Topic outline
Sermon Construction and Presentation
Sermon Construction and Presentation (4 credits)
Instructors: Dr. Bruce Ballast and Dr. Gabriela Tijerina-Pike
CLA Student Volunteer Teacher Assistant: Ed Becher (email: clavolunteersermonconstruction@christianleaders.net)
Contributors:
Communication analysts—Andrew Bryant and Karen Friedman.
Articles, Blogs, Outlines—Eric McKiddie, Daniel Akin, and John Broadus.
Preachers—George Whitefield, Dwight L. Moody, Martyn Lloyd-Jones, Voddie Baucham, Billy Graham, David Feddes, Bob Bouwer, Steve Elzinga, Henry Reyenga, Max Lucado, Crawford Loritts, Bruce Ballast, John Piper, Francis Chan, and John Ortberg.Note: Before this class, it is recommended (not required) to take COM 101 - Introduction to Communication and BIB 420 - Hermeneutics and Exegesis (3 credits).
Woe to me if I do not preach the gospel! (1 Corinthians 9:16)
We do not preach ourselves, but Jesus Christ as Lord. (2 Corinthians 4:5)
Devote yourself to the public reading of Scripture, to preaching and to teaching. (1 Timothy 4:13)
Preach the Word. (2 Timothy 4:2)Overview: This course builds upon the basics of communication, explores various elements of preparing and preaching sermons, discusses various models of preaching, and presents a wide-ranging sample of preachers for learning and critical evaluation.
Course Outcomes:
- Pursue preaching as a Scripture-based, Christ-centered proclamation of God’s message for people today.
- Grasp and apply elements of preparation and crafting of sermon content.
- Grasp and apply elements of nonverbal communication in preaching.
- Sample a variety of preachers from the past and present.
- Develop an individual preaching style that fits one’s own personality and abilities.
Disclaimer: The CL Ministries Statement of Faith guides our teaching and practice in our courses. This course will include some perspectives that do not necessarily reflect our Statement of Faith. You will see how different leaders construct and deliver the message. Some of the preachers you study will promote their style as the "biblical" style. You will prayerfully come to your own conclusions with help from your mentor. We also use some material from the web that is not from pastors or church leaders, but we include such material because we deem it helpful to advance your communication style and effectiveness.
Assignments:
- Quizzes: You will complete nine quizzes worth 15 points each. You will have 45 minutes to answer 15 multiple-choice questions for each quiz. Once a quiz starts, you must finish it and can't retake it. So be ready ahead of time. Each quiz covers readings and video lectures for that unit. While taking the quiz, you may use your notes and refer to articles and other materials. Tip: First, answer all the questions you know. Then try to look up answers to questions you don't know. When you have entered an answer for every question, submit the quiz for grading before the 45-minute limit.
- Sermons: Students will construct two sermons that they will present to their mentor or someone in your church for evaluation or comment. The first sermon will be two pages single-spaced (1,100-1,300 words; worth 40 points). The second sermon will be four pages single-spaced (2,200-2,500 words) worth 75 points.
- Final paper: Your final paper will highlight the important things you learned in this class. Don't just hastily write this paper during unit 12. Instead, make a few notes for each unit of things that impressed you in your studies in that unit that will strengthen your preaching. In unit 12, take all your notes from the first 11 units, select the most valuable ones, and put together a paper summarizing key lessons you've learned and action steps you plan to take. (800-1,000). The paper is worth 50 points.
*The course has a total of 300 points: 135 points for the nine quizzes and 165 points for the two sermons and the final paper.
Grading Scale:
A 95-100% A- 90-94% B+ 87-89% B 83-86% B- 80-82% C+ 77-79% C 73-76% C- 70-72% D+ 67-69% D 63-66% D- 60-62% F 0-59%
Your average for the course must be at least 60%. Otherwise, you will fail the class and will receive no credit.Deadline: You have 180 days to finish the course. Complete all assignments before the final deadline, or you will be automatically unenrolled, and all coursework will be removed. You will have to start over and take the class again to receive credit.
Course Forum: Each course forum is at the beginning of the course, right before the first-course content section, and has comments and questions from other students in the class. The forum is a great way to post a question or comment for other students who are currently enrolled in the course to see. Additionally, you can search the forum to see if anyone in the past has addressed or discussed the issue, question, or comment you wanted to post about.
Preaching Blog: We recently launched a preaching blog by Bruce Ballast. You may find those articles and videos helpful as an extra resource during this course and after you finish the course. CLICK HERE to visit the preaching blog.
Day 1 - 10
Unit 1: What is Preaching? An Introduction To Expository Preaching
Dr. John Piper gives an excellent introduction to expository preaching. True preaching expounds biblical truth with your heart afire for God. Each style of preaching owes much to expository preaching as a foundational method that will keep you in tune with God's voice as you develop your voice as a preacher. The video is not working; we are interested in students reading the written article.
