HOMILETICS 101

b) Must develop the gift. The gift should be:
- coveted
- stirred up
- developed by exercise
- may be lost by neglect
c) In a spiritual atmosphere
2. Physically fit.
a) The value of the body.
b) Our bodies are the Lord’s
c) The value of good health
3. Mentally fit.
a) The danger of fanaticism.
b) The need for sound thinking.
4. Educationally fit.
a) The need of it.
b) The advantage of it.
c) The provision of it.
- The Bible
- A good library
- The correspondence courses
- Writing
- Criticism

CHAPTER 2 – The Preacher’s Call

I. It is individual.
1. It involves personal heart dealing.
2. Born in spiritual atmosphere.
3. Comes in midst of Christian activity

II. It is definite.

III. It is varied in circumstances.

IV. It does not necessarily involve full time service.
1. No distinction in N.T., between “clergy” and “laity”.
2. The evils of professionalism in the Lord’s work.

V. The elements that combine to constitute a Divine call.
1. The inward urge of the Holy Spirit.
2. Some definite word from the scripture to deepen conviction.
3. The compassion of the heart.
4. The advice of godly Christians.
5. The word and action of some spirit-les servant of God.
6. Divine ordering of God’s providence.
7. The commendation of one’s home assembly

CHAPTER 3 – The Necessity of Preaching

I. The God-ordained means of spreading the gospel.
1. The divine order outlined.
2. The divine commission given.
3. The program being carried.
4. The divine terms examined.

II. Preaching is a witness to the facts of the gospel.
1. The definition of a witness.
2. The purpose of a witness.
3. The gospel is a manifestation of the truth of God.
4. Witness illustrated to the Acts.

III. Preaching is the means of generating faith in the hearer.
1. Faith supposes a previous revelation.
2. Faith necessitates an object.
3. Faith, essential condition of salvation.

IV. In the means by which souls are regenerated.
1. The word is living.
2. The word is life-imparting.
3. The word is life- developing.

V. Preaching is the means by which the hearers be edified.
1. Paul’s threefold desire (Colossians 1: 28-29)
2. The sevenfold work of the Word of God (2 Timothy 3:15-17)
3. The threefold purpose of ministry. (Ephesians 4:12)

VI. Preaching is the solemn responsibility of all thus gifted.
1. A necessity laid on the preacher.
2. A trust committed to a preacher.
3. A debt to be paid by a preacher
4. The causes and tragedy of an unfulfilled ministry.
a) Fear of man
b) Slothfulness
c) Selfishness
d) The plea of “no talent”
e) Unjudged sin and worldliness of life

VII. Preaching must reach the whole personality of the hearer.
1. The personality defined.
2. The personality expressed.
3. The whole personality must be appealed to and won for Christ
4. The danger of appealing to the part of the personality at the expense of others.
5. The intellect.
a) An endowment of God
b) Enlightened through the word
c) Appealed to in the scriptures.
6. The emotions.
7. The will.
a) God respects it and never coerces it.
b) God demands unconditional surrender of it
c) The preacher must demand a decision from it.
8. A study of the word “heart” in the scripture

CHAPTER 4 – The Preacher’s Support
I. Scripture contemplates full time preachers called equipped, commended and sent forth.

II. These should be supported by the saints (1 Cor. 9:1-23).
1. Paul’s authority stated the 4 questions, verses 1-3
2. Paul’s right to maintenance declared, verses 4-6
3. Paul’s proof of his right to the maintenance, verses 7-14
4. The inevitable conclusion, verse 14


III. Paul’s right to support waived by grace, verses 15-23.
1. The preacher must be independent of man
2. The preacher is responsible alone to the Lord for:
a) his field
b) nature of work
c) methods he uses
3. The preacher’s determination
a) to preach the gospel freely
b) to seek by all means to win souls

CHAPTER 5 – The Perils of the Preacher
I. The peril of undue familiarity with divine things.

