HOMILETICS I

Prof. Abraham BRUNO H.

I. CONCEPTS:

A. HOMILETICS:

Homiletics has traditionally been defined as the science

from preaching. In practice, Orlando Costas states, "it is nothing more than the
technique of building or preparing sermons." However, we must also add
that it is not a simple preparation. When Scripture tells us that everything that
do it for the glory of God, this includes the preparation of
sermons. Now, this preparation is of no value if we are not willing to
to preach with our lives, and above all, if we do not have the anointing of the Spirit
of God.

B. PREDICATION:

The mandate of Jesus Christ was 'Go into all the world and preach
the gospel to every creature..."; but they somehow were
previouslyTRAINED!. Preaching is a dynamic act in which
God addresses men, challenging them to choose to accept or reject the work.
Redeemer Jesus. Preaching is an integral act of worship to God. It is
an eschatological act because it is relevant in this final era. It is the instrument
by excellence of the Spirit for the salvation of men.

Orlando Costas writes: "Preaching is a communicative act."

Communicating is sharing, and by virtue of that sharing, having certain
concepts and attitudes or experiences in common with other people. To preach is,
Well, sharing Christ with other people and thus introducing them to a relationship.
intimate with God.

José Martinez adds: "It is communication in the form of speech"

oral, of the divine message deposited in the Holy Scripture, with the power of
Holy Spirit and through a suitable person, in order to meet the needs
spirituals of the auditorium.

II. THE NATURE OF PREDICATION:

A. THE THEOLOGICAL SENSE OF PREACHING:

It follows from the fact that preaching is the transmission of a

message that originates from God, and is transmitted by His order. In this sense,
it has the following characters:

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 1. ITS THEOLOGICAL CHARACTER:

Preaching has its starting point in the love of God, and in

the revelation of that love. Thus, preaching derives its energy from the power of
God, therefore, is a powerful message.

The preaching receives its authority from God. It is

authoritative because the one who preaches is not the preacher, but GOD THROUGH
FROM THE PREACHER, so that the preached word comes to be
truly the word of God.

2. ITS CHRISTOLOGICAL CHARACTER:

In preaching, not only should IDEAS be shared about

Christ, but also the REALITY of his person, related in everything
order of things: social, economic, political, cultural, educational, religious.

3. HIS EVANGELICAL CHARACTER:

It is so because it prominently announces the activity of God in

Christ in favor of humanity. His ultimate purpose is to obtain a response from
faith and dedication to Jesus Christ. That is to say, preaching aims to announce the
gospel and its implications for all of life.

4. ITS ANTHROPOLOGICAL CHARACTER:

Preaching fulfills its purpose when it penetrates into the life of the
men and influences their behavior. Preaching is directed at man
as a being separated from God, and therefore, outside the boundaries of the family of
God. Understood in this sense, preaching calls man to communion of
the church.

5. ITS ECCLESIASTICAL CHARACTER:

Preaching makes the church aware of the reality of its

position in Christ, and of his current life. His nature is to develop awareness in the
members of the Christian community, that they belong to the people of God, to the new
humanity, to a kingdom of priests and to a new holy nation; to a community
apostolic, prophetic, and pilgrim.

Preaching must also raise awareness in the church of how

is living that reality, and how he is fulfilling his calling.

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 6. ITS ESCHATOLOGICAL CHARACTER:

This is so because it belongs to the last times. It has to

see the kingdom announced by Jesus, as it invites men to participate in a
new order of life.

It also has an eschatological character because it confronts man with two

future possibilities: condemnation or salvation. Preaching not only compels you to
reflect on the future, but also to make a decision regarding the alternatives
what is in their future.

7. HIS PERSUASIVE CHARACTER:

In persuasion, it is about changing the attitude or attitudes, and the belief or

belief of one or more people. The aim is to reach a decision regarding the
message that is communicated.

8. HIS SPIRITUAL CHARACTER:

It stems from the fact of being a witnessing act of the Holy Spirit. It is He.
who finalizes and delivers the message predicated in such a way that the listeners are
persuaded. In this sense, the Holy Spirit not only enlightens the recipient, so that
understand the spirit of the message, but also convinces him of sin and his
need for Christ.

