RECORDED EXERCISE ON SERMON PLANS

Exercise 2 with answers

 

To use this exercise do the following.  (1) Print a copy of Exercise 2 with the blanks—the other copy if this exercise—so you will have it to write on as you do this exercise.. (2) Have this copy  of Exercise 2 , with answers, available on the screen for reference as you listen to the recording. (3) Have a Bible and your Preaching: Man and Method book ready to use as suggested.  (4) Start the recording available on the Exercise 2 with Answers document.  (5) Follow instructions on the recording. (6) As you fill in answers, refer to the computer screen where you can see the exercise with the blanks completed to see if you answered correctly.  You will learn more by listening to the recording, writing in the blanks, and then looking to see if you did it properly than by just reading the lesson with the blanks already filled in. You can stop the recording at anytime if you think you need more time to answer or compare answers or wish to break up your session into parts.  It would take an hour and a half, at least, to do the whole exercise.  (7) When your answers to this exercise are complete, you should take the completed exercise, along with other materials, to Dr. North.  He will check these materials to see if you are ready to take the written examination on homiletics.

 

You should have read Chapter 6 before you do this exercise.  This is to serve as a review and practice session over the content of Chapter 6.  While some of this is very simple, it lays an important basic foundation for those who may still need it.

 

 

1.    From the days of Aristotle and Cicero, speech teachers have insisted that a good speech is well organized. This principle corresponds to the operation of the mind which comprehends and remembers best that which has a recognizable structure.

 

2.    To be effective, sermons, likewise, must have a skeleton on which to put the flesh of the sermon. And there are certain patterns which sermon organization can follow which can help a preacher both to analyze and develop his subject.

 

3.    Before coming to the specific patterns, first let’s look at some preliminary matters.

 

a.    The development of a sermon outline is the standard way to plan the organization of a sermon.

             If you have not already done so, hear the recording on sermon outline format. 

 

b.      There is a difference between an outline and speaker’s notes.

Outline—The strategy for the sermon which includes the structure and material of the sermon as it is designed.

Notes—What the speaker uses as a reminder of the outline—it may be a complete manuscript, copy of the outline, a few notes, or he may have the plan and material sufficiently in his head so that he needs no notes at all.  This is a good goal toward which to work.

 

 

c.    There are standard patterns for analyzing a passage or a subject which a preacher can use in organizing a sermon. You must learn to use 14 of them before starting the advanced homiletics course.

 

             These are basic plans for analyzing the passage or subject into parts.

                                                                                               

d.     The use of these patterns applies particularly to the body of the sermon.

 

      e.   There is a basic unit of statement and  support that is a basic building block of the sermon.

 

                        Statement                                               I. --------------------------

                              Support                                                       A.

                                                                                                B.

                                                                                                C.

 

      f.    Sometimes a variation on this unit is statement and sub-statement. _____________________.

 

                        Statement                                               I.---------------------------

                              Sub-statement                                               A.  Sub-statement

                                    Support                                                             1.

                                                                                                            2.

                                                                                                            3.

 

 

g.     The foundation building block for a sermon outline is made up of the subject sentence

       and the main headings.

 

                                    Subject Sentence

                                         Main Headings

 

           

 

 

 

            h.    Then each main heading becomes a statement which needs support.

 

                        Subject Sentence                                     Subject Sentence

                             Main Heading                                                            I.

                                    Support                                                 II.

                                                                                                            A.

                                                                                                            B.

 

 

 

i.     Each statement should be worded in a full sentence and all equivalent headings should have parallel_wording.

 

 

      j.     Look at pages 86-87 in the book.  Look at the short outlines there.

 

 

      k.   Now, with the recording off, try writing a basic outline of your own. Write a subject sentence with main headings. Be sure it has the qualities we have described—full, complete sentences and parallel statements.  You may pick any subject you wish

 

 

4.     Now we look at patterns.  Think of them like a dress pattern to be laid over the theme—the cloth.  One can use the same cloth and different patterns and come out with different styles of dresses.  So with sermon patterns. There are two basic categories of sermon patterns: passage based and_subject based.  Both are scripture based when properly developed and both are useful for different purposes.

 

5.      There are  4  passage-based types:

       a.    Textual-­-
                  1. Based on only one or two verses of scripture
                  2. Uses the exact words of the passage for main headings.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

                  Here is a sample—write it down

 

            From John 3:16

 

            Subject Sentence:  For Nicodemus, Jesus summarized God’s whole plan for saving the world.

 

                   Body:

                  

I.  For God so loved the world

II.  That He Gave His Only Begotten Son

                   III.  That Whosoever Believes on Him Shall Not Perish

                   IV.  But Might Have Eternal Life.

 

Look at Ephesians 5:19 in your Bible.  Make a textual sermon outline in brief form (subject sentence and main headings only.)

 

                  Subject Sentence:  Christians are to sing as worship to God.

 

                  Body:

 

                  I.  We are to sing psalms, hymns, and spiritual songs

                   II.  We are to sing and make melody in our hearts to the Lord

                                                                                                                                   

      b    Expository--I

1.  Select a section of scripture that stands as a unit

         2.   Find the essential theme the author develops in the passage.

         3.   Determine what the passage teaches about the theme:

                        different aspects of the theme

                        different qualities of the theme

                        different applications of the theme

 

                 Here are two samples to write down:

 

                        Matthew 7:13-14—Two Roads

 

                        Subject Sentence:  Jesus presents two roads we may follow.

