When it comes to writing sermons, there are generally four different types – expository, textual, topical and narrative sermon outlines.
I will discuss expository sermon outlines by explaining four simply steps one can use in developing expository sermon outlines. They involve diagrammatical, exegetical, homiletical and preaching outlines. (SEE FULL MANUSCRIPT of 1 PETER 4:7-11 BELOW)
1. Diagrammatical Outline
Expository sermon outlines are develop from within Scripture.
Therefore, the first step will require the diagramming of the verbal movements in the passage of Scripture. You can either diagram the Greek text or simply look for the verbal movements in the English translations.
For example, if you look for the verbal movements in 1 Peter 4:7-11, you will discover the verbal movements are: 1) the end of all things is at hand, 2) be alert in prayer, 3) be fervent in your love for one another, 4) be hospitable to one another, and 5) be ministers to one another.
Below is a brief sketch of 1 Peter 4:7-11.
2. Exegetical Outline
The exegetical outline simply finds the main verbal and the subordinate and how they interact together.
In the example above, the main verbal is The End of All Things is at Hand. The subordinate verbals are: 1) be alert in prayer, 2) be fervent in your love for one another, 3) be hospitable to one another, and 4) be ministers to one another.
Once you have determined the main verbal movement from the subordinate verbals, you will need to ask the why, what, when, where, and how question of the main verbal.
In the example above, the end of all things is at hand is referring to Christ’s return. In light of that, Peter is telling his readers how to live in light of Jesus’ return. Therefore, it is asking the how question. Peter is telling his readers what they must do in light of the nearness of Jesus’ return.
The exegetical outline would look like this: The means by which Christians live in light of the nearness of Jesus’ return is by being alert in prayer, by being fervent in their love for one another, by being hospitable to one another and by being ministers to one another.
3. Homiletical Outline
In the third step, you would simply generate an expository sermon outline. That is, you develop the main preaching point (or topic), sub-points and incidental points from the exegetical outline.
In the example above, your main preaching point (or topic) is Living in Light of Jesus’ Return. The sub-point involve: prayer, love, hospitality and ministry.
Your expository sermon outline could look like the following.
INTRODUCTION
There are four principles for living in light of Jesus’ return. They involve . . .
1. Prayer (1 Peter 4:7b)
2. Love (1 Peter 4:8)
3. Hospitality (1 Peter 4:9)
4. Ministry (1 Peter 4:10-11)
- Speaking Ministry (1 Peter 4:11a)
- Serving Ministry (1 Peter 4:11b)
CONCLUSION
Notice that the expository sermon outline has a main preaching point, sub-points and incidental points. Moreover, notice how the main preaching point is linked to the sub-points by the linking word principles. I call this linking word the HINGE Word.
To view another example of an expository sermon outline, click on More Free Expository Sermons.
4. Preaching Outline
The homiletical outline is simply a road map for preparing your preaching outline, which is the fourth step.
You take the homiletical outline and turn it into a preaching outline by adding an introduction, content and illustrations to the expository sermon outline and a conclusion.
Some preachers write a full manuscript so that they can organize their material for presentation even though they do not preach it word for word.
Other preachers simply add content material to their preaching outline to help them convey the message of the Scriptures to their congregation or audience.
I prefer to write a full manuscript. I do not preach the sermon manuscript word for word but it is guide that presents my thoughts in a cohesive and logical sequence.
NOTICE THE FULL PREACHING OUTLINE IN THE MANUSCRIPT BELOW
Introduction: Where do I start with the message this morning?
As I look at the world, I see fear, worry, anxiety, insecurity and panic.
As I turn on my computer, I am overwhelmed with all sorts of information – biblical information and media information.
So where do I start with the message today?
Well, I thought I would start with an email that I received this week. The preamble to the email was a bible verse.
The Bible verse said: “Be joyful in hope, be patient in affliction or tribulation and be faithful in prayer” (Romans 12:12).
Now the context of this verse is Christian service. As we serve our Lord Jesus Christ, we are to be joyful in hope, we are to be patient in affliction or tribulation and we are to be faithful in prayer.
Regardless of what is happening in the world around us, we have an eternal hope (we know where we are going) and this hope (in the context of this passage) inspires service for God. It inspires us to about God’s work.
There is so much we can do at the moment . . . so many opportunities to serve God and each other though it may take a different form, shape or way to what we are used to!
So this morning I want us to look at a passage of Scripture that will help us live in light of all that is happening in the world at the moment.
I want to look at a passage of Scripture in 1 Peter 4:7-11. Now the context of the passage of Scripture is living in light of the Lord’s return. It tells us how we are live as we look for coming of the Lord.
Look at verse 7, “But the end of all things is at hand; therefore . . . ” and then the apostle Peter goes on to tell us what to do.
I believe what the apostle Peter says in these following verses will help us today as we live in light of all that is happening in the world.
There are four ways in which we can live in light of all that is happening in the world. What are they?
1. It involves persistent prayer (4:7b)
Look at verse 7, “But the end of all things is at hand, therefore be serious and watchful in your prayers.”
A. Prayer involves persistency (4:7b)
We need persistence when it comes to prayer.
Even Peter needed to learn this truth when it came to prayer (Matt 26:40-41)
In Matthew 26:40-41 we read, “Then Jesus came to the disciples and found them asleep, and said to Peter, ‘what, could you not watch with Me one hour? Watch and pray, lest you enter into temptation. The spirit indeed is willing, but the flesh is weak’” (Matt 26:40-41).
