Workbook for the Last Minute Preacher's Guide. By Sherman Haywood Cox II

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2 Workbook for the Last Minute Preacher's Guide By Sherman Haywood Cox II 2008 by Sherman Haywood Cox II You can find this and other resources like it at 2

3 About the Author Sherman Haywood Cox II has been preaching the Gospel since 1987 when he preached his first sermon. He has preached in churches in Alabama, Florida, and Tennessee. Pastor Cox is current a Master of Divinity student at Vanderbilt Divinity School in Nashville, Tennessee with an emphasis in Black Church Studies and Homiletics. He will complete that degree in December While at the seminary, Pastor Cox began to realize that many preachers did not have the opportunity to attend seminary and thus he created the website SoulPreaching.Com to teach the principles of sermon construction. Also, Pastor Cox is an accomplished Software Engineer with over 10 years experience. He holds the Master of Science in Computer Science from the University of Alabama in Huntsville. 3

4 TABLE OF CONTENTS INTRODUCTION...5 GETTING A SCRIPTURE...8 FIND A TEXT FOR A THEME...8 RANDOM TEXT SELECTION...11 LECTIONARY BASIC SERMON STRUCTURES...13 THREE POINTS AND A POEM HEGEL S DIALECTIC...17 LAST MINUTE PREACHER S STEPS APPENDIX: HOW TO USE ANOTHER PERSON S SERMON

5 Introduction It s the night before you have to preach, and you have had a very busy week. You don t have a sermon, but you don t want to just copy a sermon off of the web or from other sources. What do you do? At the end of this course you will have the tools to create a sermon. The course is split up into four components. First there is a discussion of sermon forms. It is very important for preachers who have their back against the wall to use what I call a canned sermon form. Next, we discuss exactly what to do when you are 1 hour away from a sermon, 1 day away, 3 days away, and finally 1 week away. Any greater time should use any standard sermon preparation method including my own which is defined in the book, You Can Preach which you can obtain from SoulPreaching.Com. The first question we must deal with is why not just copy a sermon? There are many reasons why you would not want to do this. First you could lose your job. Have you noticed that pulpit plagiarism is getting more and more discussion? Perhaps we all have heard about preachers who have lost their job. Who knows when someone will find your sermon on the web? Even if one does not lose one s job, certainly the loss of prestige in the eyes of congregants who find out that the preacher has simply stolen sermons is irretrievable. Preachers cannot take for granted their ethical capital. By that I mean their credibility. The preacher's currency is basically their credibility, stealing sermons will lesson that. 5

6 Another reason to avoid this practice is practical, the more you steal sermons the less you work the ``sermon preparation muscles. You will eventually lose the ability to create a good sermon. But finally, there is a larger issue here. There is a theological issue. If God has called you to preach the Gospel to your people at this time, then certainly it is problematic to steal a canned sermon from someone else. For these reasons and others, I think that preachers stealing sermons is not a valid way to go. Why do you think that stealing sermons is wrong? 6

7 Question 1 Why is Stealing Sermons Wrong? Question 2 How Am I Robbing My Parishioners When I Steal Sermons? 7

8 Getting a Scripture When your back is against the wall, you need to find a text and a topic quick. However sometimes this can be stifling. Here are a few approaches that may help. Find a Text for a Theme This is a common approach. Here you either have in mind a theme that you wish to preach, or perhaps someone assigned a theme to you. Maybe you are to preach at a Mother s Day or a Youth Day program. Whatever the case, you have a theme and you will go find a text that will allow you to preach on that particular theme. What are some themes? Mother s Day and Youth Day are two. Other examples are: Black History Month and Easter. In addition, you might be given a theme for a revival. Examples are: Living in the Spirit or Standing Firm in the Last Days. And still there are other themes like: Grace or Law or Hope. In all cases you have a theme that you must address in the sermon. The preacher would first think about the theme, and then think about a scripture. The scripture must allow you to interact with the theme. One of the drawbacks to such an approach is that you might be tempted to force a text to say what you want it to say even when the text wishes to convey a much different message. This possible problem can be alleviated by making sure that you allow the sermonic process to continue normally after choosing the text, however you might run into a wall where the text does not really address the theme that was assigned. In this case, the preacher must 8

