Landmark Baptist Institute

The Road from Text to Sermon

(Simple Outline)

I. What is Expository Preaching?

  1. Sermons come from the Bible.
  2. They must connect to real life.

II. The Three Worlds of a Preacher

1. The Biblical World (Then)

  1. Study the Bible carefully.
  2. Understand:
    • History
    • Culture
    • Language
  3. Ask:
    • What did the message mean to the original people?

2. The Present World (Now)

  1. Understand today’s culture and problems.
  2. Each generation has:
    • Different questions
    • Different struggles
  3. Warning:
    • A sermon can be correct but lifeless if it ignores people’s needs.
  4. Goal:
    • Answer today’s questions using God’s truth.

3. The Local World (Your People)

  1. Know your specific audience (your church).
  2. Every place is different:
    • Rural
    • City
    • Middle-class communities
  3. Preach to real people, not just general ideas.
  4. A good pastor:
    • Knows his people
    • Understands their lives

III. Role of the Preacher (Pastor-Teacher)

  1. Teaching + caring go together.
  2. Preaching is part of caring for people’s souls.
  3. A preacher must:
    • Know the Bible
    • Know the times
    • Know the people

IV. Bringing It All Together

  1. Combine:
    • Bible truth (past)
    • Present issues (now)
    • Local situation (people)
  2. The preacher does NOT make the Bible relevant.
  3. Truth:
    • God’s Word is already relevant.
    • People today are in the same position before God as in Bible times.

V. Key Teaching Idea

👉 The preacher connects God’s unchanging truth to today’s people in their real situation.

VI. God’s Word is Still for Today

  1. God gave His law long ago (at Horeb/Sinai).
  2. But later generations said:
    • “This covenant is also for us today.”
  3. Meaning:
    • God’s Word is not only for the past.
    • It speaks to every generation.

👉 Truth:

  • What God said before still speaks now.
  • We stand before God just like people in the Bible.

VII. The Bible Becomes Present Reality

  1. The people in Moses’ time:
    • Looked back at history
    • Experienced it as real in their present life
  2. God’s Word:
    • Connects people to God
    • Shows how to live with others

VIII. The Task of the Preacher

To make God’s Word clear today, the preacher must:

  1. Study the Bible (what it meant)
  2. Study the people (who they are now)

IX. From Study to Sermon

  1. Ask practical questions:
    • How does this truth apply today?
    • What do people need to hear?
  2. Expand:
    • From a Bible idea → into a full sermon
  3. Goal:
    • Connect Scripture to real life

X. Key Connection (Very Important)

👉 The preacher’s work is to:

  • Bring God’s past Word
  • Into the present life of people

👉 Simple formula:
Bible Truth (Past) + People Today = Living Message

____________

The Road from Text to Sermon (Complete Outline)

I. What is Expository Preaching?

  1. Sermons come from the Bible.
  2. They must connect to real life.

II. The Three Worlds of a Preacher

1. The Biblical World (Then)

  1. Study the Bible carefully.
  2. Understand:
    • History
    • Culture
    • Language
  3. Ask:
    • What did it mean to the original people?

2. The Present World (Now)

  1. Understand today’s culture and problems.
  2. Each generation has:
    • Different questions
    • Different struggles
  3. Warning:
    • A sermon can be correct but powerless if it ignores real life.
  4. Goal:
    • Answer today’s questions using God’s truth.

3. The Local World (Your People)

  1. Know your specific audience.
  2. Every place is different:
    • Rural
    • City
    • Communities
  3. Preach to real people, not just ideas.
  4. A good pastor:
    • Knows his people
    • Understands their situation

III. Role of the Preacher (Pastor-Teacher)

  1. Teaching and caring go together.
  2. Preaching is part of caring for souls.
  3. The preacher must:
    • Know the Bible
    • Know the times
    • Know the people

IV. God’s Word is Still for Today

  1. God spoke in the past (e.g., at Horeb/Sinai).
  2. Later generations said:
    • “This message is also for us today.”
  3. Meaning:
    • God’s Word is not only for the past.
    • It speaks to every generation.

👉 Truth:

  • What God said before still speaks now.
  • People today stand before God just like in Bible times.

