THS-06-6. Sources of Sub-Divisions.

6. Sources of Sub-Divisions. In our study of the sermon outline, "Conversion of a Preacher" (Chapter V.), we saw that there were three kinds of sub-divisions used:

The use of sub-divisions (and also the finer points, which we have called sub-sub-divisions) is so important in sermon construction, that it will be well to investigate their sources a little more fully. We shall begin with those we have already used.

1. Sub-divisions may be supplied by the text itself. Some texts are particularly rich in this way. See Paul’s statement in 2 Timothy 4:7-8 :

"I have fought the good fight, I have finished the course, I have kept the faith; henceforth there is laid up for me the crown of righteousness, which the Lord the righteous judge, shall give to me at that day, and not only to me but also to all them that have loved his appearing."

You will see that the text naturally takes two main divisions, which cover the whole passage:

I. PAUL’S BACKWARD GLANCE, "I have fought ... kept the faith."

II. PAUL’S FORWARD LOOK, "Henceforth ... His appearing." The text itself provides excellent sub-divisions. They are:

I. PAUL’S BACKWARD GLANCE (v. 7).

II. PAUL’S FORWARD LOOK (v. 8).

Every text is not so rich in suggestive outlines as this one. Many may not provide the sub-divisions at all, and other sources become necessary. The first thing, however, is to examine the text to see if it will provide any or all the required sub-divisions.

One curious thing we may note here. While the two verses we are considering are well covered by two main divisions, if we selected the seventh verse alone for our text, we should naturally have three main divisions--the shorter text would require more main divisions than the longer one. The reason why is clear at a glance. "I have fought the good fight, I have finished the course, I have kept the faith."

What were the sub-divisions for the larger text now become the main divisions for the smaller text. You might still, by a little ingenuity, gather the subdivisions from the text. Suppose you exercise your mind on this task! I shall suggest a lead for you in the first part:

I. THE GOOD SOLDIER. "I have fought the good fight."

2. Sub-divisions may be gathered from other passages. We needed to do that in our outline on the Conversion of a Preacher. The PERSONAL WORKERS, Priscilla and Aquila, who taught Apollos the way of the Lord more perfectly, are named in the text, but what we know of their life story is told in other parts of the New Testament. To those other passages therefore we went for our sub-divisions. You will often need to do that. Whenever a text suggests a topic of large interest it will be natural to seek other passages of Scripture to illustrate it.

3. The third source of sub-divisions in our outline was the inferences and implications of the text. We did not draw largely on that source; we did not need to, for the text was so rich itself. Very interesting discussions can be developed by working out the inferences of a text. As an example, consider Php 2:12 b-13, "Work out your own salvation with fear and trembling, for it is God which worketh in you, etc." As you meditate on this passage certain inferences will appear: (1) A man is responsible for his own salvation; (2) the fact that God concerns himself about us should be an incentive to us; (3) the matter of salvation calls for the most serious attention. This source of sub-divisions will become more available to you, probably, as you become experienced in sermon preparation.

4. A fourth source of sub-divisions may be found in an historical narrative to which the text relates. This was well illustrated in the development of outlines which was done under Plan No. 1. The texts Romans 4:3 and Hebrews 11:24-26, dealing with the faith of Abraham and Moses, were amplified by reference to the story of these men recorded in Genesis and Exodus (Chapter II, pp. 23, 25-26).

5. If the text contains a figure of speech, the figure used may suggest the sub-divisions. In Matthew 5:13-14 three figures are used. Your main divisions may use these--the salt, the light, the city. The text would supply some sub-divisions in the way suggested above (No. 1, page 53). Others would be indicated by the figures employed, for instance, salt preserves, is tasty; light illuminates, gladdens, aids growth.

6. Sometimes--quite often, in fact--your subdivisions will be arguments or proofs to establish a position you are affirming, or duties that derive from the facts you present. Study the following outline:

Crowned with Loving-Kindness: Psalms 103:4 b.

I. The Goodness of God:

II. Its Effects on our Lives:

Sermon Titles

Another matter of importance in the work of sermon preparation is the selection of sermon titles. We have already stressed the value of imagination in the development of material.