Make that message penetrate the heart in such a way that it comes true.
that transfer of meanings, and there is a change of mind and attitude, a response
of faith and obedience to Christ.

Here, the importance of a life of prayer in preaching,

because it is through prayer that the preacher expresses his dependence on the person
and by the work of the Holy Spirit. (Rom.8:26)

9. ITS LITURGICAL CHARACTER:

We understand liturgy as the worship that the church offers to its God, or the
public worship as an expression of service. Preaching is an integral aspect of
the public worship of the church. As such, it has a threefold function:

a. Unify public worship.

b. Makes the victory of the gospel current.

c. Provides the theme of the cult.

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 B. PREACHING AS A COMMUNICATIVE PROCESS:

1. PREACHING AND COMMUNICATION:

Preaching involves a mental and emotional process;

constitutes a social interaction experience in which ideas are shared,
attitudes and feelings towards other people, in order to modify or influence
his behavior.

This definition places communication in the perspective of a

process that involves dynamics, movement, action. It encompasses the generation,
reception, the interpretation and the integration of ideas.

The purpose of every communicative act is to influence someone or

modify their behavior. Thus, preaching, before being just a simple giving and receiving
static, where the preacher is the one who gives and the congregation is the one that receives, is in
in any case, a dynamic activity and an experience of social interaction that
it affects and is affected by the body and the senses, thought and words,
the feelings and attitudes, the movements and actions, the attention and the
understanding, both of the preacher and of the congregation.

2. PREDICACION, SERMON, PREDICADOR Y CONGREGACION:

Every sermon constitutes a response to a certain situation.

provocative. In a general sense, it can be said that the sermon is a
response to the demands of traditional Christian liturgy. But it is also
consequence of salvation, also the result of a human need.

The interaction between preacher and message is intensified by the

congregation and its responses. This is where the process of enters.
FEEDBACK, this is understood as the retroactive process of
the medium through which the receiver of a message provides information to the sender.
agreement with the feedback received from the members of the congregation,
the preacher modifies and reorganizes the sound and optical waves that
they compose the sermon. If the preacher does not pay attention to these reflex effects
of their audience (facial expressions, body movements, etc.), runs the
danger of their sermon being heard but not listened to, or listened to but not
understood.

Preaching needs to be understood, studied, and practiced.

light of this dynamic interaction between preacher, sermon, and congregation for two
reasons:

a. Because preaching takes place in a context that involves both the preacher and
the sermon, as to the congregation.

b. Because the objective of preaching is for these three elements to meet

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and they harmonize.

3. PREACHING AND OCCASION:

The preacher needs to know not only how to prepare sermons,

but also how to present them, taking into account the historical context
concrete that is served. It requires, above all, a sharp sensitivity to the
reactions of the congregation, to non-verbal communication and to the dynamics of
moment.

III. THE PREPARATION OF THE SERMON:

A. ITS CONSTRUCTION:

THE RHETORICAL ASPECT:

Rhetoric is the science of good speaking for communication.

From this, it follows that every sermon must be within the boundaries of rhetoric.

Traditionally, rhetoric has been characterized by five

laws:

a. THE INVENTION:

Trata con el descubrimiento de ideas para un discurso.

b. THE ARRAY:

Deals with the organization of the discovered material, in

logical and progressive order.

c. THE STYLE:

It is the way to express or write ideas

discovered and fixed.

d. THE MEMORY:

It deals with the retention of ideas or thoughts, in such

so that they can be reproduced.

e. THE PRESENTATION:

It deals with the transmission of the discovered ideas,

arranged, phrased, and memorized. The creation of the sermon, then,
deals with the discovery and analysis of ideas and thoughts to be
developed, phrased, and presented in a logical and persuasive manner.

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 It is in the process of construction where the preacher saturates.
What is going to be said. A weak construction phase will result in a weak sermon.
weak.

The construction process includes at least the following

steps:

1. The determination of purpose.

2. The selection of a biblical basis.

3. The determination of the matter.

4. The determination of the theme.

5. Biblical analysis:

a. The analysis of the context of the passage.

b. The analysis of the subject of the passage.

