1. The Definition of Main Points:

a. The main points are simply a development of the sermon's theme or proposition.

They are the main sections or divisions which unfold the main point of the sermon.

The main points are basically a way of stating the principles (or truths) that you have pulled out of the Scripture.

These statements in some way explain the over-all principle of the Scripture passage.

b. In other words, if your message is about the theme of "salvation," then all of your main points must relate to salvation.

The main points must in some way describe, illustrate, explain, prove, or apply the single truth (theme or proposition) that you want to "drive home" to the audience.

c. Example:

If you want to preach on the subject "The Blessings of Giving," then each main point must describe this theme.

Title: "THE BLESSINGS OF GIVING" Text: Philippians 4:10-23 Proposition: It is truly a blessing to give! 6 ways that giving is a blessing: I. Giving CAUSES REJOICING (v. 10a) II. Giving REVEALS THOUGHTFULNESS (v. 10b) III. Giving RELIEVES PRESSURE (v. 14) IV. Giving SHOWS GENEROSITY (v. 15-16) V. Giving GAINS "SPIRITUAL INTEREST" (v. 17,19) VI. Giving PLEASES GOD (v. 18)

2. The Function of Main Points:

a. The main points serve as a basic outline (skeleton or framework) of a sermon.

b. They develop the proposition (theme or main point) of the sermon.

The main points develop the proposition by providing:

1) Explanation (they define or describe the sermon's theme)

2) Argumentation (they give reasons, proofs, or evidence for the sermon's theme)

3) Illustration (they enlighten the sermon's theme)

4) Application (they apply the sermon's theme)

c. Examples of different ways of developing (outlining) a theme.

Different Ways of outlining John 3:16:

Theme: God's Love for the World

Declarative Outline

* The main points of the outline make a declarative statement
(they fully state a truth or principle).

I. God's Love is Sacrificial

II. God's Love is Beneficial

A. His sacrifice is enough to keep us from perishing

B. His sacrifice is enough to grant us eternal life

Interrogative Outline

* The main points of the outline ask a question to arouse thought.

I. How did God love?

II. Whom did God love?

A. The world

B. The "whosoevers"

III. Why did God love?

A. He does not want us to perish

B. He wants us to have eternal life

Analytical Outline

* The main points of the outline analyze the text; this form of outlining is good for teaching and outlining in books. Tends to be somewhat mechanical.

I. The Manifestation of His love

II. The Objects of His love

III. The Motive of His love

Exclamatory Outline

* The main points of the outline emphatically state a truth or principle with emotional appeal.

God's Love:

I. Made the Greatest Sacrifice! ("He gave")

II. Was Manifest to the Greatest Degree! ("His Son")

III. Was Extended to the Greatest Number! ("World")

IV. Fulfilled the Greatest Need! ("not perish")

V. Provided the Greatest Gift! ("eternal life")

Hortatory Outline

* The main points of the outline are designed to personally exhort and touch the will of the audience.

I. You must realize God's love for you

II. You must realize God's sacrifice for you

A. He sacrificed His Son so you would not perish

B. He sacrificed His Son so you would have everlasting life

3. The Rules for developing main points

a. Your points must come directly from the Scripture.

A main point does not function as a statement about or along with the passage of Scripture, but as a statement of the Scripture (a deduction directly from it).

b. Your points must contain only a single idea.

They must be a statement or phrase conveying only one thought!

Never use the word "and" in a main point.

c. Your points must be distinct (or different ideas)

In other words, they should not overlap with each other. Rather, each point should convey a distinct idea from the points which precede and follow it.

d. Your points should be parallel in structure.

1) Parallel in length

One point should not have 3 words while another point has 10 words.

2) Parallel in grammatical form

EX: If point # I is subject - verb - object, then try to make point # II subject - verb - object.

