Send us a text

This episode tackles the topical sermon.

Show Notes:

The Topical Sermon

  I.  A Description

The name defines it.  It is a sermon built around a topic.

In a topical sermon, the divisions of the sermon must be invented by the preacher, based upon his knowledge of the subject throughout the whole Bible. This does not mean the sermon will not be biblical, but it does limit the divisions of the sermon to what the preacher knows about the subject. The divisions of the topical sermon will derive from the subject.

The preacher must gather what the Bible teaches about the subject and then he must organize that data into a logical presentation.

 II.  The Advantages

The topical sermon allows for the full treatment of a subject as it is dealt with by the entirety of Scripture.  (I.E. Doctrine, biographical sketches, particular subjects such as fear, love, peace, etc.)

The topical sermon allows the preacher unlimited use of his skills of inventiveness and oratory.

Topical sermons are generally easier to prepare than any other variety of sermons.

III.  The Disadvantages

The topical sermon is too easily colored by the preacher’s personal views and prejudices.

Topical sermons are usually too general in their scope.

The topical sermon presents too narrow a field of truth.

The preacher’s interests, knowledge, and experience hold the scope of the subjects, which are treated, captive.

Often, the divisions of the sermon become mere links in a chain. The number and order of the divisions are dictated in a purely arbitrary fashion. The number of points in most topical sermons could be reduced or enlarged without any violence being done to the sermon.

Often, the preacher will approach the Bible with a subject already in mind.

 Walter C. Kaiser says the following about topical sermons, “The preacher should preach a topical sermon only once every five years, and then immediately repent and ask God’s forgiveness!”

IV.  The Balance

All of these weaknesses aside, the topical sermon does have its place.

When the subject of the sermon is not adequately treated by any single passage of Scripture.

When the preacher must preach on a subject in a general way.  Such as, delivering a sermon on some doctrine with which the audience is unfamiliar.

When preaching the plan of salvation to a group of unsaved people.

When dealing with social or ethical problems that did not exist in Bible times.  Although, it should be stated, that while the Bible is silent about many modern issues, there are principles in the Scripture that speak to every area of life.

The preacher should beware of following into the trap of making any type of sermon his God.

V.  Types Of Topical Sermons

There are those that point out the various aspects of a subject. (I.E. prayer, praise, salvation, etc.)

There are those that exist to state proof to support the subject.  This would be a sermon built around argumentation.  (I.E. Proofs of the Resurrection)

There are those that illustrate the subject by using Bible incidents or biographical sketches.  (I.E. Faith in Difficult Times.)

There are those that order the sermon divisions to cover the subject from explanation to application.
1. The subject

Support the show

Subscribe to this podcast, leave us a review, and tell others about us if you find it helpful.

Contact me at [email protected].

The podcast is a ministry of Dr. Alan Carr and The Sermon Notebook (http://www.sermonnotebook.org)