V. The Bible Becomes Present Reality

  1. God’s people:
    • Looked back at history
    • Lived it as present truth
  2. God’s Word:
    • Connects us to God
    • Teaches how to live with others

VI. The Task of the Preacher

  1. Study:
    • The Bible (meaning)
    • The people (needs)
  2. Goal:
    • Let God speak to people where they are

VII. From Study to Sermon

  1. Ask practical questions:
    • How does this apply today?
    • What do people need?
  2. Develop:
    • Bible idea → Sermon message
  3. Connect Scripture to real life

VIII. Bringing It All Together

  1. Combine:
    • Bible truth (past)
    • Present issues (now)
    • Local situation (people)
  2. The preacher does NOT make the Bible relevant.
  3. Truth:
    • God’s Word is already relevant.

IX. Key Teaching Summary

👉 Simple Formula:
Bible Truth (Past) + People Today + Local Context = Living Sermon

👉 Main Goal:

  • Bring God’s unchanging Word
  • To real people
  • In their real situation

The Road from Text to Sermon (Complete Teaching Outline)

I. What is Expository Preaching?

  1. Sermons come from the Bible.
  2. They must connect to real life.

II. The Three Worlds of a Preacher

1. The Biblical World (Then)

  1. Study the Bible carefully.
  2. Understand:
    • History
    • Culture
    • Language
  3. Ask:
    • What did it mean to the original people?

2. The Present World (Now)

  1. Understand today’s culture and problems.
  2. Each generation has:
    • Different questions
    • Different struggles
  3. Warning:
    • A sermon can be correct but lifeless if it ignores people’s needs.
  4. Goal:
    • Answer today’s questions using God’s truth.

3. The Local World (Your People)

  1. Know your specific audience.
  2. Every place is different:
    • Rural
    • City
    • Communities
  3. Preach to real people, not just ideas.
  4. A good pastor:
    • Knows his people
    • Understands their situation

III. Role of the Preacher (Pastor-Teacher)

  1. Teaching and caring go together.
  2. Preaching is part of caring for souls.
  3. The preacher must:
    • Know the Bible
    • Know the times
    • Know the people

IV. God’s Word is Still for Today

  1. God spoke in the past (Sinai/Horeb).
  2. Later generations said:
    • “This message is also for us today.”
  3. Meaning:
    • God’s Word is for every generation.

👉 Truth:

  • What God said before still speaks now.

V. The Bible Becomes Present Reality

  1. God’s people:
    • Looked back at history
    • Lived it as present truth
  2. God’s Word:
    • Connects us to God
    • Guides how we live

VI. The Task of the Preacher

  1. Study:
    • The Bible (meaning)
    • The people (needs)
  2. Goal:
    • Let God speak to people where they are

VII. From Study to Sermon

  1. Ask:
    • How does this apply today?
    • What do people need?
  2. Develop:
    • Bible idea → Sermon

VIII. The Problem in Preaching

  1. Bible study can become:
    • Dry
    • Lifeless
  2. Like:
    • “Soggy cereal”

👉 Goal:
Make the sermon alive and powerful

IX. How to Develop a Sermon Idea

👉 There are only 4 ways to develop any idea:

  1. Restate – say it again in another way
  2. Explain – make it clear
  3. Prove – show it is true
  4. Apply – show how to live it

X. Restatement (Basic Method)

What it is:

  • Saying the same truth in different words

Purpose:

  • Clarify
  • Emphasize

Bible Pattern:

  • Repetition in Psalms
  • Repeated warnings (Paul)
  • Repeated judgments (Jeremiah)

👉 Note:

  • Helpful, but not the main way to build a sermon

XI. The Main Development Questions (Stage 4)

To grow your sermon, ask:

  1. Explain – What does it mean?
  2. Prove – Is it true?
  3. Apply – What should we do?

XII. Bringing It All Together

  1. Combine:
    • Bible truth (past)
    • Present issues (now)
    • Local people (context)
  2. Remember:
    • You do NOT make the Bible relevant
    • God’s Word is already relevant

XIII. Final Teaching Summary

👉 Simple Formula:
Bible Truth + Clear Explanation + Proof + Application = Living Sermon

👉 Full Preaching Flow:

  1. Study the Bible
  2. Understand the people
  3. Develop the idea
  4. Apply it to life

XIV. Main Goal of Preaching

👉 Bring:

  • God’s unchanging Word
  • To real people
  • In their real situation

—

Development Question 1: What Does This Mean?