 

                        Body:

 

                        I.  The Entrances are Narrow or wide.

                        II.  The Roads are Strait (Difficult) or Broad (Easy)

                        III.  The Ends are Life or Destruction

 

                        Conclusion:  Many take the wide gate; few take the narrow gate

 

                        Matthew 7:24-27

 

                        Subject Sentence:  Jesus tell us how to be wise.

 

                        Body:

 

                        I.  Both the wise and the foolish heard the words of Jesus.

                        II.  Both the wise and the foolish had difficulties to face.

                        III.  Only the wise obeyed.

                        IV.  Only the wise man’s house stood the test.

 

                        Conclusion:  How about you—will you obey and be wise?

 

 

 

      Now develop an expository sermon of your own from Luke 16:19-31

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

c.  Expository--II—The same as type I except the theme chosen is a secondary one from the passage
 rather than the central one which the author would have seen.

 

         Here is an example of this type.

 

                        Subject Sentence:  The Story of Jesus’ death can teach us many lessons

 

                        Body:

 

                        I.  Accept the Will of God  (Jesus in the Garden)

                        II.  Accept the Greater Good  (Jesus’ death was not good but He saw the greater good)

                        III.  Accept Mistreatment

                        IV.  Accept Death

 

 

 

 

 

             Now you make an Expository II type from Acts 6:1-7 on principles of church management.

 

Subject Sentence:  The occasion of the first dissension in the church teaches us about church management.

 

Body:

 

I.  The apostles were in touch with what was happening in the congregation.

                        II.  The apostles worked out a plan to present to all the people.

                        III.  The apostles involved the people in solving the problem.

                        IV.  The apostles delegated to others what they could.

                        V.  The apostles continued to do what their own priorities demanded.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

(Study expository preaching more by reading my article on expository preaching on my website at www.oc.edu/faculty/stafford.north.  It is under “Articles.”

 

d. Explained/Exemplified/Applied—From a passage there emerges a theme or topic which can first be

                                                            explained then exemplified by Bible examples, and then applied to present day situations.

 

Here is a sample of this type:

 

               Mark 10:24

 

               Subject Sentence:  How hard it is for those who have riches to enter the kingdom of God.

 

               Body:

 

               I.  “How Hard for those with Riches to Enter the Kingdom”--Explained

                        II.  “How Hard for those with Riches to Enter the Kingdom”--Exemplified

                        III.  “How Hard for those with Riches to Enter the Kingdom”--Applied

 

Now you make a sample of this type from some word or sentence of the Bible that presents a principle. (Use the back of this sheet.)

 

5.  Now here is a sample. Note what type it is and mark what you believe are some mistakes in the outline form.

 

Purpose:  To inform the audience of the nature of “tongue speaking.”

 

Introduction:

A.  Many today claim to speak in tongues.

B.  The gift they claim is that of “ecstatic utterance”—or languages of ecstasy rather than speaking     in actual known languages.

C.  The only description of “tongue speaking’ actually occurring in the scriptures is Acts 2:1-13.

 

Subject Sentence: Let us examine the case of tongue speaking in Acts 2 to learn what we can from this passage about the nature of this gift – so that the congregation will not be misled by false claims.

 

Body:

I.  Tongue-speaking Was a Gift Bestowed by the Holy Spirit.

A.         “The Spirit gave them utterance”—Acts 2:4

B.         “Ye shall receive power when the Holy Spirit is come upon you”—Acts 1:8

C.         “And when Paul laid his hands upon them, the Holy Spirit came on them; and they spake with tongues and prophesied—Acts 19:6

 

II.  Tongue-speaking Was Speaking in Real Languages.

A.         The word for “tongue” is the word for “language.

B.         “Every man heard them speaking in his own language”—Acts 2:6

C.         The nations whose languages were used are listed, thus telling us the languages the apostles were speaking.

 

III. Those who spoke in tongues revealed the mighty works of God.  (not parallel with the others)

A.    The message was useful.

(should not have an A without a B or a 1 without a 2)

            (should have a sub-point that makes a reference to the passage in Acts 2 as do the other points)

 

IV.  Tongue-speaking  Was a Sign of Gods Approval of those who Spoke.

A.         The people were all amazed and asked “What does this mean?”—Acts 2:12

B.         I Cor. 14:22— “a sign to the unbelievers”

 

Conclusion:

A  Tongue-speaking was an important activity in the early church.

B. “Where there be tongues, they shall cease”—I Cor. 13:8

C. What is offered as “tongue speaking” today is not the same as what happened in Acts 2.

 

The above sermon outline fits what type we have studied?  Expository--because the main points come out of the passage.  Expository II because the main thrust of the passage is the empowering of the apostles with the Holy Spirit and a secondary use is teaching us about the nature of tongue-speaking.

 

 

6.  There are ten subject-based types of sermons. Look at the book starting on page 101 while we review    these.

 

7.  Four other aspects of organization are: transition, introductions, conclusions, and climax. Turn to page 110 in the book.

 

Continue to read the book and work with this material until you can do the following:

 

1.     List the four passage based and ten subject based sermon types from memory.

2.     Identify which pattern a sermon is that you have heard or read.

3.     Prepare sermon outlines after each of the categories with carefully constructed subject sentences and main headings, parallel structure, and good wording. You must practice doing this and not just be satisfied with the ability to recognize the patterns.

4.     Improve on sermon outlines you or others have made.

5.     Refer to the general requirements for leveling in homiletics to see details of how you can meet the leveling requirement in this area.