Structuring a Message
Why the Work is Worth it:
#1 Your calling demands hard work.
#2 Your congregation demands hard work.
#3 Your topic demands hard work.
The FIVE parts of a sermon:
1. Introduction
Connection not information makes the difference.
Create tension. Force people to lean in. Must happen in the introduction.
Need to show people they can trust and relate to us.
In any presentation there is a gap, this must be closed in the introduction.
2. Body
Spend most of your time. Answering the tension you created.
3. Illustrations
4. Applications
5. Conclusion
The goal is to feed people on a weekly basis equipping them on a weekly basis.
Two Types of Message Outlines:
1) Inductive - starts with the problem and unpacks it
2) Deductive - starts with the tease, and reveals in the end
--Switch between these two types of message, one is not better than the other.
Before you start writing, answer these four questions:
--give yourself permission to write bad content
--lower the bar for starting out, define the win as simply having something
1. What is my message about?
--starting without a destination often creates rambling
2. Why is this important?
--answer looking through the eyes of the congregation
--really have to love the people we get in front of...What do we want for the people we will be in front of?
--Charles Stanley -- "If you don't have a burden for the message, your not ready to preach."
3. What do I want them to do?
--'If you forgive everything else...'
4. What is the single most persuasive idea?
--Information Age vs. Attention Economy
A Framework for the message:
With answers to those four questions in hand, it's time to start laying out the message. I'm going to give you a framework for a message hat works in most circumstances. This isn't a fill in the blank template for every message.
Let's think of your message in three boxes:
1. This first part introduction.
--create connection point
--create common ground
--tension, problem
2. The second part of your message is scripture.
You need to unpack scripture.
You need a memorable bottom line. (Water Cooler moment)
You need stories and illustrations.
3. The third part of your message helps people imagine.
--Imagine if we were all financially free.
A Framework for the week:
Monday: Answer the four questions
Tuesday: Building the Boxes - Apply the Framework
Wednesday: Write your first draft
Thursday: Make it better
Friday: Say it out loud
Saturday: Leave it
Sunday: Preach it
Next Week: Look back and evalutate
Why the Work is Worth it:
#1 Your calling demands hard work.
#2 Your congregation demands hard work.
#3 Your topic demands hard work.
The FIVE parts of a sermon:
1. Introduction
Connection not information makes the difference.
Create tension. Force people to lean in. Must happen in the introduction.
Need to show people they can trust and relate to us.
In any presentation there is a gap, this must be closed in the introduction.
2. Body
Spend most of your time. Answering the tension you created.
3. Illustrations
4. Applications
5. Conclusion
The goal is to feed people on a weekly basis equipping them on a weekly basis.
Two Types of Message Outlines:
1) Inductive - starts with the problem and unpacks it
2) Deductive - starts with the tease, and reveals in the end
--Switch between these two types of message, one is not better than the other.
Before you start writing, answer these four questions:
--give yourself permission to write bad content
--lower the bar for starting out, define the win as simply having something
1. What is my message about?
--starting without a destination often creates rambling
2. Why is this important?
--answer looking through the eyes of the congregation
--really have to love the people we get in front of...What do we want for the people we will be in front of?
--Charles Stanley -- "If you don't have a burden for the message, your not ready to preach."
3. What do I want them to do?
--'If you forgive everything else...'
4. What is the single most persuasive idea?
--Information Age vs. Attention Economy
A Framework for the message:
With answers to those four questions in hand, it's time to start laying out the message. I'm going to give you a framework for a message hat works in most circumstances. This isn't a fill in the blank template for every message.
Let's think of your message in three boxes:
1. This first part introduction.
--create connection point
--create common ground
--tension, problem
2. The second part of your message is scripture.
You need to unpack scripture.
You need a memorable bottom line. (Water Cooler moment)
You need stories and illustrations.
3. The third part of your message helps people imagine.
--Imagine if we were all financially free.
A Framework for the week:
Monday: Answer the four questions
Tuesday: Building the Boxes - Apply the Framework
Wednesday: Write your first draft
Thursday: Make it better
Friday: Say it out loud
Saturday: Leave it
Sunday: Preach it
Next Week: Look back and evalutate
