I ask about this subject one time to a fellow preacher, who immediately tried to label me a Liberal. But here goes.
The first college I attended, Ohio Valley College now University, I had a course in Homiletics taught by Clarence DeLoach, Jr. we used two texts books as I recall - One was - "Sermon Design & Delivery by Thomas H. Holland" I think at the time was professor at Freed-Hardeman College, now University in Henderson, TN. Now the other was On the Preparation & Delivery of Sermons by John A. Broadus originally written in 1870 by a Baptist preacher. I say that because often times when I mention the next books I am told something like I wouldn't put much stock in so and so's book he is a Baptist or Methodist or whatever. I would dare say if that is the case I would have to throw away over 90% of my library and others would too.
I try and make it a point to read at least one book a year about Preaching/Sermon design, preparation and delivery. One of the things that has bothered me is when you go to the New Testament you don't see Jesus or the Apostles delivering sermons containing an Introduction, Discussion with anywhere from 3 to 20 points and a conclusion. There are a couple of other books that bear this fact out. One is a book edited by William R. Baker "Evangelicalism & The Stone - Campbell Movement, and a book by Richard Hughes, no relation that I know of entitled "The Emergence of the Church of Christ" he points to a difference between the preaching styles of Alexander Campbell and Walter Scott. Campbell's a more logical left brain approach of Introduction, Body: point 1, point 2, and etc., Conclusion approach derived from Sir Francis Bacon and that of Walter Scott's more Inductive approach.
There are several good books about preaching and styles I would like to list for you. First are those whose authors are members of the church both Liberal and conservative:

Preachers & Preaching by James P. Needham not so much a how to prepare but a treatise on the Preacher and his work.
Preaching: Principles & Practice Vols. 1 & 2 by Thomas H. Holland
Essential Elements of Expository Preaching - Thomas H. Holland
Preaching Man & Method by Stafford North Professor at Oklahoma Christian University
Man of God - Essays on the Life & Work of the Preacher edited by Gospel Advocate several well known men contributed to the writing.
God Demands Doctrinal Preaching Edited by Thomas B. Warren & Garland Elkins.
These are about the old tried and true methods of - Topical, Expository and Textual type lessons.

There are some by denominational fellows that emphasis basically the same idea. A few that I consider classics of late are:
How to prepare Bible Messages by James Braga
12 Essential steps to great preaching - Wayne McDill
Steps to the Sermon by Brown, Clinard, Northcutt, & Fasol
A practical guide to sermon preparation - Jerry Vines
Anointed Expository Preaching - Steven Olford
Expository Preaching - John MacArthur
The Art & Craft of Biblical Preaching - Haddon Robinson Craig Larson
Biblical Preaching by Haddon Robinson

Of late there has been talk of Narrative preaching, Inductive Preaching
These methods have been advocated by men such as
Fred Craddock in his book Preaching
Ralph L. Lewis in his book called - Inductive Preaching - an interesting concept in itself.
Telling the Old Old Story by David L. Larsen where he advocates that Narrative style is what was done in New Testament times.

I could name more as I have far more on my shelves. A lot of these books, 10 of them I had to read as a part of my Doctorate of Ministry program I finished a few years ago. Some of these I have read as a part of my goal of reading and studying at least one book a year about preaching and preparation. My feeling as preachers we never stop learning and need to know more about what is going to appeal to our audience without compromising the message. How can we preach and the congregation still remember and internalize the message we are trying to get through.

Now I prefaced all of this to ask this question: Have any of you heard about a method being noised about called "One Point Preaching" google it you will find all kinds of articles. To boil it down to a simple idea it is to take you regular: Intro, Body - 1st Point, 2nd Point, etc. and Conclusion and take and deal with only one of the points in a sermon. So if you have a sermon say with 4 points instead of doing a sermon with 4 points you do 4 sermons with one point each. There is a book I have ordered by a fellow named Andy Stanley that advocates this idea - "Communicating for a Change: Seven Keys to Irresistible Communication" that speaks to this method. I guess the idea is the x-generation is used to the fast paced action of TV, entertainment that one point is basically all they can take in.

Would be interested in your thought on this.


Respectfully Yours,

Mike Hughes



Hafa Adai!

Personally, I preach with different styles at different times. Some of the difference goes back to the basic expository vs. textual vs. topical distinction that most preachers make.

Being involved in mathematics (it's what I'm getting a degree in), I tend to think in terms of inductive teaching. One of my earlier sermons followed Paul's logic in 1 Cor. 15 about the necessity of the resurrection. It's not uncommon for inductive reasoning to play a role in at least one of the points I make.

These days, I tend heavily toward straight textual studies. My leanings toward this are mostly in reaction to how a lot of preachers take the need to have book, chapter and verse to an "extreme." By that, I mean they throw so many passages at an audience that they can't really turn to any of them, so the audience shuts down. I feel this happens especially when the preacher responds to the problem by posting the passages on his PowerPoint, as that reduces audience engagement in the sermon. Many of my sermons are written into the margins of my Bible, as the points come just by working the text. I tend to have very few passages external to the main text (there are exceptions to this).

