A Comprehensive Introduction to Sermon Options and Structures

A Comprehensive Introduction to Sermon Options and Structures KENTON C. ANDERSON Overview with Discussion Questions and Practical Exercises chapter 3, option 3 B

How will you discern your message from the Bible? Induction. . . I will "begin with the listener, " believing that God speaks to the issues and needs of people today.

practical exercise 4 The Forms of Scripture texts come in many forms. Some are more deductive in approach, while others present ideas inductively. Find five deductive texts and five inductive texts. How are they similar and how are they different? How might you preach them?

discussion question 9 Is Induction Selfish? Is induction inherently selfish? Inductive study takes the student's life as the starting point. Is this appropriate, or should we require a more submissive approach to the Bible and to preaching?

practical exercise 5 The Listener's Need Do an exegetical study of your congregation. What kind of questions and problems do your listeners have? What are the acute needs? What are the chronic problems? What will you have to help them overcome so that they can faithfully hear from God? Who are these people and where do they come from? How many different learning styles are represented? What is their level of literacy? What are some of the recent major events that have affected the congregation as a whole? What are the long-term historical influences that have shaped theology and practice of the church? Write a two- or three-page brief that describes the people to whom you preach.

practical exercise 6 Problems with Your Preaching Take three sermons you have recently preached and rethink them from the perspective of your listeners. What kinds of questions would they ask about these sermons if they had the chance? Where might they argue with what God is saying? How deeply do you feel these same concerns? How difficult is it for listeners (yourself included) to submit to what God is saying in these sermons from his Word?

discussion question 10 The Joy of Discovery Why are preachers hesitant to let listeners in on the joy of discovery? Why do we tend to want to keep this to ourselves? Are we afraid that our listeners will distort the result if we let them participate? Is this concern justified? Will they not do what they want with the sermon whether or not we give them permission?

A Comprehensive Introduction to Sermon Options and Structures KENTON C. ANDERSON