This document outlines a process for preparing topical and doctrinal sermons with three main steps: engaging the text through prayer and questions, researching the issue through various theological sources, and contextualizing the findings for one's congregation. Key aspects of the research process include choosing classic and contemporary theologians to guide study, comparing research to the congregation's situation, and developing topical series. The goal is to teach the faith through deductive or inductive sermon forms.

1. The Preparation of Topical and
Doctrinal Sermons
A Simplified Outline by
Pablo A. Jiménez
www.drpablojimenez.net

2. A. Engaging the Text
Begin with prayer.
Ask God to guide your research.
Keep a devotional atmosphere
throughout the exercise.
Do not use secondary sources at this
point

3. Key Questions
Answer the following questions in order to
determine your knowledge, ideological
pre-suppositions and theological
approach to the issue:

4. 1. What is your knowledge of the topic or
doctrine? How would you define the
issue to be researched?
2. What are your doubts about the topic or
doctrine? Which areas should I research
in order to address such doubts?
3. What is the relation between this topic
or doctrine and your pastoral
experience? In which way does your
pastoral experience illuminate this
topic?

5. 4. Which biblical texts come to mind when
you think about this topic?
5. List ideas, quotations, memories or
stories that this topic or doctrine may
evoke.
6. List all the different aspects of the topic
or doctrine that may come to mind.
Which ones should you preach to your
congregation? Which is the one they
need the most?

6. B. Researching the issue
It is almost impossible to research
thoroughly a topic or doctrine for a
single sermon. Therefore, the scope of
your investigation would be limited. The
aim of this step is to obtain useful
biblical, theological and pastoral
insights on the issue.

7. 1. Simplified Method of
Research
Use dictionaries and encyclopedias to
research the issue. These useful tools
may provide quick access to different
perspectives on the issue at hand.
Denominational confessions of faith and
theological handbooks may also
provide quick access to important
information.

8. 2. In-Depth Research
An alternative way of doing your research
is to choose two theologians to become
your “partners” in the preaching
ministry. One should be a “classic”
theologian; the other, a “contemporary”
one. Both must be prolific writers who
have addressed many theological and
social issues in their writings.

9. Some “Classic” Theologians
Augustine
Thomas Aquinus
Martin Luther
John Calvin
John Wesley
Karl Barth

10. Some “Contemporary” Theologians
Paul Tillich
Jürgen Moltmann
Wolhart Pannenberg
Hans Küng
Douglass John Hall
Carl E. Braaten
Leonardo &
Clodovis Boff
Justo L. González
Gustavo Gutiérrez
James Cone
Sally McFugue
Rebecca Chopp
Elizabeth Schussler-
Fiorenza

11. A life of study...
Each year, buy, read, annotate and read
again a book by each of your two
“partners”. Such research will not only
inform you but also motivate you to
engage doctrinal, social and pastoral
issues from the pulpit. This long
process is more rewarding than the
perpetual dependence on dictionaries.

12. Key questions
1. What does the Bible say about this
issue?
2. What theological insights have you
found in the dictionaries and
encyclopedias on this issue? Or, how
does your theological “partners”
address it? Do they address it at all?
3. What are the teachings of your
denomination on this issue?

13. 4. Are there any lessons from history that
may illustrate the church’s thought and
practice on this issue?
5. Which images, anecdotes, or stories
you could use to illustrate these
theological and pastoral insights?
6. Of all the possible approaches to the
topic, which may be the most relevant
for your congregation? Which should
you preach on this occasion?

14. C. Contextualize the issue
In this section you should compare the
findings of your research with the
situation of your congregation. You
should also ponder the social, political
and economic reality of your
neighborhood, city, county, state and
country.

15. Key questions
1. Compare the points of continuity and
discontinuity between the biblical material
and the theological tradition. How would you
characterize the development of the Church’s
thinking on this topic or doctrine?
2. How would your congregation react to the
contemporary theological and pastoral
approaches to this topic or doctrine? Are
these congruent with your pastoral practice?
Why?

16. 3. Of all the positions, insights and
perspectives that you have found on the
issue, which ones speak to your reality?
Which are no longer acceptable?
4. List those aspects of the topic or
doctrine that have not been addressed
by Scripture or by the theological
tradition. Can you find biblical or
theological clues to address those
issues?

17. 5. Which aspects of this topic or doctrine
are relevant for your congregation?
Which do they need to hear the most?
6. Enumerate all the possible “sermons-
in-a-sentence” suggested by the text.
Pick one “sermon-in-a-sentence” for your
homily. Save your notes for future
sermons on the issue!

18. Double up and save!
Given that topical or doctrinal preaching
requires so much research, consider
developing a series of sermons on the
issue at hand. For example, you may
preach a three sermon series on “sin”
or a four sermons series on “the
Apostolic Creed”. This may require you
to step out of the Lectionary for a while.

19. Sermon Design
Topical and doctrinal sermons may be
difficult to understand for the average
parishioner. In order to maximize
comprehension, you may use deductive
sermon forms to present your ideas.
Another option is to use simple inductive
forms, such as “Problem solving” or
“See, think and act”.

20. Teacher of the Church
The topical and doctrinal sermon
empowers you to teach the faith. If you
relinquish your role as teacher, your
parishioners may find themselves
learning “theology”, at best, from
Sunday school curricula; at worst, from
printed and electronic religious media.

21. The End
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