Christian Leadership Development

Program

Ministry of Preaching and Teaching

Participants Manual

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HOMILETICS: THE ART OF PREACHING AND TEACHING

Homiletics: "Homiletics" means “the science or art of preaching"--explaining and applying

God's Word to our world. Biblical passages were written to a specific setting which is separated
from our world by an imposing chasm of language, culture, time.
Typically there are two errors in this crucial task: Some tend to focus only on understanding
and explaining the biblical text. This results in the Bible being irrelevant to our world.
Others tend to focus on cultural relevance, but then reject or remake the biblical message to
conform to contemporary perspectives. This results in silencing the Bible's authority.
God wants preachers--Christian communicators who are students of both worlds, who stand
"between two worlds" and demonstrate that God's Word is intelligible, relevant, and impactful
to our world (prophetic).

Voice vs an Echo
a. An Echo: An echo is a repeating of a sound, an imitating of the words and style of another,
(Acts 19:13-16). An echo changes the message according to public pressure or the persecution
received from the message preached.
b. A Voice: Being a voice involves receiving and declaring a message from God for a specific
people at a specific time “For I received from the Lord what I also passed on to you: The Lord
Jesus…” (1 Corinthians 11:23a).
The Greek statesman Pericles has famously said, “The man who can think and does not know
how to express what he thinks is at the level of him who cannot think.”
“Until I come, devote yourself to the public reading of Scripture, to preaching and to teaching,”
(1 Tim 4:13).

“In the presence of God and Christ Jesus who will judge the living and the dead, and in view of
his appearing and his kingdom, I give you this charge: Preach the word; be prepared in season
and out of season; correct, rebuke and encourage-with great patience and careful instruction,”
(2 Timothy 4:1-2).

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Why Study Homiletics?

A. To help us effectively articulate the truth. (1 Peter 3:15).

• Accurately

• Intelligently

• Interestingly (some preachers are boring)

B. To raise up Teachers & preachers. (2 Tim2:1-2).
“How, then, can they call on the one they have not believed in? And how can they believe in
the one of whom they have not heard? And how can they hear without someone preaching to
them? And how can anyone preach unless they are sent? As it is written: How beautiful are
the feet of those who bring good news”, (Romans 10:14-15).
C. To be effective communicators for God because good preaching is a science and an art. Its
hard work.
Biblical Example: Apollos (Acts 18:24-28).

How can we preach so people will listen?

Purposeful Preaching
“Preach not because you have to say something, but because you have something to say.” --
Richard Whately
The effective preacher knows he has a message to deliver, has a definite purpose in delivering
that message, and is consumed with the necessity of getting that message across and
accomplishing that purpose.

Definition:
Kerusso-Classical Greek- I herald or act as messenger vested with public authority who
conveys the official message of kings, military commanders.
I act as ambassador or envoy proclaiming God’s word. To publish and proclaim publicly. To
make an official announcement, announce, make known. To make a public declaration,
proclaim aloud.

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Characterized by:
Formality because it’s official.
Gravity or seriousness. Envoys take their roles seriously.
Determination to deliver the message as accurately as it was stated and intended by the
sender.
Public proclamation.
Authority which requires being listened to and obeyed.

“Preaching is the communication (know homiletics) of divine truth (know the Word of God)
through human personality (know yourself) to human personality (know your people,” Warren
Wiersbe.

Purpose of Preaching
Preachers are messengers to declare God’s Word: Preaching is aimed at producing a response
now. It is aimed at an altar call. Preach a message with a clear goal and purpose. Focus on a
response. (2 Tim 4:2).
The Gospel for salvation
Prophetic word for correction, guidance and rebuke
Exhortation- to encourage, inspire and edify
Persuade and convince of something
Preach purposefully

Establish the purpose or intention of your message.

Why am I preaching?
What is the cause?
Give examples
Keep that purpose in mind throughout the preparation and delivery of message.

Big Idea Preaching

“Every time I stand to communicate I want to take one simple truth and lodge it in the heart of
the listener,” Andy Stanley “The Birth of a One-Point Preacher”.

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“How many things is a sermon about? One!… The major idea, or theme, glues the message
together and makes its features stick in the listener’s mind. All the features of the entire sermon
should support the concept that unifies the whole.” Bryan Chapell “Christ-Centered Preaching”.

“A sermon must be like an arrow, streamlined and clearly driving at a single point, a single
message, the theme of the passage.” Timothy Keller “A Model for Preaching”.

Purposeful Preaching
Preaching is predominantly authoritative and persuasive since it is aimed at touching the heart
and emotions in order to elicit an immediate response.
Note: Prayer and godly character in our personal lives produce power and credibility in the
pulpit.