Preachology.com describes different types of sermons and highlights strengths and weaknesses of each type.
Be sure to click the links under each heading for more detail on the various types.
Day 11 - 20
Unit 2: The Beginning of a Sermon
https://www.idisciple.org/post/dressed-and-ready-to-go
In this expository sermon, Dr. Crawford Loritts exemplifies how to use lively biblical metaphors such as the Armor of God and make them practical for his listeners.
Day 21 - 30
Unit 3: Studying and Putting Together the Content of An Effective Sermon
This interview of Neil Powell goes on to explain why topical sermons are important.
Day 31 - 40
Unit 4: Write Your First Sermon of this Course
This sermon by Ravi Zacharias has many strengths, but pay special attention to two things:
1. His way of showing the relevance of two Old Testament kings, Manasseh and Josiah, for today's audience.
2. His use of quotes to support and strengthen his message.Sermon #1 Write a two-page single-spaced sermon/meditation (1,100-1,300 words). Pay close attention to spelling and grammar, and make this assignment as excellent as you can. Bring this message to your sponsor/mentor for evaluation then take the Sermon Mentor Survey. It is important for pastors to sharpen writing skills.
Day 41 - 50
Unit 5: Effective Introductions
This sermon is from a series that encourages home discipleship based on Deuteronomy 6:6-9. Notice the song right before the sermon. This song is Deuteronomy 6:6-9 set to music by the worship team at Elzinga's Church. Elzinga applies the seven connections intentionally at this church; see if you can hear that while you listen to this sermon.
Notice how Francis Chan creates a connection with his audience, which he carries throughout the message. He illustrates very well the dialogue with his audience as if he is talking to each one personally.
In this clip, Chan illustrates a spiritual truth by acting out a metaphor and applying that metaphor to how we live.
Day 51 - 60
Unit 6: Effective Body Language
From San Jose, CA, 1981, Billy Graham preaches about "Choices." This is a classic Billy Graham message given at the height of his ministry. Watch how he uses his hands to communicate to a whole stadium.
Day 61 - 70
Unit 7: Effective Illustrations in Preaching
Pastor Bob Bouwer is not only a master of raising up leaders, he is also very effective at the use of illustrations in preaching that communicate the meaning of the text for today's hearers. Notice his careful use of words and illustrations in both messages featured in this unit.
Day 71 - 80
Unit 8: The Body of the Sermon
Professor Henry Reyenga preaches part 1 of a series on the Apostle's Creed. Preaching doctrinal sermons may have an important role in your ministry.
Day 81 - 90
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Unit 9: The Conclusion of a Sermon
Dwight L. Moody's preaching led many people to salvation in Christ during the 1800s. Here is one of his most effective sermons. Read carefully and notice how Moody preaches the gospel using Scripture, explanation, examples, and appeals to the heart.
This is an audio excerpt of Dr. Lloyd-Jones preaching. (His sermons were not recorded on video back then.) Listen carefully for two things:
1. The great passion for God's presence that Dr. Lloyd-Jones expresses. In all our discussions of sermon construction and presentation, let's remember that the true heartbeat of preaching is speaking with a sense of God's presence and calling others to seek God's presence.
2. The eloquence of the preacher's voice: the passion, the pauses, the variety of pace and pitch, the sheer power of a voice from a man empowered by God's Spirit.This Martyn Lloyd-Jones video interview is great encouragement to evaluate whether you are called to preach.
Day 91 - 100
Unit 10: Choosing Topics and Using Technology in Preaching
When Paul saw idols and pagan temples in Athens. he boldly preached the central Christian truths of creation, fall, redemption, and consummation. Dr. Baucham calls us to honor God and preach the undiluted gospel to others without trying to be popular or fit in with our culture.
Day 101 - 110
Unit 11: Your Final Sermon
Kurt Parker is the senior minister at Harborside Christian Church. Before you write your message get inspired by this sermon from Psalm 18. In this message, notice that Parker leads in with the application that helps us see ourselves and David in the text.
Sermon #2 Write a four-page, single-spaced sermon/meditation (2,200-2,500 words). Pay close attention to spelling and grammar, and make this assignment as excellent as you can. Bring this sermon to your sponsor/mentor for evaluation. Then take the Sermon Construction Message Two Survey where you pledge to have participated in the process. If you are an existing pastor, take your message to your leaders for feedback.
Day 111 - 120
Unit 12: Your Final Paper on Sermon Construction and Presentation
Course: Sermon Construction and Presentation
Unit 12: Upload Course Paper on Sermon Construction and Presentation
Dear CLI student, we are happy to know you are approaching the end of this course, and we hope that you have found the content of this course valuable. According to this knowledge you have acquired or reviewed, please tell us, are you planning to put this knowledge into practice? How? Why? Who is your main audience?
