DANIEL INSTITUTE

INTRODUCTION TO HOMILETICS
REV. NII OTABI FIIFI WILSON
 MAIN OBJECTIVE
• The main objective of this course is to equip
students with basic knowledge and skills for
preaching.
• Students should be able to define and explain
preaching from different perspectives
• To outline the basic components of the
theology of preaching
• To identify different types of sermons based
on the text, theme and body
 CTD
• To differentiate between the styles of
preaching
• Prepare a basic sermon outline
• Identify various delivery styles
• And demonstrate at least one of them
 SCOPE
• Emphasis shall be on sermon preparation and
delivery with emphasis on expository preaching:
• Part A – Sermon Preparation
1. The preacher’s lifestyle and task - theology
2. Sermon structure, type, content and strategy
• Part B – Sermon delivery
1. Delivery styles and urgency
2. The Holy Spirit and sermon delivery
 CTD
• Part C - Expository Preaching
[Link] of expository preaching
[Link] of expository sermons
 DEFINITIONS
• Key words which need definition:
[Link]
[Link]
[Link]
[Link]
[Link]
 HOMILETICS
• Homiletics is the study of the composition and
delivery of a religious message such as a
sermon, bible study or other type of message.
The word comes from the Greek homiletikos
("cordial"), which is itself derived from the
Greek word translated as homily (homilia,
Strong's Concordance #G3657) which means
"discourse." Homilia is translated
"communications" in the KJC 1Cor. 15:33
 CTD
• May also be described in lay terms as
preaching skills
• Or the study of preaching
• There are two basic forms of homiletics. They
are evangelistic (preaching the gospel to those
who are not Christians) and pastoral (teaching
those who have the Spirit of God in them).
 PREACHING
• Preaching in simple language may be defined
as the proclamation of the good news through
man to men by the art of speaking.
• Biblical preaching entails expounding
scripture, which primarily is to open up the
inspired text with such faithfulness and
sensitivity that God’s voice is heard and His
people obey Him.(John Stott).
 CTD
• This definition is based on the fact that all
scripture is inspired of God (2Tim.3:16)
• Check on other definitions by scholars such as
John Piper: Exposition and Exultation
• To be able to do this effectively – both the
call, anointing and requisite skills
• Leads – theology of preaching
 EXPOSITION
Exposition:
•The act of expounding, setting forth or
explaining to uncover the meaning of an idea or
a thought
Exegesis:
•Critical explanation or interpretation of a text
Exhortation:
To appeal, persuade, encourage and comfort
 THEOLOGY OF PREACHING
• This entails:
[Link] call to preach
[Link] anointing to preach
[Link] role of the bible in preaching
I will touch on each of them under the Preacher
 PART A – THE PREACHER
• Sermon preparation begins with the preacher
and his relationship with God and man.
• His/her call, anointing and knowledge of
scripture
• General call and specific call; all Christians
have been called to the great commission
• But there specific calls also – Eph.4:11
 CTD
• You go if you have not been called – we need
to be certain of the call
• The burden must be strong – 1Cor.9:16;
Jer.20:9
Anointing:
• The anointing is that supernatural enablement
to perform the call – Act.1:4
 THE PREACHER IN SERMON
PREPARATION
• There are two main components in sermon
preparation; the spiritual and the physical.
• Spiritual components deals with the God
factor (His word and the influence of the Holy
Spirit)
• Physical component deals with the man factor
(relationship or knowledge of God,
interpreting the word, receiving this word
and conveying to men).
 CTD
• Every good sermon begins with the preacher
on either sides acting as a mediator.
• His character has a lot of bearing on the
impact of the message.
• The preacher’s sermon must be a part of
himself. It must go through his character and
personality.
 CTD
• He must be a man full of the Holy Spirit - gifts
and fruit of the Spirit
• Regularly experiences a living, vital
relationship with God.
• Prayerful
• Not an imitator
• Good bible student
 HISTORICAL BACKGROUND
• Homiletics - the art and science of preaching
• Which has developed from two main
backgrounds:
• Jewish style of declaring the law and oracles
of God
• And the Greek art of rhetoric or oratory.
• This came with both positive and negative
effects.
