Sermon of different types

Sermons may be mainly classified into three:

i. Topical sermons
ii. Textual sermons
iii. Expository Sermons

1. Topical Sermons:

Definition:

A topical sermon is one in which the main divisions are derived from the topic,
independently of a text.

Sermons whose subject (topic) is based on a given Scripture text while the main points and the
sub-points are not based on that text are commonly called topical sermons.

A topical sermon will look like this (taking illustration from Number 12 and Luke 15): From
Numbers 12 the preacher might select a subject like “The Humility of Moses,” or “Moses, the
Man of God” or even “Why we should not marry the Heathen.” Once the subject or the
topic is chosen the topical preacher will go to other scriptural texts to support the content of
the sermon. His/her outline may look like this: (A) The qualities of humble people (B) The
examples of humble people, and (C) The results of Being humble. The whole sermon will be
on the qualities of humility. Preachers may or may not say anything about Moses or even the
context of Number 12. From Luke 15 the subject might be any one of the heroes of each
parable: like qualities of a Shepherd, a woman, and a father. This is usually done without any
reference to the context of these parables or even the nature of parabolic interpretation.

1.1. Advantages of Topical sermons:

i. This method is good for preaching on doctrinal and ethical subjects. When this is
done care must be taken to note the context of the book and the type of literature of
the particular text on which these topics are based.
ii. Preachers tend to think of not spending a lot of time preparing their sermons.
Without worrying about exegesis or other matters related to staying faithful to the
text, the topic can be developed freely according to the ability of the preacher. This
is handy for those who are gifted oratorically.

1.2. Disadvantages of Topical sermons:

i. The real danger lies in failing to deal with contextual matters. We have heard
numerous sermons in which the texts are taken completely out of their contexts and
preached as if they have no historical, literary, or theological roots.
ii. It also does not help preachers to take their study and the preparation of sermons
seriously. The preacher is at liberty to say anything he/she wants irrespective of the
sanctions of the text and its context.

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 2. Textual Sermons:

Definition:
A textual sermon is one in which the main divisions are derived from a text consisting
of a brief portion of scripture. Each of these divisions is then used as a line of
suggestion, and the text provides the theme of the sermon.
- Textual sermons are normally taken from a small portion of scripture and take the points of
the sermon outline from the points of the portion of scripture.
- Textual sermons are based on one or two verses of the Scriptures, with the main points of the
message coming from the text itself, often from phrases or clauses that are of somewhat equal
weight in importance. A textual preacher has a text, gets his/her subject from the text, and also
has main points from the text. But the content of the sermon is usually filled with parallel
passages taken from outside of the selected text.

- A textual sermon has the semblance (appearance) of staying true to the text but only on a
superficial level. Here also the context of the text is not given serious consideration. Going
back to our examples from Numbers 12 and Luke 15, a textual sermon will look like this:
selection of the text- Numbers 12:3 which reads “Now Moses was a very humble man, humbler
than anyone else on the face of the earth.” A textual preacher would draw on the subject
“humility” to speak on: (1) Moses the Man, (2) Moses’ humility, and (3) How Moses is humbler
than anyone else. Obviously, he will have to go to other passages to elaborate on the character
of Moses to show his humility.

The textual preacher is within the limits of the text but he/she may not ever touch upon the
event in chapter 12 that gave rise to this testimony about Moses. Who said these words? Why
are they in addition? Could Moses have written this about himself? These are the kind of
questions on which a textual preacher would not dwell.

2.1. Advantages of textual sermons:

i. Usually mostly familiar texts get special attention in this type of sermons. Textual
preachers can take what is familiar and bring a focused treatment of the text.
ii. These texts can also be handled in an in-depth manner. Every word of the selected
text can be explained in detail and the lessons were driven home so that hearers can
remember them easily.
iii. Textual sermons carry “biblical authority and provide sound instruction.”

1.2. Disadvantages of textual sermons:

i. The texts only get a partial treatment. There is always a tendency to place emphasis
on what the preacher desires rather than what the text dictates.
ii. If only familiar texts get selected for detailed treatment, there is a possibility much
of the Bible can be neglected for the simple reason that not everything in the Bible
is familiar to the common people.

