HOMI 500
Preaching for Faith Template
Text: Philippians 1:12-18
Make sure sermon ideas are clear and well-worded.
Plan the sermon design with a focus on God.
Be alert to the faith element in your text.
Word division statements for the credibility of God.
Plan sermon development for faith appeal.
Plan the conclusion as a call to faith.
This assignment involves planning the design of your sermon as an appeal for faith. Complete the exercise with the following steps:
1. Identify in the text the ideas about God that would plead his credibility. These may be directly presented or only implied.
Character: The passage implies that God is loving and just. Despite being imprisoned, the Apostle Paul rejoices because he recognizes that
the message of Christ is still being preached, even by those who have false motives. He does not dwell on the negative actions of others but
instead chooses to focus on the positive outcome of the situation. This suggests that Paul believes God is a just God who will ensure that truth
prevails.
Capabilities: The passage implies that God can work through challenging circumstances to achieve his purposes. Paul is in prison, but
instead of seeing this as a setback, he recognizes that it has served to advance the gospel. This suggests that Paul believes God can accomplish
his goals even in the most challenging situations.
Intentions: The passage implies that God intends for the gospel message to be spread. Despite facing persecution and imprisonment, Paul
recognizes that his situation has led to more people being confident in the Lord and proclaiming the gospel without fear. This suggests that
Paul believes God's ultimate intention is for people to know and love him.
Record: The passage implies that God has a faithful and trustworthy track record. Paul's confidence in God's character, capabilities, and
intentions is likely based on his experiences with God. He has seen God work in his life and the lives of others, and this has given him a deep
trust in God's faithfulness.
2. Trace from the text writer’s material the theological assumptions behind his statements. Every instruction, interpretation, or
application has its foundation in the person of God. The imperative is based on the indicative.
The sovereignty of God: Paul assumes that God controls all circumstances, even difficult ones. He sees his imprisonment as part of
God's plan to advance the gospel. This implies that God has the power and authority to work through any situation to accomplish his
purposes.
The love of God: Paul believes that God loves him and all people and that this love is demonstrated through the sacrifice of Jesus Christ.
He sees his suffering as a way to share in the sufferings of Christ and to advance the gospel message. This implies that God's love is not
12 Essential Skills for Great Preaching / Wayne McDill / 2006 / B&H Used by Permission
HOMI 500
limited by circumstances but is always present and available to those who believe.
The power of the gospel: Paul believes that the gospel message is powerful and transformative, able to change the hearts and minds of
people. He rejoices that even in his imprisonment, the gospel is proclaimed and people are coming to faith. This implies that the gospel is
not just a set of beliefs but a living force that has the power to change lives.
The unity of believers: Paul assumes that all believers are part of the same family, united by their faith in Christ. He encourages the
Philippians to be of one mind and work together for the gospel’s sake. This implies that the church is meant to be a community of
believers who support and encourage one another.
3. Write your sermon idea here as you have stated it. Test it for its faith appeal.
Sermon idea: Finding Joy in Difficult Circumstances.
Test for faith appeal: This sermon idea has a strong faith appeal because it speaks directly to the experience of many believers who have
faced difficult circumstances.
Indicative in the mood: The sermon idea indicates mood as it focuses on describing and explaining the experience of finding joy in
difficult circumstances rather than commanding or instructing listeners.
Presents a faith principle: The sermon idea presents that, as believers, we can find joy and hope amid difficult circumstances by
focusing on God's character, capabilities, intentions, and record.
Uses faith language: The sermon idea uses faith language such as "joy," "suffering," "hope," "trust," and "faithfulness."
Gives the hearer assurance: The sermon idea provides the hearer with assurance by pointing to the promises and faithfulness of God
and encouraging listeners to trust in God's plan even when facing difficult circumstances.
Essentially theological: The sermon idea is essentially theological as it focuses on understanding and applying theological concepts
such as the sovereignty of God, the power of the gospel, and the unity of believers.