 THE TWO-FOLD TASK OF THE
PREACHER
• Apart from his personal devotional life – a two
fold task
• Faithfulness to the text - effective
interpretation of the text
• And sensitivity to the modern world - relevant
to his audience
• This can further be broken into; 2 convictions,
2 obligations and 2 expectations
 CTD
• 2 convictions – all scripture (text) is inspired
and is closed so needs to opened
• 2 obligations – faithful to text and sensitive to
modern world
• 2 expectations – people will hear God’s voice
and they will obey God’s voice
PREACHER - BRIDGE BUILDER

GOD’S GOD’S
WORD WORD
THEN NOW
 STAGES IN BRIDGE BUILDING
• Study the text
• Discover timeless truth
• Think about your audience (profile analysis)
• Apply the truth to their need
Profile analysis -
• Understand where your congregation is.
(Their Egypt)
 CTD
• Where they ought to be/where God wants
them to be (Their Promised land)
• What to say or preach to help them get there.
 THE GOAL OF THE PREACHER
• Main goal of every preaching – transformation
• The tool for transformation is the word of God
working by the influence of the Holy Spirit. Ps.
19:7, Rom. 12:2
• D.L Moody – the bible was not given to
increase knowledge but to change our lives
• Transformation is preceded by repentance
 CTD
• Repentance entails:
– Intellect (belief)
- Emotions (remorse)
- Will (actions)
 RULE OF SERMON PREPARATION
• 30:1 Ratio rule - The first rule says that you
need 30 hours of sermon prep for 1 hour
sermon . It takes 15 hours of prep for a 30
minute sermon. How much time are you
putting in?
• The 2nd rule is 20% of your prep is “pre-
study,” 80% is done during the week of your
sermon. The 15 hours of the 30/1 rule
comprises only 80% of your total prep
SERMON CONTENT & STRUCTURE
• Every good sermon must have a structure
• A sermon without structure reduces it’s
impact. However with a structure -
• It leaves no room for misinterpretation and
misapplication.
• It leaves the hearer with a great motivation
and persuasion to go and live by the ideas of
the message
 CTD
• There are five main components of the
structure of a sermon:
• Theme
• Text
• Introduction
• Body
• Conclusion
 THEME
• Every sermon must begin with an idea or
subject. What is the preacher to preach on is
the question that must come at the beginning
of the preparation.
• This idea - a sentence or phrase, which is
definite and catchy.
• The theme is derived from the subject matter
of the sermon
 CHOOSING THE THEME
• The bible is the starting point of any sermon, but
apart from it, there are other areas that the
preacher can find his theme.
• Congregational needs:
• Flash of Inspiration
• Preacher’s personal Experience:
• The fourth source of sermon idea is a planned
programme of preaching, monthly, quarterly, six
month etc.
 ABOUT THE THEME
• The theme must be uniform through out the
sermon – one sermon one theme
• catchy
• Creative
• Easy to memories
• It should be relevant
• It must not be controversial or questionable
• It must not be too long
 THE TEXT
• The term “Text” is derived from the Latin word
textus, which signifies something woven or spun.
• The text of the sermon is therefore the basis of
the sermon. It is the center of the preaching.
• A text is a portion of scripture in which the
sermon is centered.
• A mere mention of a portion of scripture in the
sermon does not make it a text
 CTD
• The sermon must be related to the text.
• A text could be long (Expository sermon –
more than four verses) or short (Textual
Sermon-not more than four verses).
 CHOOSING THE TEXT
• The text could be chosen before the theme or
vice versa.
• The principles guiding the choice of a Text are
quite similar to that of the theme.
• Directly from scripture
• The needs of the congregation
• Flash of inspiration
• From preachers personal experience
 CTD
• Prayer sessions
• Lectionaries: These are orderly selection of
biblical texts to be used through out a
specified period (one year).
• Could also be chosen by picking one book
after the other and preaching from it.
• The Holy Spirit must guide the choice of a text.
 ABOUT THE TEXT
• Don’t choose a Text that appears questionable
e.g. John 9:31
• Don’t use mutilated Texts: they are Half-truth
Text, which have been taken in isolation.
• Don’t choose Text that creates high
expectations that cannot be met.
• Don’t choose Text you cannot handle.
 BENEFITS OF A TEXT
• It awakens the interest of the audience
• It gains the confidence of the audience
• It gives the preacher authority and boldness in
the proclamations of his message.
• It keeps the preachers minds from wondering
• It keeps the preacher biblical
 INTERPRETING THE TEXT
In interpreting the text the following must be
followed
•The preacher should ascertain whether the
language of the text is literal of figurative. John
2:19; 21-22; Matthew 26:26-27 or Lords
supper. 1 Corinthians 11:23-26.
•Use other text to find the meaning of key terms
e.g. faith & Gospel Gal. 1:23; Rom. 3:3
•Study both the text and the context
 CTD
• Consider the circumstance peculiar to the
writer and his original audience: (Historical
context).
