How to Prepare Sermons and Gospel Addresses

This historic book may have numerous typos and missing text. Purchasers can download a free scanned copy of the original book (without typos) from the publisher. Not indexed. Not illustrated. 1913 Excerpt: ...divisions of a sermon are for the purpose of elaborating and amplifying the subject. This may be done by restating the theme in different words, by detailing general statements, by setting forth abstract facts in concrete terms, and by clarifying the subject by the use of illustrations. Let us now look at the nature of these divisions. In particular: 1. The First Division. (I. What?) The first division of a sermon should deal with a statement and definition of the subject or proposition. It should answer the question, What? It should occupy itself with definitions, and should afford the preacher the opportunity of stating clearly and unmistakably just what the theme is he is dealing with, and what the particular phase of the doctrine or duty he is inculcating. There should be no misunderstanding of the subject after the first division is thoroughly dealt with. The deck should then be clear for action. It is in a very special sense an address to the intellect as contrasted with that to the emotions or the will. But how can we answer this sermon question, What? In four ways: a) By defining the subject, and the terms of it. If, for instance, the theme of the sermon is "Sanctification," then the purpose of the first division should be to define just what is meant by this word. Here one may deal with misunderstood phases of the subject, refute errors, correct erroneous views, and set forth in clear outline just what is meant by the term Sanctification. The subject may be elucidated by setting forth the synonymous terms in which this doctrine is stated, or by setting forth its relation to the other great doctrines of the Scriptures, such as justification, or regeneration. Here we define clearly the meaning of the words and terms of the theme. This is th...