THS-07-7. The Completed Outline.
7. The Completed Outline.
We are ready now to appreciate the complete outline, showing the various parts of a sermon, as they have been studied in the preceding chapters. This outline is not designed to be glanced at, or to be skimmed over lightly. Have you just time to read it through? Don’t do it--lay it aside and pick up a short story. Leave the outline until you have time to study it thoroughly. THE TITLE. A GRACIOUS INVITATION. The Text (which study) Revelation 22:17 "And the Spirit and the Bride say Come. And he that heareth, let him say Come. And he that is athirst, let him come; he that will, let him take the water of life freely."
Introduction: The text is among the closing words of the Bible. A gracious invitation among the last revealed words of Christ.
Theme: The gospel invitation is the call of Christ to man to come and satisfy the deepest needs of his being.
MAIN DIVISION I. THE INVITATION.
"Come." "Take the water of life freely."
Sub-divisions--
Come--thrice repeated.
Take--gifts must be accepted.
Water
Sub-sub-divisions--
Cleansing.
Cooling.
Refreshing.
Thirst-satisfying.
Of Life.
Spiritual satisfaction for the distressed.
Pardon for the sinful.
Freely.
MAIN DIVISION II. THE HERALDS.
"The Spirit." "The Bride." "Him that heareth."
Sub-divisions-- 1. The Spirit. How does the spirit invite?
Sub-sub-divisions--
In the Word.
By the Church.
By his gracious influence
2. The Bride--the Church--says Come.
By Preaching.
By Personal Invitation.
By her Beneficent Life.
3. All who hear repeat the invitation.
It is a privilege so to do.
It is a responsibility.
MAIN DIVISION III. THE INVITED.
"Him that is athirst." "Whosoever will."
Sub-divisions-- 1. The Thirsty. Those who thirst Sub-sub-divisions--
For Pardon;
For Peace of Mind;
For fullness of Life.
2. Whosoever will. The invitation is
Universal: "Whosoever."
Requires Decision: "Will."
Conclusion-- The gospel invitation is an expression of the loving heart of God, manifest in Christ. It is calculated to meet the deepest needs of the human heart. Respond to the call. Be sure to study this outline carefully, painstakingly. Once you have thoroughly mastered the art, the preparation of sermons and addresses will become easy for you.
You will notice that the outline is a completely textual one. The main headings cover the whole of the message of the text, and they are all included in the text. (See rules for main divisions, Chapter V., p. 48.)
Notice also that all the sub-divisions are from the text. Not many texts are so rich in material for subdivisions as this one. Still, a great deal depends on one’s ability to discover sub-divisions. That will come by earnest practice. The sub-sub-divisions are drawn from different sources. The first set, under "Water," is from the figure of speech used. The next two sub-divisions, under "Of Life," are implications. All the rest of the subdivisions are implied in or are applications of the text, except the last two, which are from the text itself. (Cf. Chapters V. and VI.)
You probably noticed that after each main heading a part of the text is quoted--the part of the text on which the main heading is based. It is a good habit to cultivate. You will thus be able to determine readily if the main headings cover the whole of the text. An outline is not a living thing. It is a skeleton. Just as the frame of the human body is designed to support tissue and nerves and blood vessels, and respond to life, so this outline, to become a sermon, must carry the message of the everlasting gospel, become alive with interest, and energized by the vitality of the preacher’s soul. The body needs its skeleton, and dry enough work it is to learn its parts--the vertebrae, the humerus, the patella, the metacarpus--as all students of first-aid know. The sermon needs its outline too, and it is not an inspiring thing in itself-introduction, division, etc. God formed the human body and breathed into it the breath of life and man became a living soul. So are we to do the creative work of forming the sermon outline and breathe into it the breath of spiritual life. To this outline we bring on the great day of public opportunity a divine enthusiasm and sympathy and conviction and the will to move men to decision. For Review:
1. Discuss material (concrete situations, illustrations, etc.) to amplify the sub-divisions in the above outline dealing with the water of life.
2. How could you make real to yourself and your congregation the offer of the gospel to those who thirst for peace of mind or the fullness of life?