HBBI Preaching and Teaching the Bible | Preaching the Passage: The Shape of the Argument 49

PREACHING THE PASSAGE: THE SHAPE OF THE

ARGUMENT

THE SHAPE OF THE SERMON (THE SERMON AS STORY)

The sermon “event” itself should take the same basic form as a story (introduction, crisis,
resolution, denouement). Another way of thinking of the shape/form of the lesson is as follows:28

DEDUCTIVE PREACHING
Deductive = stating the _________________________ (proposition/theme) and
_________________________ it through the main points.

INDUCTIVE PREACHING
Inductive = stating the _________________________ (the main points) and drawing the
_________________________ (proposition/theme).

28
The basic shape or plot of the sermon is detailed in The Homiletical Plot: The Sermon as Narrative Form
by Eugene L. Lowry. He lists the movements of the sermon (with the same basic shape) as: “(1) oops, (2) ugh, (3)
aha, (4) whee, (5) yeah.” Technically, the terms are 1) upsetting the equilibrium, 2) analyzing the discrepancy, 3)
disclosing the clue to resolution, 4) experiencing the gospel, and 5) anticipating the consequences (p. 26).

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HBBI Preaching and Teaching the Bible | The Propositional Statement 51

THE PROPOSITIONAL STATEMENT

[See Worksheet 3 for developing a proposition]

PROPOSITIONAL STATEMENT TERMINOLOGY

Slots
The propositional statement has 2 positions (or “slots”): a “because” slot [truth] and a “you
must” slot [exhortation]. For our purposes, each slot will be structured this way:
Example: “Because you have been risen with Christ, you must act like it.”
In our example above, “you have been risen with Christ” is in the “because” slot and “act like it”
is in the “you must” slot.

Parts
The Propositional Statement has 2 parts to it: the anchor and the switch.29 The slot in which
your anchor and switch will reside will be completely dependent on whether your sermon is
truth-heavy or exhortation-heavy.
• The anchor is the part of the proposition that remains unchanged in the main point
outline. The anchor may either be in the “because” slot or the “you must” slot, depending
on whether the sermon is truth-heavy or exhortation-heavy30.
• The switch is the part of the proposition that will be fleshed out, described, or
explained through the main points of the sermon. Again, the switch may be either the
“because” slot or the “you must” slot, depending on whether the sermon is truth-heavy or
exhortation heavy.
Typically, in sermons that are truth-heavy (exhortation centric), the anchor is the “you must”
and the switch is the “because.”
Conversely, in sermons that are exhortation-heavy (truth centric), the anchor is the “because”
and the switch is the “you must.”
The purpose of this exercise in Worksheet 3:

Take the group (either Truth or Exhortation) that has fewer and summarize it:
_______________________________________________________________

is to establish the anchor of your proposition. This will be the part of the main points that will
not change.

29
Using these terms has no real technical value. The main purpose is to avoid having to say “this part of the
prop” or “this part of the prop.”
30
See discussion on “heavy vs centered” in the Week 2 Information Sheet.

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52 HBBI Preaching and Teaching the Bible | The Propositional Statement

The purpose of the next exercise:

Now take the group that has more and divide them into logical groupings:

is to establish the switch of your proposition. After dividing into logical groupings, the preacher
must then summarize the main idea of these groups in a single clause. This will become the
switch part of the proposition. Once it comes time to write the outline, the switch is re-divided
into its logical groupings which become the main points of the sermon.

STEPS FOR EPISTOLARY LITERATURE

• List your truths and exhortations.
• Decide which side is more prominent (more truths or more exhortations in the text?).
o Take the larger (truths or exhortations), then summarize and group these points
into logical groupings (usually 2–4 groups).
o These logical groupings form the building blocks for the main points of your
outline.
Remember: propositions and main points should be full sentences!
• Create a propositional statement that connects two single ideas (“Because _____ you
must _______”).
Note: Propositions will have two parts: a “because” statement [truth] and a “you must”
imperative [exhortation].
See the connection between the proposition and the main points of a sermon:
Example: “Because prayer changes things, you must organize your day around your time with
God.”
This proposition gives us a clear reason (truth) and command (exhortation) that address the
problem (FCF) we all have of scheduling our life around us.
Remember: propositions should be in the second person plural (“you must”). There is
some room for flexibility here (some prefer “we must” because it is less offensive), and
discretion should be used in how aggressive a young preacher demands his audience of
adults “must” do something. However, typically a good “you must” is demanded by the
text and we should heed the command in 1 Timothy 4:12.

STEPS FOR NARRATIVE LITERATURE

Reading your text, work through the following questions:
• What flaw of man is revealed / taught / demonstrated by the events of the story? [hints at
the FCF]
• What good character trait is demonstrated or instructed by the story? [hints at the
proposition]
• Look for explicit condemnation or praise from the story narrator. This gives clues to the
theme of the story.

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HBBI Preaching and Teaching the Bible | The Propositional Statement 53

• What character trait of God is revealed / taught /demonstrated by the events of the story?
This may not be explicitly spoken. [hints at what might be the “truth” of the proposition]
• At the crisis moment of the story, what truth is revealed / taught / demonstrated? [hints at
the exhortation of the story]
• What universal truths are present in the story — about God, mankind, etc.?

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HBBI Preaching and Teaching the Bible | The Homiletical (Preaching) Outline 55

THE HOMILETICAL (PREACHING) OUTLINE

See Worksheet 4.

REVIEW
The FCF
The FCF (Fallen Condition Focus) clarifies the purpose behind the sermon. It provides the
problem that must be solved. It connects the ___________________________________ of the
text to _________________________________________ by way of a shared fault, problem, or
weakness.