We encourage you to take all your notes from the first 11 units, select those that you find most valuable to answer these questions, and put together a paper summarizing key lessons you've learned and are committed to put into practice.
- Firstly, as a way to study and prepare yourself. Read through your notes, pray for the Holy Spirit's leading, and select the things that you find most valuable to put into practice in short and long term.
- Secondly, put together a paper explaining your educated arguments and reasons for your preaching practice.
Requirements:
- Length: 800-1,000 words
- One page single-spaced with 1 inch margins is 500 words. Length: 2 pages.
- One page double-spaced is 250 words. Length: 3-4 pages.
- * The paper is not graded if it does not fit this established length.
Content:
- The paper should show that you have identified key lessons of the course.
- The paper should show that the course has encouraged you to prepare a practical plan with the goal be efficient in your ministry.
- The paper should show the ways that this course has affected your thinking and impacted your leadership goals.
- The paper should show your level of commitment to be the preacher that fears God when preparing and exposing His Word.
Rubric:
This paper counts for 50 points, accordingly:
- Paper Structure: Title (5 point)
- Paper Structure: Introduction (5 points)
- Paper Structure: Body (5 points)
- Paper Structure: Conclusion (5 points)
- Grammar (5 points)
- Spelling (5 points)
- Clearly reference and footnote content quoted within the paper structure (10 points)
- Clear plan of practice within the paper structure (10 points)
- Total 50 points
Final Comments:
- Submission: Papers may take 1-2 weeks to be graded. Make sure to submit this paper at least two weeks before your enrollment date ends.
- Plagiarism: Make sure you have read CLI PLAGIARISM POLICY before you write this paper.
- When graded, if you are asked to rewrite your paper, you will have only one more chance to do it. Papers that need to be rewritten will have an automatic 10 points deducted from the total score of the paper. Be sure you take advantage of the first and second chance to get a good grade!
- Firstly, as a way to study and prepare yourself. Read through your notes, pray for the Holy Spirit's leading, and select the things that you find most valuable to put into practice in short and long term.
Day 121 - 150
Read the inspiring testimony of this fellow Christian Leaders Institute Student:
Her dream is to share Jesus with the broken and hopeless!
CLI student Tammy Gonzales
"I always knew the importance of what Christ did and that I needed to get to heaven, but when I became a mom myself, it became much more important. I was now responsible for the lives of my amazing children. I wanted to make sure they made it to heaven, but I had no relationship with God, nor did I know how to start one. The bible was scary to me, I felt unworthy. So, I spent many years taking my kids to church to ensure their salvation, checking the box for salvation and all the while not knowing Christ himself. In 2003, we moved to Louisiana and attended a church where I finally started to understand who God truly is. For some time, I felt freer and more loved, but I was still trying to do it myself, figure everything out on my own. I had to be in control. After years of abuse as a child, I was NOT going to allow anyone to control me. Anyway, I slowly slid back into the old me.
Time moved on and our children grew up. My oldest son Michael graduated from high school in 2014 and in July of that summer, he was in a car accident and went to heaven. We were so broken. Our kids were broken. Our lives became a fog of pain and longing to have him back. I refused to blame God for his death, but I had so many questions and no answers. My world stood still...
The only thing that kept me alive, sane, married, was Jesus. Satan had me so focused on me and my pain that I lost sight of who Jesus was. That’s the strategy the devil often uses. If he can make us feel unworthy, shameful, useless, dirty, etc., then our focus remains on us, not the God who loves us. I allowed that for so long, but God! Although I was in a bad place, God met me there. Ever so gently, he showed me who he Is and the relationship I so badly needed was formed.
For the rest of my life, I want to share Jesus with the broken and the hopeless. I want to share Gods healing power and grace with every person I meet. But more than that, I want to share how important the relationship with Him is to us. Most of us know the importance of salvation, but we struggle moving past that and having a true relationship with the God who loved and saved us. Christian leaders institute is a much-needed steppingstone to get me there. While searching for the proper school, I shared with God my financial struggle. He knew my need and I came across CLI. I am very grateful for the schooling that is provided here, and I will try everyday to use what I learn to further the Kingdom. Isaiah 52:6 talks about His people knowing His name AND what is means. Knowing what it means, means having a true relationship with Him. That’s what I’m after! A true relationship with HIM!"Please keep Tammy in your prayers! If you are a Vision Partner, thank you for making this training possible for students like Tammy!
Day 151 - 180
The course has ended. Please make sure:
- All assignments have been completed and submitted for grading.
- All quizzes have been completed.
If your work is incomplete, it is considered a drop, and you will have to take the class again in order to receive credit.
Our staff will be using this time to review your work. Your grade should appear on your "My Home Page" in the "Course Overview" section. Please contact Helpdesk if you have any questions or did not receive your grade.