How to write a sermon

Psalm 16:5-9, 11

Episcopal Church on Edisto

Proper 8, Series C
June 26, 2016

In the Name of God + who created me, in the Name of Jesus

who redeemed and in the Name of the Spirit who sustains and
guides me. AMEN.
I am going to let you in on a secret. I am going to tell you how
to write a sermon. Not many people know how to do this,
especially some of the preachers I have known. It is very
simple, if you know the secret.
First you have to ask yourself, What is the function of a sermon
in a liturgical church like the Episcopal Church? When I say
liturgical church, I mean a church in which the scriptural lessons
are prescribed. You dont get to choose. Well, you may have
some options, but for the most part you are giving what lessons
are read each Sunday.
I suspect that many of the preachers in non-liturgical churches
select their theme and then choose a scriptural passage that fits
the bill. Sometimes I wish I could do this. But alas, we in the
Episcopal Church are saddled with a given text.

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Knowing this, the function of the sermon is like building a

bridge a connecting path between the events in the biblical
passages and the lives of the congregation sitting in front of you.
Again you are given no choice.
You did not choose the scriptural passages and you do not get to
choose the people that are sitting in front of you. (describe the
setting of my first sermon after ordination.) So you see, you
can never tell exactly to whom you are preaching!
So the raw elements for your sermon are 1) the biblical passages
and 2) congregation sitting before you. You are really in trouble
if you are not familiar with both of these two sources. How do
you make a bridge connecting them, if you are not familiar with
either of them.
Some people think it is easy to preach to a new congregation, a
group of people that you really dont know very well. Not so!
How do you have a bridge, if you dont know where is to be
anchored on the other side? I am reminded of a song from the
musical, The King and I: Its a very ancient saying, but a true
and honest thought. That if you become a teacher, by your

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pupils youll be taught. As a teacher, Ive been learning, youll

forgive me if I boost. And Ive now become an expert of the
subject I like most getting to know you. Getting to know you,
getting to know all about you. Getting to like you. Getting to
hope you like me. (Oscar Hammerstein: The King and I)
The same thing goes for the biblical events. You need to get
inside your biblical characters. They are folks just like you and
me, only they lived in a different age and in a different culture.
You now have the building blocks for your bridge to reach
across the divide between the biblical world and our 21st century.
Let me give you an example a brief sermon.
The reason this gulf can be bridged, in spite of the many social,
cultural and environmental variances, is that there is one
constant. God! From the beginning of creation, God is ever
present.
O LORD, YOU ARE MY PORTION AND MY CUP; *
IT IS YOU WHO UPHOLD MY LOT.
MY BOUNDARIES ENCLOSE A PLEASANT LAND; *
INDEED, I HAVE A GOODLY HERITAGE.

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I WILL BLESS THE LORD WHO GIVES ME COUNSEL; *

MY HEART TEACHES ME, NIGHT AFTER NIGHT.
I HAVE SET THE LORD ALWAYS BEFORE ME; *
BECAUSE HE IS AT MY RIGHT HAND
I SHALL NOT FALL.
MY HEART, THEREFORE, IS GLAD, AND MY SPIRIT
REJOICES; *
MY BODY ALSO SHALL REST IN HOPE. (Psalm 16:5-9)
Sunday by Sunday we repeat the words of this Psalmist, this
ancient Hebrew poet. We are with him (or her) in times of great
joy and deep sorrow, in times of anger and in periods of reverent
silence, in moments of great fear and in a sense of Gods loving
present.
Someone asked me once, Why does the Psalmist complain so
much? Why does the Psalmist curse his enemies, calling for
divine wrath? Well, its because he is like us! At least he has
the nerve to say what most of us only think, but are afraid to
express in words. Lifes experiences are the same for each and
one of us. You and I are one with the Psalmist. We have
bridged time and space. And we can echo these profound
words:

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YOU WILL SHOW ME THE PATH OF LIFE; *

IN YOUR PRESENCE THERE IS FULNESS OF JOY,
AND IN YOUR RIGHT HAND ARE PLEASURES FOR
EVERMORE. (Psalm 16:11)
There is, however, one other thing to remember in writing a
sermon. Try to keep the ending as close to the beginning as
possible. The congregation will appreciate your effort.
Okay, you have the outline. Your biblical stories are in your
bulletin. You are in the midst of a faith community, the
Episcopal Church on Edisto. You have building blocks from
your bridge. Go for it! God bless you.
Let us pray.
Almighty God, who in your wisdom has so ordered our earthy
life that we must walk by faith and not be sight; grant us such
faith in you that, amidst all things that pass our understanding,
we may believe in your fatherly care, and ever be strengthen by
the assurance that underneath all are your the everlasting arms;
through Jesus Christ our Lord. AMEN.
The Reverend Dr. Colton M. Smith
One Bishop Gadsden Way, Apt. 346
Charleston, SC 29412