The Proposition/Theme
The Proposition (or theme) gives the answer to the problem posed by the FCF and forms the
“Big Idea”31 or main point of your message.
The proposition should have both a truth and an exhortation clearly stated. The truth and
exhortation should depend on one another.
Keep your Proposition/Thesis Christ-Centered. Being Christ-Centered doesn’t mean simply
putting Christ at the end of your message. You must recognize the Christ-centered “shape” of the
message (gospel shape): you have a problem that only God can solve through the power/grace of
Jesus Christ.
Because preaching should be done to the individual, most propositions should be aimed at the
individual. To ensure this, propositions should use words like “you” and avoid words like
“us/we.”

The Outline
The Outline should flow from the thesis of your sermon/lesson as
• Proofs of the proposition,
• Evidences for the proposition,
• Examples of the proposition at work,
• Results of the proposition, or
• Purposes for the proposition

31
See Biblical Preaching: The Development and Delivery of Expository Messages by Haddon W. Robinson
(Baker Academic, 2001) for an extensive treatment of the concept of preaching with a single, main “big idea.”

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56 HBBI Preaching and Teaching the Bible | The Homiletical (Preaching) Outline

STEPS FOR CREATING A HOMILETICAL OUTLINE:

1. Divide your passage into logical sections (this should have been done with your
exegetical outline).
2. Examine your proposition to determine which side of the proposition (the truth side or
the exhortation side) will remain the same for each main point and which side will
change for each main point.
a. Example Proposition: Because God loves you, you must love others.
b. Truth = Because God loves you; Exhortation = you must love others.
c. If you follow the steps in the worksheets, you will find these helpful in making
this decision.
d. Helpful terms:
e. The side of the proposition that remains the same = “the anchor”
f. The side of the proposition that changes for each main point = “the switch”
3. Using your own words, summarize the “anchor.” Brevity matters more than
thoroughness.
a. Exegetical outlines—be as thorough as ___________________________.
b. Homiletical outlines—be as thorough as ___________________________.
Work for brevity.
4. Section by section, summarize the main point of the “switch.”
a. Work to make these parallel, recognizing that it may not be possible to do so on
the first draft.
b. Sometimes, I find it helpful to work through the sub-points before coming to the
main point.
5. Make sure each subpoint supports the main point and each main point supports your
propositional statement.
6. Remember: you should prefer to be brief in your outline. You will have time to explain
what you mean in your lesson/sermon.

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HBBI Preaching and Teaching the Bible | Delivery: the style of Preaching 57

UNIT 3: THE PROCLAMATION OF PREACHING

(DELIVERY)
“All genuine preaching is rooted in a feeling of desperation.”32

American preacher John Shaw once preached at an ordination: “Whoever knew

much good done to souls by any pastors but such as preached and lived in the
power of love, working by a clear, convincing light, and both managed by a
holy, lively seriousness? You must bring fire to kindle fire.”33

DELIVERY: THE STYLE OF PREACHING

To preach is to “_______________.”

HEBREW WORDS34
7. ‫( נטף‬nataf) 1. to cause to drip, cause to flow Am 9:13; —2. metaph. to make words flow
(Dam. 1:14), to drivel, foam at the mouth, meaning to prophesy ecstatically Ezk 21:2.
8. ‫( בשׂר‬basar) 1—: ‫ְמַב ְשּׂרוֹת‬. to bring news (good or bad): a) neutral 2S 18:20; pt. as sbst.
1S 4:17 2S 4:10 Is 52:7; to inform a person 1S 319 2S 1819 Is 611 Jr 2015 1C 109; b)
‫ ִבּ׳ טוֹב‬to bring good news 1K 1:42 Is 52:7, without (‫ )טוֹב‬2S 18:19, ‫ ְמַב ֵשּׂר‬herald of good
tidings Nah 2:1, ‫( ְמַב ֶשֶּׂרת‬female) herald of good tidings (to Zion) Is 40.9 Ps 68.12 (rd.
‫ ְמַב ֶשֶּׂרת‬:: Gaster VT 4:74 collective, Brockelmann Heb. Syn. §16f); —2. to tell, to
announce
9. ‫( קרא‬kara) —8. ‫ ָקָרא‬to announce (as technical term for introducing what a prophet has to
say or do)

GREEK WORDS35
• κηρύσσω. (kēryssō)1. to make an official announcement, announce, make known, by
an official herald or one who functions as such (Maximus Tyr. 1, 6c κηρύττομαι=I am

32
John Piper, The Supremacy of God in Preaching (Grand Rapids: Baker, 1990), 37.
33
Bryan Chapell, Christ Centered Preaching, 2nd edition (Grand Rapids: Baker, 2005), 34.
34
These definitions taken from the Hebrew and Aramaic Lexicon of the Old Testament (HALOT), by
Ludwig Koehler and Walter Baumgartner, translated and edited under the supervision of M.E.J. Richardson. ©
1994, 1995, 1996, 1999, 2000 by Koninklijke Brill NV, Leiden, The Netherlands Electronic text hypertexted and
prepared by OakTree Software, Inc. Version 3.5.
35
These definitions taken from A Greek - English Lexicon of the New Testament and other Early Christian
Literature (BDAG), Third Edition, revised and edited by Fredrick William Danker. Licensed by the University of

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58 HBBI Preaching and Teaching the Bible | Delivery: the style of Preaching

being announced by the herald) MPol 12:1 of the pro-consul, who announced three times
that Pol. had confessed to being a Christian.—Rv 5:2. 2. to make public declarations,
proclaim aloud
• εὐαγγελίζω (euaggelizō) 1. gener. bring good news, announce good news . . . 2. mostly
specif. proclaim the divine message of salvation, proclaim the gospel
• καταγγέλλω (kataggellō) to make known in public, with implication of broad
dissemination, proclaim, announce

