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)
A Textual Sermon and an Expository Sermon are very similar, and are constructed in the same manner. The main difference is the subdivisions and meat of the sermon. A Textual sermon often uses the text as a skeletal structure whereas the Expository sermon uses the entire passage. This often means the passage in the Expository sermon is much longer than that of the Textual.
We will focus on the analysis of the text as a way to dig and discover and then the synthesis to arrange and construct.
Questions to ask in analysis:
- Who is the speaker?
- Why is this said?
- Who is addressed?
- What is required?
- What are the conditions of success?
- What lessons are taught?
- What promises are made?
- What ideas are expressed?
- What doctrines are taught?
- What qualities are displayed?
Examples to build in class:
Philippians 1:5-6
for your fellowship in the gospel from the first day until now, being confident of this very thing, that He who has begun a good work in you will complete it until the day of Jesus Christ;
- Day of Conversion
- Day of Opportunity
- Day of His Return
Colossians 3:12-14
Therefore, as the elect of God, holy and beloved, put on tender mercies, kindness, humility, meekness, longsuffering; bearing with one another, and forgiving one another, if anyone has a complaint against another; even as Christ forgave you, so you also must do. But above all these things put on love, which is the bond of perfection.
The Christians Attire
- Turban of Humility
- Tunic of Compassion and Kindness
- Sandals of Longsuffering
- Cloak of Forgiveness
- Sash of Love
Matthew 7:13-14
“Enter by the narrow gate; for wide is the gate and broad is the way that leads to destruction, and there are many who go in by it. Because narrow is the gate and difficult is the way which leads to life, and there are few who find it.”
Once you have completed the analysis and extracted various ideas, concepts, ‘raw data’ then it is necessary to move onto the next step of synthesis. Synthesis is important as it is the process of compiling or arranging these concepts and information into a structured format with some unity.
Example: Classifying a rubber tree as roots, trunk and branches would be analysis. Making these things into a tire would be synthesis.
Identifying bricks, wood, nails, sheetrock etc. would be analysis – putting them together into a house would be synthesis.
Synthesis is necessary when there is no clear order, theme or structure built into the chosen text.