sure I understand the message, the structure and what God was saying then [...]
But Wait, They Can See My Notes
Posted in Christianity, Delivery, Homiletics, How to . . . ?, Preaching, Religion, Stage 5 - Message Purpose, Stage 6 - Message Idea, Stage 7 - Message Outline, Stage 8 - Message Detail, Uncategorized, tagged powerpoint preaching on May 27, 2010 | 2 Comments »
Yesterday I wrote about some of the challenges that come from our listeners not being able to see our notes. We preach orally, but tend to prepare in literary forms (manuscript, indented outlines, etc.) I mentioned the issue of transitions – very different animals in spoken than in written communication. I mentioned the need to [...]
The Big Idea of Big Idea Preaching
Posted in Christianity, Homiletics, Preaching, Religion, Stage 4 - Passage Idea, Stage 6 - Message Idea on May 6, 2010 | Leave a Comment »
In an email interaction with a good friend, John Bell, I was intrigued to read of his statement of the Big Idea of the Big Idea approach to preaching. See what you think: “Effective preaching makes clear and compelling the one thing that the text makes most central.” This impresses me on a couple of levels. [...]
Ingredients for Creativity
Posted in Audience Analysis, Christianity, Delivery, Genre, Homiletics, How to . . . ?, Preaching, Religion, Stage 5 - Message Purpose, Stage 6 - Message Idea, Stage 7 - Message Outline, Stage 8 - Message Detail on May 3, 2010 | 2 Comments »
If you want to increase creativity in your preaching, what is needed? 1. Time. If you are squeezed for time then it will not be possible to add the extra work needed (and the thinking capacity needed) for adding creativity to your preaching. 2. Freedom and trust. It is important to know the congregation to [...]
You Can’t Cover Everything
Posted in Christianity, Homiletics, How to . . . ?, Preaching, Religion, Stage 4 - Passage Idea, Stage 6 - Message Idea, Stage 8 - Message Detail on April 19, 2010 | 1 Comment »
People appreciate expository preaching if it is done well. People tend not to prefer the taste of exhaustive preaching. The preacher is always tempted to try to cover every angle on every detail in the text. After all, you’ve probably put hours of work into prayerful study and research, much of which has proved to [...]
Points in a Narrative Text Sermon
Posted in Christianity, Delivery, Homiletics, How to . . . ?, Old Testament, Preaching, Religion, Stage 5 - Message Purpose, Stage 6 - Message Idea, Stage 7 - Message Outline, Stage 8 - Message Detail, tagged bible stories, Expository Preaching, Preaching Biblical Narrative on April 14, 2010 | Leave a Comment »
There is a field of homiletics referred to as narrative preaching, but this post is concerned with the preaching of a narrative passage – eg. David and Goliath, Joseph in Potiphar’s House, Hannah & Samuel, etc. In other posts I have encouraged the use of full sentence points, rather than descriptive titles that make the [...]
A Classic Contrast Revisited
Posted in Christianity, Homiletics, How to . . . ?, Preaching, Religion, Stage 2 - Passage Study, Stage 3 - Passage Purpose, Stage 5 - Message Purpose, Stage 6 - Message Idea, tagged Between Two Worlds, John Stott, Timothy Ward, Words of Life on March 22, 2010 | 2 Comments »
In Between Two Worlds (I Believe in Preaching), John Stott contrasted the typical weakness in more liberal churches from the weakness in the preaching in more conservative churches. One connected with the audience, but had no rooting in Scripture. The other started with Scripture and built straight up to heaven, without ever touching down. Timothy [...]
Don’t Rush
Posted in Audience Analysis, Christianity, Delivery, Homiletics, How to . . . ?, Preaching, Religion, Stage 5 - Message Purpose, Stage 6 - Message Idea, Stage 7 - Message Outline, Stage 8 - Message Detail on March 12, 2010 | 1 Comment »
I’m not referring specifically to the speed of delivery here. Some of us need to slow down sometimes, others could really do with speeding up slightly, and we all need to be sensitive to the particular listeners before us. I am referring to the pace of information being offered. It is easy, especially after studying [...]
Preacher’s Block
Posted in Christianity, Homiletics, How to . . . ?, Preacher's Personal Life, Preaching, Religion, Stage 2 - Passage Study, Stage 4 - Passage Idea, Stage 6 - Message Idea, Stage 7 - Message Outline, Stage 8 - Message Detail, tagged Expository Preaching, Heralds of God, James Stewart on March 1, 2010 | 2 Comments »
Years ago I read Heralds of God by James Stewart. I just read a response paper sent to me by a friend. It’s time I read the book again. He reminded me of Stewart’s advice regarding preacher’s block, or those times when artistic inspiration simply is not flowing, but discouragement is pouring in like a [...]
One Simple Truth, One Wonderful Christ
Posted in Christianity, Homiletics, How to . . . ?, Preaching, Religion, Stage 5 - Message Purpose, Stage 6 - Message Idea, Stage 8 - Message Detail, tagged Expository Preaching, Theocentric Preaching on February 25, 2010 | 1 Comment »
I am sitting in the airport waiting for my ride home, so this will be a short and jet-lagged post (or perhaps a long and jet-lagged post since shorter is always harder!) How easy it is in preaching to give too much information and not enough of the Lord. Listeners are more easily overwhelmed with [...]
