Writing A Short Sermon

WRITING A SHORT SERMON provides information on how to write a short sermon that has structure and presentation.

Online Sermon For Busy Pastors

How To Write A Short Sermon

It is not always easy writing a short sermon. Nevertheless, short sermons still require structure. If you get the structure right, then short sermons are easier to write.

1. Writing A Short Sermon With Structure and Presentation

A normal sermon has a three-part structure - an introduction, a body, and a conclusion. The introduction introduces the main preaching point or the big idea, the body expands and explains the main preaching point with sub-points and incidental sub-points, and the conclusion concludes the sermon by reinforcing the main preaching point.

I usually use the analogy of an airplane flight to describe a sermon. The take off is the introduction. The actual flight is the body, and the landing is the conclusion. To have a smooth flight, you must get all three right. To have a great sermon, you also must get the introduction, body, and conclusion right.

Using this structure, a normal sermon would take thirty (30) minutes or so to deliver. However, a short sermon has a shorter delivery span. A short sermon may take five (5) to ten (10) minutes to deliver.

You can use this structure for writing a short sermon. However, you will need to compress the content so that your short sermonwill be delivered within five (5) or ten (10) minutes.

2. Writing A Short Sermon Example

Discovering the Power of Prayer (Philippians 4:5b-7)

Sir Isaac Newton said that he could take his telescope and look millions and millions of miles into space. Then he added, “But when I lay it aside, go into my room, shut the door, and get down on my knees in earnest prayer, I see more of heaven and feel closer to the Lord than if I were assisted by all the telescopes on earth.”

What was Isaac Newton saying in this statement? I believe he was saying that the power of prayer declares the nearness of God. In other words, we have a God who is near, a God who is ever present to hear our prayers. Therefore, if we want to experience the nearness of God, then we need to discover the power of prayer (Phil. 4:5b).

Furthermore, the power of prayer relieves anxiety and brings the peace of God (Phil. 4:6-7). When Jesus was about to face his hour of anguish (ie., the brutality of the cross on behalf of you and me), He knelt down and prayed. The Bible tells us that His prayer became very intense because His sweat became like great drops of blood falling down to the ground” (Luke 22:41-44). We will never understand the fullness of His sweat appearing as great drop of blood; but we do know that He trusted His life to His Father, submitted His cares to Him in prayer, and found peace and solace in His Father’s presence.

What a privilege to carry everything to God in prayer! May we discover and experience the power of prayer in our journey with Jesus!





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