Service planning

Steve Lawson gives a short video (8 mins) explaning the 101 

Expository Sermon Preparation Pathway:

1. Observation - What does the passage say? 

2. Interpretation - What does the passage mean? 

3. Unification - What is the ONE POINT of this message?  

4. Application - What does the passage require of me/us?

5. Formation - What is the organization of headings?
   (Remember, each heading will apply to the ONE POINT)

6. Illustration - How can I not just tell this message, but also show it? 

7. Introduction - To draw the listener into the message (don't start here, do this after steps 1-6)

8. Conclusion - Ending strong - end with impact, emotion and a point (do this last!)

Verse-by-Verse Running Commentary

(Also known as an Expository or Textual Sermon)

Have you ever heard a message that forever changed the way you viewed a certain passage of Scripture? Or, have you ever walked away from a sermon thinking, “Wow, I understand what the Bible is saying so much more clearly now!” If so, chances are you were listening to what we call a “Verse-by-Verse Running Commentary,” sometimes called an expository or textual sermon.

The running commentary format is an amazing way to explore a passage in depth. Preaching in this style allows you to delve into the Biblical context, history, culture, and difficult-to-discern meanings found within your text. It’s an amazing way to bring the Bible to life for your congregation, but it comes with a huge caveat: If not done well, a running commentary can be more confusing than helpful. That’s why it’s crucial to understand how to preach effectively in the expository style.

Follow these steps to construct your sermon outline:

1. Start by reading your text multiple times, even in multiple translations. What’s the main idea portrayed in the verses you’ll be covering? Make a note of it—this is the main idea of your sermon.

2. As you introduce the topic, don’t only seek to grab your audience’s attention, but make sure you cover why these Biblical truths matter for our lives today. In essence, pique their interest and explain why they should keep listening.

3. Before you read the text, explain background and context. If you’re preaching from the middle of a story, give them a summary on what’s already happened or is about to happen.  If you’re not preaching from a story, talk about the culture and time period where this passage was written or what had or was about to happen in history or in the human author’s life.

4. Congrats! You’ve finished your introduction. Now, you’ll read the first set of verses that forms a thought and use them to craft your first point. As you teach, start by explaining what the text means, using more background and/or referring back to the the original audience's understanding.  Remember, it can't mean for us today what it didn't mean for them back then. Then, illustrate this meaning by painting a picture of what it looks like to live this out in our context. 

5. Next, move on to the second set of verses and do the same thing: explain it, then illustrate it.

6. Finally, give the same treatment to your third set of verses, etc.  Remember, you don't have to go 45 minutes.  A good time to shoot for is about 30, because most people end up going past their intended sermon length.

7. Now it’s time to give a takeaway for this passage. To craft this portion, ask and answer the questions “As a result of what we’ve just learned, what should we do differently?” or "How is this pointing us to trust in Christ today and how do we align our hopes accordingly?"

8. As you conclude, give a summary of what you’ve taught, then reiterate what actions need to be taken, now that we’ve heard the word of God.

9. Close with an opportunity to trust in Christ - give space for prayer as needed.