Any preacher worth his salt is always striving to craft sermons that are biblical, clear, and creative. Expository preaching does not have to be boring.
Here is my attempt at a sermon that is, I hope, expository, clear, creative, and contemporary. It was preached on July 12 at First Baptist Church, Sunnyvale, TX., where Dr. Adam Dooley is pastor.
The text is 1 John 4:7-11. The title is “Wanna Play Catch?” The sermon is about 45 minutes in length.
I have used a baseball theme and trajectory throughout the sermon to give cohesion.
This text contains the important biblical term “propitiation” — God “sent His Son to be the propitiation for our sins.” Unpacking this kind of statement to a contemporary audience takes some effort. Some texts are more theological than others. Verses 9-10 are anchored around “propitiation,” and the theology of the cross that is conveyed here is vital to explain.
This kind of theological exposition must be done carefully and with clarity. Clarity never happens accidently in preaching. Clarity has to be crafted.
No sermon is all it could be without well-placed and cogent illustrations. I have attempted to use a variety of illustrations, including a contemporary event, to connect with the audience in illustrating this text.
No sermon is complete without application. My application is scattered briefly through the sermon, but mostly back loaded since verse 11 is the primary application of the text: “Beloved, if God so loved us, we ought also to love one another.”
Exposition, illustration, and application interwoven in a clear and creative fashion is necessary if preaching is to be effective. I have attempted to model these in this sermon.