THOUGHTS ON PREACHING STYLE

“A good preaching style is a plain (but not drab), unaffected (but not unstudied)
style that gets in there and gets the job done without calling attention to itself. It
is clear and appropriate at every point to the message. Content should control
this style. When content is relaxed, the style should relax; when it is tense, style
must reflect that too. Style is content’s right-hand man, ready to run any errand
that content requests of him. He will not dawdle along the roadside, playing with
flowers. Nor will he run ahead of his leader when strolling along together.
Indeed, his task is to anticipate and assist content’s every intent. The more they
work together, the more readily they begin to approximate one another.”36

Preaching according to the Bible

Preaching must be stylistically different from a normal conversation; however, it should not be so
different from every-day speech that it becomes its own unique (and distracting) style. This will
create an unnecessary wedge between the audience who must hear and the message that must be
heard!
• 2 Timothy 4:2—Preach the Word. . . “Convince, rebuke, exhort with all longsuffering
and teaching.”
• Isaiah 40:9 — “Lift up your voice”
• Isaiah 58:1 — “Cry aloud, spare not; lift up your voice like a trumpet.”

Avoid “______________________” language

If we are to take the Biblical writers as an example of preaching style, we would note that they
used exalted language in the common vernacular. “Exalted” language should not be confused
with “preachy” language.
Exalted language means that the speaker should be well-prepared and use __________________
words (speakers should avoid being sloppy or too casual). Exalted language does not mean
language that is hard to understand or with complicated vocabulary and structure.

Chicago Press, Chicago, Illinois. © 1957, 1979, 2000 by The University of Chicago. All rights reserved. This
edition is an electronic version of the print edition published by the University of Chicago Press. Electronic text
hypertexted and prepared by OakTree Software, Inc. Version 2.8
36
Adams, Jay E.. Preaching with Purpose (Jay Adams Library) (pp. 105-106). Zondervan. Kindle Edition.

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HBBI Preaching and Teaching the Bible | Delivery: the style of Preaching 59

Example: Old Testament prophets often spoke or preached in poetic form. Hebrew
contains a distinction between prose and poetry in style and function. Almost all speech
is in poetry. In the New Testament, the Apostles’ sermons in the book of Acts are both
personal (Acts 26:25–27) and formal (Acts 17:22–31).
Although we do not have audio examples of how they sounded, we may assume their general
speech patterns were within the accepted conventions of public speaking in their culture.
Adams says,

“This stilted, so-called “preacher’s style” is pock-marked with King James’s

terminology and Elizabethan or pseudo Elizabethan constructions” ought to be
“launder[ed]” from your preaching style.37

Use current (and correct) speech and grammar

They did not use _________________________ language. The people who speak in the Bible
speak in their common language.

Avoid distracting habits

• Grammar problems. If you have issues with basic English grammar, avoid speaking for
long, extemporaneous sections.

• Pronunciation problems. Work on names and locations in your text before stepping into
the pulpit.

• Overwrought gestures. Don’t overthink your gestures. If you plan your gestures too
much, they will normally come off as fake or distracting.

Strive for _______________________________ over ornamental speech

• If you have the option of squeezing in one more parallel “P” or “S” in your alliterated
outline (but the word doesn’t quite fit!), don’t do it!
• To preach is to be sincere.
I was with you in weakness, in fear, and in much trembling. (1 Corinthians 2:3)
• We must not preach with manipulation but rather with truth. Only then may the power of
God shine forth! If you strive to “show off” your intellect or skill, you will obscure the
message God intends.

“James Denny said, ‘No man can give the impression that he himself is clever
and that Christ is mighty to save.’”38

37
Adams, 105.
38
Piper, 55.

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60 HBBI Preaching and Teaching the Bible | Illustrations

ILLUSTRATIONS
For our purposes, an illustration is a story or example with a specific tension and resolution. I do
not count statistics, parallels, or similes as illustrations.

The purpose of the illustration is to ________________________, not to __________________.

Illustrations should be for ______________________ points or ______________________ and

not for sub-points.

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HBBI Preaching and Teaching the Bible | Applications 61

APPLICATIONS
Applications ought to roll out how to properly live out the propositional statement. This is the
end (______________________) of the message (remember the philosophy of preaching).

“The Bible does two things: It announces what God has done, and it confronts
its hearers with this news and its implications. For a preacher to expose the
Bible, therefore, he must expose the Bible’s announcement and confrontation.”39

In applying the passage, you will confront people in the following areas:40
• Their worldviews
• Their spiritual state.
Every person is struggling with sin in some way. We need to bring the Scripture to bear
on their struggles with idolatry, self-justification, love of self, love of the world, pride,
etc. (see 1 Thess 5:12–14).
• Their social state.
What does this text mean for men or for women? For children or adults? For those who
are poor or for those who have much?
• The corporate meaning for the church.

39
Jonathan Leeman, Reverberation: How God’s Word Brings Light, Freedom and Action to His People
(Chicago: Moody, 2011), 124.
40
Ibid., 146–147.

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62 HBBI Preaching and Teaching the Bible | Introductions and Conclusions

INTRODUCTIONS AND CONCLUSIONS

INTRODUCTIONS
How to begin?
The key to beginning your sermon is to introduce it in a way that arrests the attention of your
audience and sets the table for what follows.
Chappell gives the following ways to introduce a sermon:41
• Human-interest account.
• Simple assertion.
• Startling statement. “Your arms are too short to box with God.”
• Provocative question. “Why does grass grow in my driveway and not in my lawn?”
• Catalog. Grouping or listing items, ideas, or persons in such a way as they reveal the
central concept of a sermon . . . when the children in The Sound of Music sing,
“Raindrops on roses and whiskers on kittens. . .” they engage in a catalog song making
the point that simple pleasures make life tolerable.
Adams says in Truth Applied: “Do not begin with the text; begin with the congregation, as Peter
and Paul did. Turn to the passage of Scripture only when you have adequately oriented your
congregation to what they will find there and only when you have sufficiently stirred up in them
a concern to know about it.”

