Christian literature, either current or classical, can be another tool to reemphasize the point of the sermon. We often used excerpts from Joe Bayly’s writings, selections from C. S. Lewis, portions of T. S. Eliot, or to travel farther back in time, sections from John Bunyan’s Pilgrim’s Progress and Milton’s Samson Agonistes or Paradise Lost. If extensive reading in certain volumes would be of further help, then we provided these books at the book table and recommend them from the pulpit. Poetry had been read, dramatized, and visually projected.

Another twist on the use of Christian literature was supplied by one of our members, the production adviser at a local radio station. Not content with simply reading from the story of George Mueller, which was to amplify a message on faith, he put together a radio script. Utilizing members of the congregation, he taped the dramatic presentation with sound effects and played it following the sermon.

The time following the sermon was a favorite place for musical selections. As the lyrics restated what had been said, the special numbers suddenly had great significance. If the pieces were declaring truth, not responding to it—such songs were reserved for the third part of the service—we often presented several numbers in a row.

The variations on this basic idea alone are endless. The choir can sing, smaller groups of voices can be used, music can be interspersed with readings of Scripture, and on and on. We began to use the original music of our congregation, as well. A single guitar accompanying a solo voice was inexpressibly lovely.

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You can learn how to develop highly relevant Sunday sermons that grab the attention of your congregation and help your listeners respond effectively to the deep truths of God’s Word. David Mains and Mainstay Ministries can help. We offer a wide variety of Sermon Starters and Full Sermons that will give you Sermon Ideas to help you prepare for regular Sunday sermons, Mid-week Bible Sermons, and Sermons for special occasions. We also offer assistance as you create Topical Sermons, Sermons Series, and sermons for special times of the year. We have resources available to help you with Advent Celebrations, Advent Sermons, Christmas Sermons, Easter Sunday Sermons, Patriotic Sermons, and more.

For more information on how to create better Bible Sermons and how to turn Sermon Ideas into Sermon Outlines, and then into effective, meaningful Sunday Sermons, please click here to visit David Mains’ website.

You will also find a variety of resources for pastors and congregations at the Mainstay Ministries website. Just click here.

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As the service I wrote about in the previous blog continued, one at a time, we shared a part of the topic:

• “The Study of Scripture”
• “Private Worship and Prayer”
• “The Influence of Other Christians”
• “Involvement in Ministry”

As each man finished, he pasted the title of his emphasis on a side of one of the blocks and put his block on the stack. When we had finished, the Instant Insanity game had been solved, as well as the puzzle of the “Between Sunday Spiritual Building Blocks.” The truths had been shared verbally. And now, they were visible on the front side of the four blocks—a vivid illustration of the morning’s message.

Underscoring the Sermon. The final consideration regarding this middle portion of the service was “Can we emphatically restate the point of the message in another way?” We were not asking, “How do we get the people to respond to what has been said?” That follows in the third section of the service. Rather, we asked the question, “Is there a method by which what has been preached can be underscored so the truth will become even more explicit to the congregation?” Most likely there will be some way to do this, but if it has to be forced or contrived, we prefer to reject it and proceed to the final part of the service.

One of our favorite methods was to employ Scripture. Since the major portion of my sermon preparation was limited to the study of Scripture, I usually had more than I could possibly handle in the twenty-five-minute preaching period. To reiterate the main thrust with the dynamic of additional Scripture was most powerful. Simply to project biblical passages on a screen—or to print them in the bulletin—allowing them to be read by each member silently, was also effective.

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Pastor, when “sermon prep day” rolls around each week, do you face the task of preparing another sermon with a frown on your face? If so, you’re not alone. Many pastors literally dread preparing their Sunday sermon. There just doesn’t seem to be an easy solution. The good news: David Mains and Mainstay Ministries can help. We offer a wide variety of Sermon Starters and Full Sermons that will give you Sermon Ideas to help you prepare for regular Sunday sermons, Mid-week Bible Sermons, and Sermons for special occasions. We also offer assistance as you create Topical Sermons, Sermons Series, and sermons for special times of the year. We have resources available to help you with Advent Celebrations, Advent Sermons, Christmas Sermons, Easter Sunday Sermons, Patriotic Sermons, and more.

For more information on how to create better Bible Sermons and how to turn Sermon Ideas into Sermon Outlines, and then into effective, meaningful Sunday Sermons, please click here to visit David Mains’ website.

You will also find a variety of resources for pastors and congregations at the Mainstay Ministries website. Just click here.

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While working with the purpose sentence “Making proper requests of God demands forethought,” I used a recording of Zero Mostel singing Tevye’s pitiful prayer from Fiddler on the Roof. In it he dialog’s with God about the many poor people in the world and states that though it’s not a shame to be poor, it isn’t a great honor either.