II. The peril of inconsistent living.

III. The peril of neglecting one’s own spiritual life.

IV. The peril of callousness to other’s need.

V. The peril of professionalism.
With a note on the folly of taking oneself too seriously

VI. The peril of compromise.
1. In relation to his own life
2. In relation to others
3. In relation to the ministry of the Word
Poem: “The Servant’s Path”

CHAPTER 6 – The Sermon and the Structure
I. The definition of a sermon
1. an oral address
2. to the popular mind
3. upon scriptural truth
4. elaborately treated
5. with a view to persuasion

II. The structure of the sermon
A. The Text
1. Its definition
2. Its necessity
3. Its selection, some principles to guide
4. Its interpretation, it must be interpreted:
a) honestly
b) in the light of the context
c) in the light of its language
d) in the light of Biblical, History, manners and customs
e) in the light of the general teaching of scripture
f) in the light of the typical significance
g) in the light of the dispensational teaching
B. The Theme
1. Its definition
2. Its choice, with examples
3. The advantages of stating it
4. Methods of stating it
a) logical
b) rhetorical
c) some more examples
C. Introduction
1. The definition of it
2. The purpose of it
3. The importance of it
4. Some suggestions regarding it
5. Some sources from which it can be drawn
D. The discussion, or the divisions
1. The definition of it
2. The necessity for divisions
3. The purpose of divisions
4. Seven rules regarding these divisions
5. Methods of stating them
a) The logical form
b) The rhetorical form
c) The interrogative form
6. Modes of discussion
a) The explanatory
b) The observational
E. The conclusion
1. The definition of it
2. Some suggestions regarding it
It should be:
a) Short
b) Varied
c) Real
d) Personal
e) Ointed
f) Conclude
g) Elements of a good address

CHAPTER 7 – Modes of Delivery
I. Reading
1. The advantages
2. The disadvantages

II. Recitation
1. The advantages
2. The disadvantages

III. Extemporaneous
1. The advantages
2. The disadvantages

CHAPTER 8 – The Types of Sermons
o Introduction
1. The example of Christ
2. The example of Paul
I. The personal testimony
1. The definition of it
2. The value of it
3. The importance of it
4. Points on the telling of it
5. The dangers of it

II. The Expository Sermons
1. The definition of it
2. The advantages of it
3. The dangers of it
4. Some hints regarding its preparation
5. Some examples of outlines for it
a) “The Divine Benediction”
(Heb. 13:20-21)
b) “God’s Righteous Salvation”
(Rom. 10:1-17)
c) “The Gospel According to Paul”
(1 Cor. 15:1-18 )

III. The Textual Sermon
1. The definition of it
2. The advantages of it
3. The disadvantages of it
4. Some hints regarding preparing an outline for it
5. Some examples of outlines for it
a) “The Gospel in Seven Words”
(Eph. 2:8 )
b) “Christ’s Wondrous Invitation”
(Matt. 11:28 )
c) “Seven Facts Regarding Salvation”
(Jn. 10:9)

IV. The Topical Sermon
1. The definition of it
2. The advantages of it
3. The disadvantages of it
4. Hints on how to prepare an outline for it
5. Some examples of topical outlines
a) “The New Earth”
(Jn. 3:1-19)
b) “Redemption”
(Rom. 3:19-21)

V. The Historical Incident Sermon
1. The definition of it
2. The advantages of it
3. The dangers of it
4. Some examples of sermon outlines
a) “The Ten Lepers” (Lk. 17:11-19)
b) “The Touch of Faith” (Mark 5:25-34)

VI. The Biographical Sermon
1. The definition of it
2. The advantages of it
3. Hints on how to prepare an outline for it
4. Example of an outline for it
“Enoch” (Gen. 5:18; 21-24; Heb. 11:5)


CHAPTER 9 – The Title of the Sermon
I. The advantage of it

II. Some principles that should guide in its selection

III. Methods of stating the title

IV. Some titles gleaned from famous preachers

CHAPTER 10 – The Preparation of the Sermon
I. The necessity for it
1. It is essential
2. It is scriptural. Outline of “A Preacher on Preaching” (Ecc. 12:9-12)
3. It is sensible

II. The selection of the subject
1. There must be earnest and definite prayer.
2. The subject may have been previously impressed on the mind.
3. Perhaps the subject may have been suggested by hearing another preacher.
4. Perhaps the reading of the book of sermons suggested it.
5. A current event may have led to it.
6. The needs of the audience will aid to determining it.

