Some sermons are as clear as ancient Hebrew!

How to Preach Clearly

Dr Rick Griffith, Singapore Bible Collegewww.biblestudydownloads.com

Be Clear!

NO STOPPING ANY TIME?

Evolution of the Apple Logo

1976

1976-1998

1998-present

Doolittle's Point of No Return1942

B-25 BomberIntended bombing route

Intended carrier routeActual bombing route

Actual carrier route

"Point of No Return" (Books & Sermons)67

1 2 3 4 16 18 19 2017 21

Reading

Preaching

Pages (or Minutes)

Subject MPI MPII MI

Subject MPI MPII MI

Reading versus Listening

What the Preacher Said:

SubjectI.

A.B.

1.2.

II.MI

What the People Heard:

SubjectI.A.B.1.2.II.MI

How can we resolve this?

• Repeat key points

• Restate key points

28

"A mist in the pulpit…"

"…is a FOG in the pew"

Haddon Robinson aptly says…

from Biblical Preaching

Be clear about your viewpoint!

Of course, there may be other interpretations.

Subject: Today we'll see how to speak to unbelievers properly.

I. Speak graciously (6a).

II. Speak with purity (6b).

III. Speak appropriately to each one (6c).

MI: Speak gracious, pure, appropriate words to each unbeliever.

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Clarity Throughout: Check Your Flow

b. Subject

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Clarity in Your Introduction

a. Main Idea

c. MP I

2. Clearly lead toward one of these three:

b. Restate it (use different words).

a. Repeat it (use same words).

1. To emphasize each key sentence either:

3. Share relevant background before text.

Share only relevant background

Give background before text

Background TextNeed

1.Repetition (same words)

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Clarity in the Body

2. Restatement (different words)

I. Speak gracious words (6a).Speak gracious words.

I. Speak gracious words (6a).[Talk in an enfolding way.]

Restatement Exercises

S: God shows his grace by protecting His own people

R: God shows his grace to those who belong to Him.

69

Yes No Problems#1

How grace shown not restated

Restatement Exercises

S: To do greater things for God, the Israelites had to trust in God's continuous providence

R: He had done this many times to them and He would continue to do so

69

Yes No Problems#2

Israelite action changed to God's action

Restatement Exercises

S: We should demonstrate our faith by obeying God's ways of help unquestioningly

R: Israelites showed their faith by obeying God's unorthodox strategies

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Yes No Problems#3

"We" changes to "Israelites"

Restatement Exercises

S: If you love God, you will obey Him

R: Obedience and love for God go together

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Yes No Problems#4

Restatement Exercises

S: Prayer should be the Christian's highest priority

R: Your communication with God must come before everything else

69

Yes No Problems#5

Title Over Black

"Well, actually, the sermon didn't quite meet my needs. Where do I go to get a

refund on my offering?"

Subject: How can we know how to speak to non-Christians (Col. 4:6c)?

Transitions Advance Thought 68

I. Speak gracious words (6a)A. B.

(Whatever is in your transition goes here within the parentheses)

A. B.

II. Speak wise words (6b)

Subject: How can we know how to speak to non-Christians (Col. 4:6c)?

Types of Transitions 68

I. Speak gracious words (6a)A. B.

(What's the second way to speak to non-Christians?)

A. B.

II. Speak wise words (6b)

Subject: How can we know how to speak to non-Christians (Col. 4:6c)?

Types of Transitions 68

I. Speak gracious words (6a)A. B.

(We saw that we must speak gracious words to non-Christians. Now…)

A. B.

II. Speak wise words (6b)

Subject: How can we know how to speak to non-Christians (Col. 4:6c)?

Types of Transitions 68

I. Speak gracious words (6a)A. B.

(The second way to speak to non-Christians is to…)

A. B.

II. Speak wise words (6b)

Subject: How can we know how to speak to non-Christians (Col. 4:6c)?

Types of Transitions 68

I. Speak gracious words (6a)

(The second way to speak to non-Christians is to…)II. Speak wise words (6b)

(The first way to speak to non-Christians is to…)

1. Repetition

2. Restatement

3. Transitions

4. Key Words

68

Clarity in the Body

Repeat Key Words

Subject: How can you fathers avoid provoking your children to anger (Eph. 6:4)?

I. We should not exasperate them

II. Teach your children.

II. We can avoid this by teaching them

(A second way we can avoid provoking our children to anger is…)

I. Don't exasperate your children.

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?

? ??

1. Repetition

2. Restatement

3. Transitions

4. Key Words

5. Deductive Development

68

Clarity in the Body

In rare cases, when you feel the need to develop the MP inductively, put it in parentheses on your outline:

State MPs Deductively

Tell the audience the point of the verse/passage before you read it.

Page 48 top (MPI) Page 49 top (MPI)

Preview the conclusion of a point before you begin explaining it.

68

Subject: When church growth problems arise, how should we solve them?

Simple Inductive (Acts 6:1-6)49

(I. The apostles solved the growth problem with lay leadership)

A. Their church was growing (1a)B. They had a food problem (1b)C. They designated leaders (2-6)

II. The solution to the problems of a growing church is lay leaders (MI)

III. The solution to our problems… (APP)Don Sunukjian, DTS

(=EI)Inductively developed

MPI

(=EI)

In rare cases, when you feel the need to develop the MP inductively, put it in parentheses on your outline:

State MPs Deductively

Tell the audience the point of the verse/passage before you read it.

Page 48 top (MPI) Page 49 top (MPI) Page 59 top (MPII)

Preview the conclusion of a point before you begin explaining it.

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Clarity in the Conclusion

• Repeat the Subject

• State the Homiletical Idea (HI)

• Repeat the Main Points (MPs)

• Drive it home with a clear story

"He is the Alpha and Omega, the A and the Z, the beginning and end."

Use Movement68

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Clarity in the Body

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Full sentence Main Points

Transitions

Illustrations

Movement

Repeat the subject

Black

Homiletics link at biblestudydownloads.com

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