A Prepared Messenger
Audience (Know the audience)
Alive (be relevant)
Articulate (good speech, grammar, language)
Ability (putting together a quality message)
Anointed (doing it in the Spirit not flesh)
Attitude (positive, motivate with grace)
Attentive (to the spirit & needs of people)
Accountable (to God)
“A prepared messenger is more important than a prepared message,” Robert Munger.

The reception of the message is mostly dependent on the credibility of the messenger rather
than that of the sender. The preacher must be:
- Above reproach (1 Tim 3: 1-2),
- have a good reputation (1 Tim 3:7) and
- live an exemplary life before the world (1 Pet 2:12)

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So, being a Purposeful Preacher implies three commitments:
1. A commitment to the text.
2. A commitment to the people.
3. A commitment to being a conduit.
“Every sermon is stretched like a bowstring between the text of the Bible on the one hand and
the problems of contemporary human life on the other. If the string is insecurely tethered to
either end, the bow is useless. It is a wise precaution for every preacher to pay special attention
to the end of the string which for him [or her] is the less securely tethered”. Ian Pitt-Watson,
Preaching: A Kind of Folly (Philadelphia: Westminster Press, 1976:57). He goes on to say that,
“Preaching divorced from pastoral concern is blind. It neither knows what it is talking about nor
to whom it is talking”.

Be an example, (1 Timothy 4:12)

Exemplary Speech: in and out of the pulpit.
Exemplary Conduct: in every relationship.
Exemplary Love: for every person we minister to.
Exemplary Faith: in every trial.
Exemplary Purity: without a hint of sin.
“The life of the speaker has greater weight in determining whether he is obediently heard than
any grandness of eloquence.” Augustine, On Christian Doctrine, trans. Robertson, 164.

Types of Preaching
A. Impromptu - is a sermon that is composed on the spur of the moment with no advance
preparation.
B. Extemporaneous - is a sermon that is not memorized but has been thoroughly prepared and
practiced in such a way as to be able to be delivered without the use of notes.
C. Memorized - is a sermon that has been written out in full and is memorized word for word.
The delivery is a word for word recitation of the text without the use of notes.

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D. Manuscript/Outline - is when the preacher uses a prepared text or outline to assist him or
her in the delivery of the speech. The speech is either read or the main points are read and
then expounded.

TYPES OF SERMONS
1. Personal Testimony
The old adage, "An ounce of experience is worth a ton of theory" truthfully demonstrates the
power of testimony.
A testimony is a public affirmation of an experience with Christ. People can argue with you
concerning many things, but they cannot argue with you regarding your testimony, “Once I was
blind, but now I see,” (John 9:17-34).

Examples of Testimonies
Mark 5:19 “Go home to thy friends and tell them how great things God has done for thee”.
John 4:29 “Come, see a man which told me all things that ever I did: is not this the Christ?”
Acts 26:4-28 Paul before Agrippa. Almost persuades him to the faith. The force of the
testimony.

Testimony Flow:
Pre-Divine Intervention:
• Your thinking

• Your actions
• Be concrete!

Divine Intervention:
• Share the event

• What you believed

• Be concrete!

• Post-Intervention:

• Your thinking

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 • Specific changes

• Be concrete!

Caution
The most common mistake in giving a testimony is telling too much of “before” and too little of
“after”.

Advantages
Sharing your testimony creates an openness toward the Lord.
Sharing your testimony awakens in others a desire to know the God who is so good to you.
People do not feel threatened when you share your testimony because attention is focused on
you and not them, which is non-threatening.
Nobody can dispute your personal experience. Since it is your story, it is difficult for people to
refute. Luke 8:39, “Jesus said, Return home and tell how much God has done for you. So the
man went away and told all over town how much Jesus had done for him”.
Rev. 12:11, “And they overcame him by the blood of the Lamb and by the word of their
testimony, and they did not love their lives to the death”.

Disadvantages
There is the danger of exaggeration and overstatement that exalts the person preaching rather
than exalting the person of Christ.
Some make more of themselves than they do of Christ.
They advertise themselves more than they advertise Christ.
Remember, the purpose of a testimony is to magnify Christ so keep Him preeminent in the
sermon.
Paul said, "We preach not ourselves, but Christ Jesus, the Lord," (2 Cor. 4:5).
The most important issue is what Christ has done and will do, not what we have done or will
do.
There is a danger of comparing testimonies.
Some begin to think that their experience is not as extraordinary or special as someone else's
and it therefore has no value.

