You’ve been rostered to preach. Go you good thing!
No matter how many times you have communicated to an audience, communication/preaching can be hard. To help we’ve got some thoughts on how to prepare, and present your message.
Please note, we really don’t mind at all how you prepare your message but what we do want is, one point messages that follow the Me, We, God, You, We, map. And messages that are relevant in their daily struggles in life.
Please note: unless stated otherwise by Ps. Rob sermon outlines need to be submitted to Ps. Rob two weeks prior to the date you are rostered to preach. Email them to: rob@epicentrechurch.com.au
So here are some ways to help you prepare along with how to prepare (from Andy Stanley's book Communicating for a change).
DETERMINE YOUR GOAL.
Our goal should be to teach people how to live a life that reflects the values, principles, and truths of the Bible. In short, the goal is change… wanting people to do something different instead of just thinking about it.
PICK A POINT.
Where are you heading with this message? A sermon is a journey. You start somewhere, you go somewhere, and ultimately you end up somewhere.
The question is, “did you end up where you wanted to go?”
When you step up to speak, can you tell me the address you’re taking me to?
And when I get there will I know it?
What we want is a ONE POINT MESSAGE.
A short, simple statement that summarizes the entire message.
Every message should have one central idea, application, insight, or principle that serves as the glue to hold the other parts together.
The reality is this; if you give people too much to remember, they won’t remember anything.
The key to this approach is refusing to stand up and speak until you know the answer to two questions:
What is the one thing I want my audience to know?
What do I want them to do about it?
Your challenge will probably not be finding the one point, but eliminating the three.
The process of developing a one-point message can be broken down as follows:
Dig until you find it.
The reason the one thing usually comes late in the game is that sermon preparation is a discovery process.
Build everything around it.
Make it stick.
Craft a single statement or phrase that makes it stick. It needs to be as memorable as possible. Here are some examples:
“Your friends determine the direction and quality of your life.”
“Purity paves the way to intimacy.”
“When you see as God sees, you will do as God says.”
“Everybody spends forever somewhere.”
“Good people don’t go to heaven, forgiven people do.”
“Others first.”
“Maximum freedom is found under God’s authority.
CREATE A MAP.
A good map will allow you to find the best and most effective course for arriving at your destination. This is not the same as an outline. Outlines are designed to organize thoughts and ideas.
Me-We-God-You-We
- ME – Orientation – Example: “Sometimes I find myself wondering how to respond to situations in my marriage.”
- WE – Identification – Example: “I imagine you have found yourself in situations where you weren’t sure what to do either.”
Don’t transition from WE to the next section until you feel like you have created a tension that your audience is dying for you to resolve. In other words, assume no interest.
- GOD – Illumination – Example: “The Bible teaches that we are to submit to one another; put the desires and needs of our spouse ahead of our own needs and desires.”
- YOU – Application – Example: “Next time you aren’t sure what to say or do, ask yourself this question, ‘How can I put the needs and desires of my spouse ahead of my own in this moment?’”
This is where we answer the questions “So what?” and “Now what?”
Think through the following questions during your time of study:
How does this apply to me? To my family relationships? To my relationships in the community of faith? To my relationships with those outside the faith? To the marketplace?
How does this apply to teenagers and college students? Singles? Newlyweds? Parents? Empty nesters?
How does this apply to believers? Nonbelievers? I often address unbelievers at this point in the message. If there is an application for them, I make it… When a message does not apply to an unbeliever, I let them know that as well. In fact, I usually let them know up front. I often say something to the effect of, “If you are not a believer, you are off the hook today. Just sit back and relax… In fact, today’s message may give you another reason to put off becoming a follower of Christ.”
- WE – Inspiration – Example: “Imagine what would happen in our community if all of us began to model that kind of mutual submission before our friends and neighbours.”
This final component of the message is an opportunity for you to re-join your audience as you did in the beginning of the message when you circled up around your shared frailty, questions, misgivings, or temptations. WE is really about vision casting…
FIND SOME TRACTION
WHAT DO YOU DO WHEN YOU’RE STUCK?
Pray!
I go through a list of questions that help me evaluate if I’m on the right path for the journey and then for helping me get started again…
What do they need to know? INFORMATION
Why do they need to know it? MOTIVATION
What do they need to do? APPLICATION
Why do they need to do it? INSPIRATION
How can I help them remember? REITERATION
Please have your outline ready for to proof read two weeks prior to you delivering you message. Email it to: rob@epicentrechurch.com.au
You are going to do great. Can't wait to read it, and can't wait to hear you deliver it.