Sermon Outline
One of the very first sermon outlines that I learned to use in the development of sermons was based on a book titled “Manual on Preaching” by Milton Crum, Jr.
The advantage of using this method is that it helped to break down the different elements of the sermon.
Fundamentally, this method develops the sermon outline by using what Crum Jr. calls the Sermon Synopsis and the Dynamic Factor which is a worksheet.
There is a wealth of additional information in the book that will submerge the preacher in the outlining mindset.
The sermon synopsis is composed of the basic elements:
THE SITUATION
COMPLICATION
RESOLUTION
SITUATION
They pretend to delight to know God’s ways...
COMPLICATION
but, actually seeking their own way (in order to satisfy some desire?), they end up quarreling, fighting,and hitting...
RESOLUTION
however, as a child of God you are enabled to love even those enemies who persecute you.
The Dynamic Factor Worksheet
Stating the Dynamic Factors of the sermon in one sentence, starting with the symptom.
When we are feeling TOTALLY THREATENED as persons
(SYMPTOMATIC BEHAVIOR in feeling and/or action, described in nontheological, commonly familiar language.)
our way of life is confronted by a different WAY OF LIFE,
because we base our PERSONHOOD—our rightness as persons,
(ROOT perception which underlies the Symptomatic Behavior, described in nontheological, commonly familiar language.)
the worth of our actions, and our confidence about a continuing place
for us—on our particular way of life.
and which results in HATEFUL CONFLICT against persons in
(RESULTS in action, if not include above, and consequences, described in nontheological, commonly familiar language.)
different ways of life by forming cliques of like-minded persons, by
being hypercritical of those who are different, and by squeezing out those who threaten us.
God says to us “you do not need to base your personhood on your
(GOSPEL content which speaks good news to the root.)
way of life, because you can base it on being a CHILD OF GOD, in which your Rightness is given through the Cross; the worth of your actions is given in that a God designs to make use of them; and you can be confident about a continuing place from you because God has the future and you in his hands,”
which reduces the feeling of total threat to us by other
(NEW RESULTS OF Gospel in behavior and consequences, described in
nontheological, commonly familiar language.)
ways of life, so we do not need to resort to hateful, but, from the security of personhood based on being children of God, we can appreciate as well as criticize other ways of life and we can criticize as well as appreciate our ways of life.
(Excerpts from “Manual on Preaching” by Milton Crum Jr.)
After completing your exegetical study of the passage, sermon development would follow along these lines.
In developing the outline determine the elements of the sermon synopsis and each of elements can be broken down in terms of the dynamic factors.
For example, within the SITUATION—we should see the symptomatic behavior located in the passage. Further analysis should reveal the COMPLICATION—which is the root cause of the symptomatic behavior.
When you let the sermons develop in this way they will be very clear and concise.
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