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The fact is, our experience has value for many in the same situation that we were in.
We might allow our testimony to supersede the Word of God. Our experience should point
people to the truth of the Word of God, because our experience is not an end in and of itself.
Our experience is not a substitute for the Word of God. It is not the gospel; it is only a testimony
of the gospel and how it truly works for anyone.
“We talk of the Second Coming; half the world has never heard of the first,” (Oswald J. Smith).
“The mark of a great church is not its seating capacity, but its sending capacity,” (Mike
Stachura).

2. Biographical Sermon
The study of a biblical person's life and the spiritual lessons that can be learned from it.
Consists either of dealing with related deeds, characteristics, or periods of a single Bible
character. For example: the life of Moses
-The young hero and his blunders
-The obscure shepherd & his great call
-The successful leader & his great patience
It warns us from that person's failures and encourages us from that person's successes.

Advantages
The Biographical Sermon gives us information, inspiration, and imitation.
Certainly the study of human nature makes for very interesting study and preaching.
Lessons learned (both positive and negative) from others in the Bible can help us in our spiritual
growth as well.
There is inspiration for us in the account of the lives of believers in the Scriptures. Their life
stories can be a spiritual stimulus to us and inspire us to walk closer with the Lord and less with
the world.
This kind of preaching gives us an example of a godly life worth emulating. Paul said, "Be ye
followers of me, even as I am of Christ," (1 Cor. 11:1).
Certain aspects of the lives of men and women in the Bible are worthy of imitation.
Of course, the life most worthy of imitation is the perfect life of our Lord Jesus Christ.

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Disadvantages
A danger on the part of the hearer of this type of sermon is the danger of someone trying to live
out in their lives the exact experiences of the character who is the subject of the sermon.
That Biblical character may be a godly person and worth emulating, but God may want to speak
to us or use us in a different way.
In a Biographical Sermon, we should encourage our hearers to be inspired by the Biblical
character's biography but not to be the Biblical character. They should be themselves. We can
be like them without being them.
The best Biographical Sermon is one where we preach the transferable Biblical principles that
the Bible character lived by instead of the step by step actions that may or may not be possible
for us today.
Search for patterns and principles in God’s dealings with the Biblical character.

3. Historical Incident/Event
A Bible incident or event is used as the subject of the sermon and the spiritual lessons in that
event are applied as the story of the incident progresses and unfolds.

Advantages
People love story telling. The Bible has so many amazing stories.
Lessons learned both positive and negative from these historical incidents in the Bible can help
us in our spiritual growth as we go through similar situations. (See 1 Corinthians 10: 6, 11).
The fact is, what is recorded in the Bible is specifically recorded for our benefit...both negative
and positive; it is there for both warning and encouragement.
And that is what the preacher does when he preaches a Historical Sermon...he warns and
encourages. Therefore, the material that the Lord has graciously recorded for us as believers
is what we preach as ministers.

Disadvantages
The main problem with the Historical type of sermon is that the preacher may over-spiritualize
the incident. For example, the promised land as heaven. No more wars in heaven no more

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fighting Canaanites. David’s smooth stones to kill Goliath = fivefold ministry so which ministry
gift did he use? The apostles? The Prophets? Etc.
If one stretches the application of the incident to an extreme that is not warranted by the
teaching of the rest of the Bible it becomes seriously dangerous.
This is especially true when it comes to the parables, which are used in Scripture only to
illustrate doctrine and clarify a particular single aspect of a truth.

4. Topical Sermon
This is the preaching of a certain topic for example the topic of Grace.
One chooses the subject and then finds all the Scriptures that relates to that subject and forms
that material into a Bible sermon. Topical sermons cover a Biblical subject

Advantages
The topical sermons method of preaching allows one to get a grasp of a Bible subject
completely. Everything about a particular subject is not found in one place in the Bible, so the
Bible material must be collected together on purpose and then analyzed and preached.
This type of preaching should impress the hearer, that even though the Bible is made up of
sixty-six books written by many human authors of varied backgrounds, it is one volume in unity.
This is because the ultimate author is God Himself and as we compare one passage to another,
it is amazing to behold the Divine unity of His revelation to man.

5. Textual Sermons
This is the preaching of a few verses, a verse, or even a part of a verse.
The preacher discovers the theme of the verse in context and preaches on it in his own words.
The Textual Sermon is a miniature Expository Sermon covering a few verses, a verse, or part
of a verse, but not the whole paragraph.

Advantages
Naturally, the textual sermon centers round the text. Not all verses lend themselves to this sort
of sermon building. The preacher must study to find those which do lend themselves to this
method of sermonizing.

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This is a great way to bring the actual words of the Bible before the hearers, and it gives Divine
authority to the message, as well.
And since it is a short text, it will be easier to remember or even memorized for that matter.