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 iii. As is the case with topical sermons, textual sermons also run the danger of
neglecting the larger contexts of the chapter and of the Bible.

3. Expository Sermons:

Definition:

An expository sermon is one in which a more or less extended portion of Scripture is

interpreted in relation to one theme or subject. The bulk of the material for the sermon
is drawn directly from the passage and the outline consists of a series of progressive
ideas centered around that one main idea.

The Word “expository” derives from the Latin expositio, which means a detailed explanation
or setting forth of the facts. While in topical sermons the text loses its importance once the
subject is selected from it and in the textual, the outline is derived along the lines of the text
(though for the content of the sermon preachers go to other passages), in the expository sermon
all the elements of the sermon, the subject, the outline and the contents for the sermon are
derived from the text itself. In other words, the selected texts control the preacher from the
beginning to the end. Each word, phrase, and sentence are observed and understood in the
context of the passage, the chapter, and the book of the Bible from which the passage is
selected. Staying faithful to the selected in its entirety is the most important strength of an
expository sermon.

3.1. Advantages of Expository sermon:

i. Exposition sets our limits. We do not go beyond the limits of the text we are
handling.
ii. Exposition demands integrity. Staying faithful to the passage both in its letter and
the spirit is the hallmark of this type of preaching.
iii. Exposition identifies the pitfalls. John Stott mentions forgetfulness and disloyalty
as the twin pitfalls we must at all cost avoid.
iv. Exposition gives us the confidence to preach. Preachers have a delegated authority
and as such, they can boldly proclaim the word of the One who sent them.

3.2. Disadvantages of the expository sermon:

i. In the name of exposition preachers can inject their own opinions (imposition).
ii. If it is simply a verse-by-verse exposition (or like a running commentary), it can
become very boring land verbose.
iii. Since it demands hard work in arriving at proper exegesis, many preachers give up
saying they do not have time to do this.
iv. Expository preachers can be so involved with the text that they can become
oblivious of the audience (context) they are speaking to.

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 4. Essential Characteristics of Expository message:

Expository Preaching is more of a philosophy rather than a method. There is no single method
for expository preaching yet certain characteristics of Expository preaching may be discussed
in all expository preaching. W.L. Liefeld in his book, “New Testament exposition" identifies
certain essential characteristics of expository messages:

1. Expository message deals with one basic passage of Scripture and reference to other
Scripture is Subordinate to the exposition of the main passage.
2. Expository message has hermeneutical integrity as it is faithful to the text. It reproduces
the significant element of the passage in the same balance and with the same intention
as that of the original author.
3. An Expository message has cohesion(unity). Cohesion holds the parts, truths, and
imperatives of the passages together. Unless there is cohesion. Unless there is cohesion,
the value of the part is lost for the lack of whole scientific/Historical (as objective as
textual criticism, etc.) possible.
4. An Expository message has movement and direction. The hearer is to be moved in the
direction intended by the Biblical author. Repetition of words and various expressions
of emotions are among others, ways movement and direction can be expressed.
5. An Expository message has application. Without application, it is only exposition, not
expository preaching; it is information and not a message.
Richard L. Mayhue in his book, “Rediscovering Expository preaching” gives 5 minimum
elements that identify expository preaching as follows:

1. The message finds its sole source in Scripture.

2. The message is extracted from Scripture through careful exegesis.
3. The message preparation correctly interprets Scripture in its normal sense and its context.
4. The message clearly explains the original God-intended meaning of Scripture.
5. The message applies the Scriptural meaning for today.
Advantages of Expository Preaching:

1. In Expository preaching, we preached God’s word and His truth. Therefore,

Subjectivism is minimized. Note: We cannot avoid Subjectivism in preaching but
it should not be the whole of the message. (Subjectivism means pre-understanding
and going to Scripture in order to solve the human problem).
2. It magnifies the inspiration and authority of God’s word
Note: The Law of the universe is beyond science. So, to a certain extent, the Authority
of the Bible is problematic and questionable. However, Paul urged his readers to accept
Gospel as it was an authoritative being from God. Indeed, Authority is not of humans
but of God.