Next, let's look at each of them:

2. THE DETERMINATION OF THE PURPOSE OF THE SERMON:

a. IMPORTANCE:

It is based on the following reasons:

Every message requires a 'for what.'

What am I going to share? Is it an uplifting message, a challenge?

What do I hope the congregation understands and does?

The sermon is a means and not an end.

I'm not going to preach a topic because I dislike someone, or just

to address a particular group. I must not forget that what I am going to
sharing is not something that was born in my carnal mind; rather, in what
God puts in my heart.

3) The purpose is the starting point of the message:

The determination of purpose governs the choice of text

biblical, influences the formulation of the theme, indicates which materials of
which ones are suitable and which ones are not, advises the best order for
the divisions of the message, and determine the way in which the message must

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 to be completed.

b. PROPOSITOS GENERALES:

1) Keep the communicative purpose in mind:

That is to say, to influence the behavior of others directly or indirectly.

This fact encompasses two dimensions:

a) TAKE INTO ACCOUNT WHO THE MESSAGE IS ADDRESSED TO:

Here it is necessary to distinguish the two types of receivers or listeners that

there are in an auditorium: the 'intentional' receptors and 'non-intentional' receptors
intentional.

This distinction is necessary for two reasons: On one hand, the preacher
It can affect people who it was not their intention. On the other hand, the preacher can
to be criticized for what has been said has come to the knowledge of people to
who the message was not addressed to.

a) BE AWARE OF THE CLASS OF EFFECT THAT IS

WAIT TO PRODUCE:

To do this, it is necessary to determine if a purpose is being pursued

CONSUMMATED OR INSTRUMENTAL. A 'consummated purpose' is one that
that is fully achieved at the moment of its receipt. A "purpose
"Instrumental" is one that does not seek a final answer, but rather an answer that
serve as an instrument for a broader response.

In summary, from the perspective of communication, there are

less four ways to influence the behavior of others:

1st Through the transformation of information.

2nd By reinforcing existing positive attitudes.

3rd Through the promotion of new attitudes.

4th Through the alteration of existing attitudes, by new attitudes.

2) TAKE INTO ACCOUNT THE GENERAL PURPOSES OF THE

PREDICATION:

These purposes arise from the biblical-theological sense of the

preaching, which are:

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 a) THE KERYGMATIC PURPOSE:

What has to do with the clear and simple presentation of the gospel,
and with its application to the need for the redemption of man.

b) THE TEACHING PURPOSE:

Tiene que ver con la enseñanza directa de todo el consejo de Dios,

and its application to human needs.

c) THE PASTORAL PURPOSE:

In pastoral preaching, the sermon not only has a focus

inspiring or comforting and consoling, but also challenging.

These three purposes need to be combined, otherwise

directly, at least indirectly.

Keeping in mind what has been explained, it will be formulated in a sentence.

complete grammar, the specific purpose of your sermon, but it will not be included in your
outline

EXAMPLE: John 3:16

RECEPTORS:

Unconversant people who may be hearing the gospel for the first time or
Christians (some fervent in faith, others with problems of faith).

EXPECTED EFFECT TO BE PRODUCED:

Create awareness of the saving power of Christ; bring them to a

personal encounter with faith in Christ. (Didactic/Kerygmatic Purpose)

SPECIFIC PURPOSE:

Declare, in light of biblical testimony, about the saving power of Christ;

in order to create a dynamic encounter between Christ and the congregation.

3. THE SELECTION OF A BIBLICAL BASE:

This is a biblical passage or idea on which the sermon will be based.

It is important to keep in mind that there are biblical ideas that need to be exposed to
the light of the entirety of the Scriptures, and that sometimes it is better to present them in the form of
theme and with a biblical depth, that limits them to a single passage that takes away
substance.

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 The selection of a biblical basis requires the preacher to follow the following
principles.

a. It must be within its limitations: cultural, social, intellectual,...

b. It must contribute to the satisfaction of the congregation's needs.

c. It must be guided by the will of the Lord (Taking into account the guidance of the Spirit)
through a daily reading of the Scriptures, or through circumstances
especiales).

It must be a portion or idea that is "made flesh" in our heart.

e. It must respond to a 'balanced biblical diet' (select doctrinal passages,

biographical, historical, devotional, etc.