Disadvantages
The Bible can be chopped into fragments and sadly abused by the dislocation of its parts.
The Bible may be made to appear as a book of isolated texts, instead of appearing as it
should...a living whole and a complete revelation.
Another danger is that the preacher may become nothing more than a text hunter in the Bible
jungle of texts.
Passages of Scripture may be easily found, but texts that are texts indeed are not found by
simply hunting for them.

INTRODUCTION TO EXPOSITORY PREACHING

Expository Preaching
This is the preaching of a passage or paragraph of Scripture. The preacher discovers the theme
or argument of the paragraph and then develops the sermon from the text and preaches it in
his own words. “The Levites...instructed the people in the Law while the people were standing
there. They read from the Book of the Law of God, making it clear and giving the meaning so
that the people could understand what was being read,” (Nehemiah 8: 7-8). “Then all the people
went away to eat and drink, to send portions of food and to celebrate with great joy, because
they now understood the words that had been made known to them,” (Nehemiah 8: 12).

What is Expository Preaching?

Expository preaching is the proclamation of God’s word using Biblical context as the main basis
for explanation. Compared with conventional preaching, expository preaching strives to focus
and highlight the context of the Bible more than anything else. Exposition involves factual data
that leads to Bible truths.

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Characteristics
The foundation of expository preaching is the Bible.
The focus of expository preaching is exegesis.
The method of expository preaching is explanation.

Elements of Exposition
Information about the Text/Verse.
Information about the writer.
Information about the recipients or readers.
Conclusion or principle learned.

Two Key Words

Explanation - explaining/shedding light on the verse.
Principles - pointing out main concepts, more than just specific challenges.

Advantages of Expository Preaching

For (you) the preacher:
It keeps you sharp on the Bible.
It gives you greater confidence in using the Bible as the true authority.
It makes sermon preparation more interesting.
It gives more emphasis on the Bible than the preacher.
You can teach more with less verses; sermons become shorter but “meatier”.
The background research gives you more material to preach with.

For the audience:

It makes the sermon more interesting.
It increases appreciation for God’s word & encourages people to study the Bible.
It disarms the audience; less feel of coercion.
It equips people with solid principles that they can apply when they are alone.
It creates an atmosphere of deeper study.

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Elements of Expository Preaching
The Central Idea of Text (CIT) is a simple declarative sentence, written in the past tense, which
says what the text meant back then.
The Major Objective of the Text (MOT) is a broad description of the primary purpose or intent
of the text. In expository preaching, it is common to use one launching passage for the rest of
the sermon.
The Major Objective of the Sermon (MOS) is a statement of what the preacher hopes to
accomplish with this one message, for this one congregation. It should be a short simple
sentence.

Pointers for leaders & preachers

Always study context: Read a passage slowly.
Ask questions: what, who, why, how.
Keep a Bible dictionary handy.
Try to explain the context in a short sentence.

Develop a Berean atmosphere: Have themes & goals.

Lift up those who show interest.
Give “HW” during preaching.
Feed them new things.

Highlight the text when preaching/discipling: Expect people to read with you
Wait for people to turn.
Read with power & conviction.
Express personal interest.
Try out different versions.

Expect a response: Ask people what they think about the text, not about what you said.
Focus on how they respond to the Bible, not to your challenges.
Mention things from last message/s.

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Characteristics Summary

Exposition is not … Exposition is …

Preaching from several texts of scripture Focusing on a single passage

Selecting what you want to say from a text Discerning what God says through the
author

Many verse-by-verse exegetical Focusing on the single main idea

comments or a captioned survey of a
passage

A running commentary without direction Selected, pertinent comments towards an

end

Explanation without answering need Explanation which relates the text to life

Preaching through a book of Scripture Preaching a text (even if not part of a

series)

Preaching as ‘Quadruple Think’

Think out what I have to say
Then think out how the other man will understand what I say
Then re-thinking what I have to say
So that, when I say it, he will think what I am thinking!”
“The common people are captivated more readily by comparisons and examples than by
difficult and subtle disputations. They would rather see a well-drawn picture than a well-written
book,” (Martin Luther).

SPECIALTY SERMONS
These are sermons that include:
Evangelistic
Wedding
Funeral

Specialty Sermon Considerations

• Uniqueness of the situation

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 • Their interest

• Satan's attack
• Mixed crowd

Tips in Evangelistic Preaching

• Preach to the non-Christians

• Reality of Hell & the solution

• Preach the gospel
Christ died for our sins, he was buried, he was raised, he appeared (1 Corinthians 15: 1-8).