• Study the cultural background of the text
• Read more that one translation to help in the
process of interpretation.
• Use other tools like commentaries,
encyclopedia concordance, dictionaries…
 INTRODUCTION
• The introduction of the sermon heralds the
entire sermon
• It constitutes the invitation for the sermon.
• it’s to awaken an interest in the theme
• Prepare the audience for what is to follow
• How you begin your sermon is vital. If your
thoughts are murky and unclear, you’re laying
an unstable foundation.
 CHOOSING YOUR INTRODUCTION
STYLE
The text
• Its construction; the order in which the idea in
the text is presented.
•Correcting an erroneous interpretation of the
text
The Context: that is going before or after the
text to introduce the text.
The historical Setting: The situation of the time
of the text could be used to introduce the text.
 CTD
• The rest are - Geography of the bible, culture,
current occasion or special occasions, theme,
purpose of the sermon and illustrations
(songs, poems, …)
 PLACING AND COMPOSING
• The introduction normally comes after the
text. However it can come first before the
theme and the text
• When to write your introduction - Write out
a complete sermon skeleton first before you
compose your introduction. Know what you
are introducing before you write your
introduction.
 PRACTICE VARIETY
• Don’t start every sermon the same way. Be
creative. You may use the text, context,
theme, tell a story, raise a question or state a
problem. Use a strong quote. Describe the
background of the text.
• This will help avoid monotony and reduce the
power of introduction in your preaching
 ABOUT THE INTRODUCTION
• Should relate very well with the theme
• Not have more than one theme
• Flow naturally into the body of the sermon
• Avoid too much boasting
• Don’t be too sensational or dramatic.
• It should be brief
• Must have variety
 SAMPLE INTRODUCTION
• Theme: Forbidden Love
• Text: Pro.20:13; 1Tim.6:10; 1Jn2:15-17
• Introduction
1. A Christian life is built on love –
God 1st loved us
We must also love
2. Love has limits
There are some things we should not love
Limits of – focus of my message
 THE BODY
• The body of the sermon is devoted to the full
treatment of the subject or theme. It is most
advisable to put the body into divisions, which
ranges from three to seven.
• This is where other reference scriptures apart
from the Text appear.
• The different types of body divisions include
the following:
 TYPES OF BODY DIVISION
• Interrogative – presented by responding
questions
What – definition and explanation - use
illustrations
Why – This deals with the need, reason or proof
of the theme, and is normally
How – deals with ways by which the theme
would become a reality – 3 parts; God’s role,
man’s role and the channel.
 CTD
Others are when, where…
•The use of Points – presented on point after point
basis following or logical order (popular)
•The two point or Twin Sermon – presented in two
forms; positive versus negative, explanation and
application, info and lessons
•The ladder or Telescope - proceeds from point to
point for the purposes of logical argument,
persuasion, debate and appeal for reason.
 CTD
• The classification – consists of putting people
and things into classes or types. Like the
parables of Jesus
– The prodigal son and his elder brother
– Publican and the Pharisees
– Wise and foolish virgins
– Poor and the rich
– Foundation of sand and Rock
 CTD
• Story teller type - presented in a story form,
very common in Jesus’ preaching.
Application – this may be the final stage of the
division of all the types of division the body.
However the application can also be done at
every stage of the body division.
• It feeds into the conclusion of the outline.
 STORY TELLER TYPE
• Great example is Jesus Christ – in His
teachings about love (prodigal son or lost
sheep)
• His teaching about the Kingdom (judgment,
use of talents..)
• Story telling makes the message very pictorial
and thus more powerful than the other types
• However there are certain steps to be
followed – desired impact
 POWER OF STORY TELLER TYPE
• Grabs and holds or keep attention
• It makes the message stick in memory
• It has persuasive powers
• It clarifies the points or truth
• We easily see our selves in stories – easy to
apply
 ESSENTIAL ELEMENTS OF STORY
TELLER TYPE
• Plot or action – what is happening; it’s the
plan, chain of events. There is something at
stake; conflict to be resolved or mystery to be
solved
• Character – key personalities involved. Who
are they
• Setting – where we are in space and time; it
provides the boundaries of the story in time
and space
 CTD
• Point of view – the angle of interpretation of
the behavior and actions of characters in the
story. Stick to one point of view
• And unity – the question of why provides
unifying significance that brings the rest
together to make it whole
• Avoid digression in story telling
 THE PLOT
• Situation – beginning circumstances
• Stress – tension or conflict
• Search -
• Solution
• New situation
 THE CONCLUSION
• This is a very important - without it the
sermon is incomplete. It converges all the
points and ideas raised in the body.
