This is one of the most effective outlines for preaching a topical sermon, taken from Andy Stanley and Lane Jones’s book, “Communication for a Change: Seven Keys to Irresistible Communication.”  They prescribe that this outline is the basic structure for any sermon and that each element should be a part of every message. I have used this structure for years in my preaching, specifically for camps, retreats, seminars, or topical messages. communicate-for-change

  1. ME (Orientation) – Introduce yourself and your topic – find common ground with your audience.
  2. WE (Identification) – Build an emotional common ground with your audience – build as many bridges emotionally as possible.
  3. GOD (Illumination) – God has a solution for us today – engage your audience with the text – Don’t just read it. Don’t explain it to death. Make it fascinating!
  4. YOU (Application) – Find one point of application everyone can embrace. Don’t ask them to make a life-altering decision. Give them a measurable or reachable goal. Encourage them to try something for a week, a day, or even a month.
  5. WE (Inspiration) – cast a vision – prompt a decision by briefly describing what would happen if this group of people would follow what has been taught. Tell them to imagine what WE could do together.

 

Previous articleWhy Does God Allow Suffering? One Compelling Reason with Many Applications
Next articleDoes God Have a Plan for My Life?

LEAVE A REPLY

Please enter your comment!
Please enter your name here