I’m working with teens in Memphis who are interested in learning how to preach.
Below are the two models I’ve shared with them as a starting point for learning how to craft a sermon. Obviously, there’s a lot that could be covered. This is just one place to begin.
How about you? Where would you begin? What models have been helpful to you in learning how to preach?
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There are two basic patterns which can be used easily to write a sermon.
Preaching Pattern #1: Four Pages (Paul Scott Wilson)
Page 1 – Bad News in the Text
Page 2 – Bad News as seen/illustrated in Life
Page 3 – Good News in the Text
Page 4 – Good News as seen illustrated in Life
Example:
Matt. 5:14-16
Page 1 – Those to whom Jesus spoke suffered from a world of darkness (poverty, Roman oppression, religious hypocrisy, etc.)
Page 2 – Story/illustration of people today suffer from darkness in our world (cancer, financial debt, political turmoil)
Page 3 – Yet Jesus promised to use his followers to bring light to the world (examples of some of Jesus’ followers who did bring light to the world)
Page 4 – Story/ illustration of a follower of Jesus bringing light to the world today.
Preaching Pattern #2: What-So What-Now What? (adapted from Andy Stanley)
What? The one thing the text/sermon is going to say.
So What? What that one thing should/could matter to the listener.
Now What? The one thing you want the listener to do as a result of the What?
Example:
Matt. 5:44-45
What? Jesus calls us to pray for, not punish, difficult people.
So What? Most of us know the challenge of dealing with difficult people and need a strategy for this.
Now What? Commit to praying once a day every day this week for one difficult person in your life.