Funeral Preaching

Uniqueness of the Funeral

People are not there to listen to you.
Share about the afterlife.
People never die at convenient times.
The audience is mixed.
It is your chance to share with close family members when they are open spiritually.
Grief is real.

Funeral Preaching Tips

Don't worry about raising interest.

Include more illustrations.
Read more Scripture.
Have a pastoral tone.
Be personal.
Always share the gospel.
Be short.

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Results of Preaching
Convicts of sin.
Inspires and produces faith to act immediately on the Word.
Bring revelation and illumination to the Truth.
Demands a decision and commitment now.
Appeals to heart and emotion.
Confronts demonic powers.
Produces godly reverence and holiness.
Declares prophetic purposes into the heavenlies.

Goal-Oriented Preaching
To achieve results keep the purpose of your message in mind throughout the preparation and
delivery:
Increase knowledge about something-to inform (educational goal).
To produce a changed conduct-habits, lifestyle or practices (behavioral goal).
To change attitudes and feelings (attitude goal).

MINISTRY OF TEACHING

Ministry of Teaching
Definition: Didasko; give instruction, hold a discourse in order to instruct, instill doctrine into
someone, to explain and expound a thing.
To tell someone what to do, to instruct.
To provide instruction either formally or informally, to teach.
Matheteuo: teach, disciple, to follow the precepts or teaching of a mentor. (Matt 28:20)

Some Thoughts
A five-fold ministry gift: to equip the saints. Pastors, prophets and apostles also teach at times.
Hermeneutics and exegesis should be accurate for effective teaching else one opens
themselves to false doctrine.

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Teaching more prominent as compared to preaching in the biblical record.
Teaching (doctrine) gives foundation for living: when you stand alone in life, teachings help
more than sermons you heard.
Doctrine: the bedrock of personal faith.

Purpose of Teaching
To bring understanding and clarity.
To establish a solid foundation upon which one can build one’s life.
Instructs in foundational doctrines.
Operationalizes what one believes and brings it into the realm of actionable steps.
Imparts skills to accomplish tasks e.g. teaching how to cast out demons, teaching how to handle
money etc.
Appeals to and focuses on the mind- logic, rationale. Must therefore be true and accurate.

Basics of Teaching
Teach the Bible simply- make your language and concepts easy to understand.
Teach the Bible attractively. Use illustrations and visuals. Be enthusiastic, animated.
Teach the Bible logically and systematically.
Teach the Bible practically. Apply the truth to your hearers. Both saved and unsaved.
Teach prayerfully.
Teach principles, truths and concepts and not just facts.
A teacher must first be a student of the Word before he can teach.

PRINCIPLES OF TEACHING

Principles of Explanation
Effective teaching necessitates the careful and thorough clarification and explanation of truths
and principles taught.

Principle of simplification

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Effective teaching demands that the words used and concepts taught be simple enough for
listeners to understand.
Explain difficult concepts and words.

Principle of Concentration
Effective teaching demands that the teacher makes it his goal to teach less and teach it more
thoroughly.
We are limited in how much we can teach and explain clearly within a certain time frame while
listeners are limited in what they can understand and learn.

Principle of Illustration
Effective teaching necessitates the use of illustrations- to let the light in.
Illustrate- to light up, to throw light upon.

Purpose of Illustrations
Illustrating a truth means that you are using something or some story which the listeners are
familiar with, to help them understand something which they may not be familiar with, (from the
known to the unknown).
To make abstract truth clear.
Illustrations help give clarity to the truth.
“Pictorial preaching is the most effective, because it is easier to get at the average mind by a
picture than an idea,” (Peter Marshall).
Illustrations help give force to the truth.
Illustrations help give splendor to the truth.
“He is the best speaker who can turn the ear into an eye,” (Arab Proverb).
Illustrations aid in the retention of the truth.
To relate truth to everyday life and experiences.
To explain a concept or truth so that hearers can identify with it.
To emphasize a key point or truth.

Guidelines to Using Illustrations

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Choose biblical ones wherever possible – reinforces Scripture with scripture.
Be accurate and short. Not too long and vivid as to distract. People may remember the
illustration and not the truth illustrated.
Keep illustration relevant to the message
Should be appropriate and not offensive to listeners.
Get approval before using certain individuals in illustrations.
Relate them in the same way you would tell a story for impact.
Be careful with personal illustrations as they may embarrass, offend or violate a confidence.
Do not lose the thread or flow of your message by the use of unnecessary illustrations.
Ensure that your illustration does illustrate and explain the truth being taught – or the result
would be confusion.

Dangers
Avoid these dangers when illustrating your points…
Check
The embellished story Length
The superfluous story Relevance
The egocentric story Humility
The specious story Truthfulness
The manipulative story Motive

What are some important guidelines for the use of illustrations?