It must be a foundation that emphasizes the positive aspects of the Christian faith.

g. It must be a foundation that appeals to our imagination, that is, for the listeners.
They live in their mind what is being shared.

4. THE DETERMINATION OF THE SUBJECT:

The subject is that which the passage is about. It establishes the nature.
from the content of the sermon.
The matter is determined through a single word. Let's see some examples:

THANKSGIVING HOPE FORGIVENESS

WORSHIP EXPIATION CONCERNS
AFFLICTION FE REDEMPTION
PRAISE GRACE RESURRECTION
LOVE HELL SACRIFICE
ANGELS TRIAL HOLINESS
Baptism JUSTIFICATION SECOND COMING
SKY THE CROSS TERROR
COMMITMENT THE CHURCH TESTIFY
COMMUNION THE STEWARDSHIP WORK
CONSCIOUSNESS LAW UNIT
CHRIST MISSIONS VALENTIA
Discipleship DEATH
BROTHERHOOD
DIVORCE OBEDIENCE HONOR
OWN DOMAIN PRAYER HUMILITY
HOLY SPIRIT PATIENCE IDOLATRY
THE SIN PEACE

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 The determination of the matter depends on:

a. OF THE PURPOSE OF THE SERMON:

Is it evangelistic, pastoral, or didactic?

b. FROM THE BIBLICAL BASIS OF THE SERMON:

Is it biographical, doctrinal, ethical, or narrative?

NOTE: THE MULTIPLE APPROACH:

A passage can have one or more emphases or focuses. In such a case,

one should opt for the issue to which the passage gives more emphasis or that issue that
it aligns more with his sermonic purpose.

5. THE DETERMINATION OF THE THEME:

The topic is the particular aspect of the matter that needs to be addressed.
developed throughout the message. A biblical passage normally has only one
subject but many topics. A sermon; however, it has not only a subject but
also a single theme.

The theme of the sermon should be a brief, clear phrase that encompasses
the substance of the sermon. As an example, let us take the subject of prayer. From "the
"We can derive at least 10 topics:"

1st The scope of the prayer.

The power of prayer.
3rd The privilege of prayer.
4th The purpose of the prayer.
5th The value of the sentence.
6th The need, the methods, the problems, the results, the worship through
from the sentence.

The determination of the sermon topic can be done through

various channels:

a. Through the analysis of the matter. This analysis can be done not only
When the biblical bases are an extensive portion, but also when it is a
idea, phrase or text. The preacher will be able to use the same principles that are
they mention in the 'analysis of the matter.'

b. Through the "multiple approach". This approach consists of an analysis of

passage, the idea, the phrase, or the biblical text from various angles. For example,
let's take the passage of Philip and the Ethiopian eunuch in Acts 8:26-40.

From Felipe's point of view:

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 BASIC CONDITIONS FOR GIVING AN EFFECTIVE TESTIMONY:

I. It must be done with tact. (v.30)

II. There must be sensitivity to the direction of the Spirit. (vv. 26,27,29,30)

III. You must make use of the Scriptures. (vv.32-35)

IV. You must present yourself to Jesus. (v.35)

V. There must be a follow-up process. (vv.37-38)

From the Ethiopian's point of view:

STEPS FOR SALVATION:

I. Being open to the truth. (vv.28, 31)

II. Understand. (v.30)
III. To believe. (v.37)
IV. Obey. (v.38)

6. THE BIBLICAL ANALYSIS:

a. THE ANALYSIS OF THE CONTEXT:

Here everything necessary is detailed: personal characteristics,

family, cultural, social, geographical, spiritual, etc.

We respond to the following:

Who was the author?

2) Who were the recipients of the message?

3) On what date or political era did the message take place?

Where was the message given?

5) On what occasion?, What motivated the message?

6) What was the main purpose for giving it?

b. THE ANALYSIS OF THE PASSAGE OR TEXT:

At this point, it is about dividing the passage into parts, to observe

the development of its structure and thought. This must be prepared in the form of

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 sketch in our 'worksheet'.

To divide the passage, please consider:

The need to read the text several times.

2) Observe the change of persons in the narration.

3) Note the change of time, place, or incident.

