Scenes and The purpose of this exercise is to develop skill at vividly and imaginatively portraying Biblical and contemporary scenes and stories. StoriesText: Phillipians 1 · Make sure sermon ideas are clear and well worded. · Tell the biblical story with imagination and realism. · Recognize the usual phases of a narrative. · Use language that appeals best to the imagination. · Tell the story as would an eyewitness. · Look for vivid imagery and narrative in the text. This assignment involves the retelling of a selected biblical narrative in such a way as to use imaginative and vivid language and narration. Complete the exercise with the following steps: 1. Read the selected biblical narrative several times in different translations. Note here the theological purpose of the story as best as you can discern it. 2. Notice the kinds of language used in the text you are studying: · Figurative language · Descriptive language · Sensate language · Concrete language · Specific language 3. Analyze the dynamics of the situation and note them here. · Setting · Characters · Relationships · Dialogue · Motives · Divine involvement · Surprises 4. Sketch the story by using five phases: · Situation · Stress · Search · Solution · (New) Situation 5. Fill in from background research and imagination the phases of the story not described in the text. 12 Essential Skills for Great Preaching / Wayne McDill / 2006 / B&H Used by Permission Preaching for The purpose of this exercise is to develop skill at planning every aspect of sermon design according to the overarching aim of a faith response in the hearer. FaithText: Phillipians 1 · Make sure sermon ideas are clear and well worded. · Plan the sermon design with a focus on God. · Be alert to the faith element in your text. · Word division statements for the credibility of God. · Plan sermon development for faith appeal. · Plan the conclusion as a call to faith. This assignment involves planning the design of your sermon as an appeal for faith. Complete the exercise with the following steps: 1. Identify in the text the ideas about God that would plead his credibility. These may be directly presented or only implied. Character Capabilities Intentions Record 2. Trace from the text writer’s material the theological assumptions behind his statements. Every instruction, interpretation, or application has its foundation in the person of God. The imperative is based on the indicative. 3. Write your sermon idea here as you have stated it. Test it for its faith appeal. · It is it indicative in mood? · Does it present a faith principle? · Does it use faith language? · Does it give the hearer assurance? · Is it essentially theological? · Does it claim the credibility of God? 4. Check each division statement by the same tests. How does it measure up to the faith aim? · It is it indicative in mood? · Does it present a faith principle? · Does it use faith language? · Does it give the hearer assurance? · I.

1. Scenes and
The purpose of this exercise is to develop skill at vividly and
imaginatively portraying Biblical and contemporary scenes and
stories.
StoriesText: Phillipians 1
· Make sure sermon ideas are clear and well worded.
· Tell the biblical story with imagination and realism.
· Recognize the usual phases of a narrative.
· Use language that appeals best to the imagination.
· Tell the story as would an eyewitness.
· Look for vivid imagery and narrative in the text.
This assignment involves the retelling of a selected biblical
narrative in such a way as to use imaginative and vivid language
and narration. Complete the exercise with the following steps:
1. Read the selected biblical narrative several times in different
translations. Note here the theological purpose of the story as
best as you can discern it.
2. Notice the kinds of language used in the text you are
studying:
· Figurative language
· Descriptive language
· Sensate language
· Concrete language
· Specific language
3. Analyze the dynamics of the situation and note them here.
· Setting

2. · Characters
· Relationships
· Dialogue
· Motives
· Divine involvement
· Surprises
4. Sketch the story by using five phases:
· Situation
· Stress
· Search
·
Solution
· (New) Situation
5. Fill in from background research and imagination the phases
of the story not described in the text.
12 Essential Skills for Great Preaching / Wayne McDill / 2006 /
B&H Used by Permission

3. Preaching for
The purpose of this exercise is to develop skill at planning
every aspect of sermon design according to the overarching aim
of a faith response in the hearer.
FaithText: Phillipians 1
· Make sure sermon ideas are clear and well worded.
· Plan the sermon design with a focus on God.
· Be alert to the faith element in your text.
· Word division statements for the credibility of God.
· Plan sermon development for faith appeal.
· Plan the conclusion as a call to faith.
This assignment involves planning the design of your sermon as
an appeal for faith. Complete the exercise with the following
steps:
1. Identify in the text the ideas about God that would plead his
credibility. These may be directly presented or only implied.
Character
Capabilities
Intentions

4. Record
2. Trace from the text writer’s material the theological
assumptions behind his statements. Every instruction,
interpretation, or application has its foundation in the person of
God. The imperative is based on the indicative.
3. Write your sermon idea here as you have stated it. Test it for
its faith appeal.
· It is it indicative in mood?
· Does it present a faith principle?
· Does it use faith language?
· Does it give the hearer assurance?
· Is it essentially theological?
· Does it claim the credibility of God?
4. Check each division statement by the same tests. How does it
measure up to the faith aim?
· It is it indicative in mood?
· Does it present a faith principle?
· Does it use faith language?
· Does it give the hearer assurance?
· Is it essentially theological?
· Does it claim the credibility of God?
5. Examine development throughout and check it for balance in
dealing with the barriers to faith.
· Conceptualization
· Rationalization