I. Main Idea

👉 A preacher must explain the message clearly

Ask:
“What does this mean?”

II. Two Targets of the Question

1. Ask About the Bible (The Passage)

  1. Does the Bible passage explain something?
  2. If yes, the sermon should also focus on explaining.

Example: 1 Corinthians 12

  1. Paul teaches about:
    • Many gifts
    • One body
  2. He explains by:
    • Listing gifts
    • Using the body as an illustration

👉 Lesson:

  • If the Bible explains, the preacher must also explain

2. Ask About the Audience (The People)

  1. Will people understand this right away?
  2. Or will they ask:
    • “What does that mean?”

III. When Explanation is Needed

1. Cultural Differences

  • Bible readers then understood things we don’t

Example:

  • “Food offered to idols”
    • Normal in Corinth
    • Confusing today

👉 The preacher must explain the background

2. Misunderstood Terms

Example:

  • “Weak brother”
    • Not easily tempted
    • But lacks understanding

👉 Without explanation:

  • People may misunderstand

3. Doctrinal Confusion

Example:

  • “Baptism of the Holy Spirit”
    • Many people are confused today

👉 The preacher must:

  • Explain clearly
  • Not ignore questions

IV. The Goal: Clarity

👉 One of the biggest goals in preaching:
Be clear! Be clear! Be clear!

V. Common Problem

  1. Preachers use:
    • Deep words
    • Theological terms
  2. Result:
    • People do not understand

👉 Problem:

  • Knowledge without clarity

VI. The Solution

  1. Think like a listener
  2. Ask:
    • “Will they understand this?”
  3. Explain:
    • Hard words
    • Background
    • Ideas

VII. Practical Teaching Tip

👉 Imagine someone asking during your sermon:
“What does that mean?”

  • If they can ask it → you must answer it

VIII. Key Summary

👉 The question “What does this mean?”:

  1. Looks at the Bible
    • How is the idea explained?
  2. Looks at the people
    • What do they not understand?

IX. Simple Formula

👉 Clear Explanation = Understandable Sermon

X. Main Goal

👉 The preacher must:

  • Remove confusion
  • Make truth clear
  • Help people understand God’s Word

Development Question 2: Is It True?

I. Main Idea

👉 After understanding the message, people ask:
“Is it true? Can I believe this?”

II. Why This Question Matters

  1. People do not easily accept truth
  2. Even if it is from the Bible
  3. They need:
    • Reasons
    • Proof
    • Examples

👉 Truth must be shown, not just stated

III. Common Mistake

  1. Preachers say:
    • “It’s in the Bible, so believe it”
  2. But listeners may still doubt

👉 Problem:

  • No explanation or proof

IV. Biblical Pattern: How Truth is Proven

1. From Experience

  • Use real-life examples

Example (Paul):

  • Soldiers get paid
  • Farmers eat their crops
  • Shepherds drink milk

👉 Conclusion:

  • Workers deserve reward

2. From Scripture

  • Use Bible verses to support truth

Example:

  • “Do not muzzle the ox” (Law of Moses)

👉 Meaning:

  • Workers should benefit from their work

3. From Logic (Reasoning)

  • Use clear thinking

👉 Example:

  • If animals are cared for
  • How much more people?

4. From Evidence (Facts/Events)

Example (Peter – Acts 2):

  • Jesus’ miracles
  • His death
  • His resurrection
  • Pentecost events

👉 These prove:

  • Jesus is Lord and Christ

V. Lesson for Preachers

👉 Ask:
“How does the Bible writer prove this?”

Then do the same in your sermon

VI. Ways to Prove Truth in a Sermon

  1. Use Scripture
  2. Use real-life examples
  3. Use logic/reasoning
  4. Use evidence or facts

VII. Key Principle

👉 Even Bible writers:

  • Did not just state truth
  • They proved it

VIII. Simple Formula

👉 Truth + Proof = Belief

IX. Main Goal

👉 Help people:

  • Not only understand
  • But also be convinced