Make sure the illustration is needed.
Make sure the illustration is credible.
Make sure the illustration illustrates.
Make sure to be selective in your illustrations.
Make sure to use variety in illustrations.
Make sure the illustration is obvious.

How to Give Good Illustrations

Draw illustrations from your listener's world—not yours!

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Principle of Repetition
Effective teaching depends on constant repetition of the truth being taught. Repeat central truth
in different formats and ways.
Restatement and repetition are ways of reviewing the idea and keeping it before the audience.
1. Restatement repeats the idea in different words.
2. Repetition repeats the idea in the same words.

Principle of Application
Effective teaching always includes a direct application of the truth taught to the hearts and lives
of hearers.
Action should follow learning.
Central truth should be applied.

Apply First to Yourself!

“This is a great sermon, folks. I feel so convicted I don't think I can finish it.”
Be relevant to different groups of peoples such as men, women, students and children.

Three Statements
Exegetical Statement: A summary statement that condenses the passage of Scripture to one
compound sentence.

Theological Statement: A statement of a timeless truth taught by the passage, which applies to
all people, in all cultures, throughout all time.

Homiletical Statement: A suggested means of obeying the timeless truth taught in Scripture
that is contextualized to fit the time, culture, and circumstances of the audience.

Four-Step Application Method

Observation: What does it say?
Interpretation: What does it mean?

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Correlation: How does it compare?
Application: How does it function?

Application Tips
Without application preaching/teaching is meaningless. Is there a:
Principle to apply?
A command to obey?
Sin to confess or habit to change or stop?
Attitude to correct?
Truth to believe?
Promise to claim?
An example to follow?
Specific action to take?
A condition to meet?
Danger or error to avoid?
Change to make in conversation, conduct or character?
Application is showing people how to obey the Word of God and demonstrating the change will
occur as a result of their obedience

Principle of Continuous Learning

If you stop growing today, you stop teaching tomorrow.
Philosophy- The teacher is primarily a learner. You cannot impart what you do not possess.
Attitude: I have not arrived. I learn from the past but I do not live in it.
“Truth is always most profitable and most productive when you can see it for yourself,” (Howard
Hendricks).

Two Options
“If you only give students a “product”, then you limit your students by your own limitations.”
If you give them a “process” then you launch them on a path with no limitations.

Principle of Communication

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To truly impart information requires building bridges. A teacher builds bridges by caring.
“We think it is a word message that we are trying to communicate, and it is not. It is a life
message.”
“If you know something thoroughly (concept), and if you feel something deeply (feeling), and if
you are doing something consistently (action), then you have a great potential for being an
excellent communicator.” H. Hendricks

Howard Hendricks has said, “It’s not what you the teacher thinks but what the student thinks.
It’s not what you feel but it’s what does the student feel? It’s not what you are doing but what
the student does with what you have taught that matters. That is the ultimate test of
communication”.

“In one church the preaching was so uninteresting that a sign was put on the pulpit quoting
Hebrews 11:4: He being dead, yet speaketh,” (John Brokhoff).

Principle of the Heart

Teaching that impacts is heart to heart and not head to head. The Jewish meaning of heart is
the totality of human personality comprising of intellect, emotions and will.

“When God wanted to communicate with us, He wrapped His message in a person. And this is
exactly what we are called to do,” (Howard Hendricks).

“The teacher should be the embodiment of his message,” (Dr T. A).

Teaching Perspectives
All learning begins at a feeling level. If the student has strong negative feelings toward the
teacher, he will never learn. Your primary purpose as a teacher is to perpetuate the learning
process. Credibility allows you to earn the right to be your students’ teacher. That right can only
be earned and not demanded. Credibility precedes communication. Be vulnerable with your
audience – let them see you struggle with your call and pursuit of holiness. Get personally

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involved with your flock. You can impress from a distance but can only impact up close. The
closer I am to my congregation, the greater and the more permanent the impact.

INTRODUCTIONS

Introducing Your Sermon

How can you begin and end your sermon well? There are three types of preachers:
Those to whom you cannot listen.
Those to whom you can listen.
Those to whom you must listen.
During the introduction the congregation usually decides the kind of speaker addressing them
that morning. (Robinson. Biblical Preaching: 167).

Four Primary Purposes for the Introduction:

1. To gain the audience’s attention and peak their interest in the message.
A good introduction:
a) Has the aesthetic value of inviting the hearer to listen to you
b) Recognizes that no one is automatically interested in your message.
Regardless of how important, spiritual, or significant the content of the message, we still must
capture the attention of our audience.

