93643 Effective Preaching and Teaching Week 3

More on Message Construction 

1. Introduction

1. Should be striking.
   • Initial impressions are lasting and sticky. If you do not arouse the emotions and interest of the audience in the first few minutes, you may not recover. Start a fire! Throw some sticky buns!
2. Should be clear.
   • Thoughts must be in order and specific so the audience can engage their minds in the sermon without distraction. You do not want the audience wondering or wandering for 10 minutes not knowing where this message is going. “Tell them, what you are going to tell them.”
3. Should have unity.
   • Only one idea should be presented. Multiple ideas will confuse your audience. Do not try to ‘wow’ them with various theological thoughts in your introduction.
4. Should be brief.
   • Nobody likes a long drawn out introduction. The audience is annoyed when half the time of delivery is spent on introducing the theme.
5. Should be modest.
   • Even in starting a fire your introduction should contain a conversational tone even when you are passionate. If your introduction is that amazing, you will likely underwhelm the audience with the remainder of the sermon.
6. Should be unapologetic.
   • Do not apologize in your introduction. If the item that you wish to discuss demands apology it probably should be avoided. IE Don’t apologize for being tired or sick. This will bring unneeded attention and will distract from the message itself.
     Remember that controversial is not the same as confrontational.
7. Various materials may be used in the preparation of introduction.
   • Sermons are written because of a reason. Sometimes that reason can be stated and other times it cannot. Use materials (listed under materials/argument) in the process of writing the introduction

2. Points (the meat of the message) 

1. Exposition: Explain the original intended meaning of the point in the text
2. Illustration: Use a specific situation to “picture” the point being made

1. One word (bread, salt, light) 
2. Analogy (like farmer sowing seeds and waiting for harvest) 
3. Anecdote (personal true story) 
4. The story (fictional story)

3. Application (persuasion): Apply the Scripture truth to contemporary situations

1. Sermon should instruct and inspire but above all else, persuade
2. Ideal sermon will have the necessary pieces to:

1. instruct the mind 
2. impress the will
3. hold the attention
4. stir the emotions and move to action

3. Conclusion

1. Like the introduction, it should be clear, have unity and also be brief. This is the call to action or the climax of persuasion. Your audience cannot handle a variety of items or calls to action within one conclusion. Like your introduction it should have one theme, and one call to action which should be representative of your entire message.
2. The conclusion should be intense. This does not mean volume, but moral and spiritual intensity. It should be wrapped with Godly zeal and passion. A preacher that cannot be intense in his appeal for decisions that have eternal consequences is in dire trouble.
3. Types of Conclusions

1. The lesson – Often common for teaching sermons that require no immediate decision, this kind of conclusion sums up the ‘moral of the story’.
2. The summary – Briefly repeating the points to aid in retention; also typical of a teaching sermon that does not require an immediate decision.
3. The appeal – Urges immediate decision, action or obedience. Even if a decision can be made in one’s seat, it’s always necessary for a public profession of faith. An appeal is most effective when it’s not been expected. If someone is pre-prepared for the conclusion and your appeal, their thoughts are likely to wander elsewhere.

Textual – a sermon that refers often to a particular Biblical text for a subject and the main divisions. The main points are clearly inferred by the passage; however, the subdivisions are invented as in the same construction of a topical sermon. Two methods for making textual divisions.

• Analysis, or ‘taking apart,’ involves an explanation of the parts of a particular text, along with their relationships to one another.
• Synthesis, or ‘putting together,’ involves a rearrangement of points or the construction of an outline from points supplied by the text. (rearranging framework, majoring on a minor theme or superimposing design to create vividness)

For week 4:

• Volunteer(s) for 10-15(max) presentation of Topical Message
• Please select another theme as we begin to look at the Textual Message