4) Consider the grouping of ideas, similarities, comparisons.

5) Discover contrasts, opposition or exchange of ideas.

6) Note any indications of cause and effect.

7) Note any traditional phrase or connective word: 'therefore, so that, thus'

so, well, now well, finally, but,...

d. THE ANALYSIS OF THE SUBJECT:

1) IF THE MATTER IS BIOGRAPHICAL OR NARRATIVE,

MUCH OF THE DATA RELATED TO THE CHARACTER
CENTRAL, INCIDENT OR MIRACLE, HAS BEEN OBTAINED NOW IN THE
ANALISIS DEL CONTEXTO; SIN EMBARGO, HAYCIERTAS
ADDITIONAL QUESTIONS TO CONSIDER:

a) What are the conclusions of the passage? Does it end in failure or in

Victoria?

b) What indirect or direct promises are there?

c) What errors or sins of life are we urged to avoid?

d) How is God the Father, Christ, or the Holy Spirit related to the
subject?

2) IF THE MATTER IS OF A DOCTRINAL NATURE:

a) What is the meaning of the words in the subject?

b) What results can the application of this doctrine have?

c) What is the relationship between faith and this doctrine?

What is the main teaching of such doctrine?

3) IF THE MATTER IS OF AN ETHICAL NATURE:

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 a) What do the words of the subject mean?

b) When this ethical principle is put into practice, what relationships

establishes between the person and God, and between the person and their neighbor?

c) How can this ethical principle be implemented in the experience of the

persona?

d) What is the relationship of this principle with other ethical principles?

B. ITS ADAPTATION:

IMPORTANCE:

A speech will have all the power it is capable of, only when the parties
that have a common purpose, are closely united, fitted exactly
when they mutually support and help each other, like the stones of the same
arch.

2. THE SIX RHETORICAL PROCESSES:

It is important to keep in mind what a sermon is: a speech

systematic, adapted to the popular mentality, based on a biblical truth,
prepared and presented in order to persuade men to believe and to act
about the truth presented.

a. NARRATION:

It is given in the introduction, consisting of biblical data, background

historical, etc.

b. INTERPRETATION:

1) Through paraphrases, definitions,...

2) Through journalistic questions:

¿quién?, ¿cómo?, ¿cuándo?, ¿dónde?, ...

c. ILLUSTRATION.

d. APPLICATION.

e. ARGUMENTATION:

No controversy. It involves logical reasoning, response to

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 questions that the congregation raises, anticipation of situations and
responses to objections, logical proof and introduction of evidence

f. EXHORTATION.

3. THE PROPOSITION:

It is the topic expressed in a complete, clear grammatical sentence.

concise, summarizing the content of the message and announcing the course to follow or the
purpose that one wants to achieve. Examples:

Each person must accept Christ as the Lord and Savior of their life.

Every human being must be a participant in salvation.

It is better to acknowledge Jesus Christ as Lord in the present than in the beyond.

In chapter two of his letter, James develops the ethical concept of faith,
highlighting several negative aspects of faith without works that hinder the Christian
true, to practice a genuine faith.

Faith is accepting the truth of God.

Love is giving oneself to another person without calculating the cost.

What are the benefits of prayer?

Let's think about the many benefits that prayer brings!

4. THE 7 QUESTIONS OF THE SERMON:

The question is a query that is made as a result of the

proposition. They are the tools that help establish the bridge between the
proposition and the body of the sermon.

Let's look at each of them:

INTRODUCE:

WHO? Sequence of people to be numbered, identified or

included in the application of some principle.
Which one? Sequence of things, selections or alternatives.

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WHAT? Sequence of meanings, definitions, characteristics,...
Why? Sequence of reasons or objections.
WHEN? Sequence of time, stages, or conditions.
WHERE? Sequence of places, origins, causes,...
How? Sequence of methods and forms.

5. THE LINK WORD:

It is that tool through which characteristics can be defined.

in a single word, the main divisions of a sermon.

