This is an outline I created to help me with studying the Bible for preparing sermons. Just thought I would share it with any of you who would be interested.
Steps for Redemptive-Historical Exegesis and Contemporary Relevance (from Sidney Greidanus, Redemptive History and Preaching, pp. 9-18; Pre Rege reprint, in CCP Articles):
1. Select text with an eye to the needs of your congregation being addressed.
• Ensures the goal of the sermon harmonizes with the goal of the text.
2. Discern the original goal of the biblical author
• Why did the author write this passage to these people?
• What needs did he address?
• What responses did he seek?
3. Formulate the theme of the passage
• What is the specific theme of the text?
• what is the author’s message to his original audience? —> How are these different than #2
4. Formulate the theme of the sermon
• Shift focus from the past
• Trace the textual theme through the OT and NT
• Continue tracing on into your present position in redemptive history (contemporary setting)
5. Formulate specific goal of the sermon (adapted)
• Broad goal: the faith of the hearers and their salvation
• Specific goals:
• Do I seek to:
• call to faith?
• strengthen faith?
• encourage the weak?
• comfort the bereaved?
• correct the wayward/misguided
• give up to the despondent
• broaden the horizons of the narrow-minded?
• lift the burden of the legalist?
6. Start writing the sermon
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