3 Parts of a Sermon

There are three distinct parts of a sermon; without them, you just have a talk. The first is the focus, the second is the function, and lastly, the form. Thomas Long wrote about these in his book The Witness of Preaching, and they are essential to building a meaningful sermon. Each week, you should be able to articulate the focus and function before you begin to write the sermon.

1.     The focus is, “What the sermon aims to say.” Everything in life requires a goal or purpose; without that, it is meaningless. We all have been held hostage as we listen to someone aimlessly string together unconnected statements. The first part of sermon preparation is to determine what the focus of the sermon will be. The focus statement must be concise and easily said in one sentence. If you cannot say it in one sentence, then you are working on a series.

2.     The function is, “What the sermon aims to do.” When you know the sermon's focus, you need to clarify what people should do with it. How should this Gospel change their life, world, and/or future? This is answering the infamous rhetorical sermonic question, “So what?” Once you know what the text is trying to say and what we should do in light of it, you can begin to build the sermon.

3.     The Form is simply the structure and technique you will use to convey the focus and function statements. The form you choose will be driven by the style of the text or the result you are seeking. Do not fall prey to using the same form every single week. While people enjoy consistency, the subtle surprise you can bring by varying your style can create engagement and excitement.

Obviously, these three elements are not magic. Just knowing these things will not make every sermon “good” or transformational. But, consistently naming your focus and function and determining a specific form will build a foundation for transformation.

Some of my favorite sermon prep books are below, and Thomas Long’s book, The Witness of Preaching, is the foundation of my sermon prep and this article. Dan Boone’s Preaching the Story that Shapes Us is another practical, accessible book to start out your journey.

Top 5 Sermon Prep Books:

1.     The Witness of Preaching, Thomas Long

2.     Preaching the Story that Shapes Us, Dan Boone

3.     The Write Stuff, Sondra B. Willobee

4.     Preaching as Testimony, Anna Carter Florence

5.     The Word Militant, Walter Brueggemann

Check out my podcast SermonCraft for more preaching nerd talk!