9 either go with the text, or choose another text and begin the process again. Another more significant problem with this theme-based text selection method is that over time you might not confront themes that need to be confronted in your own life and/or in the life of the congregation. For example, if you have a problem with gossiping, you might either be more inclined or less inclined to address that particular problem. This problem can really be amplified if we are always searching for a sermon at the last minute. In addition, let us assume that adultery is a big problem in your church, the theme-based text selection method, might create a preacher that either only addresses that subject or only addresses grace and forgiveness and those kind of themes. In short, we might not preach the full counsel of God if we are not careful. If you usually use this method, I would suggest that at least periodically you go to a text and struggle with it to determine the theme that it suggests to you, rather than only going to the text attempting to find a pre-determined theme. One of the great benefits of struggling with the text is that the sermon that comes out would not necessarily be what you might usually preach. The Spirit will use the text to force you to address that which you might not normally address. After having said that, as noted above, no matter how your text is chosen, you must allow the text to dictate the direction of the sermon. If you do that, then many of these other problems will not be eliminated, but they will be reduced. 9

10 Even though there are possible problems, this is an important text-selection method that sometimes we must follow, especially if we are assigned a theme. Question 1 What are some themes that can help you in your last minute processes? Question 2 Select a text based on a particular theme you select. 10

11 Random Text Selection Another approach is to simply choose a text at random and attempt to preach on it. Here you simply go to a text that you have heard of or that strikes you as something that needs to be addressed. A Bible story might flash into your mind. You also might just simply open your Bible to a text and attempt to preach it. All of these are examples of random text selection. Here there is no rhyme or reason to why you chose the text at this time. I do not really like this approach, but there are some times when it can be helpful. It can force you to do some creative preaching. You might have to address things that you might otherwise not address. If your sermons are in a rut, you might try it to get the creative juices flowing. This is a very helpful thing when your back is against the wall and you need a text. Just choosing a text at random might help you. Sometimes you are totally out of preaching material and a preaching engagement is coming up quickly. This approach of finding a text at random can sometimes help you to break through this preacher s block. Question 1 Select about two or three texts at random. These may be from your daily devotions or from a media preacher or simply by just selecting a text. 11

12 Lectionary A lectionary is a series of texts that are to be used in public worship. Many African American churches do not use the lectionary, but you as a preacher can look at it at least and see if you want to deal with one of the textual readings for this week. If you are to use the lectionary I would encourage you to visit two important resources on the web. First, there is the Vanderbilt Divinity School lectionary page. Here you will find all the lectionary readings. Second, there is the Text Week website where you will find a lot of web resources to help you in the exegesis and proclamation of the lectionary passage. Finally, I would encourage you to visit my own Lectionary Podcast site where you will see my approach to preaching the lectionary passages. Another new resource is the African American Lectionary. I would encourage preachers, including last minute ones to go there. Question 1 Select a Text from the Revised Common Lectionary as well as the African American Lectionary 12

13 Basic Sermon Structures In this section we will look at 3 canned structures for sermon creation. Three Points and a Poem One of the most persistent models of preaching has been termed "Three Points and a Poem." What it means is that the preacher makes three points and then ends with a poem. Some preachers have termed the same sermon method as "Three points and a celebration." I have been listening to the sermons of a few preachers and have found that this format is still being used even by some well regarded preachers. Just like any art form, there are variants, but here is one description of the parts of such a sermon. 1. Text Description - Here the preacher looks at the text. The preacher tells the story of the text. If it is a narrative portion of scripture, the preacher tells that story making use of as many vivid details as is necessary for the purposes of the sermon. If it is a different form of text, the preacher may tell the story behind the creation of the text or any other thing that would help hearers understand the text. The preacher makes sure to give background details that can help the hearer understand what is going on. The main point here is that the preacher is attempting to help the people understand the text. That is the emphasis. Now as the preacher describes the text, often applications will spring forth in the minds of the congregation, that is fine and needed, but that is not the emphasis at this point 2. Three Points of the Sermon - After telling the story of the text in such a way to help the people 13