With a linking word, each main division has a relationship.

logic that gives a logical proportion to the theme. This prevents the preacher from
I wandered through the desert of the communicative act, and it forces him to maintain coherence.
about the main points:

Abuses Destinations Needs

Attitudes Examples Levels
Accusations Errors Objections
Warnings Evidence Obligations
Alternatives Exhortations Obstacles
Warnings Phases Opportunities
Applications Factors Steps
Barriers Faults Dangers
Blessings Failures Possibilities
Benefits Degrees Principles
Causes Facts Processes
Classes Implications Tests
Commitments Instructions Reasons
Conditions Trials Resources
Consequences Lessons Remedies
Criteria Calls Requirements
Weaknesses Media Results
Decisions Methods Secrets
Demands Mysteries Topics
Challenges Reasons Values
Virtues

6. THE TRANSITIONAL SENTENCE:

It is a rhetorical bridge that links the proposition with the divisions.

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 main points of the sermon. Examples:

Proposition: "Temptation can be resisted."

Question: How?

Transitional sentence:

Like Christ, we can resist temptation by filling

(Response to the question) (proposition)

the following conditions:

Link word

Proposition: "Each person must accept the love of God"

Question: Why?

Transitional sentence:

For several simple reasons in 1 Cor. 13:1-8, each

(Response to interrogation) (linking word)

a person must accept the love of God.

Proposition

The psychosis of the gadarenes is similar to the spiritual psychosis of today's man, in
the sense that both show the same characteristics:

7. THE MAIN DIVISIONS:

They are the answers to the questions raised by the proposition.

For example: Each person must accept the love of God:

(Why) (Reasons)

I. Because the love of God is eternal.

II. Because the love of God is true.

III. Because the love of God is real.

There should be no repetition of the same ideas in the divisions.

main. It must be no less than two and no more than five. They must have shape
parallel. If the first point is a question, the 2nd and the 3rd must also be.
serlo.

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 The divisions can be announced:

a. By ordinal numbers: In first, second place

b. By means of the linking word:

c. For a recap of the proposal:

This man was condemned, not because he was rich, but because he did not want to.
recognize the signals of your world (first point), did not want to pay attention to the
spiritual needs (second point), above all, because he did not want to
recognize the Word of God (third point)

d. Through verbal forms: let us notice, let us observe, let us consider, etc.

8. THE SECONDARY DIVISIONS:

These must be no less than two, they are not announced but they must be
there is parallelism between them.

Se pueden desarrollar a través de:

a. INTERROGATION: Apply the questions to each main point

interrogatives.

b. EXPOSITION: Describing, comparing, contrasting.

c. ARGUMENTATION: Use of evidence and testimonies.

d. APPLICATION: Concrete experiences of the listeners.

e. EXHORTATION: (With care, although it belongs more to the point of the

conclusion).

f. ILLUSTRATION.

g. IMAGINARY CONVERSATIONS...

9. THE CONCLUSION:

It is the part of the sermon that unwinds its content and makes its unity.
clearly visible.
a. PURPOSES:

1) Summarize the main ideas and refresh the audience's mind.

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 Print the exposed truth, with a final impact, in the memory of
listener.

Bring everything to a burning focal point of personal encounter with Jesus.

life of the listener.

4) To deliver the vital and eternal matters of the gospel to the decision of the
listener, persuading him to choose Jesus Christ.

5) Suggest a course of action.

Indicate a happy and favorable contrast, with a rigid and severe truth.

b. CHARACTERISTICS:

The conclusion should be brief, clear, full of freshness, variety and

vigor; practicable and of great personal naturalness, positive and persuasive. It must
to be written in the form of an outline, memorized and characterized by points
parallels. It must have an opening sentence, which should be the proposition to
the inverse. Example:

Proposition: There is remedy in the Lord for the person with a conscience
guilty.

Conclusion: No matter how guilty your conscience feels, remember that there is
remedy in the Lord for the person with a guilty conscience.
---------
Proposition: The cross has a message, both for the reconciled and for
those who are not.
Conclusion: There is something intensely personal in the benefits of believing in who
died on the cross.

c. CLASSES:

1) IN SUMMARY: With the main divisions, paraphrasing, by

summary of applications.

2) BY APPLICATION: When the 'body' of the message has been only

interpretation.

