Seventh-day Adventists Rebuilding the Walls: Rebuilding People; Restoring Relationships; Inspiring Excellence. (Ephesians 4:1-13) JULY 13 1 FHM

2 Sun 19th January 2014 Lecture 12: How to Prepare an Introduction & a Conclusion

3 How to prepare an introduction

4 A Sermon introduction should… Be Striking… Be Clear… Exhibit Unity… Be Brief… Be Modest… Be unapologetic… Be Specific… How to prepare an introduction

5 Avoid wasting time on long introductions to your sermons: “The main purpose of the introduction is to create interest and convince the listener that he can be helped by hearing your message. The longer you wander around during the introduction, the easier it is for the listener to tune you out.” Warren & David Wiersbe, The Elements of Preaching, p. 75 How to prepare an introduction

6 The chief time-wasters in the introduction are: General comments about the weather, the congregation, the music, special guests, etc. Comments about the sermon itself Jokes References to last week’s sermon Travelogue How to prepare an introduction

7 To find the proper introduction, ask… 1. What has this sermon to do with the need of the congregation? 2. What relation has this sermon to a preceding sermon in a series? 3. What has this sermon to do with the special day or occasion? 4. Why is this sermon of special importance? How to prepare an introduction

8 - So, what story or anecdote will best introduce this sermon? - What current event might introduce this sermon? How to prepare an introduction

9 Introduction possibilities: 1. A striking quotation 2. An illustration or story 3. A dramatic description 4. A current news item 5. A true life experience 6. The statement of a problem 7. The use of provocative questions 8. The direct reading of your text 9. A preview of the content of your sermon How to prepare an introduction

10 A sermon that breaks most of the rules - Read the sermon to yourself - Read the sermon aloud with your partner. This takes 3 ½ minutes - Replace Paul’s introduction, in discussion with your partner. The introduction should be short How to prepare an introduction

11 Some hazards in Introductions: Do not apologise, even if less than prepared When using a life experience, beware of length Beware of aimless wandering Do not state a problem unless your sermon will answer it Do not leave unanswered questions or greater doubt How to prepare an introduction

12 Some Qualities of a Good Conclusion: Clarity Specificity Brevity: “Don’t forever circle the airfield; land the plane” Intensity: (moral and spiritual intensity, sincere earnestness, godly zeal - passion) How to prepare a conclusion

13 Three types of conclusions: The Lesson Conclusion states the lesson which the sermon teaches The Summary Conclusion (recapitulation) repeats the salient points of the sermon in order to aid the hearers in remembering the sermon The Appeal Type of Conclusion seeks/requests immediate decision, action or obedience How to prepare a conclusion

14 Assignment Review… Today’s Presentation Course Notes Read Course Notes Sunukjian Write Notes Quotations Do Breathing Exercises Speech Exercises

15 And finally…