HOLSTON CONFERENCESERMON ACADEMY

ASH WEDNESDAY TO EASTER SUNDAY

2015

The Ten Sermon Sins

1. We can’t hear.

2. The atmosphere. No joy. No enthusiasm. No energy. Everybody is just going through the motions. No interest.

3. Monotony.

The Ten Sermon Sins (cont.)

4. Line dropping.

5. Putting on airs.

6. Poor grammar.

7. The sermon has little or nothing to do with the text.

The Ten Sermon Sins (cont.)

8. Name-dropping.

9. Self-congratulating.

10. “Touch and go” sermons.

The Ten Sermon Savers

1. The preacher looks like he/she wants to be there.

2. Lots of smiles. A little laughter now and then.

3. Or tears.

4. The preacher can be heard.

The Ten Sermon Savers (cont.)

5. The sermon can be understood by the worshipers.

6. The preacher’s tone of voice matches the levity or gravity of the words being spoken.

7. The sermon makes sense: it has a beginning, a middle, and an end, and makes a point worth making.

8. The sermon reveals that the preacher has engaged the text.

9. The sermon relates to the people.

10. The sermon presents Jesus and points me (and invites me) to a better life and a better way of living.

The Ten Sermon Savers (cont.)

THE BASIC OUTLINE

I. Preparation

the process of choosing a topic or a text, gathering the ingredients, doing the

research, collecting illustrating material.

THE BASIC OUTLINE (CONT.)

Composition

the process of taking the ingredients, research and illustrations and putting

together a coherent message that has a beginning, middle, and end.

THE BASIC OUTLINE (CONT.)

Presentation

the process of designing the setting in which the sermon will be delivered: prayers, litanies and hymns that will serve as the “containers”

of the “food” about to be served.

PREPARATION  STAGE1.     Choose  the  text(s).  Even  “topical”  sermons  have  to  have  a  text.

2.     Engage  the  text.  Read  it.  Pray  it.  Sleep  on  it.  Walk  it  around  the  neighborhood.  Live  in  it.    

3.     Consult  other  versions    

4.     Consult  a  commentary  or  two.  Or  three.  

PREPARATION  STAGE  (CONT.)5.     The  main  idea  you  want  to  present  or  the  main  point  you  want  to  make.  Mark  1:9-­‐15:       9About  that  time,  Jesus  came  from  Nazareth  of  Galilee,  and  John  baptized  him  in  the  Jordan  River.  10While  he  was  coming  up  out  of  the  water,  Jesus  saw  heaven  splitting  open  and  the  Spirit,  like  a  dove,  coming  down  on  him.  11And  there  was  a  voice  from  heaven:  “You  are  my  Son,  whom  I  dearly  love;  in  you  I  find  happiness.”     12At  once  the  Spirit  forced  Jesus  out  into  the  wilderness.  13He  was  in  the  wilderness  for  forty  days,  tempted  by  Satan.  He  was  among  the  wild  animals,  and  the  angels  took  care  of  him.  14After  John  was  arrested,  Jesus  came  into  Galilee  announcing  God’s  good  news,  15saying,  “Now  is  the  time!  Here  comes  God’s  kingdom!  Change  your  hearts  and  lives,  and  trust  this  good  news!”

PREPARATION  STAGE  (CONT.)a.  Being  claimed  for  Christ  in  baptism  tears  apart  the  fabric  that  separates  earth  from  heaven,  and  us  from  God.    

b.  All  of  us  are  tempted;  Jesus  shows  us  how  to  overcome  temptations.  

c.  Repentance  is  step  one  on  the  road  to  heaven.    

d.  God  may  test  us,  but  will  never  abandon  us.  

COMPOSITION  STAGE6.     What  is  the  main  point  you  want  to  make  sure  you    make  and  they  get?  7.     Decide  how  to  begin  

a.  Recall  an  event  in  the  life  of  the  congregation.  b.  Tell  a  personal  story  that  taught  you  a  lesson  that  relates  to  the  main  point.  c.  Open  the  sermon  with  some  reference,  some  question,  or  some  illustration  that  will  get  their  attention,  and  better  still,  will  invite  them  to  imagine  themselves  in  it.  d.  Ask  a  question  that  the  main  point  of  the  sermon  will  answer  a  little  later.  

COMPOSITION  STAGE  (Cont.)8.  Fill  in  the  middle.                    Research  

Stories  Personal  Experiences  

Jokes  Poems  

News  Events  Illustrations    

Other  Scripture  References  

9.  Revisit  the  end.

COMPOSITION:  SUMMARY• Choose  the  text  • Engage  the  text  • Consult  other  translations  • Consult  commentaries  • Settle  on  the  main  idea  • Decide  how  to  end  (and  where  to  put  the  main  idea)  

• Decide  how  to  begin  • Fill  in  the  middle  • Revisit  the  end.

WRAP  IT  UP

•And  then  …  

SLEEP  ON  IT

MONEY BACK GUARANTEE

MY GUARANTEE:

COMPOSITION (CONT.)�What you will have is a valley of dry

bones. �The introduction – that’s a bone. �The main point – that’s a bone. �The ending – that’s a bone. �The anecdotes, quotes, poems, jokes

and stories in between the intro and the ending – they are just dry bones.