5. Sermon Preparation:

1. The preparation process: According to C.H. Spurgeon habitually coming into the Pulpit
unprepared is an unpardonable presumption. Therefore, the preparation of a Sermon is
indispensable/essential preaching. Great preachers had also felt the compelling need for

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conscientious preparation. Without adequate/suitable preparation, there is no good preaching.
Analysis, Exegesis, Interpretation, Outlining, and illustration are all combined in preaching,
and thorough preparation is needed in all these areas. Therefore, the question of preparation of
a good sermon is “The how of preparation” which is a very subjective process. Every preacher
has to work out his/her own method of preparation. Nevertheless, we can identify at least six
stages in the preparation of an Expository sermon in particular.

Guidelines for preparation process:

i. Selecting the Text, particularly in relation to Expository sermon where any part of
the Bible selected for expository preaching is known as the text. The text may be
short or lengthy. In this selecting text, the time allowed for the sermon must be first
and foremost considered vital.
ii. It is important to choose a text where one has learned some spiritual lessons in One’s
own life. The text chosen should be personally appealing.
iii. It is important to recognize the leading of the Holy Spirit in selecting the Text.
iv. The text we choose for preaching should express a complete thought, and with
One’s audience in mind.
v. Texts may be selected according to events and seasons.
The text may be determined in the light of the major events that are happening in
the nations or in the world. It will be good to be informed of news and events.

2. Studying the Text: Fruitful study of text demands quality, time, and great effort. In this study
of the text, the expositor seeks to rightly divide the word of God. Therefore, what is important
is that a preacher begins the study of the word of God with prayerful meditation.

Reading the text several times preferably original text- Hebrew/Greek or two or three versions
(of good translations) and Revised Standard Version/ New Revised Standard Version. Then a
preacher must apply three basic principles of Bible study as--- Observation, Interpretation, and
application.

One must determine the meaning of the text, particularly in its context through proper exegesis.
After determining the meaning the preacher must also determine Central Idea or thrust.
Analysis of the structure of the passage particularly literary structure is important. Here, one
should see what the beginning of the text is, or the word of the text.

3. Focus on the “Big Idea”: The Big idea is the dominant thought or thesis or central idea or
proposition of the text. A good expository sermon embodies a “big idea”, which is the single
or encompassing concept of the sermon. It may be also considered that the big idea is the
explanation/interpretation or application of a single dominant idea supported by other ideas or
passages from the Scriptures. Big ideas also answer questions What am I talking about or What
exactly am I saying about what I am talking about. The Big idea is also the most striking truth
in the text or it is the heart of the text. It is also the major truth the preacher proposes to expound
in his/her sermons. In order to achieve the big ideas, one has to carefully read, study, and
meditate on the passage chosen for preaching.

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4. Purpose: One must assume that the preacher had the knowledge of the text before he/she
studied, analyzed, and articulated already what he is to preach. The purpose of the sermon
bridges between the text and the preaching. That is why it is known also as “the brain of the
sermon”. It is the key line from the textual sermon. It bridges the sermon and the text. It is to
question “What does God want my audience to know and obey as a result of hearing my
sermon”. In another word, the purpose of the sermon clarifies the need and conditions of the
audience. “Do they be mentally prepared to receive the word of God?”. Faithfulness to the
word of God is important. The concept or the meaning of the Bible must be meaningfully
related to the Congregation.

6. Outlining the Sermon:

Once the sermon is introduced appropriately the next most important thing to do is to
immediately proceed to the explanation of the text. This is the main part (the body) of the
sermon. The body functions as an explanation of the theme. Needless to say, this is the most
significant part of the sermon. For the sake of clarity, there are three things that must happen:
explanation of the text, illustration, and application.