FCF
Your FCF should be in your introduction. It sets the stage for what is to follow.

Is it a deductive or inductive sermon? This will affect the way you introduce.
• Deductive Sermons = proposition will be at the beginning of the message.
• Inductive Sermons = proposition will be at the end of the message.

My format for introduction:

• Sermonic Introduction with story or something to orient the congregation to general
theme. Get more specific until we reach the point of the FCF.
• FCF. Clearly stated.
• Theme (if deductive; if not deductive, then this will come in the conclusion)
• Textual Introduction
• Transition
• Main Point 1

CONCLUSIONS
In the conclusion, you have the last opportunity to communicate the main theme (proposition) of
the passage.

41
Chappell, 246–249.

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HBBI Preaching and Teaching the Bible | Introductions and Conclusions 63

Sermon Intensity Graph (Figure 9.2, p 254 by Chappell).

Elements of a good conclusion:

• Recapitulation (concise summary).
• Exhortation (final application).
• Elevation (climax).
• Termination (definite end).

God’s grace
Be sure to demonstrate the power of God’s grace to accomplish what is being asked of the
congregation. Give hope!
Mr. Duane Hansen used to always say,
“Tell them what you’re going to tell them, tell it to them, tell them what you told them,
then sit down.”

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HBBI Preaching and Teaching the Bible | Appendix 65

APPENDIX

BIBLE TRANSLATIONS FOR READING AND STUDY

• “Word for Word” = Formal Equivalence
• “Thought for Thought” = Dynamic Equivalent
• Paraphrase
1Cor. 10:13 (NASB95) No temptation has overtaken you but such as is common to man; and God is faithful, who
will not allow you to be tempted beyond what you are able, but with the temptation will provide the way of escape
also, so that you will be able to endure it.
1Cor. 10:13 (ESV) No temptation has overtaken you that is not common to man. God is faithful, and he will not let
you be tempted beyond your ability, but with the temptation he will also provide the way of escape, that you may be
able to endure it.
1Cor. 10:13 (KJV) There hath no temptation taken you but such as is common to man: but God is faithful, who will
not suffer you to be tempted above that ye are able; but will with the temptation also make a way to escape, that ye
may be able to bear it.
1Cor. 10:13 (NKJV) No temptation has overtaken you except such as is common to man; but God is faithful, who
will not allow you to be tempted beyond what you are able, but with the temptation will also make the way of
escape, that you may be able to bear it.
1Cor. 10:13 (CSB) No temptation has come upon you except what is common to humanity. But God is faithful; he
will not allow you to be tempted beyond what you are able, but with the temptation he will also provide a way out so
that you may be able to bear it.
1Cor. 10:13 (NET) No trial has overtaken you that is not faced by others. And God is faithful: He will not let you be
tried beyond what you are able to bear, but with the trial will also provide a way out so that you may be able to
endure it.
1Cor. 10:13 (NIV) No temptation has seized you except what is common to man. And God is faithful; he will not let
you be tempted beyond what you can bear. But when you are tempted, he will also provide a way out so that you can
stand up under it.
1Cor. 10:13 (NIRV) You are tempted in the same way all other human beings are. God is faithful. He will not let
you be tempted any more than you can take. But when you are tempted, God will give you a way out. Then you will
be able to deal with it.
1Cor. 10:13 (NLT) The temptations in your life are no different from what others experience. And God is faithful.
He will not allow the temptation to be more than you can stand. When you are tempted, he will show you a way out
so that you can endure.
1Cor. 10:13 (CEV) You are tempted in the same way that everyone else is tempted. But God can be trusted not to let
you be tempted too much, and he will show you how to escape from your temptations.
1Cor. 10:13 (MESS) No test or temptation that comes your way is beyond the course of what others have had to
face. All you need to remember is that God will never let you down; he’ll never let you be pushed past your limit;
he’ll always be there to help you come through it.

Essentially Lit. Dynamic Equiv. Paraphrase

ßNASB ESV KJV NKJV CSB NET NIV NIRV NLT CEV MESSAGEà

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HBBI Preaching and Teaching the Bible | Text Selections for Preaching and Teaching, Spring 2021 67

TEXT SELECTIONS FOR PREACHING AND TEACHING,

SPRING 2021

RYAN: GENESIS 22:1–18

1 Now it came to pass after these things that God tested Abraham, and said to him, “Abraham!” And he said, “Here I am.”
2 Then He said, “Take now your son, your only son Isaac, whom you love, and go to the land of Moriah, and offer him there as
a burnt offering on one of the mountains of which I shall tell you.”

3 So Abraham rose early in the morning and saddled his donkey, and took two of his young men with him, and Isaac his son;
and he split the wood for the burnt offering, and arose and went to the place of which God had told him.
4 Then on the third day Abraham lifted his eyes and saw the place afar off. 5 And Abraham said to his young men, “Stay here
with the donkey; the lad and I will go yonder and worship, and we will come back to you.”

6 So Abraham took the wood of the burnt offering and laid it on Isaac his son; and he took the fire in his hand, and a knife,
and the two of them went together.
7 But Isaac spoke to Abraham his father and said, “My father!” And he said, “Here I am, my son.” Then he said, “Look, the
fire and the wood, but where is the lamb for a burnt offering?”
8 And Abraham said, “My son, God will provide for Himself the lamb for a burnt offering.” So the two of them went together.