2. The introduction should set the direction for the message that will follow.
a) Answers one of two questions:
• What am I going to talk about?
• What in general am I going to say about it?
This is a good place to utilize your thematic statement.
b) Seeks to lay the foundation for what is to come.

3. The introduction should establish the relevancy of the message.

a) The subject needs to be introduced as a significant thing or idea into the conscious mind of
the hearers.
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b) Every listener, consciously or unconsciously, asks themselves, “Why should I listen to you?”
Your job is to help them with the answer to this question.
c) To fail here is to lose your audience from the very beginning.

4. The introduction should prepare the people to receive the message.

It should help to prepare the audience for understanding the message. It should frame in your
message. Tell the people where you are going, go there and then tell them where you have
been.”

What are the key characteristics of the introduction?

The introduction should be brief
The introduction should be appropriate.
The introduction should be humble.
The introduction should be singular.
The introduction should be well-planned.

This could include one or more of the following:

Personal Experiences.
A Startling Statement.
A Recent News Item.
The Statement of a Problem.
An Intriguing Quotation.
References to a Book.
A Humorous Story.
A Series of Challenging Questions.
Other possibilities include: Vivid word pictures, definitions, parables, riddles, predictions,
poems, a proverb, a prayer.

Clues to Audience Involvement:

Attentive, note taking and emotional involvement.

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Clues to Audience Neglect:
Audible snoring, table tennis and blank faces.

The Remote Syndrome

Audiences have "remotes" in their heads and can switch channels at any moment when they
sense something else is more interesting! Work to keep their interest! What are they really
thinking?
Share only relevant background.Give background before text.

The Conclusion
Why are good conclusions so vital? Because conclusions are remembered. What people
remember most, are the speaker's first and last words. If you are going to make a mistake, let
it occur in the middle!

An old adage on clarity is “Tell them what you are going to tell them then tell them what you
told them.

Concluding the sermon

What are the main elements of the conclusion?
The conclusion should be carefully prepared.
The conclusion should fit the message.
The conclusion should be personal.
The conclusion should be emotionally stirring.
The conclusion should be climactic. It should be at the peak of the mountain or the highest
point of the sermon.
The conclusion should be definite. It should be a clear capsulation of the message. It should
be singular therefore only one conclusion.
The conclusion should be brief. It should be long enough to drive the point home. It should not
be so long that the people lose focus. You cannot keep the people at a high point too long.
Ultimately, however we must be flexible for the situation, the audience and the message.

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What are some of the element that may go into a conclusion?
Recapitulation: summarize the message (refer to the thematic statement).
The Original Text: may involve a re-reading of the original text in light of what has been drawn
from it.
The conclusion should have a parallel scripture. Read a particular verse that seems to sum up
what you want to say or ties together all of the main points of your message.
The conclusion should have a life application principle. For example, how does this apply to
my life? What do I need to do now?
Encouragement and exhortation: a final appeal challenging them in their relationship to Christ
and to the truth that has been shared.
Invitation which is the altar call.

What are some things to avoid in making a conclusion?

Avoid making more than one conclusion.
Avoid announcing your conclusion until you are really concluding.
Avoid overselling the point.
Avoid deceiving people or tricking them into certain responses.
Avoid introducing new points.
Include Variety: don't always end with a poem or prayer

The Body of Your Sermon

Determine the central truth (main idea): Main idea is a summary statement of the basic truth
taught by the passage. Construct your message around that main idea. What is the subject of
the passage? What is it talking about? What is said about the subject? The Completer: key
points of message.
Teaching should focus on the main idea and then:
Restate
Explain
Illustrate
Support
Prove

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Amplify
Develop and apply that main idea.

Effective Altar Calls

Altar calls are sacred and personal things. They can be varied as prayer for the sick, repentance
for the sinner or renewal for the saint. They can be sweet and simple. They can be intense and
convicting. They can be short or they can be long and drawn out by the Holy Spirit.
Four different kinds of altar calls:
a) Sinners – those who need to repent, be born again for the first time; those who have never
been converted.
b) Backsliders – those who once were but are not presently serving God.
c) Believers in Sin – those who are believers, but who are sinning or failing in an area.
d) Believers in Need – those with a specific need (e.g. spiritual, healing, wisdom, provision,
strength, encouragement).

