Study Guide #3 - The Formation of a Sermon

Craddock offers over 20 examples of message forms on pp. 170-172. Identify them. Research and discuss any which you don’t understand. 

A form is not the message itself, however, like a frame accents a picture, Craddock says sermon form can “aid the listener’s apprehension of the message” (p. 172). 

•	He gives two examples of form that gains and holds interest by holding the primary point to the end (pp. 172-173). List the two examples, and think of another.

•	In the next paragraph he points out that a form can shape the listener’s experience (p. 173). Hearing “Once upon a time” or “I, being of sound mind, do hereby …” are forms that shape the listener to expect a certain message. The book of the prophet Jeremiah, the lessons Jesus taught, and the writings of Paul each include such a form, a unique saying that alerts listeners. What are they?

•	How can sermon form (particularly a continually repeated form) shape a person’s perspective of believing and living the Christian faith (pp. 173-174)? What, therefore, will a preacher want to consider when it comes to form and preaching?

•	Cradock continues that different forms solicit different degrees of participation from the listeners (p. 174). Apply this to your most recent sermon. On a scale of 1 to 4 (with 1 meaning your sermon didn’t require much effort on their part at all, and 4 meaning the listener became very involved and responsible in, with, and for the subject matter) rate how heavily your sermon required the listeners to participate.

The Selection of a Form

Forms of sermon regarded as standard are listed on the top of p. 177. Which three do you use the most often?

Craddock applauds preachers whose exegesis discovers not only the substance of the text, but its style (form), who “are looking to the text for the how as well as the what of the sermon … There is more assurance of integrity in the sermon if both design and substance come from the same source rather than having a message from one source and the form for its delivery from another … Will a change of form from text to sermon alter the meaning of the text for the listeners? For example, a sermon on ‘blessed are the poor in spirit’ (a blessing) which comes across as ‘we must be poor in spirit’ (an exhortation) represents a shift not only in form but also in meaning. A sermon on a blessing should pronounce the blessing” (pp.178,179). List and discuss the examples Craddock uses on pp. 179 and 180, especially noting his use of 2 Samuel 7:1-16 as a “reversal” and his description of it as a “surprise of grace.”

Without careful textual consideration preachers too easily become comfortable utilizing the same form Sunday after Sunday, meanwhile convincing ourselves that if we use different words and different intonation we are preaching a different style of sermon. “Some preachers,” Craddock explains, “choose to continue to say the same thing in the same way but hope to succeed in storming the barricade of the ear by increased volume, frequency, anger, and threat … However, the same message in a different form can often slip past the guard, reach the ear, and take captive the heart” (p. 181). Describe in practical terms what it means to say the same thing in the same way. 

Creating a Form

Determining the message content (what to say) and the message form (how to say it) are two different – albeit related – pursuits for the preacher. Anticipating listener response is a primary factor in which one? Read pp. 182 and 183.

Craddock cites examples of anticipating listener responses of 1) being misinformed or uninformed about the Lord’s Supper, and 2) being apathetic about on occasion like Thanksgiving, or 3) being apathetic about a portion of familiar Scripture like John 15 on pp. 183-187. Divide into groups if possible so that each group can identify and analyze the movement and form that Craddock suggests in each case.

When preachers strive to meet responses in their listeners, there is “an array of texts which arouse a feeling of resentment, of offense, of being treated unfairly. These are texts that announce the radical grace of God” (p. 187). Cite Craddock’s examples on pp. 187 and 188. Discuss what Craddock means by “most people want grace but not so amazing” (p. 188).

Putting the Form on Paper

On pp. 189-192 Craddock warns about writing the sermon too early. List his stated concerns.

We find some very practically suggestions on pp. 192-193 as to what to write before we write the sermon itself. Follow these steps and Craddock encourages, “The final product is remarkably different from that which is the fruit of an anxiety to get Sunday’s sermon written. And as we shall see, the delivery itself is even more remarkably different.” Describe each step.