How to write an expository sermon 101 involves unfolding the Scriptures verse by verse in a preaching outline.
First, you will need to study the Scriptures looking for the main preaching point with its supporting material. Second, you will need to sketch a preaching outline that helps your listeners follow the Scriptures you are going to preach. Third, you will need to write content to your sermon outline with an introduction and conclusion.
How To Write An Expository Sermon 101
- Spend Time in Prayer
- Study the Text of Scripture
- Scribble a Sermon Outline
- Select and Write Content to Sermon Outline
- Shape an Introduction and Conclusion to the Sermon
1. Spend time in Prayer
It is important to prepare your heart for the study of God’s word and to prepare your mind in order to gain clarity and insight into God’s word (2 Timothy 2:15).
2. Study the Text of Scripture
Writing an expository sermon requires a thorough study of the Scriptures that you are going to preach. You are looking for the main preaching point and the supporting material.
For example, you may want to preach through the book of Philippians verse by verse. You need to preach through Philippians 1:12-18.
After a thorough investigation of verses 12 to 18, you discover the main preaching point is: Sharing the Gospel With Joy.
Once you have your main preaching point, you will need to find the supporting material that expands and explains your main preaching point. These are usually called your subpoints.
You discover three subpoints: To Share the gospel with joy, we need to look beyond our circumstances (1:12-14), our detractors (1:15-17) and our feelings (1:18).
I usually sketch a mechanical layout of the Scriptures under investigation so that I can ascertain the flow of thought in the passage of Scripture. This helps me discover the main preaching point and subpoints.
It take time to learn this process but once you do, it will just become second nature. In fact, you will begin to see the visual outline of the text of Scripture.
3. Scribble an Sermon Outline
Now that you have thoroughly study the text of Scripture and you have determined what the main preaching point is and its subpoint, you will need to scribble down an expository sermon outline.
It is important to realize that generally an expository sermon outline has three parts – the main preaching point (topic of the sermon), subpoints (these subpoints expand and explain the main preaching point) and a key word or transition word.
Here is an outline of an expository sermon I preached from Philippians 1:12-18.
Introduction:
There are three LESSONS to learn so that we can share the gospel with joy (Philippians 1:12-18).
1. We must look beyond our circumstances (1:12-14) Two results:
- Paul was able to use his situation to share with others (1:13)
- Paul was able to use his situation to encourage others (1:14)
2. We must look beyond our detractors (1:15-17) Two statements:
- There will always be detractors (1:15a, 16)
- There will always be the faithful (1:15b, 17)
3. We must look beyond our feelings (1:18) Two directives:
- Paul did not allow his feelings to override the gospel (1:18a)
- Paul saw the need for the gospel to be preached regardless (1:18b)
Conclusion:
4. Select and Write Content To Sermon Outline
Once you have scribble down your expository sermon outline, you will need to add content to the sermon outline.
I work on the premise that I never write a sermon until I have the sermon outline completed.
The content to the sermon outline simply expands and explains your points. Of course, you will need to add illustrations to help explain your points.
5. Shape an Introduction and Conclusion To the Sermon
Once you have written content to the expository sermon outline, you will to write a sermon introduction and conclusion.
Here is an introduction to the expository sermon from Philippians 1:12-18!
What is your primary goal in life? What is your passion? What do you live for? For the apostle Paul, the answer was easy: “For to me to live is Christ” (Philippians 1:21).
Paul’s prime directive in life was always the sharing of the gospel of Jesus Christ. After all, Paul knew the importance of the gospel of Jesus Christ from his own experience.
Before Paul became a Christian, he was a very religious man. But his religiosity was misguided and misdirected And when he met Jesus Christ on the road to Damascus, he realized for the first time the truth of the gospel of Jesus Christ.
You see Christianity has nothing to do with religion, but everything to do with a relationship with Jesus Christ. In short, Paul discovered this one important truth on the road to Damascus
His meeting with Jesus changed his whole perspective toward God, toward life, and toward others. And because of this, Paul’s prime directive in life was the sharing of the gospel of Jesus Christ.
The thing that amazes me is: how did Paul remain faithful to the preaching of the gospel of Jesus Christ? Remember, Paul certainly didn’t have the most advantageous circumstances in which to minister. He faced opposition continually. And yet, he did not lose his enthusiasm (passion) for sharing Jesus with people. In fact, he shared the gospel with an attitude of joy. AMAZING!
How was he able to do this? How was he able to remain faithful to his prime directive to share Jesus with people? Well, I believe this passage gives us three insights into sharing the gospel of Jesus Christ with joy. Hopefully, by looking at these three insights, we too will learn to share the gospel with an attitude of joy. Because this is our prime directive as a church!
Therefore, we need to encourage each other (even challenge each other) to share Jesus with others.
Remember, the spreading of the gospel is a partnership. As the apostle Paul said, “We are partners in the gospel” (Philippians 1:5).
Here is a conclusion to the expository sermon from Philippians 1:12-18!
Paul rejoiced because God was at work and the gospel of Jesus Christ was being preached.
So often, we can get hung up over our circumstances and our detractors. And we allow our emotions to run wild. And before we know it, our feelings immobilize us. We lose our enthusiasm for sharing Jesus. The passion we once had for Jesus is no longer there.
It is a sad story when we let our circumstances, our detractors and our feeling destroy our joy of telling others about Jesus Christ.
Someone said, “If we have an unhealthy focus on our circumstances, our detractors and our feelings, then the devil has won and the ministry of the gospel has lost.
But Paul said, “Look beyond your feelings and you will see God at work.”
Don’t let your circumstances crush your enthusiasm for sharing Jesus with others.
Don’t let criticism or harsh words crush your passion for sharing Jesus with others.
Don’t let your feelings limit your desire to tell others about Jesus.
Instead, look beyond your circumstances, your detractors, and your feelings and you will see God at work.
You know God is at work! Let’s pray!