Preaching (part 6)<\/p>\n
As noted in a previous blog, \u201csermons are not propelled by powerful beginnings but are evoked by significant ends.\u201d What is that significant end? What is the living theology found in the biblical text that transforms the congregation and will make a difference in the lives of the listeners on Monday? What is the theological live wire? Exegesis uncovers the text’s significant end.<\/p>\n
The sermon writing process begins by stating the theological claim of the text you discovered through exegetical analysis. The preacher will want to say and do in the present tense what the text said and did in the past tense. The theological claim of the text informs the sermon about where the sermon is going and what the sermon is doing. What the theological claim is saying is often called the sermon\u2019s focus. What the theological claim is doing theologically is often called the sermon’s function.<\/p>\n
While not intuitive, the focus and function of the sermon are precise statements that indicate the destination of the sermon, the denouement of the plot, or the sermon\u2019s conclusion. Write those two statements in bold print in the concluding paragraph of your sermon. You may rephrase them to fit the rhetorical needs of the conclusion, but their presence must remain clear.<\/p>\n
The sermon is sequenced to lead the audience from an introduction to that conclusion. [Sequence is described in part 7 of this series.] The conclusion of a sermon is proof that the focus is maintained and the function realized.1<\/sup><\/p>\n Focus Statement of the Sermon: <\/strong>The format of the function statement includes a theologically oriented subject, an active verb, and the predicate that states what the sermon is addressing. Be clear and concise. If you are not sure what the theological subject is you can always start with God as your subject followed by an active verb. \u201cGod blesses\u2026\u201d \u201cGod gives\u2026\u201d \u201cGod invites\u2026\u201d For example, “God’s love embraces all people.” The focus statement is your locutionary act.<\/p>\n Function Statement of the Sermon: <\/strong>The function statement names the sermon\u2019s intent\u2014 names the \u201choped for change.\u201d Format: \u201cTo [strong behavioral or affective verb] [identify the audience] to [second active verb]…\u201d Be clear and concise. For example, “To encourage the congregation to embrace loving enemies.” The function statement performs your illocutionary and perlocutionary acts.<\/span><\/p>\n Core Affirmations<\/strong>: [An alternative to the Focus and Function Statements] A Core Affirmation is a single, declarative sentence that announces what God has done, is doing, or promises yet to do and then names the difference this makes in the world of our hearers<\/em>. What difference does the divine action of God make in our world of experience? Once the divine action is named, then Core Affirmations move to the difference this divine action makes for the human situation. This is where the call to action comes into play. And this is where the emphasis on invitation and participation comes into play \u2013 by starting with what God has done, is doing, or will do, the call for action made in the sermon becomes one of joining the work of God.2\u00a0 <\/sup>Format: \u201cBecause God <\/em>has acted [is acting\/promises to act] in the following way \u2013 [therefore] \u2013 we are able to do the following\u2026(the sentence finishes with a brief description of some faithful action now made possible for us in the word opened up by God\u2019s action).\u201d3<\/sup> [Note: Core Affirmations are missing the function verb found above in Function Statements].<\/p>\n So, if the statement is true, \u201cSermons are not propelled by powerful beginnings but are evoked by significant ends,\u201d then the following statements are also true:<\/p>\n AND, if that is how you write a conclusion, how do you write your introduction? \u201cLight your match on the first strike.\u201d Plato stated the obvious centuries ago. Every piece of written or oral communication must have a beginning, middle, and end. Many sermons flop because many preachers do not know where they are or where they\u2019re going. Introductions, likewise, are dependent on the purpose of the sermon, the theological claim of the text.<\/p>\n _______<\/p>\n Preaching (part 6) As noted in a previous blog, \u201csermons are not propelled by powerful beginnings but are evoked by<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":3578,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[1225,1],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-1040","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-preaching","category-uncategorized","comments-off"],"yoast_head":"\n\n
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