Imagination is the hand-maid of reason in every part of sermonic work, and nowhere more so than in the discovery of arresting titles for sermons and main divisions. An experienced church elder gave me a valuable lesson here. I was preparing a sermon on that wondrously rich text for a gospel message, even though it is in the Old Testament--Isaiah 55:6-7. I made no effort to find a title for the sermon, but selected the first four words of the text, "Seek ye the Lord." The title was sent to the elder with a view to its being displayed in front of the church. He expostulated: "That’s too ordinary, too trite. That subject won’t arrest anybody’s attention." I set to work to find something better--I saw the value of the suggestion. The better title did not come readily. I consulted other ministers. I delayed the preaching of that sermon for weeks. I found a satisfactory title finally, I presume, for I preached the sermon, but I have forgotten what it was. I know what the results were, however. This provocative suggestion stirred within me the desire to find or create arresting and thought-provoking sermon titles. Years afterwards I was in a country town at an Endeavour Convention, and a country preacher, in greeting me in a convention meeting, said that though he had never met me, he felt that he knew me to a degree, for he had always been interested and intrigued by the sermon announcements appearing in the papers from week to week. The late Dr. Watson (Ian Maclaren) gave much attention to this matter, and is reported to have said that the framing or the finding of the title was almost as laborious as the writing of the sermon. You are to speak on Matthew 6:33, "Seek ye first the Kingdom of God." You may entitle your sermon casually "The Kingdom of God," or "Seek first the Kingdom," but such titles will give you no advantage of anticipative attention on the part of possible hearers. In these days of priorities a much more suggestive title is "Priority No. 1." Do not, I beg of you, manufacture fantastic or grotesque titles for your sermons with the object of arousing fictitious interest or creating a sensation.

Similar thought and care with the headings of the main divisions may do much to quicken interest in the sermon, for after all you must make it interesting. A sermon on Hebrews 3:12-14 may have the following title and divisions:

Faithful Unto Death

The apostle did not engage in carnal warfare, but he freely used the language of warfare, and in these days of conflict, surely a much better set out of this sermon outline is:

Title: For the Duration.

Main Divisions:--

Propositional Outlines It is not necessary always to design the outline in the form of titles. The headings may be statements or propositions. The late G. H. Morrison, of Glasgow, preached a great sermon on Jeremiah 9:2; Jeremiah 40:4-6. It was entitled "The Wish to Escape," and after his introduction Dr. Morrison said: "I shall divide what I have to say under these heads. First, We all feel sometimes the longing to escape. Second, this longing betrays itself in many ways. Third, The duty of the Christian is to crush it."

I have sometimes found this propositional method very helpful when the work of preparation dragged. To say things about the text may be as helpful in its way as that of asking questions. The Outline on the Parable of the Treasure (Chapter III.) is of this nature. A recent publication, Highland Shepherds, by Dr. A. W. Hewitt, quotes a very interesting example of this method. The text was Matthew 14:9 : "And the king was sorry, nevertheless for the oath’s sake, and them which sat at meat with him, he commanded it to be given her." The sermon was called "The Unroyal King," and the outline as follows:

I. The thought of so great a sin made him sorry.

II. But he was influenced by his past boasting.

III. And he was influenced by those who sat around him,

IV. And he committed the sin 1. Which was the inevitable result of his folly and weakness (II. and III.).

2. Which cut off a saving influence from those around him, 3. And which he could neither undo nor put out of his conscience forever. The outline is unusual--nearly every line in it is a statement with a verb; the outline reads like a short story itself, but each line is a main division or a sub-division needing development. In the study of sermon development by means of questions, we saw that questions may well be used as the main headings. (Plan No. 1, Chapter II.) In such a case the subdivisions answer the questions. The interrogative method may be used in other ways. The title may be a question, and the main divisions answer it. Fry, in Elementary Homiletics, gives this example:

Interrogative Outlines Theme: Why Did Christ Weep Over Jerusalem? (Luke 19:41.)

Main Divisions:

If the main divisions are titles, the sub-divisions may be in question form. Example: Hebrews 4:16 : "Let us therefore draw near with boldness unto the throne of grace, that we may receive mercy and may find grace to help us in time of need."

I. The invitation to prayer.

II. The reasons for prayer.

For Review:

1. Name the sources of sub-divisions. Discuss any other sources that may be used.

2. Find a good title for a sermon on Isaiah 55:6-7.

3. Put the main divisions of the sermon outline on Hebrews 3:12-14 into propositions.

4. What three uses of the interrogative method are suggested?