John R. W. Stott gave this advice on constructing the sermon outline in chapter six in Between Two Worlds: There must be structure to subordinate our material to the theme of the sermon. One danger is a too prominent outline like the protruding skeleton of a starving prisoner of war. Double or triple alliteration of main points is an example. Another danger is artificiality of outline.
After you have determined what is the one action the passage is demanding, you will phrase that one demand into the proposition. You can read the two posts on propositions entitled “Proposition: The Sermon Reduced to One Sentence,” Part 1 and 2.
Next fill out the How/Why work sheet (See below). Having studied your passage, list the steps how the proposition can be preformed found in the text, which will fall under the How section. Then list the reasons why the proposition should be preformed found in the text which will fall under the Why section.
Proposition
________ _______ _______ _______
Subject Ought Word Active Verb Object
Interrogative Sentence
| Why | How |
| Because… Scripture
1. 2. 3. 4. 5. |
By… Scripture
1. 2. 3. 4. 5. |
Select either the reasons or the steps which better develop the proposition in your text.
When writing out your main divisions the following instructions should be followed.
1) Main divisions should be comprehensive i.e., cover all the verses in that main division.
2) Main divisions should be parallel. See letter c).
a) Not necessarily alliterated
b) Alliteration sometimes sounds artificial and force. Alliteration can blur the true meaning.
c) If you chose reasons for developing your proposition, then your main divisions will begin with “Because” as in the example below and this will make your divisions parallel. If you chose steps for developing your proposition, then your main divisions will begin with “By” and be paralleled.
3) Main divisions should be mutually exclusive (a unit in itself and not overlapping another point)
4) Main divisions should be phrased with force (like the proposition)
a) Action verb and not a state of being verb
b) Active voice not the passive
c) Affirmative and not negative
The following is an example from Ephesians 1:4-14.
Proposition: We must praise God for His salvation blessings.
Interrogative sentence: Why must we praise God for His salvation blessings?
Transition sentence: We must praise God for His salvation blessings for the following reasons:
I. Because God the Father choose us (Eph. 1:4-6)
II. Because God the Son redeemed us (Eph. 1:7-12)
III. Because God the Holy Spirit sealed us (Eph. 1:13-14)
A. The Sealing of the Holy Spirit happens after we hear God’s Word (v. 13a)
B. The Sealing of the Holy Spirit takes place when we believe (v. 13b)
C. The Sealing of the Holy Spirit guarantees our future redemption (v. 14a)
D. The Sealing of the Holy Spirit should cause us to praise God (v. 14b)
(These sub-points do not need to be stated as sub-points in your preaching. Just cover them in as you preach through these verses or your people will get lost in the outline. Do not have too many sub-divisions of sub-divisions)
In the next post, I will start my discussion on Step 5: Develop the sermon outline. Step 5 will take alot of time on the four rhetorical processes: Explanation, Argumentation, Illustration, and Application.
Dr. White,
Do you think there is a place for alliteration in an outline? I have always thought it was too artificial so I never used it. However I am starting to find out many others think the same way. I love what Adrian Rogers says he used when crafting a sermon. He asked three questions – what? so what? now what? Thanks for the post look forward to part 2.
Scott
I used to alliterate alot. Now I avoid alliteration unless it is obvious.
There are many types of sermons preached everyday and like anything eles the sermon should have structure with an easy flow feeling. I have not preached semron except for devotionals time on Wednesday evening services. I try to keep to the point and use what time I have wisely if possible.
[...] For the traditional deductive sermon state see (Seven Steps to Preparing a Sermon, Step 4 (Construct The Sermon Outline) for the transition from the proposition to the first main point in a traditional [...]
how can I construct sermon
I want to learn how to consturct sermon
I am glad to hear your of your desire. I would suggest you start at step one and work your way through step seven. These are the steps I take the preachers through at the Bible College where I teach.
I’m glad you said to avoid alliteration. For some reason it has always bugged me. I couldn’t remember the main point because I was trying to remember the words behind the alliteration.
It is helpful to see how this is all coming together. I have seen some rather forced alliteration in sermons before. Sometimes it makes me wonder if they cut anything out because it did not fit into their alliteration scheme.
I could never get into allieteration but it seems like a lot of pastors use. It frustrated me cause it was harder for me to have alliteration
“Alliteration” It is hard to have I agree. Imoprtant tho
I enjoyed that part about not breaking down and outline so much that the audiance gets lost in it. This will really help me when thinking about making my outline for sermons, and making sure that it is full of great wonderful truth and information, yet still simple for everyone to understand and grasp.