9 Then they came to the place of which God had told him. And Abraham built an altar there and placed the wood in order; and
he bound Isaac his son and laid him on the altar, upon the wood. 10 And Abraham stretched out his hand and took the knife to
slay his son.
11 But the Angel of the LORD called to him from heaven and said, “Abraham, Abraham!”
So he said, “Here I am.”
12 And He said, “Do not lay your hand on the lad, or do anything to him; for now I know that you fear God, since you have
not withheld your son, your only son, from Me.”
13 Then Abraham lifted his eyes and looked, and there behind him was a ram caught in a thicket by its horns. So Abraham
went and took the ram, and offered it up for a burnt offering instead of his son. 14 And Abraham called the name of the place,
The–LORD–Will–Provide; as it is said to this day, “In the Mount of the LORD it shall be provided.”

15 Then the Angel of the LORD called to Abraham a second time out of heaven, 16 and said: “By Myself I have sworn, says
the LORD, because you have done this thing, and have not withheld your son, your only son— 17 blessing I will bless you, and
multiplying I will multiply your descendants as the stars of the heaven and as the sand which is on the seashore; and your
descendants shall possess the gate of their enemies. 18 In your seed all the nations of the earth shall be blessed, because you have
obeyed My voice.”

KEVIN: PHILIPPIANS 1:19–30

19 For I know that this will turn out for my deliverance through your prayer and the supply of the Spirit of Jesus Christ, 20
according to my earnest expectation and hope that in nothing I shall be ashamed, but with all boldness, as always, so now also
Christ will be magnified in my body, whether by life or by death.
21 For to me, to live is Christ, and to die is gain. 22 But if I live on in the flesh, this will mean fruit from my labor; yet what I
shall choose I cannot tell. 23 For I am hard-pressed between the two, having a desire to depart and be with Christ, which is far
better. 24 Nevertheless to remain in the flesh is more needful for you. 25 And being confident of this, I know that I shall remain
and continue with you all for your progress and joy of faith, 26 that your rejoicing for me may be more abundant in Jesus Christ
by my coming to you again.
27 Only let your conduct be worthy of the gospel of Christ, so that whether I come and see you or am absent,
I may hear of your affairs,
that you stand fast
in one spirit,
with one mind
striving together for the faith of the gospel,
28 and not in any way terrified by your adversaries, which is to them a proof of perdition, but to you of salvation, and that
from God. 29 For to you it has been granted on behalf of Christ, not only to believe in Him, but also to suffer for His sake, 30
having the same conflict which you saw in me and now hear is in me.

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68 HBBI Preaching and Teaching the Bible | Text Selections for Preaching and Teaching, Spring 2021

PAT: EPHESIANS 6:10–20

10 Finally, my brethren, be strong in the Lord and in the power of His might. 11 Put on the whole armor of God, that you may
be able to stand against the wiles of the devil. 12 For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against
powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this age, against spiritual hosts of wickedness in the heavenly places.

13 Therefore take up the whole armor of God, that you may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand.
14 Stand therefore, having girded your waist with truth, having put on the breastplate of righteousness, 15 and having shod
your feet with the preparation of the gospel of peace; 16 above all, taking the shield of faith with which you will be able to
quench all the fiery darts of the wicked one. 17 And take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of
God;

18 praying always
with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit,
being watchful to this end with all perseverance and supplication for all the saints—
19 and for me,
that utterance may be given to me,
that I may open my mouth boldly to make known the mystery of the gospel,
20 for which I am an ambassador in chains;
that in it I may speak boldly, as I ought to speak.

CHARLES: 1 JOHN 1:4–2:6

4 And these things we write to you that your joy may be full.
5 This is the message which we have heard from Him and declare to you, that God is light and in Him is no darkness at all. 6 If
we say that we have fellowship with Him, and walk in darkness, we lie and do not practice the truth. 7 But if we walk in the light
as He is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus Christ His Son cleanses us from all sin.
8 If we say that we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us.
9 If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. 10 If we say
that we have not sinned, we make Him a liar, and His word is not in us. 1 My little children, these things I write to you, so that
you may not sin. And if anyone sins, we have an Advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous. 2 And He Himself is the
propitiation for our sins, and not for ours only but also for the whole world.
3 Now by this we know that we know Him, if we keep His commandments. 4 He who says, “I know Him,” and does not keep
His commandments, is a liar, and the truth is not in him. 5 But whoever keeps His word, truly the love of God is perfected in him.
By this we know that we are in Him. 6 He who says he abides in Him ought himself also to walk just as He walked.

RON: JOHN 3:1–21

1 There was a man of the Pharisees named Nicodemus, a ruler of the Jews. 2 This man came to Jesus by night and said to Him,
“Rabbi, we know that You are a teacher come from God; for no one can do these signs that You do unless God is with him.”
3 Jesus answered and said to him, “Most assuredly, I say to you, unless one is born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God.”
4 Nicodemus said to Him, “How can a man be born when he is old? Can he enter a second time into his mother’s womb and be
born?”
5 Jesus answered, “Most assuredly, I say to you, unless one is born of water and the Spirit, he cannot enter the kingdom of
God. 6 That which is born of the flesh is flesh, and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit. 7 Do not marvel that I said to you,
“You must be born again.’ 8 The wind blows where it wishes, and you hear the sound of it, but cannot tell where it comes from
and where it goes. So is everyone who is born of the Spirit.”
9 Nicodemus answered and said to Him, “How can these things be?”
10 Jesus answered and said to him, “Are you the teacher of Israel, and do not know these things? 11 Most assuredly, I say to
you, We speak what We know and testify what We have seen, and you do not receive Our witness. 12 If I have told you earthly
things and you do not believe, how will you believe if I tell you heavenly things? 13 No one has ascended to heaven but He who
came down from heaven, that is, the Son of Man who is in heaven. 14 And as Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, even
so must the Son of Man be lifted up, 15 that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have eternal life. 16 For God so loved
the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life. 17 For
God did not send His Son into the world to condemn the world, but that the world through Him might be saved.
18 “He who believes in Him is not condemned; but he who does not believe is condemned already, because he has not
believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God. 19 And this is the condemnation, that the light has come into the world,
and men loved darkness rather than light, because their deeds were evil. 20 For everyone practicing evil hates the light and does
not come to the light, lest his deeds should be exposed. 21 But he who does the truth comes to the light, that his deeds may be
clearly seen, that they have been done in God.”