14 experience it, the preacher then moves to the three points of the sermon. These points are carefully worded expressions that are derived from the text. Here are a few questions that one can ask to derive these from the text. One might ask: "How can we experience what the text tells us?" Or "How does what the text describes become operative in our lives?" So let us assume that your text is Ephesians 6: You need a basic statement that will be answered by the points. In this case your question may be "How to Defeat the Powers." The points might be, you gotta 1) Stand, 2) Put on your uniform, and 3) Pray. Your title might be something like, I'm about Business. For further help on sermon titles, you might purchase our ebook on the subject that providing a method of sermon title generation. The preacher should attempt to make the points of the sermon progressively intense. So the second point is more emotionally intensive than the first and the third is more than the second. Finally, each point of the sermon should have a few parts. First the preacher should show how the point is derived from the text. Answer the question of where this point is in the text. Second the preacher should illustrate the point with some sort of story or example. Third, the preacher should define the point clearly. Fourth, you should tell the people how to accomplish the point, or make it real in their lives. These four aspects can be mixed up in any order, but should be connected to every point. 3. The Celebration - After you give the three points, the preacher should move towards the celebration. Here you should look for another story or illustration that summarizes the whole sermon. Then 14

15 you celebrate the gospel in that story which is also celebrating the good news in the entire sermon. If you can't find such a summary story, then simply go on and celebrate the good news presented in the sermon. In our example, you might celebrate that you are about business. You have done all three things, and you are ready to battle the forces. You also might celebrate that God wages war for you when you enlist in God's army. In Conclusion, three points and a poem is still a very vibrant sermonic form that is used by many and can be a vehicle for faithful proclamation of the Good News. Some homiletics professors look down on the form, but it will probably outlast us all. 1. Choose a passage of Scripture 2. Write down some notes for the textual description. This should include the author, the audience, the structure of the text, what is going on, why the text is written, etc. You will probably need a Bible Encyclopedia and a Bible Dictionary as well as the Treasury of Scriptural Knowledge to gain this information. 15

16 3. Pull Out Three Points 4. How Will You Close the Sermon with Celebration and/or Challenge? 16

17 Hegel s Dialectic The next pattern used for creation of sermons is the Thesis- Antithesis-Synthesis pattern. Many preachers also use the method. In James Harris' appropriation of the pattern you have a thesis. The thesis is the Biblical idea or the ideal. The antithesis is the reality of our own present world. This is often a statement of why the thesis seems incorrect to us. The synthesis is the sermon which demonstrates the truth of the thesis while answering the claims of the antithesis. Harris adds a relevant question. That is a succinct question that summarizes the tension between the antithesis and the thesis. Harris always derives the thesis and the antithesis from the text of scripture. An example of this type of structure using Ephesians 6:12-18 might go something like this: Thesis We are to stand up against the forces of darkness, no matter where they come from. As we stand up, we do this through having the right clothes on, the whole armor of God. That is the only way we can overcome and live the life God calls us to. Antithesis But we are so weak. How can we put on these clothes when we are in such a problematic position? How can we live the life when I am such a wrenched man? Who shall deliver me from this body? Relevant Question How can we being so weak battle the forces of Darkness? Synthesis The key here is in acknowledging one s weakness. It is the armor of God not our own that we are to fight in. Of course we lose when we try, but we are to walk in God s armor. This text doesn t get into us, 17

18 it just tells us to put on the armor. When we have on God s armor it will shield us, it will fight for us, and it will lead us. 1. Choose another passage of Scripture 18

