The Body of a Topical Sermon

In this part of the sermon: Martin outlines three specific goals for topical sermons: presenting an accurate and balanced view of the subject, demonstrating the true biblical basis for the view, and applying…

Martin uses his sermon on the space shuttle disaster as an example of a topical sermon based on a non-biblical event, requiring an accurate and balanced biblical perspective.

balanced view of that subject or biblical theme. Now in the case where your subject is not drawn from the scriptures, you must aim at being accurate and balanced in your treatment of it. For example, some of you were here when I preached on a biblical perspective on the space shuttle disaster. In fact, I'm glad to understand from the tape people that's been the all-time bestseller in the Trinity Pulpit. And what I was doing was taking a subject from an event

5:15 - 5:50 Read in full sermon

The point: Ensure that even in impassioned evangelistic appeals, you never leap over the boundaries of systematic theology, as it serves as quality control for all teaching and preaching.

The contrast between Charles Hodge's and John Murray's approaches to systematic theology illustrates the difference between merely tacking on verses and demonstrating how assertions grow out of exegesis.

You see, so often there is a prejudice against topical preaching because it is done in a way in which, the texts of scripture are simply tacked on the way you find them so often in Charles Hodge's treatment of systematic theology. In contrast to Professor Murray's treatment of systematic theology. Now, any of you who have done any reading in Hodge and Murray, you know exactly what I'm saying. So often, Hodge will write a whole paragraph and make statements, assertions and affirmations, and then there will be a string of texts tacked on.

13:43 - 14:19 Read in full sermon

The point: Demonstrate the true biblical basis for the view given of a theme in the actual sermon, not just stating it.

John Owen's treatment of mortification in Romans 8:13 is presented as a Puritan model for topical preaching, demonstrating careful exegesis as the foundation for doctrine.

At this point, the Puritan model is very helpful with respect to topical preaching. You know that, again and again, you find in the Puritan model that though they're going to treat a broad biblical theme, they start with an opinion, an epitomizing text, and they lay out before you the very structure of their exegesis, and then state the doctrine based upon that exegesis. For example, Owen on mortification. He opens up Romans 8.13.

15:04 - 15:40 Read in full sermon

The point: Carefully exegete the key texts that will form the basis of your proof or assertions, ensuring they bear the weight you put on them.

The traditional Reformed use of the Galatians text about the law as a 'schoolmaster' illustrates how a poor translation can lead to unwarranted theological weight, weakening a good cause.

Now, the classic example of this is the traditional reformed use of the text in Galatians, the law is our schoolmaster to bring us unto Christ. Based upon a poor translation in the authorized version, an experimental truth was embodied in that poor translation of the authorized version of that text so that a whole theology of the use of the law as preparatory in the soul of a man to give him a felt and existential awareness of his need of grace was epitomized in that text. And in our own generation

37:45 - 38:29 Read in full sermon

The point: Carefully exegete the key texts that will form the basis of your proof or assertions, ensuring they bear the weight you put on them.

The analogy of striking out a number four hitter with bases loaded versus a number nine hitter with nobody on base illustrates the danger of using weak arguments for important truths.

See, when you strike out, your number four hitter, when the base is loaded, then you figure, well, I can certainly get the number nine hitter with nobody on base. I mean, the real danger is when you've got the bases loaded and you've got your slugger up there and you can't afford to walk him and you've got to get somewhere near the plate with your pitches. Well, you strike him out and then you're not too worried when the number nine hitter comes up with nobody on base. Well, that's what will happen if there are any who have a resistance to the truth you're seeking to establish.

39:04 - 39:33 Read in full sermon

The point: Work in necessary illustrative material sparingly, only when the truth needs light to be grasped clearly.

Martin recounts his prayer for an illustration to distinguish spiritual life in Christian nurture versus pagan conversion, leading to the analogy of reciprocal vs. jet engines, which helped hearers grasp the distinction.

No, if what you're dealing with is plain and clear and can be forcefully implanted in the minds of men without the use of illustration, then just to use illustration because you're supposed to is really taking up precious time. But as you look back through the sermon and you say, all right, the average person sitting there is not going to be going to grasp this distinction as plain as I try to make it unless I can illustrate it. Now, it's very interesting. I was convinced that that was true when I brought that series back a while ago on dealing with our awakened children and trying to show the...

57:22 - 58:05 Read in full sermon

The point: Do not be so bound by your initial plan for a topical sermon series that you cannot adapt as you plunge into the preaching of it.

Bunyan's experience of his 'few lines' growing into Pilgrim's Progress illustrates the need for flexibility in topical sermon series, allowing for expansion beyond initial plans.

And I meant to bring my copy of Bunyan you'll remember in his apology at the beginning a very tongue-in-cheek humor and Bunyan speaks of the fact that he took up his pen and thought to write a few lines but it grew and grew and grew and grew and the result was Pilgrim's Progress. Well how thankful I am and how thankful millions are and have been and will be until the Lord returns that Bunyan was not bound by his preconceived notion of how he was going to handle his topical subject. Namely giving an allegory of a Christian's pilgrimage out of a state of nature and into glory. Well that will oft...

62:42 - 63:26 Read in full sermon

The point: Do not be so bound by your initial plan for a topical sermon series that you cannot adapt as you plunge into the preaching of it.

Martin shares his own experience with the 'Here We Stand' series, which expanded from 12 sermons to over 100, demonstrating the pastoral wisdom of adapting to God's leading and the needs of the congregation.

topical preaching. Little did I know when I set out at a time where pastorally I thought we had another fresh generation of baby Christians who needed an exposure to some of just the major pivots of the Christian faith and I set out I think in the opening sermon of the Here We Stand series I said to preach twelve sermons on several basic biblical truths. Well after the third one I ended up in the hospital with back surgery and while I was there God had dealings with me and I ended up preaching some what 110, 120 sermons and I don't know if he's told you this or not he'd have no reason not to

63:26 - 64:11 Read in full sermon

The point: Don't paralyze yourself by seeking to be exhaustive on your theme or subject; acknowledge your present understanding and preach what you know to be true.

The analogy of the Pope's inability to admit error or reform an infallible system highlights the freedom a preacher has to admit mistakes and adapt, unlike an unchangeable perfect circle.

person and work of Christ so that's always been a vivid reminder to me and here again you'll learn by experience there'll be times when you'll make a judgment that expanding the series is going to be unto edification only to find that you've misjudged alright you don't claim to be the Pope so you don't you got nothing to lose to say I made a mistake you see the Pope can't say that when he has spoken ex cathedra as someone has said there's no way the church of Rome can be reformed how can you reform an infallible system you can't change a perfect circle it's no longer a perfect circle but that'...

64:56 - 65:40 Read in full sermon

The point: Don't overload the sermon with too many texts; two or three well-chosen witnesses are sufficient to establish a point.

Mark Sarver's sermon on the independence of God is presented as an excellent model of a topical sermon that uses a wise and tasteful selection of sufficient witnesses (texts) without overloading the audience.

will be established in that could be the basis of capital punishment then should we not take that as a guideline that in proving an issue in demonstrating the biblical basis two or three well chosen witnesses are sufficient now how many of you were here to hear Mark Sarver's sermon on the independence of God alright now that was an excellent pattern of this very thing in preparation for today's lecture I went back over my notes and may I suggest I wish I'd done this years ago don't keep your notes on pieces of paper scattered here or there get this kind of notebook with the dividers and this i...

68:37 - 69:21 Read in full sermon