Explanation of the text: How do we explain the text? The process of explanation of the text is
called doing exegesis. Preachers are not at liberty to say anything other than what the text
permits them to say. All preachers try to say something about the meaning of the text. But how
do we arrive at the meaning of the text? How can the meaning be found? You discover the
meaning of the text by following the rules of interpretation. The ultimate search must lead you
to discover the original intention of the author. The task of the exegete is to discover the
meaning of the word of God that was spoken in the past. The task of the preacher is to bring
about an encounter between people of the twentieth century with the Word of God that was
first spoken in the first century.

6. Steps in Doing Exegesis:

The first step is to select the text. It could be a random selection based on the needs of the
people or it could be following a lectionary. Second, read the text several times by selecting a
suitable version. Read also in your vernacular version (s) if they are available. Do not rush to
refer to Bible commentaries or other aids, that are available. Third, set the text in several
contexts: literary, historical, and theological.

1. Literary context: This is to establish the text. Check for any alternative words or phrases
in the text. Analyze the sentence structure and syntactical relationships of the passage. What
is the flow of the passage? The most important aspect of this process is to discover the
genre of the passage. Discovering the genre of the passage will give you an important clue
to understanding the passage.

2. Historical context: Here you must know the details concerning the authorship, date,
audience, and purpose of writing this document. These are not merely academic pursuits
that only theologians indulge themselves in. This will be very helpful information for the
preacher to gain an insight into the background of the text. It does not mean, however, that

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 the preacher will use all of this information in the pulpit while preaching, but that the
preacher must be aware of this information.

3. Theological context. Here the preacher must be able to discern the theological intent of
the writer. What is the importance of this passage in this context? What is the theological
emphasis the author is projecting in this text? For example, the discourses that are recorded
in the Book of Job between him and his friends and finally with God, what is the theological
intent of the author in recording these? Finally, try to make a personal translation of the
passage in your own words. Put the text in your own words. If you are able to do this, it
means you have understood the passage. This whole procedure will be aimed at
understanding the intent of the author.

8. Using Illustration in Sermon

The illustration is also important in a sermon because it is to clarify the truths in the message
and to add light to the Sermon, so no lengthy illustration is encouraged. The illustration is like
spices and masalas in curry. An illustration is secondary, and not a pre-requisite. Some
guidelines are:

i. Illustration Should be used to explain, clarify and validate the truth of the sermon.
ii. Illustration adds to memorizing the sermon
iii. Illustration stirs emotion and holds attention.
iv. Illustration should be understandable and make sense to the audience.

Besides,
v. Illustration should be convincing.
vi. Illustration should be used at the right place, right time, and for the right purpose.
vii. There are several sermons of illustrations such as personal life experiences,
somebody’s stories, incidents, etc. One should however be true and modest in using
illustration and One should avoid exaggeration.

According to A.P. Gibbs, there are 7 purposes of illustration:

i. It assists argument.
ii. It helps the listener/hearer to remember the sermon.
iii. It Stimulates the imagination.
iv. It also rests the audience.
v. It also provides for various groups of listeners.
vi. It bridges difficult questions.
vii. It enforces the truth.
One must also remember that illustration should be used sparingly/carefully because the
exposition of the text is the main task of the preacher. Whenever explanations of the texts are
difficult, one needs to use illustrations.

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9. Communicating Sermons:

All that has gone so far in your preparation of the sermon is only half the work that is involved
in preaching. It is not enough to prepare what to say it is important that you know how to say
it. The first half concerned the content and the next half concerning communication. The
effectiveness of the sermon depends on two facts, says Haddon Robinson: “What we say and
how we say it; both are important”. Some preachers are good at the content of the sermon but
are poor communicators. Preaching is an art and as such it must be improved; it is a lifelong
learning process. Preparation of a sermon takes hard work and anyone who is willing to work
hard can develop sermons, but communicating takes skill and this too must be mastered if one
wishes to make an impact on the hearers. “Communication is a fundamental tool of the
preacher; yet few preachers have studied human communication formally beyond their training
in Homiletics”. If the content is the subject, the audiences are the objects and the preacher
becomes a vehicle through whom the content is delivered. There are three main elements of
delivery: language, voice, and gestures.

