Sermon Worksheet

The following is a guide that I use and isn't original with me - I borrowed it from others ...feel free to use.

Step 1 Choose the Passage to be preached.
Passage:______________________________
Step 2 Study Your passage and Gather your notes.
A. Did you read the book of which the passage is a part?____
B. What introductions to the book did you read (in commentaries, study Bibles, dictionaries, encyclopedias, online etc)?


Biblical author?______________________Date Written________________
To whom Written?_____________________________________
Historical situation:


C. What is the topic of the passage immediately preceding yours?
D. What is the topic of the passage immediately following yours?
E. Versions or translations in which you read your passage (Circle all that apply)
KJV NIV NASV RSV Greek/Hebrew Interlinear
Other:
Any interesting differences between translations?

F. Any interesting or obscure details, background, terms, figures of speech in the passage.
G. Check and/or list the reference works you used to examine the individual words and details of your passage.
General:
___Young, Analytical Concordance
___ Strong, Exhaustive Concordance
___ Guthrie, New Testament Introduction
___ Richards, Expository Dictionary of Bible Words
___ Vine, Expository Dictionary of Biblical Words
___ New Bible Dictionary
___ NIV Exhaustive Concordance
___ Zondervan Pictorial Encyclopedia
___ Nave’s Topical Bible

Other: _____________________

Old Testament commentaries or resources used:


New Testament:

H. What important names, places, events or theological terms appear in your passage?


Step 3 What is the Central Idea (Exegetical idea) of the Passage and How does the Biblical Writer Develop it?

1. Subject (What is he talking about?)
2. Complements (what does he say about the subject)
3. In a single sentence, state the central (exegetical) idea of the passage (combine the subject and complement)
4. Give a brief outline of the Biblical writer’s development of the idea.


Step 4 Does the Biblical Writer develop His idea through narrative, explanation, proof, application or some combination?


Step 5 Determine the Purpose of the Sermon
A. What did the Biblical writer expect his readers to do?

B. What should your audience do as a result of hearing your sermon?


Step 6 State the thesis sentence (Homiletical idea) of your sermon:


Step 7 How should your thesis primarily be developed to accomplish your purpose?
___ as an idea to be explained
___ as a proposition to be proved
___ As a principle to be applied
___ as a story to be told

Step 8 Outline the Body of the Sermon
Thesis (From Step 6)

Action word: (Circle one) Can Should Must Are Other:_______

Question the thesis (Circle one)
How? (Respond by ….)
Why? (Respond because ….)
What? (Respond There are …)
When? (Respond There are …)
Where?(Respond There are …)
Who? (Respond There are …)

Key Word: (Example: principles, reasons, truths)

Major points that answer the question:
I.
II.
III.
Iv.
V.

Step 9 Fill in the outline with supporting material that explains, proves, applies or amplifies the points.

Step 10 Write the introduction and the conclusion.

Step 11: Practice until you know it thoroughly and can preach it with a minimum reliance upon your notes.

Bibliography
Davis, Ken How to Speak to Youth. Loveland, Co: Group, 1986.
McCarty, C. Barry. Advanced Preaching Lecture Notes. Roanoke Bible College. Elizabeth City, NC. 1984.
Robinson, Haddon. Biblical Preaching. Grand Rapids. Baker. 1980.