Landmark Baptist Institute

TOOLS OF THE TRADE

I. The Challenge of Homiletics (Thinking About Thinking)

  1. Preaching requires thinking, analyzing thinking, and explaining thinking.
  2. Studying effective preaching is difficult because:
    • Preachers use different methods.
    • Some effective preachers claim to have “no method.”
  3. Sermon preparation is not an exact science.
  4. Yet effective expository preaching is not accidental.
  5. Good expositors consistently use systems, even if intuitively.

II. Key Principles About Thinking and Method

  1. Thinking is a dynamic process.
  2. Too much rigid instruction can hinder creativity.
  3. Biblical preaching requires:
    • Insight
    • Imagination
    • Spiritual sensitivity
  4. Sermon preparation is more like building a cathedral than assembling a doghouse.
  5. Apprentices need guidance, but must eventually develop their own method.

III. Overview of the Stages of Expository Sermon Preparation

  1. The stages are presented in sequence.
  2. In practice, stages may overlap.
  3. Experienced preachers sometimes work out of order.
  4. The goal is clarity, faithfulness to Scripture, and efficiency.

IV. Stage 1 – Choose the Passage to Be Preached

A. Planning Ahead

  1. Sermon selection should not be rushed weekly.
  2. A yearly preaching calendar saves time and improves quality.
  3. Not all Scriptures address a congregation’s needs equally at all times.
  4. The preacher bridges Scripture and people’s needs.

B. Thought Units

  1. Sermons should be based on units of thought, not verse counts.
  2. Paragraphs usually define thought units in epistles.
  3. Narrative passages require larger literary units.
  4. Poetry often requires treating the entire psalm or poem.
  5. Principle: Base the sermon on a complete biblical idea.

C. Time and Length

  1. Sermons must fit within allotted time.
  2. Cutting should be done in the study, not the pulpit.
  3. The preacher must decide:
    • What to include
    • What to exclude
  4. Sometimes a detailed study is possible; sometimes only an overview.

D. Topical Exposition

  1. Certain seasons and subjects require topical preaching.
  2. The preacher begins with a topic, then finds relevant passages.
  3. Danger: forcing Scripture to say what it does not say.
  4. True topical exposition:
    • Respects context
    • Lets Scripture shape the topic

V. Stage 2 – Study the Passage and Gather Notes

A. Study the Context

  1. Read the entire book multiple times.
  2. Use multiple Bible translations.
  3. Determine:
    • Purpose of the book
    • Argument of the author
  4. Study immediate context (before and after the passage).
  5. Ask why the passage exists where it does.

B. Ask Questions and Identify Problems

  1. Note translation differences.
  2. Identify unfamiliar concepts or imagery.
  3. Write down all questions.
  4. Attempt a preliminary subject and complement.

C. Study the Details

  1. Examine:
    • Structure
    • Vocabulary
    • Grammar
  2. Original languages add clarity and precision.
  3. Use available tools responsibly to avoid misinterpretation.

D. Tools for Study

  1. Lexicons – define words and nuances.
  2. Concordances – study word usage.
  3. Grammars – understand sentence structure.
  4. Word-study books – trace meanings and synonyms.
  5. Bible dictionaries – provide background and biography.
  6. Commentaries – explain meaning and context.
  7. Other tools – guides for methodical Bible study.
  8. Organized note-taking is essential.

VI. Stage 3 – Determine the Exegetical Idea and Its Development

A. Synthesis and Analysis

  1. Begin with overall meaning.
  2. Analyze details.
  3. Return to a refined overall meaning.
  4. Ask repeatedly: What is the writer talking about?

VII. Identifying the Subject

  1. The subject answers: What is the author talking about?
  2. Initial subjects are often too broad.
  3. Refine using six questions:
    • Who
    • What
    • When
    • Where
    • Why
    • How
  4. The subject must fit all details of the passage.

VIII. Identifying the Complement

  1. The complement answers: What is the author saying about the subject?
  2. It completes the idea.
  3. Together, subject + complement = exegetical idea.
  4. Example:
    • Subject: How to obtain wisdom in trials
    • Complement: By asking God in faith

IX. Literary Forms and Their Impact on Interpretation

  1. Different genres require different approaches.
  2. Narrative focuses on:
    • Characters
    • Plot
    • Conflict
    • Resolution
  3. Poetry focuses on:
    • Imagery
    • Emotion
    • Parallelism
    • Figurative language
  4. Each genre shapes how meaning is expressed.

X. Final Outcomes of Exegesis

By the end of Stage 3, the expositor should be able to:

  1. State the passage’s idea in one clear sentence.
  2. Outline how the passage develops that idea.
  3. Remain faithful to the text without forcing meaning.