Communication is classified as verbal and nonverbal and preaching is a combination of both.

And both communicate the message. People hear what is said and see how it is said. Basically,
preaching is an oral event. Words are used to express the content. Therefore, a preacher must
be aware of the kind of language that he/she uses while communicating. The use of language
includes grammar, syntax, word choice, and the use of examples and illustrations. So, there is
a specific intention in oral or verbal communication. The words are to be used with a specific
purpose in keeping with the specific purpose of the preacher preaching a specific sermon. The
selection of the right words sends the right messages so that the preached word would have the
right impact on the hearers.

A few points should be noted:

i. Choose the language that is understandable

ii. Have a preference for short words
iii. Use words that are clear and concrete
iv. Use conversational language

9.1. Use of Voice: Your voice is the medium through which you express words in your
preaching. God has gifted that voice to you. As you stand to preach remember the congregation
is ready to hear God’s word through your voice. Therefore, it is important that you learn how
to use your voice effectively to communicate God’s word in your sermon. Voice modulation,
projection, and inflection are some of the terms that need to be kept in mind in the proper use
of the voice. Not every preacher uses his/her voice effectively. There are many misconceptions
about the way one should use this medium. Some try to imitate others while others try to
maintain a “holy” voice once they are in the pulpit. There are no such things as spiritual or even
a preacherly voice. God does not expect us to change our voice or even become unnatural just
because we are preaching. Here are some guidelines in using your God-given voice to
effectively communicate God’s word.

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 i. You don’t have to shout or scream at people while preaching. Two things will
happen if you do this: you will soon damage your voice and also your hearers will
be tired of listening to you. Modulate your voice according to the situation; if you
are speaking to a small group of people, you do not have to raise your voice, but if
you are addressing a large audience, you can raise your voice a little. But these days
most churches have a public address system. So, learn to speak well into the
microphone. Therefore, do not speak aloud as if you are addressing a crowd out in
the streets.
ii. Let there be variations in your voice. Vary your tone, pitch, and rate of speech. Do
not speak in a monotonous tone. You should learn to pause after each word, idea,
or concept to let the truth of what you are saying. Speak to the last person at the
back and others will hear you clearly. Address one person at a time and all will feel
personally spoken to. Do not shout or lecture at people; be friendly in your
approach. If you are raising your voice just to be heard better people might get the
wrong signal. People might think that you are scolding them. Always avoid a
condemning attitude. Remember to inflect your voice to communicate feelings such
as joy, urgency, command, or affirmation. Do not look grumpy, while you are
talking about Christian Joy! People may pay more attention to how you say than
what you say. The preacher’s use of voice can assist in the preaching of the Word
or can hinder it.
iii. Non-verbal communication is the preacher’s use of body movements (technically
called kinesics) which include posture, gestures, facial expressions, and eye
contact. This is one area where many preachers fail because of their inattention
given to this very important non-verbal communication. Robinson warns rightly,
“mannerism and repetitious behavior peculiar to you may go unnoticed by friends
and tolerated by associates, but in the pulpit, they scream for attention and divert
people from what you are saying”. Preachers develop ‘peculiar’ habits that become
very difficult to change afterward. It is important therefore for your beginning
preachers to be aware of these distractive mannerisms.

9.2. Posture: This refers to the way one presents himself/herself the moment one gets to the
platform to speak. Stand erect and let there be poise/confidence in your posture. Avoid nervous
mannerisms like frightened looks, not looking at the audience, fiddling with notes, and undue
delay in starting your message. You have no reason to be afraid of anyone or anything while
on the stage. Be comfortable in your posture and take a deep breath before you begin speaking.
Do not lean onto the pulpit and hold it tight as if to give the impression that you will “fall off”
if it is not there. Do not become captive to the pulpit. Stand relaxed but be aware of the
solemnity of the moment. Maintain a smiling face but be natural. Remember the old saying
“the face is the index of the mind”. Facial expressions must come from within; all will depend
on your whole approach to preaching. Each person is born with a certain personality and it is
very difficult to be other than who you are in your personal outlook. But disturbing or
distracting facial expressions must be corrected if pointed out.