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CHERI ROMANS 10:1–13

1 Brethren, my heart’s desire and prayer to God for Israel is that they may be saved. 2 For I bear them witness that they have a
zeal for God, but not according to knowledge. 3 For they being ignorant of God’s righteousness, and seeking to establish their
own righteousness, have not submitted to the righteousness of God. 4 For Christ is the end of the law for righteousness to
everyone who believes.
5 For Moses writes about the righteousness which is of the law, “The man who does those things shall live by them.” 6 But the
righteousness of faith speaks in this way, “Do not say in your heart, ‘Who will ascend into heaven?’ ” (that is, to bring Christ
down from above) 7 or, “ ‘Who will descend into the abyss?’ ” (that is, to bring Christ up from the dead). 8 But what does it say?
“The word is near you, in your mouth and in your heart” (that is, the word of faith which we preach): 9 that if you confess with
your mouth the Lord Jesus and believe in your heart that God has raised Him from the dead, you will be saved. 10 For with the
heart one believes unto righteousness, and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation. 11 For the Scripture says,
“Whoever believes on Him will not be put to shame.” 12 For there is no distinction between Jew and Greek, for the same Lord
over all is rich to all who call upon Him. 13 For “whoever calls on the name of the LORD shall be saved.”

DERRICK: DANIEL 2
1 Now in the second year of Nebuchadnezzar’s reign, Nebuchadnezzar had dreams; and his spirit was so troubled that his sleep
left him. 2 Then the king gave the command to call the magicians, the astrologers, the sorcerers, and the Chaldeans to tell the
king his dreams. So they came and stood before the king. 3 And the king said to them, “I have had a dream, and my spirit is
anxious to know the dream.”
4 Then the Chaldeans spoke to the king in Aramaic, “O king, live forever! Tell your servants the dream, and we will give the
interpretation.”
5 The king answered and said to the Chaldeans, “My decision is firm: if you do not make known the dream to me, and its
interpretation, you shall be cut in pieces, and your houses shall be made an ash heap. 6 However, if you tell the dream and its
interpretation, you shall receive from me gifts, rewards, and great honor. Therefore tell me the dream and its interpretation.”
7 They answered again and said, “Let the king tell his servants the dream, and we will give its interpretation.”
8 The king answered and said, “I know for certain that you would gain time, because you see that my decision is firm: 9 if you
do not make known the dream to me, there is only one decree for you! For you have agreed to speak lying and corrupt words
before me till the time has changed. Therefore tell me the dream, and I shall know that you can give me its interpretation.”
10 The Chaldeans answered the king, and said, “There is not a man on earth who can tell the king’s matter; therefore no king,
lord, or ruler has ever asked such things of any magician, astrologer, or Chaldean. 11 It is a difficult thing that the king requests,
and there is no other who can tell it to the king except the gods, whose dwelling is not with flesh.”
12 For this reason the king was angry and very furious, and gave the command to destroy all the wise men of Babylon. 13 So
the decree went out, and they began killing the wise men; and they sought Daniel and his companions, to kill them.
14 Then with counsel and wisdom Daniel answered Arioch, the captain of the king’s guard, who had gone out to kill the wise
men of Babylon; 15 he answered and said to Arioch the king’s captain, “Why is the decree from the king so urgent?” Then
Arioch made the decision known to Daniel.
16 So Daniel went in and asked the king to give him time, that he might tell the king the interpretation.
===
17 Then Daniel went to his house, and made the decision known to Hananiah, Mishael, and Azariah, his companions, 18 that
they might seek mercies from the God of heaven concerning this secret, so that Daniel and his companions might not perish with
the rest of the wise men of Babylon. 19 Then the secret was revealed to Daniel in a night vision. So Daniel blessed the God of
heaven.

20 Daniel answered and said:

“Blessed be the name of God forever and ever,
For wisdom and might are His.
21 And He changes the times and the seasons;
He removes kings and raises up kings;
He gives wisdom to the wise
And knowledge to those who have understanding.
22 He reveals deep and secret things;
He knows what is in the darkness,
And light dwells with Him.
23 “I thank You and praise You,
O God of my fathers;
You have given me wisdom and might,
And have now made known to me what we asked of You,
For You have made known to us the king’s demand.”
24 Therefore Daniel went to Arioch, whom the king had appointed to destroy the wise men of Babylon. He went and said thus
to him: “Do not destroy the wise men of Babylon; take me before the king, and I will tell the king the interpretation.”