Application Is Not Always Last
Posted in Christianity, Homiletics, How to . . . ?, Stage 5 - Message Purpose, Stage 6 - Message Idea, Stage 7 - Message Outline, Stage 8 - Message Detail on February 24, 2010 | 2 Comments »
Traditionally preaching means reading a text, explaining it at length and then eventually fitting in a block of application if time permits. Practically that is rarely the best approach. If emphasizing the relevance of the text is as much a part of our task as explaining the text (but necessarily requiring the explanation in order [...]
Exposition, Narrative and a Pot of Soup
Posted in Christianity, Delivery, Homiletics, How to . . . ?, Preaching, Religion, Stage 5 - Message Purpose, Stage 6 - Message Idea, Stage 7 - Message Outline, Stage 8 - Message Detail, tagged Bible Story, Expositional Preaching, Expository Preaching, Narrative Preaching, Preaching Biblical Stories on January 22, 2010 | Leave a Comment »
There is a common misunderstanding of expositional preaching in relation to Bible stories. I’ve heard the analogy used of a pot of soup. A narrative sermon is like a pot of soup prepared carefully to be enjoyed by the guests – an experience to be savoured. An expositional sermon is like an explanation of the [...]
Serve a Meal to the Guests
Posted in Christianity, Delivery, Homiletics, How to . . . ?, Stage 4 - Passage Idea, Stage 5 - Message Purpose, Stage 6 - Message Idea, Stage 7 - Message Outline, Stage 8 - Message Detail, tagged Expository Preaching on January 5, 2010 | 3 Comments »
What if preaching were like hospitality – what would your guests experience? Arriving at the door, slightly tentative about what may follow, they are rushed in and quickly seated. No time for friendly interaction, there’s a meal to be eaten! Before them the table is empty, but is continually filled as numerous covered serving dishes, [...]
The Theology Bridge
Posted in Christianity, Homiletics, How to . . . ?, Preaching, Religion, Stage 2 - Passage Study, Stage 4 - Passage Idea, Stage 6 - Message Idea, tagged Between Two Worlds, Biblical preaching, exposition, Haddon Robinson, John Stott on January 4, 2010 | 3 Comments »
When we think through the expositional process, we are really concerned about three stages. The first stage is understanding the text (exegetical). The final stage is producing the sermon (homiletical). The link between the two is the bridge in John Stott’s metaphor (in Between Two Worlds). The bridge is the theological abstraction process. In Haddon [...]
Sermons and Series
Posted in Audience Analysis, Christianity, Delivery, Preaching, Religion, Stage 1 - Passage Selection, Stage 2 - Passage Study, Stage 5 - Message Purpose, Stage 6 - Message Idea, Stage 7 - Message Outline, Stage 8 - Message Detail, tagged Andy Stanley, Communicating for a Change, Expository Preaching on December 2, 2009 | 4 Comments »
After listening to a couple of Andy Stanley series recently, I have been pondering a point he makes in his book, Communicating for a Change. He says that what most people try to achieve in a single sermon should really be developed over a whole series. This allows for each message to genuinely have a [...]
Preaching a Passage Owned
Posted in Homiletics, How to . . . ?, Preacher's Personal Life, Preaching, Religion, Stage 2 - Passage Study, Stage 4 - Passage Idea, Stage 5 - Message Purpose, Stage 6 - Message Idea, tagged Expository Preaching on December 1, 2009 | 3 Comments »
Preachers preach a Bible passage from a variety of stances or approaches. I see something of a continuum here and would love to encourage all preachers to move further down the list. 1. Preaching from thoughts prompted by the passage. In preparation the text is read, then the preacher preaches based on thoughts triggered by [...]
Preaching and Those Few Key Sentences
Posted in Christianity, Delivery, Homiletics, Preaching, Religion, Stage 4 - Passage Idea, Stage 6 - Message Idea, Stage 7 - Message Outline, Stage 8 - Message Detail, tagged Big Idea Preaching, Conclusion, Expository Preaching, Introduction on November 24, 2009 | 1 Comment »
How many hundreds of sentences are used in a sermon? And they all matter. But they don’t all matter as much as a few of them. I suppose I would suggest the following sentences as worthy of extra effort: 1. The Main Idea. Hours might be spent crafting and honing the main sentence for a [...]
Excessive Abstractions and Principles Too General
Posted in Audience Analysis, Christianity, Homiletics, How to . . . ?, Preaching, Religion, Stage 2 - Passage Study, Stage 3 - Passage Purpose, Stage 4 - Passage Idea, Stage 5 - Message Purpose, Stage 6 - Message Idea, Stage 7 - Message Outline, Stage 8 - Message Detail, tagged Expository Preaching, Haddon Robinson, John Stott on November 23, 2009 | 2 Comments »
Preaching an ancient text to a contemporary congregation will usually require some level of abstraction. To preach an ancient instruction simply as it stands is to present a historical lecture, rather than a relevant presentation of inspired truth. Some preachers simply say what is there and effectively offer historical lecture. Other preachers abstract from historical [...]
Preaching Longer Narratives – Part 2
Posted in Christianity, Delivery, Genre, Homiletics, Preaching, Religion, Stage 2 - Passage Study, Stage 6 - Message Idea, Stage 8 - Message Detail, tagged Biblical Narrative, Expository Preaching, Preaching narrative on November 10, 2009 | 2 Comments »
Yesterday I began to respond to Anthony’s question about preaching longer narratives: How do you handle the tension of wanting to tell the story as it was intended to be told and not wanting to overload the hearers? We saw that how a story is told is critical (more critical than the amount of information [...]
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