How To Prepare Your Sermon in 7 Easy Steps

    The 7 Steps to a Great Sermon! - Epta

    • Step 1 - Study Key Words and Relationships

    • Words (incl. verse #)TypeAsk QtnsAnswer QtnsApply Answers 
      What word or phrase do you want to study? Then determine what type of word it is (Long, Unusual, Repeated, or Difficult) under "Type". Ask one or two questions about the words/phrases.Finally, type in the results of your research including definitions, historical context, meaning etc. of the word/phrases. Use the "add/+" button to insert another field (use only one field per word/phrase)
    • Relationship (incl. verse #)TypeMeaning 
      Remember the types of relationships (list the relevant one under "Type"): Grammatical Chronological/Geographical Logical Psychological Contextual Genre

    • Step 2: Outline the Structure of the Text

    • Key(incl. verse #)Major or Minor?Notes 
      Outline the passage using its major and minor keys.
    • Major PointMinor (sub) Point 
      Based on its major and minor (sub) points. If you have multiple sub-points under a major point, add a new line, leave the "Major Point" field in the new line blank, and add the additional sub-point.
    • If you are familiar with how to create a sentence-flow or diagramming, you can do so here.
    • Summarize the passage in your own words.

    • Step 3: Finding the Big Idea of the Passage

      To find the Big Idea, join the subject and complement together. Remember, there is only one big idea for each passage.
    • What is the passage talking about? Phrase this as a question.
    • What is the passage saying about what it is talking about? Best written as a statement (answering the subject).
    • Remember, the subject + the complement = the big idea.

    • Step 4: Crafting the Purpose Bridge

      Connect the world of your audience to the world of the Bible.
    • General purpose "action" verbParticular purpose 
      E.g. General purpose: I want to warn my audience Particular purpose: not to follow the world

    • Step 5: Forming the Big Idea of the Message

      To find the Big Idea, join the subject and complement together. Remember, there is only one big idea for each passage.
    • What is your message going to be about? Phrase this as a question.
    • What are you going to say about the topic your message is going to be about? Best written as a statement (answering the subject).
    • Remember, the subject + the complement = the big idea.

    • Step 6: Developing the Outline of the Message

      How many points and sub-points will your sermon/bible study/talk? List them here and outline them in the same way you did in Step 2.
      What form will your sermon take? Choose one.
    • Major PointMinor (sub) Point 
      Remember the S.A.V.E (a) point principle. If you have multiple sub-points under a major point, add a new line, leave the "Major Point" field in the new line blank, and add the additional sub-point. And don't forget to try to alliterate your points (make this one of the last things you do after you finish your manuscript).

    • Step 7: Add Content and Preach!

      In this step, flesh out the Introduction, Body (main and sub-points) and Conclusion of your text. This is where you enhance your sermon with illustrations, examples, quotations, facts, explanations, definitions etc. I encourage you to use this space to write out the full manuscript of your sermon, word-for-word (even if you are a confident extemporaneous speaker). Afterward, you can develop your full and speaking outlines.
    • How are you going to introduce your sermon? Your purpose here is to introduce the Big Idea of your message. Use illustrations, examples or quotations to grip and engage your audience.
    • Write the body of your sermon. This includes your main and sub-points (remember the S.A.V.E (a) point principle), plus additional illustrations, examples etc. to make your sermon clearer.
    • Recapitulate your big ideas and the main points. Remember to end your sermon and do not introduce new material.

    • Publish!

    • Give your sermon a concise title.
    • Give a brief overview of your sermon.
    • What are some of the key issues being addressed by your sermon? Examples can include love, marriage, money, children, salvation, redemption, judgement, forgiveness, Ephesians, Old Testament, David, Noah, Jesus etc.
    • What section (Old or New Testament) and book (e.g. Genesis) are you preaching from?
    • This field is for validation purposes and should be left unchanged.
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