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===
25 Then Arioch quickly brought Daniel before the king, and said thus to him, “I have found a man of the captives of Judah,
who will make known to the king the interpretation.”
26 The king answered and said to Daniel, whose name was Belteshazzar, “Are you able to make known to me the dream which
I have seen, and its interpretation?”
27 Daniel answered in the presence of the king, and said, “The secret which the king has demanded, the wise men, the
astrologers, the magicians, and the soothsayers cannot declare to the king. 28 But there is a God in heaven who reveals secrets,
and He has made known to King Nebuchadnezzar what will be in the latter days. Your dream, and the visions of your head upon
your bed, were these: 29 As for you, O king, thoughts came to your mind while on your bed, about what would come to pass after
this; and He who reveals secrets has made known to you what will be. 30 But as for me, this secret has not been revealed to me
because I have more wisdom than anyone living, but for our sakes who make known the interpretation to the king, and that you
may know the thoughts of your heart.
31 “You, O king, were watching; and behold, a great image! This great image, whose splendor was excellent, stood before
you; and its form was awesome. 32 This image’s head was of fine gold, its chest and arms of silver, its belly and thighs of
bronze, 33 its legs of iron, its feet partly of iron and partly of clay. 34 You watched while a stone was cut out without hands,
which struck the image on its feet of iron and clay, and broke them in pieces. 35 Then the iron, the clay, the bronze, the silver,
and the gold were crushed together, and became like chaff from the summer threshing floors; the wind carried them away so that
no trace of them was found. And the stone that struck the image became a great mountain and filled the whole earth.
36 “This is the dream. Now we will tell the interpretation of it before the king. 37 You, O king, are a king of kings. For the
God of heaven has given you a kingdom, power, strength, and glory; 38 and wherever the children of men dwell, or the beasts of
the field and the birds of the heaven, He has given them into your hand, and has made you ruler over them all—you are this head
of gold. 39 But after you shall arise another kingdom inferior to yours; then another, a third kingdom of bronze, which shall rule
over all the earth. 40 And the fourth kingdom shall be as strong as iron, inasmuch as iron breaks in pieces and shatters
everything; and like iron that crushes, that kingdom will break in pieces and crush all the others. 41 Whereas you saw the feet and
toes, partly of potter’s clay and partly of iron, the kingdom shall be divided; yet the strength of the iron shall be in it, just as you
saw the iron mixed with ceramic clay. 42 And as the toes of the feet were partly of iron and partly of clay, so the kingdom shall
be partly strong and partly fragile. 43 As you saw iron mixed with ceramic clay, they will mingle with the seed of men; but they
will not adhere to one another, just as iron does not mix with clay. 44 And in the days of these kings the God of heaven will set
up a kingdom which shall never be destroyed; and the kingdom shall not be left to other people; it shall break in pieces and
consume all these kingdoms, and it shall stand forever. 45 Inasmuch as you saw that the stone was cut out of the mountain
without hands, and that it broke in pieces the iron, the bronze, the clay, the silver, and the gold—the great God has made known
to the king what will come to pass after this. The dream is certain, and its interpretation is sure.”
46 Then King Nebuchadnezzar fell on his face, prostrate before Daniel, and commanded that they should present an offering
and incense to him. 47 The king answered Daniel, and said, “Truly your God is the God of gods, the Lord of kings, and a revealer
of secrets, since you could reveal this secret.” 48 Then the king promoted Daniel and gave him many great gifts; and he made
him ruler over the whole province of Babylon, and chief administrator over all the wise men of Babylon. 49 Also Daniel
petitioned the king, and he set Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-Nego over the affairs of the province of Babylon; but Daniel sat in
the gate of the king.

KRYSTI: GEN 37:12–36

12 Then his brothers went to feed their father’s flock in Shechem. 13 And Israel said to Joseph, “Are not your brothers
feeding the flock in Shechem? Come, I will send you to them.”
So he said to him, “Here I am.”
14 Then he said to him, “Please go and see if it is well with your brothers and well with the flocks, and bring back word to
me.” So he sent him out of the Valley of Hebron, and he went to Shechem.
15 Now a certain man found him, and there he was, wandering in the field. And the man asked him, saying, “What are you
seeking?”
16 So he said, “I am seeking my brothers. Please tell me where they are feeding their flocks.”
17 And the man said, “They have departed from here, for I heard them say, ‘Let us go to Dothan.’ ” So Joseph went after his
brothers and found them in Dothan.

18 Now when they saw him afar off, even before he came near them, they conspired against him to kill him. 19 Then they said
to one another, “Look, this dreamer is coming! 20 Come therefore, let us now kill him and cast him into some pit; and we shall
say, “Some wild beast has devoured him.’ We shall see what will become of his dreams!”
21 But Reuben heard it, and he delivered him out of their hands, and said, “Let us not kill him.” 22 And Reuben said to them,
“Shed no blood, but cast him into this pit which is in the wilderness, and do not lay a hand on him”—that he might deliver him
out of their hands, and bring him back to his father.
23 So it came to pass, when Joseph had come to his brothers, that they stripped Joseph of his tunic, the tunic of many colors
that was on him. 24 Then they took him and cast him into a pit. And the pit was empty; there was no water in it.

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25 And they sat down to eat a meal. Then they lifted their eyes and looked, and there was a company of Ishmaelites, coming
from Gilead with their camels, bearing spices, balm, and myrrh, on their way to carry them down to Egypt. 26 So Judah said to
his brothers, “What profit is there if we kill our brother and conceal his blood? 27 Come and let us sell him to the Ishmaelites,
and let not our hand be upon him, for he is our brother and our flesh.” And his brothers listened. 28 Then Midianite traders
passed by; so the brothers pulled Joseph up and lifted him out of the pit, and sold him to the Ishmaelites for twenty shekels of
silver. And they took Joseph to Egypt.
29 Then Reuben returned to the pit, and indeed Joseph was not in the pit; and he tore his clothes. 30 And he returned to his
brothers and said, “The lad is no more; and I, where shall I go?”

