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Preparing Sermons
Topical

"Every word of God is pure: He is a shield unto them that put their trust in Him" (Prov. 30:5). So, brethren, let us trust Him, and let us build our sermons with His pure word. Basically there are three types of Scripture sermons, and all of them should be designed to turn the thoughts and hearts of the hearers to the Scriptures and to our Lord. Those three types are topical, textual, and expository.

Many books have been written to teach and assist us in using the three types. I will take some of the good material already in print, put it in my words, and hopefully give something useful. I encourage simplicity. My outline points are preceded by Roman numerals. The subpoints are preceded by upper case letters, sub-subpoints by Roman numerals, and sub-sub-subpoints by lower case letters.

To see the three types, let us first consider the topical sermon. This is the taking of a Bible topic, dividing it into some or all of its component parts, and presenting them in logical sequence. The topic probably will be found in numerous texts, so there will be no main "text," but each division of the lesson may have its own "text." An example from my files is an outline on "Heaven" which I mostly copied from brother Hayse Reneau. As the INTRODUCTION, I point out that time will end and we are just a heartbeat away from our eternal home. We cannot see it with a telescope, but we see it with the eye of faith. I then read to the audience the Savior's wonderful words in Matt. 25:34, and then move quickly to the body of the sermon. The lesson consists of four points that are related to the topic of Heaven.

The body of the sermon begins with this: 1. IT IS THERE THAT WE STAKE OUR CLAIM. The first sub-point is: A. We would prefer a square inch of Heaven to many sections of perishing earth - 2 Pet. 3:13; Phil. 3:20. Next is: B. Others have searched for a better country; We join the search - Heb. 11:10,16. Then: C.There indeed we stake our claim - 2 Cor. 5:1-2. And: D. Our names are recorded on the deed - Luke 10:20; Phil. 4:3. The "A.B.C.D." are lined up vertically, and are indented from the "1."

    1. IT IS THERE THAT WE STAKE OUR CLAIM.
    1. We would prefer a square inch of Heaven to many sections of perishing earth - 2 Pet. 3:13; Phil. 3:20.
    2. Others have searched for a better country; We join the search - Heb. 11:10,16.
    3. There indeed we stake our claim - 2 Cor. 5:1-2.
    4. Our names are recorded on the deed - Luke 10:20; Phil. 4:3.

The second major point is: 2. IT IS THERE THAT WE MAKE OUR DEPOSITS OF WEALTH. This point has five sub-points. They are: A. Spiritual wealth is the only enduring possession we can have - 2 Pet. 3:12. B. We see people slave and toil to amass material wealth -- that is vain! - 1 Tim. 6:7-10. C.Let us recognize true wealth - Isa. 55:1-2; John 17:3. D. No one can rob us of this - John 10:27-29; Matt. 10:28. E. "The only thing one takes with him is that which he gives away" - Matt. 6:19-21.

    2. IT IS THERE THAT WE MAKE OUR DEPOSITS OF WEALTH.
    1. Spiritual wealth is the only enduring possession we can have - 2 Pet. 3:12.
    2. We see people slave and toil to amass material wealth -- that is vain! - 1 Tim. 6:7-10.
    3. Let us recognize true wealth - Isa. 55:1-2; John 17:3.
    4. No one can rob us of this - John 10:27-29; Matt. 10:28.
    5. "The only thing one takes with him is that which he gives away" - Matt. 6:19-21.

Third major point about Heaven: 3. IT IS THERE THAT WE SEEK OUR ASSISTANCE. There are only three sub-points under this one: A. God's help is promised to those in His will who seek it - Heb. 4:14-16; Psa. 40:16-17. B. The promise is to those who serve faithfully - Acts 26:22a, cf Verse21. C. And how we need His assistance! - 1 Pet. 5:7; 1 Cor. 10:13; Eph. 6:10.

    3. IT IS THERE THAT WE SEEK OUR ASSISTANCE.
    1. God's help is promised to those in His will who seek it - Heb. 4:14-16; Psa. 40:16-17.
    2. The promise is to those who serve faithfully - Acts 26:22a, cf Verse21.
    3. And how we need His assistance! - 1 Pet. 5:7; 1 Cor. 10:13; Eph. 6:10.

The last major point is number four: 4. IT IS THERE THAT WE CENTER OUR HOPE. A. We desire and expect (HOPE) to be there - 1 Pet. 1:3-4. 1. Desire for the worthwhile causes one to endure, to press on - Psa. 119:174; Heb. 10:34; 2 Tim. 2:10; 2 Cor. 11:24-27; 1 Cor. 15:19; Heb. 13:14. 2. Expectation: Being assured that God is true (not just wishing it to be so) brings joy and perseverance - 1Jn 2:3,25; Tit 1:2. B. Thus we are strongly anchored - Col. 1:5; Heb. 6:18-19. Note that in this part of the outline the sub-point "A." has two sub-subpoints ("1." and "2.")

    4. IT IS THERE THAT WE CENTER OUR HOPE.
    1. We desire and expect (HOPE) to be there - 1 Pet. 1:3-4.
      1. Desire for the worthwhile causes one to endure, to press on - Psa. 119:174; Heb. 10:34; 2 Tim. 2:10; 2 Cor. 11:24-27; 1 Cor. 15:19; Heb. 13:14.
      2. Expectation: Being assured that God is true (not just wishing it to be so) brings joy and perseverance - 1Jn 2:3,25; Tit 1:2.
    2. Thus we are strongly anchored - Col. 1:5; Heb. 6:18-19.

Now for the CONCLUSION (for the sake of the audience, try to keep it reasonably close to the INTRODUCTION, and be sure it is a conclusion, not a re-run). Here I have four concluding thoughts about Heaven: 1. Heaven (and this lesson) can have special meaning for ANYONE - Mark 16:15; Heb. 5:9. 2. If you are in the body / church / family / kingdom, your name is there - Rev. 20:12,15. 3. There is nothing man-made to join - Acts 2:36-47. 4. Will you set your affections there NOW? - Col 3:1-3.

  1. Heaven (and this lesson) can have special meaning for ANYONE - Mark 16:15; Heb. 5:9.
  2. If you are in the body / church / family / kingdom, your name is there - Rev. 20:12,15.
  3. There is nothing man-made to join - Acts 2:36-47.
  4. Will you set your affections there NOW? - Col 3:1-3.

At the end of the outline I type a small version of the overhead I plan to use, and then list the names of the men and publications I researched. For our next visit -- the textual sermon. Thanks for reading. - Derrel Shaw

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