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Lesson 7: Different Kinds of Sermons The Content of Preaching
Lesson 7: Different Kinds of Sermons The Content of Preaching
Content of Preaching
BY VINCE OLAER9 COMMENTS
There are several kinds of sermons. Each of them has their own characteristics and
purposes. I would say that all these can be used in different kinds of occasions but
depending on a particular situation and to what God is telling to the preacher.
I cannot say which is the ultimate best form of sermon since I already have used all of
these alternately. As for my own preference however, I usually work on Expository
sermon and Series of sermons. Doing this allows me to have more topics to discuss
and things to learn.
In this part, let us again remember the definitions of Preaching and Sermon. Preaching
is a verb which means the act of proclaiming the gospel. While Sermon is a noun that
refers to the content of preaching.
Expository Sermon
As the name implies, it is delivering a sermon by Bible exposition. N.M. Van Cleave in
his book Handbook of Preaching defined Expository sermon:
“Expository sermon not only takes a subject and main divisions from the text, but all the
subdivisions as well. It is usually based on a longer passage than the topical or textual
sermon. Often the text is a whole paragraph, whole chapter, or even a whole book. No
idea can be introduced into the expository sermon which does not come from the
passage of Scripture upon which it is based. It is an exposition of the given passage
and that only.”
Topical Sermon
Topical Sermon focuses mainly on a particular topic, or a topic within the text. Points
does not necessarily come from one single text and are usually invented by the
preacher guided by the rhetorical possibilities of the subject in accordance with the Bible
and the preacher’s knowledge concerning the topic.
Textual Sermon
N.M. Van Cleave defined Textual Sermon:
“The textual sermon tales from, the text and subject and the main divisions. The main
points of the sermon are only those stated or clearly inferred by the passage of
Scripture upon which the sermon is based. However, the subdivisions are invented in
the same way that all the divisions are invented in the topical sermon.”
This means that the main difference between the topical sermon and the textual sermon
is that topics did not just came out of the idea of the preacher but to what the passage is
saying. And that the points though added or invented, are clearly a part of one passage.
In addtion, among the three kinds of sermons; expository, topical and textual, I would
say that textual is half expository and half topical.
Sermon Series
Sermon series is more like a combination of expository and textual form of sermon.
They are taken from the passages itself and then make an exposition. The difference
lies in the sequence and number of sermons because series of sermons is not enough
for just one sermon setting. They are most of the time unfinished discourse since it is
composed of several sermons to finish.
What I usually do is that I walk through the Bible. I choose a book from the Bible and
then make a sermon little by little through the passages. It usually takes me a couple of
months to finish the whole book depending on the length of the book.
The main advantage of this is that if you are a regular preacher, it will be easier for you
to make and think for your next sermon because you are only following one context.
You will also save time in reviewing the background of the book since you will only
make a background review at the beginning of the study of the book.
Another advantage that you can derive more knowledge of the background of the book
since you are studying only one book for a certain period of time.
Narrative Sermon
This is similar to Bible Story Sermon because it also deals with stories. The big
difference however, lies with the story itself. In Narrative Preaching, the preacher uses
experience and fictional stories and then quoting passages from the Bible to make a
point, while Bible Story Preaching uses Bible Stories in delivering God’s word.
The main issue that can be raised against narrative preaching and is worth evaluating is
the issue of it source of message. It is because narrative preaching is not purely Bible
based.
Note: If you know another kinds of sermon, feel free to post in the form provided
below.