3) POR MOTIVACION... 4) POR CONTRASTE...

d. MEDIA:

Some promises, surprising statements, rhetorical questions,

proverbs, a hymn or poem, a good quote (a maxim), a
statement more of the text, a parable or anecdote.

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10. THE INTRODUCTION:

The introduction is the part of the sermon that establishes contact with
the auditorium.
a. CHARACTERISTICS:

1) To engage the listener in the text and the topic that is to be shared.
To do this, it is necessary to emphasize its importance and clarify certain terms.

2) REMOVE BIASES against the preacher or the topic. That is,

introduction is the means for the establishment of harmony with the
audience.

Help to bring calm to the audience.

4) Eliminate the ignorance of the listeners regarding the announced topic.

Title. The introduction should provide a general answer to the question.
What should the preacher talk about?

It should start with the natural, the familiar or known, and move on.
gently to the unknown or to the spiritual.

6) Introduce the biblical passage correlating it with the theme of the

introduction, and briefly summarizing its content.

The introduction should move towards the proposition. As it has already been...
thus, the proposition (as the structural heart of the sermon) must be
explicitly or implicitly stated during the introduction.

In short, it should be brief (no more than 5 minutes), friendly, straightforward, and sincere.
clear and appropriate, modest, interesting, simple, full of tact
unifying, suggestive, varied and with the audience as the focus.

b. CLASSES:

There are several types of introductions:

Those that refer to the occasion.

Those that refer to the matter.

3) There are others that start with a rhetorical question and proceed to
answer it. (The preacher begins the message by saying, for example: 'Why
Can't everyone be born again?

4) Those that use a striking statement as a starting point..."In

may your garments always be white and may there never be lacking ointment over your
head.

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 5) Telling a humorous anecdote.

6) Reading part of a book, magazine, or newspaper.

7) Relating a real or hypothetical story.

c. PREPARATION:

How to prepare an introduction? One of the easiest ways is the

selection of a word or idea from the proposition to define it, clarify it or
expand it. This word or idea will be the heart of the introduction.

Every introduction must have an opening sentence which is called

"the opening prayer". This prayer should find the audience where
this is found in thought and life. The approaching prayer will summarize the
thought of the sermon up to the proposition.

For note-free preaching, it is essential that the introduction be

written in outline form. This will facilitate memorization. Additionally, it is
important that the introduction, like the rest of the outline, is written in
simple and complete grammatical sentences. This will make the transition much more
easy and will provide the coherence and fluency that a good introduction requires.
This introductory outline should be written after having structured the
proposition.

As an example, let us consider the following introduction taken from a

sermon titled: "A Desperate Jailor", based on Acts 16:25-34.
(CONTACT SITUATION)

Sentence of approach: "Among the various acute problems that confront the
modern society, one of the most chronic issues is suicide.

This is a problem that cannot be expected to be solved with social development.

económico y tecnológico del mundo. El número de suicidios aumenta a medida
that advances the technological development of the world and, it is in those countries of a
high economic level, where the majority of suicides occur.

Suicide is a violent attempt to end life in an instant.

a. In its broadest form, suicide is a means of escaping life and its

various problems.

Suicide presents itself as an option to the person in crisis when they

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 reaches a peak of despair; has lost her reason for being and
there is no other alternative in life than the violent and quick end.

INTRODUCTION OF THE PASSAGE

3. This was the situation in which the jailer of Philippi found himself when he was awakened by
a great earthquake that shook the foundations of the prison, and caused it to open
the doors will open and the chains of all the prisoners will be released.

a. The situation put the jailer in a state of desperation, because there

there were two dangerous prisoners:

The authorities had entrusted the care of Pablo and Silas to him.
for having punished them for disturbing the town with religious teachings
strange.

The magistrates had explicitly ordered him to keep them with

security.

3) He, interpreting the instructions strictly, had put them in the

inner cell.

b. Al ver, pues, las puertas de la cárcel abiertas, el carcelero, desesperado por

what seemed to have been a professional failure, opts for suicide.

But when he drew the sword to kill himself, Paul cried out with a loud voice to him:
Don't do yourself any harm, for we are all here.

The jailer, deeply moved by those words,

it rushes inside and trembling falls to its knees and asks them
Paul and Silas: "Sirs, what must I do to be saved?"