As far as sermon styles go (multi-point vs. inductive, etc.), I feel that one should use the style which best presents the information. There are some subjects which are best presented in a "1-3-1" style (a reference to the standard essay in school that had a one-paragraph introduction, a paragraph for each of the three main points, and a one-paragraph conclusion), and there are some that are best presented in what I term a storyteller style (or inductive preaching, where one point leads to the next, like in a story). One of the great tragedies that I feel PowerPoint and related technologies has brought about is the death of the true "storyteller style" sermon. With the move to PowerPoint, it seems that many preachers try to fit their sermons into the outline style of a PowerPoint presentation. PowerPoints do 1-3-1 sermons well. They don't do storyteller preaching well (at least, not in a way that doesn't make the PowerPoint more of a distraction and a nuisance than a help).

I actually have a sermon about preaching taken from Acts 2, that I title "The Perfect Gospel Sermon," as I feel you can't preach better than one preaching by inspiration. I think I may have posted it to the mailing list at some point as an article.

Personally, I like only one point lessons. I present it and all else in the lesson is in some way related to it. I have observed over the years that many preachers tend to 'pad' their sermons., by that I mean, I fail to see what they said has to do with the subject they are speaking on. And those sermons with way to many points can be confusing.
I also try to keep my sermons short, to around 20-25 minutes. Most preachers/teachers have (or should have) the ability to concentrate for long periods of time, whereas the average person doesn't. I have found that people will remember more of the lesson if it is short and to the point. I've often said, " it doesn't take me 45 minutes. to preach a 20 minute sermon! And my moto is, "we teach only when someone learns."
As far as power point, I really don't care for them, unless it happens to be a 'chart lesson'. Usually, I have a tendency to watch the p/p and not listen to the speaker. I would assume others would do the same. Some of these p/p are so slick with their moving graphics and sounds, it can be too showy for me anyway.Jesus did just fine without them.
Another thing I have noticed is most lessons are not so much sermons as ' chapel talks.' They are delivered with very little zeal or emotion. How much will someone retain after listening to someone drone on for what seems like an eternity? Believe it or not, it's okay to raise your voice or slap the pulpit occasionally! cmouse

Personally, I like only one point lessons. I present it and all else in the lesson is in some way related to it. I have observed over the years that many preachers tend to 'pad' their sermons., by that I mean, I fail to see what they said has to do with the subject they are speaking on. And those sermons with way to many points can be confusing.
I also try to keep my sermons short, to around 20-25 minutes. Most preachers/teachers have (or should have) the ability to concentrate for long periods of time, whereas the average person doesn't. I have found that people will remember more of the lesson if it is short and to the point. I've often said, " it doesn't take me 45 minutes to preach a 20 minute sermon! And my moto is, "we teach only when someone learns."
As far as power point, I really don't care for them, unless it happens to be a 'chart lesson'. Usually, I have a tendency to watch the p/p and not listen to the speaker. I would assume others would do the same. Some of these p/p are so slick with their moving graphics and sounds, it can be too showy for me anyway.Jesus did just fine without them.
Another thing I have noticed is most lessons are not so much sermons as ' chapel talks.' They are delivered with very little zeal or emotion. How much will someone retain after listening to someone drone on for what seems like an eternity? Believe it or not, it's okay to raise your voice or slap the pulpit occasionally! cmouse

I just finished reading a book called "Communicating For a Change" by Andy Stanley. A interesting book. I received the book yesterday and sat down to read a little of it around 6:00 PM yesterday. By the time 10:00 PM rolled around I put the book down I had read 166 pages of a book that is 196 pages long! I finished the rest this morning. Let me give you a little synopsis of the book.

He starts with this fellow who has trouble preaching. His wife tells him to go talk to this ex-baseball friend of his who tells him about a fellow he used to hear preach named "Willy Graham" of course he thinks he is speaking of Billy and the fellow no I mean Willy. The baseball guy is well off so he puts the fellow, Ray, on his private plane flies him to Atlanta, GA. Where to his surprise he doesn't meet a full time preacher at all but an ex-truck driver who preached at truck stops when he drove truck. This fellow thinks he has been duped but the plane will not fly him back to his home until tomorrow so the journey begins. The man Will as he calls himself weaves these communication principles to analogies about what is involved in driving a truck. Thus the story to peak your interest in the book and why One Point preaching is a way to consider. This book engages your interest every step of the way. There are seven imperatives of Communication that are dealt with:
1. Pick a goal
2. Pick a point
3. Create a map the ME WE GOD YOU WE
4. Internalize the message
5. Engage your audience
6. Find your voice
7. Start all Over

I would recommend a reading of this book if you want to shake up your communication skills.

Mike

Hafa Adai!