31 So they took Joseph’s tunic, killed a kid of the goats, and dipped the tunic in the blood. 32 Then they sent the tunic of many
colors, and they brought it to their father and said, “We have found this. Do you know whether it is your son’s tunic or not?”
33 And he recognized it and said, “It is my son’s tunic. A wild beast has devoured him. Without doubt Joseph is torn to
pieces.” 34 Then Jacob tore his clothes, put sackcloth on his waist, and mourned for his son many days. 35 And all his sons and
all his daughters arose to comfort him; but he refused to be comforted, and he said, “For I shall go down into the grave to my son
in mourning.” Thus his father wept for him.
36 Now the Midianites had sold him in Egypt to Potiphar, an officer of Pharaoh and captain of the guard.

RACHEL: EPHESIANS 5:1–14

1 Therefore be imitators of God as dear children. 2 And walk in love, as Christ also has loved us and given Himself for us, an
offering and a sacrifice to God for a sweet-smelling aroma.

3 But fornication and all uncleanness or covetousness, let it not even be named among you, as is fitting for saints; 4 neither
filthiness, nor foolish talking, nor coarse jesting, which are not fitting, but rather giving of thanks. 5 For this you know, that no
fornicator, unclean person, nor covetous man, who is an idolater, has any inheritance in the kingdom of Christ and God.

6 Let no one deceive you with empty words, for because of these things the wrath of God comes upon the sons of
disobedience. 7 Therefore do not be partakers with them.

8 For you were once darkness, but now you are light in the Lord. Walk as children of light 9 (for the fruit of the Spirit is in all
goodness, righteousness, and truth), 10 finding out what is acceptable to the Lord. 11 And have no fellowship with the unfruitful
works of darkness, but rather expose them. 12 For it is shameful even to speak of those things which are done by them in secret.
13 But all things that are exposed are made manifest by the light, for whatever makes manifest is light.
14 Therefore He says:
“Awake, you who sleep,
Arise from the dead,
And Christ will give you light.”

ABIGAIL: 1 CORINTHIANS 13
1 Though I speak with the tongues of men and of angels, but have not love, I have become sounding brass or a clanging
cymbal. 2 And though I have the gift of prophecy, and understand all mysteries and all knowledge, and though I have all faith, so
that I could remove mountains, but have not love, I am nothing. 3 And though I bestow all my goods to feed the poor, and though
I give my body to be burned, but have not love, it profits me nothing.

4 Love suffers long and is kind; love does not envy; love does not parade itself, is not puffed up; 5 does not behave rudely,
does not seek its own, is not provoked, thinks no evil; 6 does not rejoice in iniquity, but rejoices in the truth; 7 bears all things,
believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things.

8 Love never fails. But whether there are prophecies, they will fail; whether there are tongues, they will cease; whether there is
knowledge, it will vanish away. 9 For we know in part and we prophesy in part. 10 But when that which is perfect has come, then
that which is in part will be done away.

11 When I was a child, I spoke as a child, I understood as a child, I thought as a child; but when I became a man, I put away
childish things. 12 For now we see in a mirror, dimly, but then face to face. Now I know in part, but then I shall know just as I
also am known.

13 And now abide faith, hope, love, these three; but the greatest of these is love.

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CADENCE: EPHESIANS 2:1–10

1 And you He made alive, who were dead in trespasses and sins, 2 in which you once walked according to the course of this
world, according to the prince of the power of the air, the spirit who now works in the sons of disobedience, 3 among whom also
we all once conducted ourselves in the lusts of our flesh, fulfilling the desires of the flesh and of the mind, and were by nature
children of wrath, just as the others.
4 But God, who is rich in mercy, because of His great love with which He loved us, 5 even when we were dead in trespasses,
made us alive together with Christ (by grace you have been saved), 6 and raised us up together, and made us sit together in the
heavenly places in Christ Jesus, 7 that in the ages to come He might show the exceeding riches of His grace in His kindness
toward us in Christ Jesus.
8 For by grace you have been saved through faith, and that not of yourselves; it is the gift of God, 9 not of works, lest anyone
should boast. 10 For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand that we
should walk in them.

WENDI: PHILIPPIANS 2:1–13

1 Therefore if there is any consolation in Christ, if any comfort of love, if any fellowship of the Spirit, if any affection and
mercy, 2 fulfill my joy by being like-minded, having the same love, being of one accord, of one mind. 3 Let nothing be done
through selfish ambition or conceit, but in lowliness of mind let each esteem others better than himself. 4 Let each of you look
out not only for his own interests, but also for the interests of others.

5 Let this mind be in you which was also in Christ Jesus, 6 who, being in the form of God, did not consider it robbery to be
equal with God, 7 but made Himself of no reputation, taking the form of a bondservant, and coming in the likeness of men. 8 And
being found in appearance as a man, He humbled Himself and became obedient to the point of death, even the death of the cross.
9 Therefore God also has highly exalted Him and given Him the name which is above every name, 10 that at the name of Jesus
every knee should bow, of those in heaven, and of those on earth, and of those under the earth, 11 and that every tongue should
confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.

12 Therefore, my beloved, as you have always obeyed, not as in my presence only, but now much more in my absence, work
out your own salvation with fear and trembling; 13 for it is God who works in you both to will and to do for His good pleasure.

DONNA: JAMES 1:1–8

1 James, a bondservant of God and of the Lord Jesus Christ, To the twelve tribes which are scattered abroad: Greetings.

2 My brethren, count it all joy when you fall into various trials, 3 knowing that the testing of your faith produces patience. 4
But let patience have its perfect work, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking nothing.

5 If any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask of God, who gives to all liberally and without reproach, and it will be given to him. 6
But let him ask in faith, with no doubting, for he who doubts is like a wave of the sea driven and tossed by the wind. 7 For let not
that man suppose that he will receive anything from the Lord; 8 he is a double-minded man, unstable in all his ways.

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