F O R T H E S E R M O N , B I B L E R E A D I N G , G O S P E L A D D R E S S SB H o m i l e t i c a l H elps
___ ï
GREAT CHAPTERS AS TEXTS
FTENTIMES one is much impressed with the truth as set forth completely and vividly in some one chapter o f the Bible, and desires to take that chapter as a text. This is legitimate: indeed it is a prac tice often honored with signal blessing and profit. Some o f the greatest and most help ful sermons ever preached have had texts as large as an entire chapter. I. SUGGESTIONS r. Be Sure that the Chapter You Choose for a Text: is a Complete One and Has in It a Complete Subject. 1 Corinthians IS contains a complete sub ject: “The Resurrection o f the Body.” 1 Corinthians 13 is -a complete treatise on the subject o f “Love.” John 17, “ The Prayer o f our Lord,” is also a complete chapter. It would be very difficult to deal with some chapters in Proverbs and Psalms in this: way. 2 . Ascertain the True Setting o f the Chapter. It is useless to preach on the eighth chapter o f Romans, for instance, unless one has in mind the preceding chapters. No exposition o f this wonderful chapter would be complete that did not relate itself to the chapters preceding it. This is especially true o f chapters chosen from the prophets. Their relation to the. history and condition o f the times must be considered before a sermon is prepared with the chapter as its
text Jcf. Isaiah 6 with 2 Chronicles 26). Sometimes the purpose o f the entire book must- be considered before one can arrive at a true understanding o f the chapter. 3 . Analyse the Chapter. Outline it; divide it; know what its gen eral divisions and sub-divisions are. The Revised Version will greatly help you in this direction. Read the chapter over care fully until the outline stands out bold and clear. It can be done. Keep at it until you succeed. As a rule the great chapters chosen as texts, divide themselves naturally. A careful reading o f John 17, for example, reveals to you three natural divisions, which a careful reader could scarcely miss : Christ’s prayer for imself, for His apos tles, and for the future Church. 4• Be Sure to Get the Main Theme of the Chapter. It may require many readings o f the chapter to secure this result, but it must be done. Sermonizing is not easy work any way. The theme o f 1 Corinthians 13 is “L ove;” chapter 14, “ Spiritual G ifts;" chapter 15, “ The Resurrection.” 5- Surround the'Main Theme with Ques tions. Answer these questions from the con tents o f the chapter. I f you take 1 Corin thians 13, then ask, What is love? What are its characteristics? How does it man ifest itself ? What is its relation to and in comparison with other gifts and graces
From “ How to Prepare Sermons and Gospel Addresses" by the author.
Made with FlippingBook - Online magazine maker