5. · Visualization
· Actualization
6. Analyze the introductory and concluding segments for their
faith appeal according to the tests in item three above.
12 Essential Skills for Great Preaching / Wayne McDill / 2006 /
B&H Used by Permission
Oral
The purpose of this exerciseis to develop skill at preparing an
oral presentation plan that engages the audience and faithfully
presents the text message.
PresentationText: Phillipians 1
· Make sure sermon ideas are clear and well worded.
· Plan with the dynamics of oral communication.
· Design the presentation to follow the text.
· Design the presentation to engage the audience.
· Balance development for the whole man.
· Plan for the audience and for the occasion.
This exercise involves planning the design of your sermon for
an oral presentation. This form follows the motivated sequence
outline combined with the traditional introduction-body-

6. conclusion format.
Introduction
Attention
Need
Bridging Sentences
[Subject: Modifier:]
Textual Idea:
Sermon Idea:
Interrogative:
Transition:

7. Body
Satisfaction
Division 1 Statement
Explanation
Illustration
Argumentation
Application
Transition (Div. 1 to Div. 2)
Division 2 Statement

8. Explanation
Illustration
Argumentation
Application
Transition (Div. 2 to Div. 3)
Division 3 Statement
Explanation
Illustration
Argumentation

9. Application
Transition (Div 3 to Div 4)
Division 4 Statement
Explanation
Illustration
Argumentation
Application
Transition (Div. 4 to Div. 5)

10. Division 5 Statement
Explanation
Illustration
Argumentation
Application
Transition (Div. 5 to Concl.)
Conclusion
Visualization
Reiteration

11. Action
12 Essential Skills for Great Preaching / Wayne McDill / 2006 /
B&H Used by Permission
Natural
The purpose of this exercise is to develop skill at devising
specific natural analogies for illustrating sermon ideas.
AnalogiesText: Phillipians 1
· Make sure sermon ideas are clear and well worded
· Plant to balance support for your sermon ideas.
· Explore the common arenas of human experience.
· Go beyond your own limited personal experience.
· Distinguish between analogies and examples.
· Present analogies in a vivid and imaginative way.
This assignment involves the devising of illustrations for
supporting sermon ideas through a process of exploring natural
analogies. Complete the exercise with the following steps:
1. Write the division statement you are to illustrate. You may
use the sermon idea for exploring analogies for the introduction
and conclusion.

12. 2. Circle the word or two in your statement that can be used to
identify the generic idea in nontheological terms.
3. Brainstorm the arenas of life listed below for analogies that
are natural expressions of your theological idea. Write as many
as you can. Do not evaluate them now or second-guess your
ideas.
· Family
· Business
· Animals
· Athletics
· Common objects
· World Affairs
· Other
· Nature
· Children
· Education
· History
· Travel
· Friendships
· Other
4. Check the best analogies from the list above on the basis of
your subject, your audience, and your own ability to make
particular ones work in the sermon.
5. Plan here how you will particularize the analogies you have
chosen. You will want to present them in concrete, specific,

13. imaginative language.
6. Write out one of your analogies on the back of the sheet as
you might present it in your sermon.
12 Essential Skills for Great Preaching / Wayne McDill / 2006 /
B&H Used by Permission
Human
The purpose of this exercise is to develop skill at tracing
theological concepts in the text to corresponding points of
contact in human experience.
ExperienceText: Phillipians 1
· Make sure sermon ideas are clear and well worded.
· Think beyond church-world to real-world experience.
· Remember the nature of human nature.
· Allow your own humanity to come through.
· Address assumptions, symptoms and consequences.
· Express compassion and understanding for hearers.
The human element is the human condition that corresponds to
the truths that are presented in your text. The factors of human
experience may be described plainly in the text or only implied.

14. 1. Identify the factors of human experience mentioned directly
in the text as they pertained to the original textual setting.
2. Identify the human issues suggested in the text by implication
as the writer addresses problems of his day.
3. Summarize the concepts from your text that will become the
main ideas of the sermon.
4. Use the following categories to begin describing the likely
experience of the person who needs to hear the message of the
text as a remedy for his needs:
(1) His symptoms of the trouble he is experiencing:
(2) His underlying assumptions about the issue:
(3) Some consequences in his experience:
(4) How a person feels who is suffering at this point:
5. Write a profile of the person needing your message in vivid,
concrete terms as you sympathetically identify with his
suffering and interest him in the good news you have for him.

15. 12 Essential Skills for Great Preaching / Wayne McDill / 2006 /
B&H Used by Permission