This document provides guidance on key elements to consider when developing an effective sermon, including the title, main text or passage, main idea, area or tone, and aim or purpose. An effective title should be brief, engaging, and raise expectations without overpromising. The main text should furnish the topic and be a complete biblical portion. The main idea or "sermon-in-a-sentence" should be a clear theological statement. A sermon's area can be pastoral, prophetic, teaching, or evangelistic. The aim expresses the objective or desired response from the congregation.

1. Pablo A. Jiménez * www.drpablojimenez.net
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2. The title helps the preacher to
captivate and maintain the
attention of the audience.
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3. The title is a short phrase that announces the
topic, main issue or subject matter of the
sermon.The function of the sermon is to
entice the mind of the audience, leading
them to inquire what is the main idea of the
sermon. In a way, the title “problematizes”
the process, inviting the audience to hear
attentively while they seek answers.
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4.  An effective title is brief.
 An effective title is engaging. It must not be too
funny or “cute."
 An effective title raises the expectations of the
audience. Such expectations must be met in the
sermon. A title should never “promise” more
than it can deliver.
 An effective title is related to the topic.
However, it is but not identical to the “sermon-
in-a-sentence.”
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5. The following titles would be largely
ineffective.Why?
 God calls the church to incarnate the divine
love for humanity
 How Peter got his Groove Back
 Eight Guidelines for a Happy Life (Part 1)
 TopTen Reasons why you are Special to
God
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6. The following are examples of effective
titles:
 Anyway
 A Matter of Faithfulness
 Friend or Foe?
 I am not
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7. The “text” is the biblical portion (or
pericope) that serves as the
scriptural basis of the sermon.
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8. The function of the text varies according to
the type of sermon.
 In expository and narrative sermons, the
text furnishes the main topic of the
homily.
 In storytelling, topical, doctrinal and
special occasion sermons, the text
illustrates the topic.
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9.  Base your sermon on a complete portion of the
Scripture. Remember that the readings suggested by
the lectionary will not always be distinct pericopes.The
lectionary may employ only a fragment of a pericope or
refer to two or more portions.
 Be aware of the literary context of your text. Read at
least the portions that precede and follow your main
text.
 Do not evade well-known texts. Present the message of
such portions in an innovative and contextual way.
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10.  Preaching on the great biblical texts--such as the
Lord’s Prayer--is very demanding. It requires
additional study time and preparation.
 Most preachers who employ regularly the lectionary
prefer to use the reading of the Gospel as the main
text for the sermon. Although this is largely
commendable, an effective preaching schedule
would also include sermons based on the other
documents of the NT and the OT.
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11. The determination of the main idea or
“sermon-in-a-sentence” is the most
important step in the sermon
designing process.
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12. The main idea is a clear, concise and
complete sentence that summarizes
the content of the sermon and
suggests its form.
It is a theological statement that
proclaims the “Good News” of the
Christian message.
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13. The function of the main idea is two-
fold.
 It gives the sermon unity and sense of
direction.
 It demarcates the sermon, helping the
preacher to decide what to include in
and what to exclude from the homily.
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14.  An effective main idea is theological. It talks
about God and about God’s relationship with
humanity.The main idea addresses a
theological “truth," inferred from God’s
character as it has been revealed through the
Scriptures, theology, history (experience) and
reason.
 An effective main idea has unity.The sermon
must address only one main issue.
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15.  An effective main idea is positive.The “sermon-
in-a-sentence” must be indicative and
affirmative. It should never be imperative or
negative. Sermons that take an imperative
sentence as their point of departure acquire an
authoritarian quality that hinders
communication.
 An effective main idea is relevant.The sermon
must address an issue that is important for the
hearers.
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16. The following are examples of inadequate
“sermons-in-a-sentence”:
 God’s love for humanity
 The main thing is to keep the main thing the
main thing
 The church must care for the poor
 God calls the church to care for the fallen
creation and to preach to the fallen humanity
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17. The following are examples of adequate
“sermons-in-a-sentence”:
 God calls the church to demonstrate the
divine love for humanity
 The Holy Spirit gives us the charisma of
critical discernment
 Jesus Christ calls the church to touch the
untouchables
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18. This item will help the preacher to
determine the impact of the
sermon.
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19.  The “area” of a sermon is the specific domain
of experience addressed by the sermon.The
function of the “area” is to give the sermon a
characteristic mood or tone. Although a
sermon will always touch on several areas of
human experience, it should always have a
target area.
 A sermon may cover one of four basic areas
of Christian experience.
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20. A pastoral sermon provides a
theological analysis of life and its
crisis.These sermons probe
individual, congregational and social
issues.
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21. A prophetic sermon calls the audience to live in
peace (Hb “shalom”) and justice, following
the values of God’s Reign (Gr “Basileia”.) Such
sermons call the congregation to consider the
evil consequences of oppression and social
sin.They also confront people with their own
acts of injustice, calling them to repentance
and restitution.
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22. A teaching sermon pursues the faith
development of the congregation.
Educational sermons respond to our
need of learning more about the
Christian faith.They also expose false
doctrines and warn against erroneous
teachings.
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23. Evangelization is the proclamation of
the Gospel. Evangelistic sermons
confront the audience with its own
sin, proclaim God’s saving works in
Christ, and call the audience to faith.
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24. Given that human communication is
intentional, a given sermon seeks to
induce a particular effect in or
response from the congregation.
Every sermon has an explicit or
implicit purpose.
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25. The “aim” is the objective of the
sermon. It expresses what the
preacher wishes to occur in
response to a specific sermon. It
makes clear the result sought by
preacher.
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26.  The aim should be determined by
the needs of the congregation.The
preacher must reject those aims
that may self-serving.
 The aim must be reachable.The
preacher must refrain from goals
that might be too ambitious.
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27.  As a rule, an effective sermon can aspire only to
help the audience to understand an aspect of a
particular issue in a new way.
 Thus, a single sermon cannot modify conduct.
Behavior modification occurs only after a person
changes his or her core beliefs about an issue.
Nonetheless, an effective and comprehensive
preaching program may contribute to positive
behavioral changes in the long run.
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28.  What are the most pressing needs of my
congregation?
 What are the most pressing needs of our
community, city or state?
 Has any recent event influenced the life of my
congregation?
 Has any recent event influenced my
community, city or state?
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29.  Is there a current issue in the news that I
should take into consideration before
preparing my sermon?
 Why am I choosing this text or this
topic?What are my motivations? Why
do I want to address this issue?
 What response am I expecting to this
sermon?
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30.  To present a new aspect of an issue
 To consider a new way of doing
something
 To evaluate our current theory &
practice
 To imagine a situation or condition
 To empathize with somebody’s
situation or feelings
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31. Visit www.drpablojimenez.net
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