How to write a sermon outline provides a structure for writing sermon outlines that help you preach great sermons.
How To Write A Sermon Outline!
Why learn how to write a sermon outline?
Well, there are two reasons why you need to write sermon outlines.
First, a sermon outline is your road map for writing your sermon.
Second, a sermon outline makes you stick to the main preaching point of your sermon.
You will be amazed at how many preachers who deliver a sermon without a clearly defined main preaching point. The old adage is true: If there is mist in the pulpit, then there will be fog in the pew.
To put it another way, a sermon outline FORCES you to expand and explain your main preaching point.
Writing Sermon Outlines
Usually, a sermon outline has a main preaching point, sub-points and incidental points – click on this link to learn more about the 3 parts of a sermon outline.
The million dollar question is: How do you LINK your main peaching point to your sub-points and incidental points?
If you don’t understand how to link your main preaching point to your sub-points and incidental points, then you are in trouble.
Linking your main preaching point with your sub-points and incidental points requires a HINGE word. The hinge word MUST be a plural noun and often answers how, why, when, where, or what of the main preaching point.
In the example below, you will find that the HINGE word is ways. There are four ways in which you can share God’s love for others. The first way…, The second way…, The third way…, and the fourth way… The HINGE word Ways tells you how you can share God’s love with others.
Once you have mastered this concept of writing a sermon outline, your sermons will flow with clarity and ease.
There are fours ways in which you can share God’s love with others. They involve . . .
- Showing tender love (Ephesians 4:32)
- Showing tough love (Matthew 23:23ff)
- Showing sacrificial love (1 John 3:16)
- Showing radical love (Matthew 5:39-41)
Sample Sermon Outline – Revelation 2:18-19
Here is a sample sermon outline from Revelation 2:18-19!
INTRODUCTION
Four Questions When Sin Becomes Unchecked!
- What did they do right? (2:18-19)
- They were a good church (2:19a)
- They were a growing church (2:19b)
- What did they do wrong? (2:20-23)
- They were seduced and led astray (2:20)
- They would see the consequences (2:21-23)
- What was Jesus’ counsel? (2:24-25)
- They were to remain faithful (2:24)
- They were to remain firm (2:25)
- What was Jesus’ challenge? (2:26-29)
- They needed to make it personal (2:29)
- They needed to take it to heart (2:26-28)
CONCLUSION
Sample Sermon Outline – Genesis 20:1-18
Here is a sample sermon outline from Genesis 20:1-18!
INTRODUCTION
Three lessons to learn from Abraham’s mistakes.
- Trusting our schemes is dumb (20:1-2)
- It ignores God’s protection (Genesis 12:3)
- It ignores God’s provision (Genesis 12:2)
- Trusting our schemes is dangerous (20:3-8, 14-18)
- It put Abimelech in danger (20:3-4, 6, 17)
- It put Sarah in danger (20:2)
- Trusting our schemes is not divine (20:9-13)
- It is not God’s way (20:9-11)
- It shouldn’t be our way (Proverbs 3:5-7a)
CONCLUSION
These free Sermon outlines were compiled by Rev. D. Blackburn BA GDM when he preached through the books of Genesis and Revelation.