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9.3. Gestures: This includes the preacher’s use of hands, head, shoulders, and arms. There are
some preachers who do not make any gestures whatsoever. Standing still and speaking
seriously will not make you a saintly speaker. Not showing any movement is a poor way of
communication. On the other hand, there are some preachers who use too many gestures and
this too will distract the audience from hearing the message attentively. Robinson gives the
following guidelines on the proper use of gestures:

i. Let your gestures be spontaneous. They should develop from within as the
‘outgrowth of conviction and feeling.’ Gestures must come naturally. Here
again, do not imitate other preachers.
ii. They should be definite. Put your entire body behind every gesture you
make. They should not be made half-heartedly.
iii. They should be varied. If a preacher develops one peculiar gesture and uses
it all the time that in itself becomes a distraction. Vary your use of hands,
fingers, and facial expressions in keeping with the intent of the message.
iv. Gestures should be properly timed. Poorly timed gestures usually reflect a
lack of spontaneity and proper motivation.
The best way to improve your gestures is to videotape your messages and watch it with a few
friends who will offer suggestions for improvement. If you cannot afford the facilities of a
videotape, listen to the comments of well-meaning friends and improve based on their
suggestions. Two things must be kept in mind about gestures: Let there be bodily movements
in your sermon and use gestures that are appropriate to the intent of your message.

9.4. Eye Contact: Though preaching is basically an oral event it is expressed visually. You
speak with words but more with eyes! Do not live under the impression that if you close your
eyes while preaching that people consider you to be more spiritual. The truth of the matter is
people will not pay attention to you if you are not looking at them. When it comes to “looks”
from the pulpit there are four approaches:

i. Direct look: Here the preacher sets his gaze directly on the object that is in
front of him and stays there all through. He is more interested in his speaking
than speaking to the people. Indirectly the impression is created that people
do not matter to him. The preacher may be looking but if the looks are
directed only at the objects and not at the people the message will not have
any impact.
ii. Indirect look: Here the preacher looks only at the pulpit or at his script all
through. The preachers get lost in their own world. This could be caused by
feelings of inadequacy or even a lack of sense of boldness or courage. Here
again, the purpose of preaching to the people gets defeated by the preacher’s
unwillingness to look at them.
iii. Impersonal or General look. Here the preachers look at everybody and at
everything. Their eyes roam all over. They think that they are looking at
people but they are not looking at anyone. This is a very impersonal way of
communicating the message.

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 iv. Personal look. Here the preacher looks at people intently and pointedly.
Each one of them matters. When he looks at people, he is looking at them
as they are. His looks make them feel important. Obviously, you cannot look
at them individually but your looks convey the most important message that
you are speaking to them personally. In as much as this is the most appealing
of looks, this too must be taken with caution even in looking at people
personally never set your gaze only on a few people (especially on fairer
looking, or more attractive ones in the audience). Look at people through
the eyes of the One you are representing.

9.5. Dress and Appearance: Should preachers consider it important how they dress? Most
assuredly, Yes! But the perception of ‘proper dressing’ varies from culture to culture and
person to person. Robinson suggests a basic rule: “Grooming and dress should fit the audience,
the situation, and the speaker.” As far as dressing goes, what is appropriate in Western countries
need not be appropriate in our cultures. So instead of imitating others, it is better to remember
this simple principle: dress neatly, modestly, and appropriately. If people give more attention
to the dress of the preacher than to the message spoken by the preacher, then it becomes
inappropriate attire! Another important thing to remember along with the dress is the fact that
preachers must look clean and neat. Unkempt hair, unshaven beards, and shabby dress speak
louder than the words of the preacher.