• It constitutes the ending part of the sermon.
It is the final struggle, “which decides on the
conflict”
• This where the preacher urges the
congregation to make personal decisions for
transformation – final appeal
 CTD
• If it is disorganized and unclear, then your
listeners will walk away feeling the same way
• You will miss the opportunity of making the
desired impact
 TYPES OF CONLUSION
• The conclusion may take the following forms:
• Recapitulation – recap of what has been said
in a moving approach.
• Use of illustration: using a hymn or poem or
story or drama, to summarize all that has
been said.
• The application type – This stresses on
personal application of the truth to the
hearers lives.
 CTD
• The direct appeal or exhortation type
 ABOUT THE CONCLUSION
• It must be personal
• It must confine itself to other divisions of the
body
• It must always come at the tale end of he
sermon.
• The conclusion should be very brief not
another sermon all together.
 USE OF ILLUSTRTATION IN SERMONS
• Illustrations – stories, testimonies or any thing in
general which throw light on a point being
developed in the course of preaching.
• It gives the sermon/message a pictorial character
– keep the massage in the mind and hearts of
audience
• The use of illustration can be traced to the OT -
prophets were directed by God to demonstrate
their message by staging certain scenes to let the
message sink down well.
 CTD
• Ezekiel marries a prostitute and use of
figures as scales, sheers - spiritual condition of
Israel
• Prophet Nathan – single ewe lamp stolen from
the poor by the rich – David and Beersheba
• N.T - Our Lord never spoke without the use of
parables – earthly symbols or events to
explain spiritual truth
 PURPOSE OF ILLUSTRATION
• Throw more light upon the message - clarity to
spiritual truths that are difficult to comprehend.
• To persuade - helps in getting the congregation
convinced of an argument being raised.
• To impress - An example is the story of the
prodigal son, and love of God.
• To bring Conviction - David and the Pro Nathan
• To bring relief – cures boredom, tension and
tiredness
 ABOUT ILLUSTRATION
Illustration can be found anywhere, however
the following observed:
•It must hold to one truth.
•It should not be on end in itself
•It should not defy the pulpit
•It must be brief
•Don’t use illustration that needs to be
explained
 CTD
• Don’t tell lies in illustrations
• Don’t use illustration you are not familiar
with.
• They should not be too many in one
preaching.
 BRIEF BUT DETAILED
• Get deeper into your illustration, do some
research on your illustration and bring the
light out of it., “Immerse yourself into your
illustrations” – Ryken’
• Illustrations are powerful when you tell them
with detail.
 TYPES OF SERMON BASED ON THE
TEXT
• Expository sermon
• Textual Sermon
• Topical Sermon
• Expository & Textual – breaking down of the
text in such away as to convey it’s meaning in
a very original sense and yet maintaining
relevance to the congregation.
 EXPOSITORY/TEXTUAL SERMON
• Expository preaching is preaching that draws its
ideas from a passage of Scripture (text), usually
several verses in length (more than 4)
• Whiles textual deals with 4 or less verses
• Occupies itself with the exposition of the entire
text.
• The preacher limits himself to the ideas drawn
from that text.
• He is not limited to the words of the text and
feels free to employ synonyms that suit his own
style and purpose.
 CTD
• He is not limited to the order of the text, but
feels free to invert it or to arrange its ideas in
any sequence that seems logical.
• Its difficulty lies in the task of giving the text a
unifying theme. But with constant practice
this can be overcome
• It has a lot of advantages
 STEPS – EXPOSITORY/TEXTUAL
SERMON OUTLINE
• Read your chosen text in more than one
translation
• Read/listen to sermons on the text
• Do verse and word analysis on the text – main
idea and sub ideas
• From the list of ideas - find those which could
be organized around a central theme
• Develop a phrase which summarizes your
entire message - theme
 CTD
• Settle on your final main points
• Develop your points - alliteration, rhyme, or
similar word combinations, with caution
• Do same for sub points
• Put your outline in final form
• Add your illustrations.
• [Link] 3:16 - what statements of fact could
you find in that verse?
 EXAMPLE OUTLINE – JN3:16
• God loved the world.
• God loved the world in a special way.
• God sent His Son.
• God sent His Son to save.
• Whosoever believes in Him shall not perish.
• Whosoever believes in Him shall have eternal
life.