Claims the credibility of God: The sermon idea claims the credibility of God by pointing to God's character and promises as the
foundation for finding joy in difficult circumstances.
4. Check each division statement by the same tests. How does it measure up to the faith’s aim?
Division Statement 1: Verses 12-14
Indicative mood: Yes, it describes what is happening.
Faith principle: It emphasizes that God can work through difficult circumstances to advance the gospel.
Faith language: Yes, it uses language such as "the gospel" and "the cause of Christ."
Assurance: Yes, it gives assurance that even in difficult circumstances, the gospel can still be advanced.
12 Essential Skills for Great Preaching / Wayne McDill / 2006 / B&H Used by Permission
HOMI 500
Theological: Yes, it is theological as it emphasizes the sovereignty of God in all circumstances.
The credibility of God: Yes, it claims the credibility of God by asserting that he can work through difficult situations.
Division Statement 2: Verses 15-17
Indicative mood: Yes, it describes what is happening.
Faith principle: Yes, it emphasizes the importance of preaching the gospel regardless of the motives of the preacher.
Faith language: Yes, it uses language such as "Christ is proclaimed" and "the gospel."
Assurance: Yes, it gives assurance that regardless of the preacher’s motives, the gospel can still be advanced.
Theological: Yes, it is theological as it emphasizes the power of the gospel message.
The credibility of God: Yes, it claims the credibility of God by asserting that he can work through imperfect human beings to
accomplish his purposes.
Division Statement 3: Verses 18
Indicative mood: Yes, it describes what is happening.
Faith principle: Yes, it emphasizes the importance of rejoicing in the proclamation of the gospel, regardless of the preacher’s motives.
Faith language: Yes, it uses language such as "rejoice" and "the gospel."
Assurance: Yes, it gives assurance that even in difficult circumstances, the gospel can still be proclaimed.
Theological: Yes, it is theological as it emphasizes the power of the gospel message.
The credibility of God: Yes, it claims the credibility of God by asserting that he can work through imperfect human beings to
accomplish his purposes.
5. Examine development throughout and check it for balance in dealing with the barriers to faith.
oConceptualization: Paul begins by presenting the concept of his imprisonment and its impact on the gospel’s spread (v. 12).
oRationalization: He then explains how God uses even his imprisonment to advance the gospel, highlighting the courage of other
believers who proclaim the message with greater boldness (v. 13-14).
oVisualization: Paul paints a vivid picture of two different groups of people: those preaching Christ out of love and those preaching out
of selfish ambition (v. 15-17).
oActualization: Paul brings his ideas to fruition by stating his own response to these circumstances, rejoicing that Christ is being
proclaimed even if it is from impure motives (v. 18).
6. Analyze the introductory and concluding segments for their faith appeal according to the tests in item three above.
12 Essential Skills for Great Preaching / Wayne McDill / 2006 / B&H Used by Permission
HOMI 500
Conceptualization
In the introductory segment (Philippians 1:12-14), the author, Paul, highlights his imprisonment and how it has advanced the gospel. He
explains how his circumstances have spread the message of Christ even further. This can be seen as a conceptualization of the idea that
God can work through challenging circumstances to achieve positive outcomes.
Rationalization
In the concluding segment (Philippians 1:15-18), Paul acknowledges that some preach the gospel out of envy and rivalry, hoping to cause
trouble for him while he is in prison. However, he focuses on the fact that Christ is being preached, even if the motivations behind it are
not entirely pure. This can be seen as a rationalization of the idea that God can work through imperfect people and situations to achieve
His purposes.
Visualization
In the introductory segment, Paul visualizes the positive outcome of his imprisonment - that the gospel is spreading even further as a
result. He encourages the Philippians to have faith and not be discouraged by their circumstances, suggesting that they, too, should be
able to visualize a positive outcome even in difficult situations.
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