How To Structure a Sermon? Strong sermons are made up of strong parts. If the structure is strong throughout, then the sermon will have cohesion and sequence, that is a natural flow to it.
In this post we will look at the structure of a sermon from a deductive viewpoint. This deductive sermon will have six structural components so that you can create an engaging message for your congregation.
1. The First Component is the Topic or Title
The title or main preaching point of the sermon needs to engage your audience so that they will listen to your message. Today I am going to talk about “solving problems in life!” Boring!!! Instead, today you can overcome your every day problems with a positive attitude. This title is brief, grabbing and thought provoking.
To get your congregation excited about your preaching, you will need to spend some time constructing a great title for your message. Once you have done this several times, constructing engaging titles will become much easier.
2. The Second Component is the Introduction
The introduction should grab the attention of your audience. It should uncover a need so that your audience will listen to the message you are about to preach. It must be relevant with a personal touch.
There are many ways to introduce your message in order to get your audience’s attention. You may introduce your message with a rhetorical question: “If God is impartial, how is it that some people are more blessed than others?” You can create tension or upset the equilibrium – “God captured by the enemy, that’s hard to believe!” (1 Samuel 5:1-12) Also you can use a short story to grab your audience’s attention.
A young lady stood under the shower with the water on so hot, trying to wash away the filth that she felt from her first experience in a brothel.
It was hard to believe that such a beautiful, intelligent girl—whose parents loved unconditionally—could end up as a prostitute addicted to heroin.
After five years of full-blown heroin addiction a miracle happened. She meet a Christian doctor, who helped her with her addiction.
But the real miracle was that she heard the words of Jesus and sought Jesus for salvation.
The very sin that she tried to wash away was washed away by Jesus.
Jesus paid it all—
All to Him I owe;
Sin had left a crimson stain;
He washed it white as snow.
Today, I want to talk about the Power and Potency of a Changed Life.
The Third Component is The Sub-Points
[NOTE] I usually refer to the title or topic of a sermon as the main preaching point – the big idea of the sermon. I also refer to the points that expand and explain the main preaching point as sub-points. Many commentators would refer to them as the main points of the sermon. In this post I will be referring to them as sub-points.
The sub-points expand and explain the main preaching point or topic of your sermon. In the example below, the three sub-points expand and explain the main preaching point. They are complete sentences. They are mutually exclusive. They are sequential with a natural progression and they are parallel in form.
The Fourth Component is The Incidental Points
[NOTE] I refer to the incidental points as those points that flow from the sub-points. Many commentators refer to these points as sub-points flowing from the main points. In this post, I will be referring to them as incidental points.
Incidental points are those points that flow from the sub-points and they simply expand and explain the sub-points. In the example above, the three incidental points under sub-point two (2) simply expand and explain “Following God’s Lead.” He followed faithfully. He followed Obediently and He followed joyfully. The incidental points should have the same features as the sub-points – complete sentences, mutually exclusive, natural progression and parallel in form.
The Fifth Component is The Illustration
“An illustration is a snapshot from life. It captures a mood, a moment, or a memory in a narrative frame and displays that slice of life for the mind to see and the heart to know.” Excerpt from Using Illustrations to Preach with Power by Bryan Chapell, p. 89.
Such is the power of illustrations. They contain a hidden dynamic of living that captures our attention and furthers our understanding in a way that no other sermonic tool can match. In saying all of this, it must be remembered that the illustration is not the sermon. It is a structural component of the sermon that helps the preacher reinforce the truth of Scripture.
The Sixth Component is The Conclusion
“An experienced pilot knows that landing an airplane demands special concentration, so an able preacher understands that conclusions require thoughtful preparation. Like a skilled pilot, you should know where your sermon will land” (Haddon W. Robinson).
“The message that starts with a gripping introduction should end with an even more powerful conclusion” (Bryan Chapell). After all, the conclusion is the sermon’s destination and it requires careful craftsmanship to bring the message to a burning focus in order to appeal to the audience for a response.
How To Structure a Sermon? By mastering the six components of a deductive sermon, you will be prepared to create and deliver powerful messages to your audience.
How To Structure a Sermon Resource Material
Biblical Preaching by Haddon Robinson
Christ-Centered Preaching by Bryan Chapell
How To Preach Without Notes by Charles Koller
How To Prepare Bible Messages by James Braga
Using Illustrations To Preach With Power by Bryan Chapell
Thirty Minutes To Raise The Dead by Bill Bennett