 CTD
• From this list, a three-point outline comes
rather quickly:
• The object of God's Love - the world
• The character/nature of God's love - He sent
His Son
• The goal of God's love - that the world should
not perish
 NOTE
• Each main point is based on a part of the text
characterized by a key word
• Main points are ordinarily stated in the
preacher’s own words
• The number of main points vary from sermon to
sermon
• Main points is stated as complete and simple
sentences
• Main points is tailor-made – for the specific
sermon.
 ADVANTAGES OF EXPOSITORY
SERMON
• It leads to biblical preaching
• It fits the biblical ideal of preaching
• It is wider in scope - it affords the preacher a
wider scope for the practical application of
the truth.
• It also provides opportunity for discussing
biblical truth generally ignored or avoided.
• Reduces the tendency of misinterpreting the
scriptures.
 ROM.1:16
• Topic – Power of the Gospel
• Text – Roman 1:16
• Body
• Not ashamed of the Gospel
• The Gospel is the power of God
• It is the power of God unto salvation
• It is the power of God unto salvation to those
who believe.
 CTD
• Work this out in your own words________
• The division must be related to the subject
and to each in such a way as to form a unified
whole.
 TOPICAL SERMON
• Topical Sermon - topic or subject is the
dominating factor in the building of the
divisions of the sermon.
• Unlike those of textual or expository sermon,
all that the sermon receives from the text is its
topic.
• Logical development of the topic as
determined by the preacher.
 EXAMPLE
• Topic: The Power of the Gospel
• Text: Roman 1:16
• Division: i. - Definition of power
• Ii - What power can do?
• iii- the power of the Gospel
• iv. …………………………
• v. ………………………….
 PART C – SERMON DELIVERY
• Sermon delivery is a key element of
preaching, without it no preaching has taken
place.
• It entails the use of voice, language and non
verbal communication skills
• Effective partnership with the Holy Spirit to
speak the oracles of God with the
manifestation of the power of the power of
God to transform lives
 CTD
Under sermon delivery we will be focusing on:
[Link] delivery strategy
[Link] delivery & communication skills
[Link] delivery style
[Link] delivery manners
[Link] delivery and the Holy Spirit
 SERMON DELIVERY STRATEGY
• After studying the passage, determining its
main idea, prayerfully deciding on your goal
for the sermon and the wording of the
sermon’s main idea, then it is time to plot
your strategy.
• Here are the big questions to be asking
• When do I reveal the main idea
• When can I demonstrate the relevance of this
message
 CTD
• How can I do what the text does, as well as
saying what the text says
• How can I reinforce the flow of the sermon
with delivery details
• What is God’s heart in all of this
SERMON DELIVERY & COM. SKILLS
• Captures both verbal communication skills
such as:
[Link]
[Link]
And Non verbal communication skills such as:
[Link] gestures
[Link] code
[Link] expression
 VERBAL COMMUNICATION
• Voice and language
The voice is obviously the most important
instrument the preacher uses in verbal
communication.
Preaching is not the same as talking or shouting.
Voice can be lowered or raised for good effect
It must capture and not repel the attention of
the audience.
 CTD
• Note the following about the use of the
voice:
• Must have a good sense of breath control.
• Must learn to pitch his voice at different levels
• Sometimes the sermon requires – soft
preaching and other times - preach loudly.
• Speak out clearly
• Not too fast
 NON VERBAL COMMUNICATION
• Captures the idiomatic expression - action
speaks louder than words
• When preaching your body language should
conflict with your words
• Dress code should not serve as an obstruction
to your delivery.
• Nervousness and stage fright should be
controlled
 SERMON DELIVERY STYLE
• Reading
• Reciting
• Extempore
 SERMON DELIVERY AND HOLY SPIRIT
• The Holy Spirit empowers the preacher to
declare the oracles of God – Rom.15:19;
1Cor.2:4,5
• He prompt and direct the preacher during the
delivery
• The preacher must learn to be sensitive to him
through the delivery
• Pray during preparation and conscious of His
presence during delivery
 SERMON DELIVERY MANNERS
• Preaching is a divine assignment and so must
be done with integrity
• Do not settle personal issues via preaching
• Don’t begin the delivery when nervous; deal
with it and proceed
• Don’t draw too much attention to yourself in
the course of your delivery
• Observe basic pulpit etiquette
 DEVELOPING YOUR PREACHING
• Paul encouraged Timothy to pursue, “Be
diligent in these matters: give yourself wholly
to them, so that everyone may see your
progress” (I Timothy 4:15)
• Listen to great Preaching and Teaching
• Develop your own Style.
• Understand the Dynamics of Urgency
• Strive For Clarity
 CTD
• The Perspiration Factor
• Evaluation
• Live In Union with Jesus

MAY GOD BE OUR HELP