How To Use Different Styles of Preaching

The Textual Sermon

Leofin R Blanco Jr

Leofin R Blanco Jr

— 4 min read
The Textual Sermon
Photo by Jonathan Wells / Unsplash

A textual sermon is different from a topical sermon.  A topical sermon begins with a topic; a textual sermon begins with a biblical text.

A textual sermon is one in which the main divisions are derived from a brief portion of Scripture.  Each of these divisions is then used as a line of suggestion, and the text provide the theme of the sermon.

In a textual sermon, the main lines of development are drawn from the text itself, and the main outline is kept strictly with the limits of the text.

The text may be only one line of a verse of Scripture, or it may be an entire verse or even two or three verses.  For our purpose, we will limit the text in a textual sermon to a maximum of three verses.

The second portion of the definitions states that each main division derived from the text “is then used as a line of suggestion.”  This means that the main divisions suggest the ideas to be discussed in a message.   Further development of the main divisions can come either from the text or from other portions of Scripture.

The definition states further that “the text provides the theme of the sermon.”  In contrast to a topical sermon, in which we begin with a theme, we now begin with a text, which provides the dominant idea of the message.

Example of a Textual Sermon Outlines

Ezra 7:10: Ezra had devoted himself to the study and observance of the Law of the Lord, and to teaching its decrees and laws in Israel.”  The expression “devoted himself” can also be translated “set his heart,”…  

The verse centers on Ezra’s purpose of heart, and from it we drew the following divisions:

  1. His heart was set on knowing the Word of God (Ezra had devoted himself to the study…of the Law of the Lord”).
      • In the midst of a heathen court
      • In a thorough manner
  2. His heart was set on obedience to the Word of God (“and observance of the Law of the Lord’).
      • A ready obedience
      • A complete obedience
      • A continual obedience
  3. His heart was set on teaching the Word of God (“and to the teaching its decrees and the laws in Israel”).
      • With clarity
      • To the people of God

Thus a suitable topic, drawn from the ideas suggested in the text, would be “the purpose of Ezra’s heart.”  Once we have the topic we use each of the main divisions above as “a line of suggestion” to indicate what we are going to say about the text.

Basic Principles for Preparing Textual Outlines

(1) The textual outline should center on one main thought in the text, and the main divisions must be derived from the text to develop that thought.

The first three steps in preparing a textual sermon are: 

  1. Study the passage thoroughly.
  2. Discover a dominant lesson.
  3. Derive the main outline divisions from the passage. Each Division contributes to the development of the subject.

Ex: Ro 12:1 – Topic: “Believers sacrifice”

  1. The reason for sacrifice (I urge you, brothers, in view of God’s mercy)
  2. The thing to be sacrificed (“offer your bodies”)
  3. The condition of sacrifice (as living sacrifices…to God”)
  4. The obligation of sacrifice (“this is your spiritual act of worship”)

(2) The main divisions can consist of the truth suggested by the text.

The outline of a textual sermon does not have to be an analysis of the text.  Instead, the principles suggested by the text may be used to form the main division.

Title: “The Joy of Easter”

Subject: Likeness of God’s people to the disciples


  1. Like the disciples, God’s people are sometimes in distress without the conscious presence of Christ (v.19a).
      • They are sometimes in deep distress because of difficult circumstances.
      • They are sometimes in unnecessary distress in the midst of difficult circumstances.
  2. Like the disciples, God’s people experience the comfort of Christ (vv. 19b-20a).
      • They experience the comfort of Christ by His coming to them just when they need Him most.
      • They experience the comfort of Christ through the words He speaks to them.
  3. Like the disciples, God’s people are made glad through the presence of Christ (v.20b).
      • They are made glad although their difficult circumstances remain unchanged.
      • They are made glad because Christ is in their midst.

3) It may be possible to find more than one dominant lesson in a text (depending upon the point of view from which we observe the text), but only one lesson should be developed in an outline.

4) The main divisions should be in logical or chronological order.

It is not always necessary to follow the order of the words in the text, but the main divisions should indicate a progressive development of thought.

Ex: Jn 3:36, “whoever believes in the Son has eternal life,” we begin with the subject “important facts about salvation” and discern the following divisions:

  1. Its provider (“the Son”)
  2. Its condition (“believes”)
  3. Its availability (“whoever”)
  4. Its certainty (“has”)
  5. Its duration (“eternal”)

We could title this outline “The Life that Never Ends”.

5)  Two or three verses, each taken from different parts of the Scripture, can be put together and treated as one text.   

Ex: Acts 20:19-20; I Co 15:10.

  1. It should be a humble ministry (“I served the Lord with great humility”).
  2. It should be an earnest ministry (“with tears”).
  3. It should be a teaching ministry (“have taught you publicly”).
  4. It should be a divinely empowered ministry (“I worked…the grace of God”).
  5. It should be a faithful ministry (“I have not hesitated to preach anything…to you”).
  6. It may have to a laborious ministry (“I worked harder than all of them”).

Source: Braga, J (2005).  How To Prepare Bible Messages. Colorado Springs: Multnomah Books.

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