10. Practical Suggestions for a preacher:

i. Be thorough in your preparation. Never approach the pulpit with half-

hearted preparation. Careful preparation does not mean you will be perfect
in presenting your sermon, but it does mean that you are prepared to do your
best for God and for your people. But do not depend upon your preparation
to do well; depend upon the Spirit of God who alone will help you to do
well. Make yourself available to God with all your inadequacies and He will
help you.
ii. Speak with confidence and clarity. Enunciate each word carefully and let
your words be simple. The basis of your confidence is the authority of the
Lord. He has commanded you to preach and He will give you the needed
strength to communicate His word to His people. This confidence should
not make you proud, instead, humility depend upon Him. While you are
preparing the message the Holy Spirit will have prepared you to be adequate
for the job.
iii. Be very mindful of the time that is allotted to you. Finish on time; never go
beyond the time limit. Be very sensitive to the pressure and the deadlines of
the many people in your audience. This does not mean of course that you
will be controlled by the schedules of the people no matter how important
they might be! Let them not feel that you are wasting their time by saying
some things that they cannot relate to. Always remember that when the
allotted time is over, they cannot ‘tune themselves out’. So, complete your

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 sermon even before the time that is given to you. End on a note to make
people want to hear you more.
iv. Make it a practice to interact with people after the preaching is over. If there
are individuals waiting to meet you personally do not disappoint them by
rushing off! Be prepared to spend time with people for a word of prayer, or
a word of comfort or counsel. Another way to interact with people is by
asking them to offer words of evaluation on your preaching. This should not
be done to receive words of appreciation only but to welcome any
suggestions or comments for improvement. Do not feel offended if they
criticized you and do not elate if they praised you. Learn to give all credit
and glory to God alone.
v. Handle interruptions calmly. There will be situations like a failure of
electricity, disturbance in the audience for some unforeseen reason, crying
of children, etc., do not panic immediately. Maintain your calm by being in
control of the situation. Never stop if the lights go off (due to electrical
power failure) and keep going without paying attention to the disruption. It
will be obvious that people may not give their utmost attention to what you
are saying, but at least they know that you are still in control. It has been
noticed in some such instances that preachers engage the audience in singing
(but this is not the right use of singing); while the temporary arrangements
are being made for the resumption of power, preachers must think of
creative ways of handling interruptions.

11. Manuscripts and Notes:

It is always good to write down sermons at the end of preparation. Review and rethink the
sermon you prepared to preach. For beginners, it is a valuable exercise. As we write down the
sermon, we become thorough with the message for preaching. However, in preaching we
should not read the Manuscript nor memorize it except ‘quotation’. We can occasionally refer
to Manuscript.

The main purpose of writing out the manuscript is to internalize the sermon and to brighten
your memory. It will also enhance confidence in the delivery. If one has the manuscript, he can
add new ideas in the future or remove irrelevant materials, edit the manuscript and keep it for
polishing.

Notes of main points:

For the purpose of pulpit used in preaching, notes are far better than manuscripts because Notes
give us valuable memory clues, help us in timing our points, and control the development of
the sermon. But do not/we should not become slaves to our notes/fully dependent on notes.

A good expositor will feel the freedom to depart from the notes whatever circumstances might
be. There cannot be any fixed rules for the use of manuscripts or notes. We should be careful
to avoid extremes. Nevertheless, in Expository preaching notes are preferable in the preaching.

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12. Tools for sermon preparations:

i. Bibles (Textual criticism or evidence)

-Nestle Aland (Hebrew and Greek)
-English: RSV, New International Version, New American Version, Reference
Bible, etc.
ii. Lexicon (Hebrew to English- BDB; Greek to English-BGD)
iii. Concordance: James Strong’s concordance
iv. Word Study Bible
v. Grammar
vi. Dictionaries and Encyclopedia’s International Standard Encyclopedia
vii. Books related to Geography and History of the Bible. E.g., John Bright- History of
Israel/ Jerusalem in the time of Jesus.
viii. Introduction and background studies on the Bible.
ix. Commentaries (at least five: Expositor’s Bible commentary, New International,
Bible knowledge commentary, etc.)
x. Good Books
xi. From Bible software like PC Bible study, Bible works -9, etc.
xii. From Internet source

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