Tevye’s plea is that he become a rich man, and he inquires as to whether granting this request would upset some great eternal plan. Explaining how characteristic such praying is even in Christian circles, I showed why it was not proper. How much more effective this was than simply stating that we often don’t make proper requests of God.

A good illustration of utilizing outside helps was exemplified by a recent team-preaching sermon, “Building Blocks of Our Faith.” Attempting to be basic, we determined that an individual must have all four of the following ingredients present in his “between Sundays” life:

1. The study of Scripture.
2. Private worship and prayer.
3. The influence of other Christians.
4. Involvement in ministry.

In discussion the staff decided that a team-preaching approach would more satisfactorily amplify our thrust than a solo presentation. With one person emphasizing each point, it would make the divisions more distinct and the content clearer.

We hoped to further couple this with a visual approach for even greater emphasis. Ka Tong thought of the Parker Brothers puzzle, Instant Insanity—four building blocks with different colored sides. The purpose of the game is to stack the blocks so that each side of the column has all four colors showing. The idea clicked. We had large wooden blocks made and painted by a man in the congregation.

The central section of the service, “God Speaking Through His Written Word,” began with Ka Tong’s explaining that for many people, living the Christian life is a great puzzle, a spiritual struggle somewhat like trying to accomplish the impossible. Then, he pointed to the four giant blocks, revealing the difficulty of stacking them properly and why the puzzle was called Instant Insanity. He concluded: “What we are attempting to do this morning is to give you the keys that unlock the secret of this puzzle and at the same time give meaning to the puzzle of spiritual living as well.”

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No matter what type of Sunday sermon you need to create, David Mains and Mainstay Ministries can help. We offer a wide variety of Sermon Starters and Full Sermons that will give you Sermon Ideas to help you prepare for regular Sunday sermons, Mid-week Bible Sermons, and Sermons for special occasions. We also offer assistance as you create Topical Sermons, Sermons Series, and sermons for special times of the year. We have resources available to help you with Advent Celebrations, Advent Sermons, Christmas Sermons, Easter Sunday Sermons, Patriotic Sermons, and more.

For more information on how to create better Bible Sermons and how to turn Sermon Ideas into Sermon Outlines, and then into effective, meaningful Sunday Sermons, please click here to visit David Mains’ website.

You will also find a variety of resources for pastors and congregations at the Mainstay Ministries website. Just click here.

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Illustration of the Sermon. I feel very strongly that preaching should not be limited to oration. With the immense number of aids available today, a minister must take advantage of every possible means to improve his or her listener’s receptivity.

Without exception the main thrust appeared in our Circle Church bulletin on a special sheet that also includes space for taking notes. If there are terms that need defining, these will be explained on the insert as well. Statistics printed ahead of time eliminate the normal frantic search for a pencil or the writing of lists in too short a time. Even the sermon outline itself can be included.

Education statistics reveal that 10 percent of a subject will be remembered if listening is used alone, 20 percent if seeing is used alone, and 65 percent if seeing and listening are combined. It is absurd, therefore, to overlook the teaching impact of visual aids.

Back in the late 1960’s and early 1970’s, our overhead projector was constantly in use. It may have displayed the sermon outline, or it may have projected a biblical map on the screen for geographic clarification. We also used a slide projector to amplify. If I talked about a contemporary well-known figure, his image was flashed on the screen.

Multi-media presentations—light and sound happenings—the possibilities are endless. So many techniques are being used and initiated effectively by the secular market, and often to promote what is in essence anti-Christ. Why can we not be wise communicators as well?

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Sunday’s coming. Do you have your sermon ready? Is it relevant? Will it effectively motivate your congregation to walk more in step with the Master? What about that Sermon Series you’ve been thinking about? Or, what will you preach for your Easter Sermon, your Advent Sermon, your Christmas Sermon? David Mains and Mainstay Ministries can help. We offer a wide variety of Sermon Starters and Full Sermons that will give you Sermon Ideas to help you prepare for regular Sunday sermons, Mid-week Bible Sermons, and Sermons for special occasions. We also offer assistance as you create Topical Sermons, Sermons Series, and sermons for special times of the year. We have resources available to help you with Advent Celebrations, Advent Sermons, Christmas Sermons, Easter Sunday Sermons, Patriotic Sermons, and more.

For more information on how to create better Bible Sermons and how to turn Sermon Ideas into Sermon Outlines, and then into effective, meaningful Sunday Sermons, please click here to visit David Mains’ website.

You will also find a variety of resources for pastors and congregations at the Mainstay Ministries website. Just click here.

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