19 2. Write down the thesis. What is the main idea that the scripture is telling us to do? What does this scripture put forth as a way to live? 3. Write down the Antithesis What in our lives mitigates against us following this? What in our lives keeps us from living up to God s ideal as demonstrated in this text? 19

20 4. Write out the relevant question Summarize the tension between the thesis and the antithesis in one question. 20

21 5. Write out a synthesis How does the scripture help us navigate from the antithesis to the thesis? 21

22 Last Minute Preacher s Steps OK, you have to preach in three days, now is not the time to panic. Just follow these steps 1 Select a Scripture related to a theme. 2 Select a Scripture at random. 3 Select a Scripture from a lectionary 4 Choose your favorite of the above three. Note if you go down these steps and have problems completing the sermon, you can always go back to one of the other two. 5 Read the text and take background notes. Who is the author? Who is the audience? What is the author telling the Audience to do? Why I the author telling the audience to do it? Where is the author speaking? 22

23 6 Pull out the three points How can we do what the author is telling us to do? Or when should we do it? Or Who is helping us to do it? Or what is the basis of our doing what the author wants us to do? 8 Plan the celebration of the sermon Help the people celebrate that the three points will become a reality in our own lives. 9 Write each of your parts into a manuscript and practice 23

24 Appendix: How to use another person s sermon Ok. You have less than a day. You have waited until it is very late. At this point you have a few options and none of them are good. 1. Try to piece something together very quickly. I know of preachers who read a text superficially and then put together a sermon that was decent in an hour. Sometimes even a truly great sermon can come together at the last minute, but often it does not. You can attempt the 1 day method that I just described, it may help you. 2. Copy a sermon. Replace the illustrations or add illustrations from your own life. If you want to do this, I would suggest the following procedure. First, read the sermon, mark the stories and note their purpose. Then look in your life for stories that could serve the purpose of each story that is already in the sermon. Replace each story with your story. Then, practice the sermon. 3. Copy a sermon verbatim and give credit to the original author. This is your worse option. I would suggest that if you do this you follow two rules. First you let the people know that you are using someone else s sermon. One preacher had a very ingenious way of doing this. He told the people that it was a Christian History Sunday. Then the preacher simply read one of the sermons from history. You can find someone like Charles Spurgeon or John Wesley s sermons on line. Then simply preach it. Another preacher said something like: I read this very helpful sermon and thought it would be helpful to you. One should recognize that one cannot do 24

25 this often or the people will not go along with it, and rightly so. 4. Copy a sermon verbatim and do not give credit. I think that is very problematic even though it is the option taken most. It is problematic in that it is the least honest method. It is problematic because it attacks your creativity. And it is problematic because people have lost their job doing this. It is put here simply for completeness, but DO NOT TAKE THIS OPTION. 25

26 The Soul Preaching Newsletter If you like this book you would probably enjoy the Soul Preaching e-newsletter. In this free resource you will find sermonic help as well as other things that a preacher needs. Please go on over to Soul Preaching and sign up for the SoulPreaching e-newsletter. Free Audio Podcast I would encourage you all to listen to the SoulPreaching.Com Audio Podcast. On it you will find sermons and training audios from the Web Minister of SoulPreaching.Com Sherman Haywood Cox II. You can either listen to the audio at SoulPreaching.Com or sign up inside of ITunes to receive the updates automatically. Sign up at this link: viewpodcast?id=

27 Sermon Title Handbook You have completed your sermon But what do you name it? Sherman Haywood Cox gives you a simple method to title your sermon. In this short power packed ebook you will receive: 1. A simple method to title any sermon 2. A short survey of other title creation material 3. Two examples to help you learn the method. Once you purchase this ebook for only $20.00, you will be able to immediately download the ebook off of the website. CLICK HERE TO PURCHASE Upon completion of this purchase through ClickBank, a trusted online retailer specializing in digitally delivered 27

28 products, you will be directed to a web page where you will be prompted to download the sermon in PDF format. You will need a free PDF viewer such as Acrobat Reader to view this ebook. 28

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