CAN THESE BONES LIVE???� Ligaments – the tough sinews that hold the

bones together and keep the skeleton in one piece.

� Flesh - the muscles, internal organs, glands, nerves, veins.

� Skin – to hold it together. � Breath - to make it live.

PRESENTATIONTitle

Hymns

Songs

Litanies

Skits, Object lessons, “Tangible” sermon aides.

Videos, art, etc.

www.umc.org (“Lent” in search window) 40 Ideas for Keeping Lent Holy

7 awesome ideas for Holy Week and Easter

Pastors debate value of Lenten sacrifices Lent: A Time to Fast and Pray

New Ways of Praying at Lent Lent 101 Simplicity: A Lenten Path

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Where Does the Term "Good Friday" Come From?

UMC RESOURCES

My e-mail is pwharmon@umcsc.org

My Bible commentary, the “Chapter-a-Day” Bible Study guide, is in blog form on Word Press at www.revpaulharmon.com

To join the Holston Sermon Forum: provide me with your e-mail address, and I will invite you to join.

SOME INFORMATION

Old Testament Readings:

Ash Wednesday: Joel 2:1-2, 12-17 Lent 1: Genesis 9:8-17 Lent 2: Genesis 17:1-7, 15-16 Lent 3: Exodus 20:1-17 Lent 4: Numbers 21:4-9 Lent 5: Jeremiah 31:31-34: Passion Sunday: Isaiah 50:4-9a Holy Thursday: Exodus 12:1-4(5-10) 11-14: Good Friday: Isaiah 52:13-53:12 Easter Sunday: Acts 10:34-43

PSALMS

Ash Wednesday: Psalm 51:1-17 (UMH 785) Lent 1: Psalm 25:1-10 (UMH 756) Lent 2: Psalm 22:23-31 (UMH 752) Lent 3: Psalm 19 (UMH 750) Lent 4: Psalm 107:1-3, 17-22 (UMH 830) Lent 5: Psalm 51:1-12 (UMH 785) Palm Sunday: Psalm 118:1-2, 19-29 (UMH 839) Passion Sunday: Psalm 31:9-16 (UMH 764) Holy Thursday: Psalm 116:1-4, 12-19 (UMH 837) Good Friday: Psalm 22 (UMH 752) Easter: Psalm 118:1-2, 14-24 (UMH 839)

New Testament Readings

Ash Wednesday: 2 Cor. 5:20b-6:10 Lent 1: 1 Peter 3:18-22 Lent 2: Romans 4:13-25 Lent 3: 1 Cor. 1:18-25 Lent 4: Ephesians 2:1-10 Lent 5: Hebrews 5:5-10 Passion Sunday: Philippians 2:5-11 Maundy Thursday: 1 Cor. 11:23-26 Good Friday: Hebrews 10:16-25 Easter Sunday: 1 Cor. 15:1-11

GOSPEL READINGS

Ash Wednesday: Mat. 6:1-6 Lent 1: Mark 1:9-1 Lent 2: Mark 8:31-38 Lent 3: John 2:13-22 Lent 4: John 3:14-21 Lent 5: John 12:20-33 Palm Sunday: Mark 11:1-11 Passion Sunday: Mark 15:1-39 Maundy Thursday: John 13:1-17, 31b-35 Good Friday: John 18:1-19:42 Easter: John 20:1-18, or Mark 16:1-8

SERMON SERIES I

The seven deadly sins 1. Lust 2. Gluttony 3. Greed 4. Laziness 5. Wrath 6. Envy 7. Pride (Vanity)

SERMON SERIES II

The Seven Last Words of Jesus

1. “My God, why have you forsaken me?” Mt. 27:46 2. “Father, forgive them; for they do not know what they are doing.” Lk. 23:34 3. “Truly I tell you, today you will be with me in Paradise.” Lk. 23:43 4. “Father, into your hands I commend my spirit.” Lk. 23:46 5. “Woman, here is your son. Here is your mother.” Jn. 19:26, 27 6. “I thirst.” Jn. 19:28 7. “It is finished.” Jn. 19:30

SERMON SERIES III

Means of Grace

1 Scripture 2 Prayer 3 Fasting 4 Worship 5 Visiting the sick, imprisoned, infirm 6 Feeding the hungry (generous giving)

SERMON SERIES IV

Lessons and Parables of the Passion ● 1 Cleaning out a Holy Place (Lk.

19:45-46) ● 2 The Parable of the Vineyard (Lk.

20:9-16) ● 3 Giving to Caesar and God (Lk. 20:20-26) ● 4 The Widow’s Offering (Lk. 21:1-4) ● 5 The Lesson of the Fig Tree (Lk.

21:29-33)

SERMON SERIES V

Lessons and Parables of the Passion ● 1 Paying Tribute (Mt. 22:15-22) ● 2 The Greatest Commandment (Mt.

22:34-40) ● 3 Lesson of the Fig Tree (Mt. 24:32-35) ● 4 Parable of the 10 Maidens (Mt. 25:1-13) ● 5 Parable of the Three Servants (Mt.

25:14-30) ● 6 Parable of the Tenants (Lk. 20:9ff) ● 7 Parable of the Talents (Lk. 19:12ff)