PREACHING THAT COMMUNICATES
Good stories capture and hold an audience’s
attention from start to finish. Why should it
be any different when we stand up to preach?
PREACHING THAT COMMUNICATES
The goal is to move from good exegesis of the
passage to effective sermon development to a
clear and inspiring challenge to allow God to
transform your life!
MOVING FROM EXEGESIS
TO LIFE APPLICATION
TO SERMON
Good exegesis insures that you handle
the text properly. Most of what you learn
will stay with you as background material
with the exception of those facts which
are needed for clarity in understanding
the passage and real-life application.
MOVING FROM EXEGESIS
TO LIFE APPLICATION
TO SERMON
The text drives the sermon, but life
application is the final destination,
otherwise there is no transformation!
Four Questions for the Text
How does this challenge me and my people?
What do we need to know?
With what need does this connect?
If this text is applied, what will life look like?
(A revision of Achtemeier’s Four Question for the Text)
MOVING FROM EXEGESIS
TO LIFE APPLICATION
TO SERMON
The most important question for the
preacher is not “What do I want to
say?” (the text determines that) but
“WHAT DO I WANT TO HAPPEN?”
Answering this question determines
the direction you take from
introduction to conclusion.
MOVING FROM EXEGESIS
TO LIFE APPLICATION
TO SERMON
You Are Now Ready for Sermon
Development
 Determine your goal
 Pick A Point
 Create a Map
Internalize the Message
 Engage Your Audience
 Find Your Voice
 Start All Over
TEXT
[ Introduction_________Conclusion]
MOVING FROM EXEGESIS
TO LIFE APPLICATION
TO SERMON
THERE ARE THREE BASIC QUESTIONS
THAT WE MUST ASK AND ANSWER IF THE
SERMON IS GOING TO BE
TRANSFORMATIONAL
WHAT?
SO WHAT?
NOW WHAT?
(Connecting the text to people and life)
MOVING FROM EXEGESIS
TO LIFE APPLICATION
TO SERMON
If the goal of the sermon is transformed
lives, then think about the lives (people)
to whom you are preaching. They, like
you, are real flesh and blood. What are
their needs? How will you help them to
see that this sermon is “good news from
God” that their need will be met?
This is where you help connect your
people to God… His Word… and their
lives. This is the desired destination!
MOVING FROM EXEGESIS
TO LIFE APPLICATION
TO SERMON
The most accurate way to get to a
destination is with a map… Andy Stanley calls
the movement from Text to Life “Mapping
Your Sermon.”
“THREE JOURNEY QUESTIONS”
What is our destination? The goal of the
sermon
How do we get there? The direction from
God’s Word
What do we do upon arrival? Life application
MOVING FROM EXEGESIS
TO LIFE APPLICATION
TO SERMON
Exercise: Mentally choose a committee of six
people that represent your congregation:
• Write down their names
• Key word expressing a need in their life
Text: Philippians 4:19 (NIV)
19 And my God will meet all your needs according to
his glorious riches in Christ Jesus.
What do you need to say to insure them that
you understand their life situation and that
God’s Word has the answer?
MOVING FROM EXEGESIS
TO LIFE APPLICATION
TO SERMON
“THE TEXT DRIVES THE SERMON”
What is our destination? This is determined by
the one main idea of the text. Do not think of the
sermon as points, but as walking through the text.
Do not impose ideas on the text.
How do we get there? By following the text
What do we do upon arrival? Life application
WORKSHEET
Put in one sentence each the One Main Idea
and the Goal for life application
MOVING FROM EXEGESIS
TO LIFE APPLICATION
TO SERMON
We get from start to
finish through
movement!
ME
WE
GOD
YOU
WE
A
RELATIONAL
MODEL
MOVING FROM EXEGESIS
TO LIFE APPLICATION
TO SERMON
ME
CONNECTING TO THE AUDIENCE
THROUGH COMMON GROUND
“I HAVE THIS NEED”
MOVING FROM EXEGESIS
TO LIFE APPLICATION
TO SERMON
WE
SHARED NEED
“YOU HAVE THIS NEED TOO!”
SHARED TENSION
“HOW WILL THIS BE RESOLVED?”
MOVING FROM EXEGESIS
TO LIFE APPLICATION
TO SERMON
GOD
“THE GOOD NEWS IS”
GOD HAS SOMETHING TO SAY
TO US ABOUT THIS!
ENGAGE THE AUDIENCE
WITH THE TEXT
MOVING FROM EXEGESIS
TO LIFE APPLICATION
TO SERMON
YOU
LIFE APPLICATION
HOW TO APPLY WHAT GOD SAID
TO MY LIFE
FIND A COMMON APPLICATION
THINK OF ALL PRESENT
MOVING FROM EXEGESIS
TO LIFE APPLICATION
TO SERMON
WE
LIFE APPLICATION
HOW TO APPLY WHAT GOD SAID
TO THE BODY OF CHRIST
What would this look like if we…
A VISION OF HOPE
MOVING FROM EXEGESIS
TO LIFE APPLICATION
TO SERMON
ME – WE – GOD – YOU – WE
What are we communicating?
What do they need to know?
Why do they need to know it?
What do they need to do?
Why do they need to do it?
How can I help them remember?
INFORMATION
MOTIVATION
APPLICATION
INSPIRATION
REITERATION or
Sticky Statement
MOVING FROM EXEGESIS
TO LIFE APPLICATION
TO SERMON
Exercise – Applying the movement
PHIL. 4:19 (Committee of Six)
ME – Connect to your audience
WE – Shared need – How to resolve?
GOD – What does His Word say?
YOU – How to apply to life
WE – What does this look life if we
all do what God says?
MOVING FROM EXEGESIS
TO LIFE APPLICATION
TO SERMON
THE SERMON EVENT
(A Personal Encounter With God)
The sermon is not merely a speech it
contains an answerable requirement
– life change
It takes time to for God to work –
results not always immediately seen
The event is transformational not just
informational or there is no encounter
with God!
MOVING FROM EXEGESIS
TO LIFE APPLICATION
TO SERMON
What do we Preach? The Good News!
Romans 1:16-17 (NIV)
16 I am not ashamed of the gospel, because
it is the power of God for the salvation of
everyone who believes: first for the Jew,
then for the Gentile.
17 For in the gospel a righteousness from
God is revealed… “The righteous will live
by faith.”
MOVING FROM EXEGESIS
TO LIFE APPLICATION
TO SERMON
Why do we preach?
… Because we love God and people!
1 Thessalonians 2:8 (NIV)
8 We
loved you so much that we were
delighted to share with you not only
the gospel of God but our lives as
well, because you had become so dear
to us.