Die Afrikaanse Protestantse Akademie Biblioteek

1. Definitions -- homiletical -- preaching -- a preacher -- truth and personality -- 2. The personality of the preacher -- importance of personality -- avoid imitation -- piety -- clean habits -- truthfulness -- spirituality -- gravity -- good health -- 3. The text-its choice -- importance and difficulty of choice -- advantages -- principles that govern choice -- wrong conceptions -- needs of the people -- cycle of preaching -- the preacher's ability -- where to get texts -- necessary cautions -- 3. The text- its interpretation -- rules for interpretation -- literal or figurative languages -- exact meaning of words of Scripture -- the writer and the readers -- the analogy of faith -- sources of interpretation -- text -- context -- parallel passages -- helps outside the text -- 5. The theme -- thorough knowledge necessary -- adaptation to audience -- trivial themes -- definiteness of purpose -- sympathy with the theme -- suitability to time and occasion -- 6. Sermon material -- gathering it -- necessity of constant gathering vs. special preparation -- value of meditation -- how to meditate -- reading -- observation -- thought -- gathering and filing for future use -- 7. Sermon material -- arranging it -- value of good arrangement -- necessary for effectiveness -- advantages to the preacher, audience, theme -- qualities of a good arrangement -- 8. The sermon itself -- A) the introduction -- its place and purpose -- interests an audience -- prepares the way for sermon proper -- its sources: the text, its setting and construction -- context -- historical setting -- the writer and readers -- geography -- customs of the ancients -- occasion -- subject -- qualities of a good introduction

9. The sermon itself. B) the body -- how many divisions? -- their nature -- shuld they be announced beforehand? -- first general division answering "what?" defining the theme by definition, explanation, relation, comparison, contrast, illustration. Second, setting forth the necessity, reasonableness or proof of the theme -- how to prove a proposition, answering "Why?" -- Third, the manner, the method, conditions, under which the theme is brought about, answering "how?" -- fourth, the setting forth the results of accepting or rejecting the theme, answering "what then?" methods of application -- the motives that move men to action -- how to appeal -- 10. The sermon itself c) The conclusion -- importance -- conception of the Greeks -- the form it should assume -- how to close a sermon -- 11. Expository sermons -- why not popular -- definition and distinction -- advantages of this kind of preaching -- possible disadvantages -- hints and suggestions -- what to avoid -- 12. Bible readings -- definition and distinction -- advantages over other forms of sermons -- helps needed -- how to prepare a Bible reading -- suggestions and cautions -- 13. Great chapters as texts -- instructions regarding the choice of such chapters -- essential factors -- 14. Illustrations and their use -- their importance -- their purpose -- how to find appropriate illustrations -- suggestions and cautions