Welcome to The On Preaching Podcast, the podcast dedicated to helping you preach faithfully, clearly, and better.
In this episode, I want to talk to about effective sermon transitions. Planes are in the most danger during take-off and landing. Car accidents most often happen as drivers turn or change lanes. And sermons most often crash during transitions – from introduction to the main body, from one point to the next, from outline to conclusion.
How can a preacher make effective transitions in the sermon?
- Be clear about the main idea of your sermon.
- Unite the sermon elements around the main idea.
- Write out your transitional sentences.
- Get “things” out of your sermon.
- Strive for clarity.
- Use restatement strategically.
- Lead the congregation through sermon transitions.
What do you do to make effective sermon transitions?
Recommended Resources
- BOOK: On Preaching by H.B. Charles Jr.
- ARTICLE: “Get ‘Things’ Our of Your Sermon” | H.B. Charles Jr.
- PODCAST: My Sermon Preparation Hacks (#062)
- BOOK: Christ-Centered Preaching by Bryan Chapel
- BOOK: Power in the Pulpit by Jerry Vines & Jim Shaddix
An unstructured sermon is like a jellyfish, all flesh and no bones. However, a sermon whose structure is too noticeable is like a skeleton, all bones and no flesh. Neither jellyfish nor skeletons make good sermons! – John R.W. Stott
An Invitation to Cutting It Straight 2019
The Cutting It Straight Expository Preaching Conference will take place September 17-19, 2019 at the Shiloh Church in Jacksonville, Florida. This conference is dedicated to training, promoting, and modeling biblical preaching and teaching. There will be tracks for preaching, Christian education, Pastors’ Wives, Women’s Ministries, and Worship and Arts. Register today!
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