III. The preparation of the outline
1. Begin early
2. Read the passage of scripture frequently.
3. Look up the parallel passages in the Bible.
4. Read the scripture portion in other versions.
5. Use the concordance.
6. Concentrate on the topic or text, with plenty of paper bandy.
7. Tabulate these thoughts in their logical order.
8. An introduction should now be prepared.
9. A conclusion should be planned
10. Suitable illustrations should now be prepared.
a) their sevenfold purpose
b) their selection
c) their service
11. Now consult other writers.
12. Condense the many pages to the page.
13. Rehearse as often as possible
14. Humbly, prayerfully and believingly commit it to God.

CHAPTER 11 – The Gathering of the Material
I. A carefully selected library
1. The necessity for it
2. The value of it
3. The dangers of it
a) To allow books to displace the Bible.
b) Many books are positively harmful.
c) To sacrifice quality for quantity
4. The content of it

II. This library should be indexed. Two systems should be used:
1. A card index – arranged
a) Topically
b) Textually
2. A filing cabinet arranged
a) topically with a suggestive list of topics
b) textually

III. Wide reading with essential
1. The Bible must be the Pre-eminent book.
2. History, ancient and modern
3. Poetry
4. Biographies
5. The classics
6. Sermons
7. Periodicals
8. Secular magazines
9. Good gospel tracts
10. The newspaper

IV. A thought Book

V. Notes of other preacher’s addresses

VI. The “Homiletics Habit” should be developed.
1. by observation
2. by practice

CHAPTER 12 – The delivery of the Sermon
Introduction
o Some types of delivery
1. The 7 types of Bishop Wakefield
2. The need for the preacher’s self discipline
The 7 “thyself’s” of 1 Timothy
I. He should watch his manners
1. Humble, but not servile
2. Earnest, yet self possessed
3. Courteous, yet faithful
4. Develop his imagination, but avoid exaggeration.
5. Good humored, but not flippant.
6. Neat in appearance, but not foppish.
7. Manly, but not imitative of anyone else.

II. He should watch his language.
1. The language used should be simple.
a) Avoid involved sentences.
b) The word must be simple.
c) The value of simplicity.
2. The language used should be grammatically expressed.
a) Language has a grammatical foundation.
b) Many excellent books are available.
c) The value of wide reading.
d) The value of a good mentor.
e) Some common lapses in English.
3. The language should be forceful.
a) He should be a student of specific words.
b) He should seek to add new words to his vocabulary.
c) He should make a study of the figure of speech.
d) He should avoid hackneyed expressions.
e) He should be careful in his use of divine titles.
4. The language used should be correctly pronounced.
a) A good dictionary essential.
b) A pronouncing Bible is useful.
c) Be a discriminating reader.
d) “The well-dressed message” (Dr. Norman Barlett)

III. He should watch his voice.
o Some poor examples of the voice
1. The mumble
2. The yeller
3. he sing song
4. The monotone
5. The voice-dropper
6. The repeater
7. The throat-clearer
8. The meanderer

IV. He should watch his audience
1. It commands the respect of the audience.
2. it enables the speaker to watch the reaction of the audience.
3. Enables him to see if audience is comfortable.

V. He should watch his time
1. He should find out the length of the service.
a) Plan within limits of the time appointed.
b) Start on time.
c) End on time.
2. When sharing a meeting with another, keep to his time.
3. Better to leave an audience longing rather than loathing.
4. He should keep his promise to his audience.