Every Sermon Should Aim For These Things

All Messages Should Have...

Introduction to: (a) grab the heart and/or (b) begin building context in the mind
Sound contextual exegesis---put the people into the Bible
Theology of the passage
Lead it to Christ---EXALT Christ Col 1:28
Lead to the gospel
A structure that is memorable and follow-able
Application
- To the new believer
- To the medium believer
- To the mature believer
The passion of my OWN walk with and love for Christ
Connection to the heart
Confront with the bitterness of sin and comfort with the glories of grace
The Sovereignty of God---not necessarily directly taught but implied and spoken of naturally---God’s sovereignty is the marrow of reformed doctrine
Human Responsibility
EXPLAIN what faith is, the components of faith (assent, belief, trust, etc).
Make your way to the New Birth---regeneration—not often preached in 20th 21st centuries
Touch base with the relationship of the Trinity in this message
Soundly apply the passage to one or more of the varieties of people, unbelievers and believers
- Completely disinterested unbeliever---WARN
- Somewhat interested but unsure---TEACH
- Interested and unsure—TEACH and ENCOURAGE
- Seeking and Desperate—TEACH and PLEAD
- New Believer---TEACH and give BASIC instruction
- Wayward Believer—TEACH and EXHORT back
- Growing Believer—TEACH and encourage to do still MORE
Conclusion that leaves no option but to respond