Altar Call basics

1. Understand that people need to respond to truth, and giving them an opportunity to do so is
good (Mt. 7:24).
2. Determine in your own mind what you want people to respond to or why they should come
forward (Acts 2:36).
3. Make your call clear. Repeat it. Do they know what you want them to do and why? (Acts
2:38) Make the call specific.
People need to know exactly to what they are actually responding. Avoid vast generalities to
which everyone could or should respond.
4. Use appropriate altar call techniques. Some altar calls are more dramatic than others. You
may choose from a variety of techniques including:
a) Merely having the people raise their hands or say “Amen” in agreement.
b) Lead them in a responsive prayer where they repeat your words.
c) Have the people who want to respond stand where they are for prayer.
d) Have those responding come forward to the altar and prayer over them with others.
e) Give people time to think and give the Holy Spirit time to convict (John 16:8; 12:32).

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Don’t be in a hurry, but, at the same time, don’t let it drag.
f) Ask counselors to come while the people are coming and responding.
This will encourage people to step out and come forward when they see others responding
also.
Altar call Basics
g) You may want to pray with people first, leading them in prayer and asking them to repeat the
prayer out loud after you.
h) Have printed materials ready to give to people for follow up or take them to another area for
more personal ministry.
i) Other people in the congregation need to be instructed what you want them to do while you
are ministering to people at the altar. Be aware of the rest of the congregation during and after
the altar call.
j) End the service on a positive note.

SERMON DELIVERY
Sermon effectiveness is due to what we say and how we say it.

The Importance of Delivery

"In order of significance the ingredients making up a sermon are thought, arrangement,
language, voice, and gesture. In priority of impressions, however, the order reverses. Gesture
and voice emerge as the most obvious and determinative." (Robinson, Biblical Preaching: 191).

Voice
Project your voice so that you can be heard clearly. Be natural and do not develop a “preaching”
voice that seems “otherworldly”. Use variety in intensity for the sake of emphasis and to avoid
monotony. Pronounce words clearly almost to the point of over doing it and avoid slurring
words.

Language
Try to identify and weed out your own pet words and phrases. Avoid asking the congregation
too many questions. Avoid colloquialism that may not be understood by a multicultural

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audience. Look for alternative ways to say things to avoid repetition. Work on the pronunciation
of biblical names and places. Do not feel that you must announce the points of your sermon
but if you do, be consistent. Announce points when dealing with points of action.

Nonverbal communication
Silent language communicates more than spoken language. If nonverbal messages contradict
the verbal, listeners will believe the silent message. Effective delivery begins with desires. If
you do not want to say it well, you will not.

Nonverbal Factors in Delivery

Stance: Maintain good posture unless your movements are planned for emphasis. Do not lean
on or cling to the pulpit. Move freely while speaking; do not be tied to your notes. Avoid pacing
back and forth across the front of the congregation.

Appearance
Make sure your appearance is appropriate to the gathering. Smile and maintain eye contact
with the people. Never dress worse than your listeners!

Movement & Gestures

These can be spontaneous, varied, definite, properly timed, audience oriented and have
freedom of movement. Timing is key! Make sure gestures are done with a sense of purpose
(avoid waving arms continuously). Make sure gestures can be seen. Be careful about having
your hands in your pockets. Do not play with keys or coins in your pockets.
Sermon practice
Rate: Pace yourself and do not rush the message. Occasional pauses can be good. Speak
slower than you think you need to. If you have people open their Bibles to a text give them
enough time to find it before you read. Read slow enough for people to follow you.

Vocal Delivery

Where should you hold the mic?

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Watch the lighting
Natural lighting is best
Place lighting correctly. Top view lighting should be angled and should not be less than forty-
five degrees. Side view lighting produces less glare, is easier on the eyes and can be set on a
lower elevation.
Lighting Effects
Types of Pulpits
Pulpit Placement
Preaching to the choir?
Preach the Bible and you will never lack material!
All creatures need a skeleton and so does your sermon. Get your structure done early! Keep
your points short in number and style!

“Evangelism does not take place until the good news has been orally, intelligently and clearly
communicated,” (George Peters)

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Acknowledgements

Mock, D. J. (1989) Preaching Biblical Messages and Pastoral Ministry – Course Manual
Hendricks H. “Teaching to Change Lives”
Danker, F. W. (editor). Greek- English Lexicon of New Testament and Other Christian
Literature
Joseph Thayer’s Greek-English Lexicon of New Testament
Genesis Hebrew Chaldee Lexicon of Old Testament
Vines Expository Dictionary of Old and New Testament Words
Sam Doherty, First Steps. CEF
Guy Kawasaki, “The Art of the Start”. Portfolio Books
Bill Scheidler: (2008) Speech Communication Teacher’s Manual; City Life Church School of
Ministry
Course Manual: The 7 Laws of the Teacher. Howard Hendricks
Lorraine Krynauw: The Art and Practice of Homiletics. Course Notes
Dr Rick Griffith, Homiletics Course. Singapore Bible College

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