Reading: The 7 gears of a sermon introduction (EricMcKiddie)

The 7 gears of a sermon introduction

My most effective introductions tend to include the following segments. The length of time you spend on each one is different from week to week; maybe a sentence or two in one sermon, and then a paragraph or two in another. Each part flows into and sets up the next – like shifting gears in a stick shift – gradually preparing your people to be changed by God’s word.

1. Opening illustration: Start in their world before you bring them to the Bible’s world. But don’t tell an illustration just to catch their attention. Make sure the illustration you use contains conflict that points to your sermon’s Fallen Condition Focus (see #3).

2. Personal connection: This is the “You, too” moment, where you explicitly show how your opening illustration is true for your congregation. Pull a Nathan and say, in no uncertain terms, “You are the man!” For the rest of the sermon, everyone listening will know your message is about them, not the person sitting next to them or their pagan coworkers.

3. The Fallen Condition Focus: At this point you reveal the problem of our sinful condition contained in the passage that only God/Jesus/The Holy Spirit/The Gospel can solve.

4. Passage connection: You might be tempted to head right into your sermon at after #3. But you’d only be speaking on your own authority. Direct your audience to the phrase or verse in your passage that states the FCF. Now your congregation knows that this is about what God is saying to them, not you.

5. Series connection: This is optional, but helpful. Now that your audience sees they have a sinful condition that this passage will speak to, you may want to remind your congregation about the series you are in. Take a sentence or two to explain how this sermon and passage fits into the big picture.

6. Proposition: This is the solution to the FCF. As with the FCF, you should be able to point to a verse or phrase in your text that identifies the God-centered antidote to our sinful state.

7. Interrogative Question: After step six, your audience might feel like they don’t need to listen anymore. You showed them their problem, and you’ve showed them the solution. Why do they need to listen to anything else you have to say?