(PROPOSITION)

4. On this occasion, we aim to analyze the question of that jailer.

desperate that throughout the years has been and will be the key question of man.

Transitional Sentence:

Let's note several aspects of it...

11. EL TITULO DEL SERMON:

The title of the sermon is the announcement of the theme in a catchy way.
The content of the sermon should be indicated in a brief and popular way. The title
does not need to be identical to the theme in terms of its phraseology, although it should be
it can be very long; it must be between five to seven words, no more. The
the preacher neither should nor needs to announce the title of the sermon in the introduction, and

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 specifically in the proposition.

Let's look at some examples:

Mark 5:1-10

Subject: The Demoniac of Gadara.

Theme The dominion of Christ over the demon-possessed.

Título : Dominando al indomable.

From Genesis 32:22-30

Subject: Jacob.

Theme His guilty conscience.

Título : Un hombre con una conciencia culpable.

James 2:14-26

Subject: Faith.

Theme Faith without works.

Título : El otro lado de la fe.

12. THE ILLUSTRATIONS:

Once all the parts of the sermon have been placed in their
place, the preacher should add illustrative material that sheds light and clarifies
the ideas that must be presented. The illustrations are the windows of the sermon
that allow the penetration of light. The illustrations give wings to the sermon, and it
they help to rise above abstraction, to the level of objectivity, or to the
inverse, helping him/her come down from the clouds of abstraction to the concrete situation
from the congregation.

a. PURPOSES:

1) Clarify the topic, expand the proposition or make the...

ideas presented in the main and secondary divisions.

Give life to the truth.

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 Reinforce arguments.

4) Be an instrument of conviction.

5) Persuade indirectly or directly.

6) Help retain what has been exposed.

7) Give the sermon a humorous touch that helps to relax tensions.

Attract the attention of children and young people.

b. CLASSES:

1) The story. It is a narration related to some experience.

It can be short or long, true or fictional.

2) Anecdote. It is a humorous or serious story, most of the time.

with real characters. It should be brief, sharp, and interesting.

3) Objective lessons. They consist of a visible object, such as a pencil,

a coin, a glass of water, etc.; that represents the truth that is being
teaching.

Dramatic. They represent the lesson in the form of drama, or

It is true that it will be about teaching.

5) Allegories. They are supported comparisons or extended metaphors.

por medio de las cuales una cosa es presentada tras la imagen de otra.

Figurative language: metaphor, simile, hyperbole.

7) Poems. Only the part that illustrates the point in question should be used.

8) Analogies. They present points of relation or similarities between two or more.

attributes circumstances or effects.

9) Citations. Direct citations, especially when they are from sources

known, attract attention.

In summary, the illustrations should be full of life, taken from the

daily experiences (as much as possible), they must make sense to the listeners, they should go
Beneath the idea they illustrate, they should be summarized in a brief phrase, there should be no.
more than one illustration for the same subject.

The means we can rely on are: biographies, experiences

personal, the Bible, history, imagination, general literature, nature, the

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 missionary work, newspapers, magazines, etc.

13. THE FINAL OUTLINE:

a. It must appear on a single sheet of paper.

b. Handwritten in legible handwriting.

c. Using abbreviations and easy visualization.

d. Without the sight constantly seeking it.

A handwritten draft may have issues for others when trying to

decipher the lyrics and the abbreviations; but not for the preacher who has prepared the
sermon and the outline, and that it is well saturated with the material.

Given his familiarity with his own handwriting, his unique abbreviations and his own
method of 'shorthand', the preacher should have no difficulty in grasping the
thought encoded in the outline. Above all, you will not find it very difficult the
memorization of an outline of this class, prepared by himself.

14. HOMILETIC RESPONSIBILITY:

a. The preacher must arrive at the pulpit prepared both physically and emotionally.
negative is more easily noticeable, e.g.: their bad mood, depression,
decay, sleep, etc.

b. The preacher must arrive at the pulpit after having been in the presence of
God. (A preacher prayed like this before addressing the church: "Lord, if you
presence shall not go with me, I will not go.

c. The preacher must reach the pulpit (or the designated place to deliver the message),
having thought carefully about what to say, to whom to say it, and
how it should be said.
***

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