How do I Prepare an Expositional Sermon?
Applicational Gridlock
We've all struggled with it - "What do I tell my people to do with this text?" This is usually because we're only thinking on the one applicational plane we see instead of the five or six that we often overlook.
Widening the applicational road
We need to add a few lanes to our applicational highway. Six lanes should get traffic moving again for any main point.
This is not to say that every main point will evidence every type of application. It is merely to note that we can ask more applicational questions than the standard "How will this apply to the individual Christian this week?"
- Lane 1: Unique salvation-historical - does the main point address a text that thrusts forward the unfolding plot of redemption in history?
- Lane 2: Individual Non-Christian - does the main point have implications for the unbeliever's thinking, behavior, or motivations?
- Lane 3: Public - does the main point have implications for how we conduct ourselves in the public squares of commerce, politics, justice, etc...?
- Lane 4: Christological - does the main point have implications for how we think about Christ Himself?
- Lane 5: Individual Christian - does the main point have implications for my own persona discipleship to Christ?
- Lane 6: Local church - does the main point have implications for how we conduct ourselves as an assembled congregation or in our corporate life together?
Take a look at the Sample Application Grid for an idea of how to fill out the grid. Print out the Empty Application Grid as a resource to use for your own sermon preparation.