Example of points being parallel in grammatical form:

"THE FUNCTION OF GOD'S LAW" Romans 7:7-13 NOT like this - I. The Law Exposes Sin (v. 7) II. Sin is Aggravated by the Law (v. 8-11) III. The Law's Magnification of Sin (v. 12-13) Like this: I. The Law Exposes Sin (v. 7) II. The Law Aggravates Sin (v. 8-11) III. The Law Magnifies Sin (v. 12-13) Or like this: I. Sin is Exposed by the Law (v. 7) II. Sin is Aggravated by the Law (v. 8-11) III. Sin is Magnified by the Law (v. 12-13)

e. Your points should be in a chronological or logical order.

Your points should build or lead to a goal.

If you are preaching an expository sermon, try to follow the flow of the passage.

Example: If you are preaching a sermon on the steps of salvation, you should progress in a chronological order.

Example:

"THE STEPS OF SALVATION" The steps of salvation include: I. Being taught the Gospel II. Being convicted by the Gospel III. Being persuaded by the Gospel IV. Being changed by the Gospel

f. Your points should be stated carefully.

1) As brief as possible
2) As clear as possible
3) As memorable as possible

* Outlining Devices that Aid Memory:

Here are some helpful hints that will aid people in remembering an outline -

-- Alliteration

[Key words beginging with the same letters]

Examples of Alliteration

"THE RAPTURE" I Thessalonians 4:13-18 I. Cheerful Hope (v. 13) II. A Certain Hope (v. 14) III. A Common Hope (v. 15-17) IV. A Comforting Hope (v. 18) "NEW LIFE" II Corinthians 5:17 If you belong to Christ, you have: I. A New Future (Eph. 2:1-10) II. A New Family (Jn. 3:1-7; Acts 2:42-46) III. New Friends (I Cor. 15:33; II Cor. 6:14-16) IV. A New Fight (Gal. 5:17; II Tim. 3:12; Ja. 1) V. A New Food (I Pet. 2:2; Mt. 4:4)

-- Cliches or Idiomatic Expressions:

[Phrases that will "stick" in the minds of the people]

Example:

"THE HEART" Matthew 13:1-9, 18-23 Which type of heart do you have? I. "HARD - Hearted" (v. 4, 19) II. "FAINT - Hearted" (v. 5-6, 20-21) III. "HALF - Hearted" (v. 7, 22) IV. "WHOLE - Hearted" (v. 8, 23)

-- An Acrostic:

Thematic Acrostic:

[The key words of your outline spell out your theme]

Example:

DANIEL: A MAN IN THE KINGDOM" Daniel 5:11 What made Daniel a man of notable character? He was like CHRIST! I. The Convictions of Daniel (chap. 1) II. The Humility of Daniel (chap. 2) III. The Respect of Daniel (chap. 4) IV. The Integrity of Daniel (chap. 5) V. The Supplication of Daniel (chap. 9) VI. The Tenacity of Daniel (chap. 6)

Alphabetic Acrostic:

[Each point of your outline begins with a successive letter]

NOTE: God used this device in the Hebrew of Psalm 119.

Example:

"THE A B C's OF ETERNAL SECURITY" You will feel secure in your salvation if you have: I. Assurance in your heart (I Jn. 5:11-13; II Tim. 1:12) II. Belief in the promises of God (Rom. 4:20, 21; Titus 1:2) III. Confidence in the keeping power of God (I Pet. 1:5) [Outline by Pastor Doug Lowery]

Concluding Warnings:

1) Don't force your mnemonic devices

Example: Don't strive for alliteration at the expense of the text or at the expense of the comprehension level of your congregation.

2) Don't "be stuck" to a certain number of points for each sermon.

You don't have to have the "traditional three points." Vary the quantity according to subject or text.

4. The benefits of main points

a. They benefit the speaker
1) They promote clarity of thought

They help you state your major points of emphasis with 1) simplicity, 2) orderliness

2) They promote unity of thought

a) The points enable him to verbalize the parts that make up the whole (which is summarized in the proposition)

b) The points keep the speaker to the theme of the text

-- They help to avoid distracting "rabbit trails"
-- They help avoid preaching a confusing "brushpile"

3) They promote memory of thought

b. They benefit the listener

1) They make it easier to follow the progress of the message (from point to point)

2) They make it easier to hold the people's interest to the message; when well-prepared, they provide freshness and expectancy to the message.

3) They make it easier to remember the main thrust of the message.