Topical

Preaching
Dr Rick Griffith, Singapore
Singapore Bible
Bible College
College
www.biblestudydownloads.com
www.biblestudydownloads.com
 27-28, 251

The Preparing Expository Sermons Process

Based on Ramesh Richard’s text, Preparing Expository Sermons

TEXT 5 Desired Listener Response

SERMON
Brain
4 The Three
Developmental Purpose Bridge
Questions

3.2 Exegetical Idea CPT Heart CPS 6 Homiletical Idea

7 Homiletical
Outline
3.1 Exegetical
Outline
Structure Skeleton Structure 8 Clarity
9 Intro/Concl
2 Analyze Text
Study Flesh Preach 10 MSS &
1 Choose Text Preach

White text shows 10 steps adapted from Haddon Robinson, Biblical Preaching (notes, 105)
 154

What is a Topical Sermon?

Topical sermons
expound a central idea
from more than one
main text of Scripture
 154
Types of Sermons
Categories Types of sermons

Biblical Biblical Sermon Non-

Content Biblical
Sermon
Use Textual or Expository Topical- Topical
of Text Sermon Biblical Sermon
Sermon
Length Textual Verse or Many Non-
of Text Unit Clause Texts Textual
(Paragraph (No Text)
or Chapter)
Topical sermons draw
from several books

Theme
 2
Some Dangers of Topic Preaching
 Topical
messages
have the
danger of
inserting
your own
views.
 154-155

Advantages of Topical Preaching

1. Theological: Ability to preach systematics

2. Biographical: Character studies
3. Procedural: method of doing something
4. Persuasive: abortion, divorce
5. Evangelistic: 4 spiritual laws
6. Proverbs: can preach two-line proverbs
 155

Disadvantages of Topical Preaching

A. Eisegesis: It can read unintended meanings

into texts

B. Wrong Approach to the Bible: It can see God’s

Word as answering all questions

C. Imbalance: It tends to emphasize only the

preacher’s strengths since few choose to
speak on their weaknesses
 155a

The Topical Exposition Process

Topic
TEXT SERMON
Brain

Purpose Bridge

CPT Heart CPS

CPTs
Structure Skeleton Structure
s
Study Flesh Preach
 155a

How to Preach Topically

1. Study topic & texts, exegeting each
2. Structure: get EI of each text, order them
3. CPT: Combine text CPTs to write overall EI
4. Purpose from developmental questions
5. CPS: Convert overall EI to overall MI
6. Structure: Support with ILLs, APPs, etc.
7. Preach after manuscript & practice
 156

Topical Examples
 What in the World is God
Doing (p. 156)?
 Who Moved the Stone (p.
157a)?
 Finding Your Mate (p. 157d)
Answer: The Big Idea!

Question:
What should the
listeners bring home
from a topical
message?
Lutzer: “Thou Shalt Not Commit Adultery”

1. What do you think was the sermon’s

strongest point? Why?

2. Is it deductive or inductive in structure?

3. Is the application simple or cyclical?

Biblical Sermons, 31-43

 Lutzer: “Thou Shalt Not Commit Adultery”
Prove
Prove It:
It: Why
Why did
did God
God say,
say, “Thou
“Thou shalt
shalt not
not commit
commit adultery”?
adultery”?

I.I. We
We should
should not
not commit
commit adultery
adultery because
because God
God says
says we
we shouldn’t.
shouldn’t.
A.
A. We
We are
are unable
unable to
to have
have sex
sex outside
outside of
of marriage
marriage without
without guilt
guilt and
and
emotional
emotional tension
tension (answers
(answers “God
“God is
is unfair”
unfair” objection)
objection)
B.
B. Sex
Sex is
is bonding
bonding (1
(1 Cor.
Cor. 6:16).
6:16).
C.
C. Even
Even loving
loving adulterous
adulterous relationships
relationships break
break five
five of
of the
the ten
ten
commandments.
commandments.

II.
II. We
We should
should not
not commit
commit adultery
adultery because
because of of the
the consequences.
consequences.
A.
A. Inner
Inner destruction,
destruction, aa feeling
feeling of
of guilt,
guilt, results
results (Ps.
(Ps. 51:3).
51:3).
B.
B. Outer
Outer destruction
destruction && hurt
hurt comes
comes when
when thethe affair
affair is
is discovered.
discovered.
III.
III. We
We should
should live
live in
in sexual
sexual purity
purity because
because there
there is
is aa compensation
compensation that
that
comes
comes from
from successfully
successfully resisting
resisting temptation.
temptation.
A.
A. The
The sinful
sinful eye
eye and
and hand
hand must
must be
be controlled
controlled (Matt.
(Matt. 5:29-30).
5:29-30).
B.
B. “Blessed
“Blessed are
are the
the pure
pure in
in heart,
heart, for
for they
they will
will see
see God”
God” (5:8).
(5:8).
C.
C. Sexual
Sexual temptation
temptation [enables
[enables us]
us] to
to prove
prove our
our love
love for
for God.
God.
 Lutzer: “Thou Shalt Not Commit Adultery”
Conclusion
Conclusion
1.
1. Repent
Repent (ILL:
(ILL: hardhearted
hardhearted adulterous
adulterous man)
man)
2.
2. Tell
Tell your
your spouse
spouse (implied)
(implied)
3.
3. David
David got
got freedom
freedom once
once he
he stopped
stopped pretending
pretending (Ps.
(Ps. 32:1).
32:1).
4.
4. God
God commanded:
commanded: “Thou
“Thou shalt
shalt not
not commit
commit adultery.”
adultery.”
a.
a. “We
“We should
should never
never be
be ashamed
ashamed of
of believing
believing that
that he
he knows
knows
best”
best” (MP
(MP II restated)*
restated)*
b.
b. “And
“And with
with the
the command
command comes
comes thethe divine
divine enablement
enablement to
to
live
live up
up to
to the
the standard”
standard” (MP
(MP III
III restated)
restated)
5.
5. “Blessed
“Blessed are
are those
those who
who are
are not
not ashamed
ashamed to
to obey
obey his
his Word.”
Word.”

** Note
Note that
that MP
MP IIII on
on consequences
consequences is
is not
not mentioned
mentioned so
so as
as to
to
end
end on
on aa positive
positive note.
note.
Black