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

Sun 12 Jan 2014 Introduction Lecture 11: How to Gather & use Sermon Material Lecture 12: How to Prepare an Introduction & a Conclusion

How to Gather and Use Sermon Material Explanation (Cf: Neh. 8:8; 1 Tim. 4:13) Teaching is not possible without explanation. Sources of explanation include: The Bible Christian literature (commentaries, concordances, dictionaries and Books on Bible subjects)

How to Gather and Use Sermon Material Argument: “a process by which it is proved, demonstrated, or inferred that a certain proposition is true or false.”

How to Gather and Use Sermon Material Some of the most practical forms of argument… Deduction – reasoning from the general to the specific Induction – reasoning from the specific to the general Cause to effect (a priori) – reasoning from an original, all-powerful cause Effects to cause (a posteriori) – reasoning from design in nature From the lesser to the greater (a fortiori) – Something which is valid in an unlikely situation will be much more valid in a likely situation

How to Gather and Use Sermon Material Some of the most practical forms of argument… Analogy – what is true in one realm is probably true in another Tradition – that there is presumption in favour of established institution, customs, or practice. Testimony – first hand experiential account from a witness Experience – an event that is shared by so many as to be a common human phenomenon

How to Gather and Use Sermon Material Some of the most practical forms of argument… Authority – has weight when the authorities are accepted by all parties. Reducto ad absurdum – reducing the opponents argument to absurdity. Process of elimination – listing all possible alternatives and disposing of them one by one until one is left.

How to Gather and Use Sermon Material Illustrations: “The windows of the sermon.” Let needed light into the sermon Help hearers to see the sermon Make abstract truth vivid.

How to Gather and Use Sermon Material Kinds of illustrations… The One word Illustration, e.g.: salt, light, rock Analogy - Cf. John 15 1-17 Anecdote – use of a true incident (experienced or reported) as an illustration The Story – not an actual incident, is fictional, or not sufficiently verified to be told as truth Poetry

How to Gather and Use Sermon Material Some Sources of Illustrations… The Bible Science Nature Fiction Poetry History Current Events Personal Experience

How to Gather and Use Sermon Material Application or Persuasion Distinguishes a sermon from a talk or a lecture Seeks not for simple approval, but for action

How to Gather and Use Sermon Material If the sermon has a balance of all four materials, it will… Instruct the mind Challenge/Impress the will Hold the attention Appeal to/stir the emotions, and Motivate/move to action, …provided that it is delivered under the anointing of the Holy Spirit.