Preaching the Sermon

Worship Resources—Year A includes weekly sermon preparation helps based on the lectionary schedule of scriptures. Proclamation of the Word has long been a foundation of Christian worship. Our Sunday services have often been referred to as “preaching services,” reflecting the central role of the sermon. In recent years, however, the sermon has increasingly been seen in its greater context as only one element, albeit an important one, in the entire service. Worship planners should not begin the planning process by asking, “Who is the preacher?” Rather they should look at the entire service and consider what place, if any, a sermon will hold. Preaching is seen as one way of proclaiming God’s Word in worship. Other forms of the spoken word such as testimony, drama, or music may be used in addition to or instead of a sermon.

The suggestions for sermons included in this resource are based on four principles:

The first asserts that scripture is the source for the Good News of the gospel and should be the foundation of all sermons. The Revised Common Lectionary provides a sound scripture schedule and a beginning point for sermon preparation. As preachers, we are called to proclaim the Word—to announce the good news of the gospel.

The second principle is that most memorable sermons contain a central thesis. A thesis is more specific than a theme; it is a complete sentence that makes a positive (as opposed to a negative) declaration. At least two sample theses are suggested for each Sunday. You may choose to select one of them; you may think of a way to combine them; or you may think of another statement that relates to your experience. Your thesis idea or statement may be stated explicitly in your presentation, or it may never be stated in so many words but only serve as a guide as you prepare. However, the congregation should have a clear idea of what the central idea is by the end of your sermon. Do not try to do too much in one sermon—a simple idea clearly subdivided and illustrated is often a very good sermon. A sermon should have just one central idea.

The third principle maintains that a powerful sermon must flow from the thoughts and experiences of the speaker himself or herself. Because identifying these thoughts and experiences is one of the most difficult tasks for the speaker, a list of questions is presented to stimulate discovery. Every person has a rich accumulation of ideas and experiences—the hard part is retrieving them for use in supporting the thesis idea. Bear in mind that these questions do not necessarily have one answer, nor do they necessarily have a right and wrong answer. The beauty of the lay ministry of our church is that each minister comes to the pulpit with real-life experiences from which to draw. Your answers should be based as honestly as possible on these experiences and the experiences of others as you have observed them. Whether you acknowledge it or not, you are making theological assumptions all through your sermon. The questions posed here also try to make those assumptions explicit for your consideration. We hope the questions presented will get you started. Your personal testimony is the single most powerful element of your sermon. Your personal testimony should always be included. Do not be afraid or embarrassed to share your failures and mistakes with the congregation. Be sure that you are not always the hero of your own testimonies.

The fourth principle emphasizes the primacy of the individuals who compose the congregation. To be effective, the sermon must address their personal interests and needs and the interests and needs of their communities. The speaker should be alert to what those are. Sound advice comes from a great minister who observed that the effective preacher speaks with the Bible in one hand and the daily newspaper in the other. Religion has too often failed to be a powerful influence in people’s lives or has turned them off altogether when its spokespeople have misrepresented its promises, thus rendering it irrelevant to real human experience. The gospel of Christ is relevant to the immediate needs and experiences of the listeners.

One final brief counsel: Prepare early and prepare thoroughly! Even though you do not have a specific sermon assignment in the immediate future, you can constantly assess your life’s experiences for their appropriateness as sermon material. Once you have a specific assignment, don’t wait until Saturday to organize your ideas. Never forget that God’s Spirit will bless your efforts as you prepare and as you stand before the congregation, leading you to offer ministry.