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Miscellaneous Remarks on Sermon Preparation
Use Saturday morning to review.
Gather a prayer group of officers to pray each Sunday morning for (1) God’s Message (2) God’s Spirit to come down on Preachers and People, and (3) God’s Gospel to transform, heal, save, renew, and restore.
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As you are before the People, let your eyes move across the flock in prayerful anticipation. Preach as if never to preach again, and as a dying man to dying men (from Richard Baxter)
How to Use the 8 Essential Elements in Sermon Preparation
Reading of Scripture.
How shall I read the text?
Use the 6 principles of sacred elocution. Ask questions of the text using each of the sic principles.
The Presenting Issue
What is this passage addressing?
Summary Statement. How do I summarize this presenting issue in an opening sentence and in universal terms?
Introductory Illustration. What is the best negatively-charged illustration that can cast light on the presenting issue?
Restate the Summary Statement (optional). Is it effective to “bookend” the illustration by repeating the opening sentence?
I-thou-God. How can I personalize the Presenting Issue from me, to the person in the congregation? What is the best option for introducing God’s response to the Presenting Issue?
What is a natural transition to the Exegetical Statement?
