HOMILETICS
LECTURE 7
TYPES OF SERMONS
THREE MAIN TYPES OF PREACHING
The Preacher and his Preaching: pgs. 62-65,68
Topical Preaching:
*It involves a topic for which there is ample support of Scripture. It can be a broad topic like “Sin”, or a narrow topic like “Melchizedek”.
*This type of sermon is also known as a “Subject” sermon or a “Theme” sermon.
*It has a great advantage of being able to teach the main tenants of a truth of Scripture all in one sermon.
*It has a danger in that one may force Scripture to support the topic (e.g. the topic of Communism in
America).
Textual Preaching:
*This preaching format uses a small portion of Scripture, usually just a verse or two, as the subject matter of
the sermon.
*The text is expounded on in an orderly, deductive process.
*This type may have a danger of one taking the text out of context; it is therefore wise to present information
from the surrounding verses, and even chapters, in order to keep things in context.
Biblical Preaching: pgs. 20-27,30
Expository Preaching:
*It is the communication of a biblical concept derived from the exposition of a passage of Scripture.
*It involves much more Scripture than a Textual sermon, but, is otherwise, quite similar.
*This is probably the most important type of preaching; it focuses the most on Scripture, and lets the Bible
be the guide to the sermon, not the preacher. It forces the preacher to bend his thoughts to the Bible, and
not bend the Bible to his thoughts.
*J. Vernon McGee was made famous for this type of preaching in his “Through the Bible” radio program, in
which he would preach/teach through the entire Bible in 5 years.
FORMATS OF PREACHING
Any one of these formats can be used in any of the 3 types of preaching.
Biblical Preaching: pgs. 116-129
Deductive Preaching:
*The idea is stated completely as a part of the introduction to the sermon, and then the sermon develops out
of that idea. Everthing in the sermon relates back to the first major point of the sermon.
*There are 3 main types of deductive preaching arrangements: an idea explained; an idea proved; and an idea
applied.
Semi-Inductive Preaching:
*The “subject-completed” style of semi-inductive preaching is the most common preaching style used in
pulpits today.
*In this form (subject-completed) the subject is often stated in a question, and then the points of the sermon
answer it.
Inductive Preaching:
*These sermons move toward a complete statement of your idea at the end of the sermon. In the
introduction you do not state the complete idea. Point by point the hearer is taken through the sermon to
eventually discover the main idea.
*These sermons have several advantages: they keep the listener’s attention as they try and discover the idea;
the are good with hostile audiences that would reject the idea if stated at the beginning
*But, they have a danger: if the preacher is not skilled, he can lose the audience and never get them to
logically discover the truth that is presented.
Induction-Deduction Preaching:
*The main idea is stated some place in the middle of the sermon, and the introduction and first or second
point will lead up to this idea, and then the remainder of the sermon proceeds deductively to explain, prove,
or apply the idea.
*This style is often used when ‘exploring a problem’.
Assignment:
Men – preach a 3 to 5 minute sermon using one of these formats and types (due next week).
Ladies – teach a 2 to 3 minute lesson using one of these formats and types (due in two weeks).
The main thing that I will grade you on is whether you appropriately developed a short sermon using one of these formats.