We can all relate to that statement by Jesus … prayer just doesn’t happen. We must work at it.
As Billy Graham said, “Every man or woman whose life has counted for the church and the Kingdom of God has been a person of prayer. You cannot afford to be too busy to pray. Jesus spent many hours in prayer. If He felt he had to pray, how much more do we need to pray?”
B. Prayer involves perspective (4:7b)
To be alert . . . to be watchful and to be serious conveys the thought of intelligence and perspective.
In other words, it helps us understand. It helps us see the big picture.
As the apostle Paul said, “Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, let your requests be known to God; and the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus” (Philippians 4:6-7).
We live in a time where people need prayer to see the truth of God’s salvation – the bigger picture.
The world (in general) has turned its back on God but now is the time to pray for the good news message of salvation to go out into all the world.
Now is the time to pray . . . it is these times of crises when God can get people’s attention.
“Today is the day of salvation” the bible tells us . . . let’s be persistent in prayer!
2. It involves fervent love (4:8)
Look at the beginning of verse 8, “And above all things have fervent love (no ordinary love) for one another.”
A. Love is the defining mark of the Christian faith (John 13:35)
“By this all will know that you are My disciples, if you have love for one another” (John 13:35).
The apostle John in his letters to the churches underscored the importance of Christian love. He said: “If someone says, ‘I love God, and hates his brother, he is a liar; for he who does not love his brother whom he has seen, how can he love God whom he has not seen? And this commandment we have from Him: that he who loves God must love his brother also’” (1 John 4:20-21).
Love is the motivating factor of all ministries according to 1 Corinthians 13.
B. Love (Christian Love) forgives the faults of other (4:8b)
Notice the end of verse 8, here Peter gave one reason why we should love and that is because Christian love overlooks the faults of others.
Look the end of verse 8, “…for love will cover a multitude of sins.”
Now, this does not mean that our love covers or atones for our sins.
It simply means that this type of love sees and looks past the faults of others.
This type of love forgives the faults of others and does not broadcast them so that we can minister to them when opportunity comes our way.
It doesn’t mean we condone sin. No, certainly not.
In love we correct and restore when possible . . . that’s the love God wants us to display.
As Jesus said, “Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works (your love for God) and glorify your Father in heaven” (Matthew 5:16)
3. It involves friendly service (4:9)
Look at the beginning of verse 9, “Be hospitable to one another.”
Hospitality literally means “a friend of a stranger.”
A. Show your friendship by serving others (4:9a)
This is an expression of our love for our brothers and sisters in Jesus Christ.
And this was absolutely important in Peter’s day. There were very few inns and modern motels around in Peter’s day.
How can we be hospitable to others – well, there are many to be a friend to someone. Take those opportunities when God presents them.
B. Show your friendship without grumbling or complaining (4:9b)
As the apostle Paul said, “Let nothing be done through selfish ambition or conceit, but in lowliness of mind let each esteem others better than himself. Let each of you look out not only for his own interests, but also for the interests of others” (Philippians 2:3-4).
Our friendship to others will be an extension of our walk with the Lord.
As we walk with the Lord each day, God will give us opportunities to show our friendship in our service of others.
4. It involves gracious sharing
That is, to share our gifts and talents by ministering to one another with grace.
Look at verse 10, “As each one has received a gift, minister it to one another, as good stewards of the manifold grace of God.
Every Christian has received a ministering gift, that is, a gift given to them by the Holy Spirit for the building up of the church and sharing the good news message of salvation.
The apostle Paul put it this way: “But to each one of us grace was given according to the measure of Christ’s gift” (Ephesians 4:7).
No-one misses out . . . we all have a ministering gift where we can graciously share that gift with others.
How should we minister our gifts? We should share our gift of gifts in proportion to our giftedness. We should share our gifts as good stewards of God’s grace.
Peter made it clear that we were only stewards of that gift.
It is important to realise that a “steward” was one who served as a house manager; he had no wealth of his own, but distributed his master’s wealth according to his master’s will and direction.
The gift that God has given us is not our own but we are stewards of that gift so that we can share it with others.
That means we are all called to share . . . exercising our gift or gifts is about sharing with others.
If we have experienced the grace of God, then we have a gift to share.
Notice, these gifts involves two general categories (speaking gifts and serving gifts).
Look at the beginning of verse 11, “If anyone speaks, let him speak as the oracles of God. If anyone ministers, let him do it as with the ability which God supplies.”
A. Sharing involves speaking gifts (4:11)
Notice the speaking gifts are qualified that is we are not to speak our words but the very words of God.
B. Sharing involves serving gifts (4:11)
Notice the serving gifts (as would be appropriate of the speaking gifts) are to be empowered “with the strength God provides.”
That means we are using our gifts for the benefit of others and therefore dependant upon God. When we use our talents for our own benefit it is usually in our own strength.
What is the purpose of ministering our gift with one another? The purpose is that in all things God may be glorified through Jesus Christ.
Look at the end of verse 11, “That in all things God may be glorified through Jesus Christ, to whom belong the glory and the dominion forever and ever. Amen.”
Conclusion: We live in unprecedented times! Let’s be persistent in prayer, let’s be fervent in love, let’s be friendly in service and let’s be gracious in sharing our spiritual gifts as we look for the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ.
I want to finish with what I started – “Be joyful in hope, be patient in affliction or tribulation and be faithful in prayer” (Romans 12:12).
These free Bible sermons were compiled by Rev. D. Blackburn BA GDM.