How to Preach a Passage Verse by Verse

Verse by verse preaching is as old as preaching itself. Arguably the oldest form of preaching, it has its roots in the book of Ezra where scripture was read aloud and the interpretation was given verse by verse. Not as common a form in the New Testament examples of condensed written sermons it reemerged quickly after the apostolic period in the early patristic preachers. Great preachers from Chrysostom, to Augustine, and from Calvin to Spurgeon have all used this form of preaching.

Instructions

1. Choose a preachable length of scripture.

   This is especially important in writing verse by verse sermons since you can only preach the number of verses you can walk through. Topical preaching or Narrative preaching can cover a much larger section of material at a time. Verse by verse preaching will have difficulty covering more than 10-16 verses in a single sermon.

2. Thoroughly exegete your chosen passage.

   Read it through in several different English translations looking for key differences. Use original language tools to look up those key differences and make your own judgments. Study words for the images they imply and the tone they connote. Ask imaginative questions of the text. Study its historical, literary and contextual background. Search through all of this for how the text seeks to change your own and your community's way of living in the world. Check commentaries to jostle your thinking into new directions or correct misinterpretations.

3. Summarize the passage's primary focus in a single sentence.

   The passage will say many things and could be used to say even more. What is the solitary focus you wish to get across in this sermon even though you are preaching verse by verse? Make sure you write a clear, preachable sentence that gets to the heart of the passage as best as you can discern, not merely your own personal agenda.

4. Divide the text into logical moves that support the main focus of the passage.

   This allows you to use the outline of the passage as the outline of your message. It will increase your ability to remember your sermon (when lost, just read the next phrase) and facilitate focusing your sermon on one primary thought.

5. Look for sermon illustrations or imagistic material for each move of the passage.

   Now that you have divided your passage into moves, what stories, examples, illustrations, metaphors or images would work to give each logical move a concrete connection with the listener? Ask questions like these: How does this concept look in our world today? Do I know anyone who lived this out? What is this concept like (metaphor), or how could we picture it (image)?

6. 

   Preach through the material, or write a manuscript to polish the sermon.

   Some preachers work best by preaching aloud first. Others work best by writing it out first. Ideally you will eventually do both. But in the busy schedule of a pastor that isn't always likely. Make sure you have thought through your introduction (how will I increase interest and attention?) the conclusion (how can I launch this sermon into the congregational life?) and the transitions (how does this move logically connect with the next?)

   * See more tips on preaching verse by verse below.

Tips & Warnings

• When looking for sermon illustrations or imagistic material, ask what obstacles will be in the congregation's way of living the passage. How can your extra material help overcome those objections, obstacles, or resistances?

• Do not feel you have to say everything the passage says. You could preach 60 sermons on one passage and not be finished. Feel free to focus on what you think is most important for your congregation to hear.

• Be sure to let the passage have its own voice, and to surprise you with what it means. You may find your own theology or way of thinking challenged to the core. This is the case more often than we allow.

• See more tips on preaching in related articles above.